Cycling Events in the Western United States 2015

Cycling Events near Colorado

Calendar List of Bike Rides and Cycling Events near Colorado for 2015

Now it is time to talk about those events just beyond the back door of Colorado. If you are a Colorado cyclists you might be ready to venture further fa field or an added cycling challenge in 2015. After the cancellation of the last day of Cyclo-cross National Championships in Austin, Texas today due to mud (please don't ask me to explain, nobody can explain), I would suggest not going south to Texas, instead go West my friends, go West!

Below is a list of events that may intrigue you to travel with your bike to the Western United States, namely California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana and Wyoming. Be adventurous, get out and ride new roads in 2015!

Please also see:

Pedal Dancer® 2015 Cycling Events in the Western United States (and some in Europe)
Pedal Dancer® 2015 Colorado Bike Race Calendar List
Pedal Dancer® 2015 Charity Bike Rides in Colorado 
Pedal Dancer® Guide Page to: COLORADO CLIMBS

© Copyright content of this post by Karen Rakestraw / Pedal Dancer® is a trademark for all online content. © All Photos by Karen Rakestraw.

Two Netapp Enduro pro riders stops to take a picture while on a training ride near Snowmass Colorado in 2014. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2015 Colorado Cycling Events and Bike Rides in the Western United States

Cycling event RIDES near Colorado 2015: (CA, UT, NV, NM, OR, WA, AZ, IA, WY):
Western United States bike events including gran fondos, centuries, charity rides and week-long cycling events. For the traveling cyclist, here is a list of cycling events in the nearby states of California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Iowa, and Wyoming. When you think "you've done it all" - there is always more.

January 17, 2015 - Shadow Tour Stagecoach Century Ocotillo, California
February 14, 2015 - Tour de Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California
February 26, 2015 - Solvang Century, Solvang, California
March 14-17, 2015 - Moab Skinny Tire Festival, Moab, Utah
March 21, 2015 - Tour de Cure, Phoenix, Arizona, 10/35/62.5mi
March 29, 2015 - Gorge Gravel Grinder (Roubaix Recon), The Dalles, Oregon
April 8-12, 2015 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, Redlands, California
April 16-19, 2015 - Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California
April 11, 2015 - Mulholland Challenge - King of the Mountains, Malibu, California
April 26, 2015 - Primavera Century, San Jose, California
April 26, 2015 - Chico Wildflower Century, Chico, California
May 2, 2015 - Breathless Agony, Riverside County, California
May 16, 2015 - Etape du California, Stage 7 of ATOC, Mt Baldy, California
May 17, 2015 - Santa Fe Century, Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 21, 2015 - Giro de Paso, Paso Robles, California
June 6, 2015 - Trans Am Bike Race, Oregon to Virginia (4233 miles)
June 6, 2015 - Ride Around the Bear, Big Bear, California
June 27, 2015 - Climb to Kaiser, Fresno, California
June 27-28, 2015 - Rough Riders 200, Taos/Angel Fire New, Mexico
June 27, 2015 - Giro Bella, Sonoma County California
July 11-12, 2015 - Cycle Oregon, Oregon (weekend ride)
July 11, 2015 - Death Ride, California Alps, California
July 30, 2015 - RAMROD, Mt Rainier, Washington
August 15-16, 2015 - Bike MS Wyoming, Colorado-Wyoming
August 28, 2015 - Hoodoo 500 (relay/solo), south-central Utah  
September 12, 2015 - Amtrak Century, Southern California
September 12, 2015 - LOTOJA, Utah to Wyoming
September 12-19, 2015 - Cycle Oregon, Oregon (week-long ride)
September 19, 2015 - Moab Century Tour, Moab, Utah
Sep 26 - Oct 3, 2015 - California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour, SF to LA, 8-days 525mi
October 17, 2015 - Santa Barbara Century, Santa Barbara, California
November 14, 2015 - Palm Desert Century, Palm Desert, California
November 21, 2015 - El Tour de Tucson, Arizona (always near Thanksgiving!)

* many more rides in California listed and mapped at: TourofCalifornia.org
* Moab Munifest, Utah (unicycling festival is held every other year and will be back in 2016)

NATIONWIDE Bike Rides 2015

Every year these special event bike rides take place in various states across our nation.

Throughout the year - Tour de Cure (CO, CA, WA, OR, AZ, UT, MT, NE, AK, LA, AL, FL, AR, NM, TX, OK, TN, CT, ME, RI, NY, NJ, MA, RI, MD, VA, DC, NC, SC, VA, GA, HI, IA, MN, IL, SD, WI, IN, MO, OH, KY, KS, MN, SD, ND, PA)
Throughout the year - RAAM Cycling Challenge (TX, CA, MN, OH, CO)
Throughout the year - New Belgium Tour de Fat (DC, NC, GA, DC, CO, CA, ID, AR, MN, IL, TN)
Throughout the year - 2015 Schedule Honor Rides (FL, AR, TX, CA, OH, NH, IL, WI, CO, DC, NV)
Throughout the year - Wounded Warrior, Soldier Rides (Boston, Germany, The Hamptons, Key West, Babylon)

A group ride with George Hincapie near Aspen, 2014. . Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

CHARITY Events 2015

January 29, 2015 - Trips for Kids - Meet the Mountain Bike Pioneers Bash, Marin, CA
September 26, 2015 - California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour, SF to LA 8-days 525mi - Arthritis

GRAN FONDOS 2015 (cyclosportive) events in the U.S.A. :

Gran Fondo (cyclosportive) events in the U.S.A. for the 2015 season in Utah, Arizona, California, New York, Utah, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Montana. Gran Fondos are timed events, challenge yourself not only by distance but by speed, these Gran Fondos might be worth a travel trip from Colorado with your bike in 2015.

February 21, 2015 - Camino Real Double Century Poker Run, Southern California
February 21-22, 2015 - Malibu Gran Fondo, Malibu, California
March 21, 2015 - Solvang Double Century, Solvang, California
March 28, 2015 - Javelina Chase Gran Fondo, Duncan, Arizona
April 4, 2015 - Gran Fondo Las Vegas, Nevada
April 11, 2015 - Mulholland Challenge, Malibu, California
April 12, 2015 - Gran Fondo Goldendale, Goldendale, Washington
April 12, 2015 - Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego, California
April 18, 2015 - Specialized Gran Fondo at Sea Otter Classic, California (MTB)
April 18, 2015 - Specialized Gran Fondo at Sea Otter Classic, California (Road)
April 25, 2015 - Zion Gran Fondo, Zion National Park, Utah
April 26, 2015 - SPY Belgian Waffle Ride, Carlsbad, California
April 26, 2015 - Sonora Grand Fondo, Sonora, California
May 2, 2015 - Gran Fondo Moab, Moab, Utah
May 16, 2015 - Gran Fondo Salt Lake, Utah 
May 16, 2015 - Etape du California, Stage 7 of ATOC, Mt Baldy, California
May 23, 2015 - Heartbreak Hundred (also 202mi), Los Padres National Forest, California
May 25, 2015 - Evergreen Health 7 Hills Gran Fondo, Kirkland, Washington
May 31, 2015 - Gran Fondo Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Washington
June 20, 2015 - Gran Fondo Ellensburg, Ellensburg, Washington
June 20, 2015 - Chafee 150 Gran Fondo, Sandspoint City Beach, Idaho
June 20, 2015 - Tour de Fronds, Powers, Oregon
June 27-28, 2015 - Gran Fondo Kootenai, Libby Montana
June 28, 2015 - Baker City Gran Fondo, Baker City, Oregon
July 7, 2015 - Oregon Gran Fondo, Cottage Grove, Oregon
July 12, 2015 - Cache Valley Gran Fondo, Logan, Utah
July 18, 2015 - Jederman Gran Fondo, Cheny, Washington
July 25, 2015 - 4 Summit Challenge, Cascade, Idaho
August 1-2, 2015 - Double Divide Gran Fondo, Helena, Montana
August 2, 2015 - Willamette Gran Fondo, Philomath, Oregon
August 15, 2015 - Montana Hell Ride, Hamilton, Montana
August 28-31, 2015 - Hoodoo 500, Southern Utah, 300/500mi
September 5, 2015 - Mammoth Fall Century and Gran Fondo, Mammoth Lakes, California
September 12-13, 2015 - Giro di San Diego Granfondo, Solano Beach, California
September 19, 2015 - Providence St Mary Grand Fondo, Walla Walla, Washington
September 26, 2015 - Coeur d'Fondo, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
September 27, 2015 - Gran Fondo Winthrop, Winthrop, Washington
October 3, 2015 - OC Gran Fondo, Orange County, California
October 3, 2015 - Levi's GranFondo, Santa Rosa, California
October 10, 2015 - Gila Monster Gran Fondo, Silver City, New Mexico
October 10, 2015 - Tri-States Gran Fondo, Mesquite, Nevada
October 18, 2015 - El Grande Fondo Los Angeles Crest, Los Angeles, California
November 21, 2015 - El Tour du Tucson, Tucson, Arizona

Gran Fondo National Championship Series: (FL, GA, NJ, CO, NC, MD)
GFNCS - 2015 Event Dates

2015 cycling Bike Rides in Iowa, New England, New York, South Carolina and North Carolina, dare to go east:

May 17, 2015 - Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York - The True Experience, New York
July 19-25, 2015 - Ragbrai, Iowa
October 4, 2015 - Gran Fondo New England, Rhode Island and Connecticut 
October 24, 2015 - Gran Fondo Hincapie, Greenville, South Carolina
November __, 2015 - Bookwalter Binge, Asheville, North Carolina

* Full list of Gran Fondo in the U.S.A and around the world at: GranFondoGuide.com
* Also see the bike ride list by Active.com of 12 Must-Do Bike Rides In 2015.

Final climb up Col du Tourmalet. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

 
Cycling Bike Rides in CANADA 2015, dare to go north:

August 22, 2015 - RBC GranFondo - Banff Canada
September 12 2015 - RBC GranFondo Whistler Canada

Looking for an INTERNATIONAL challenge in 2015?

Recommended reading by Pedal Dancer®: Best Sportives and Gran Fondos (in the world!)

The Haute Route - one of the greatest cycling challenges in the world! Learn more about the Pyrenees and Dolomites Swiss Alps Haute Routes.

The Vicious Cycle Blog writes about the Haute Route here: A Guide. The Vicious Cycle also lists the major citizen sportifs in Europe including: Paris-Roubaix, La Marmotte, Etape du Tour, London-Paris, Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps, Haute Route Pyrenees, Le Ventoux, Time-Megève Mont Blanc, L’Ariégeoise, Le Mans, and l’Heraultaise. To learn more about these international timed cycling events in Europe please read sportive guide.

A very nice bike ride to Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado, 2014. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Colorado Bike Events and Bike Race Calendars by Pedal Dancer®

An extensive list of 2015 Colorado road cycling events, charity rides, gran fondos, century rides, cruiser rides, randonneurs, extreme long distance bike events, hill climbs, mountain bike events, gravel rides, bike races, week-long bike tours, fundraisers, bike swaps, and so much more can be found at this link: 2015 Colorado Cycling Events and Bike Rides

A long calendar list of 2015 Colorado bike race dates and links for Road Races, Criteriums, Hill Climbs, Time Trials, Track Races, Mountain Bike Races, Mid-week Races, Omniums and Stage Races can be found here: 2015 Colorado Bike Race Calendar.

Also Charity Bike Rides in Colorado 2015 another event calendar list by Pedal Dancer® 
 

2014 L'Etape du California

Ride a Stage of the Tour of California

It's called L'Etape du California, that ride where cyclists take on one complete stage of the Amgen Tour of California. This year the event will take place on Sunday, April 6, 2014. A maximum of 1500 cyclists will complete the 80-mile route of Stage 8 of the 2014 Tour of California in the city of Thousand Oaks.

The start and finish line is in Westlake Village, riders will climb the famed Rock Store climb on Mulholland Drive four times. This is a timed event with recorded results and bragging rights. This is also a good hard day in the saddle for the remaining 1,499 riders who will not win the 2014 Etape du California.

With it's good location and Sunday ride time - this event should attract plenty of riders. This year's Stage 8 (the same stage of the Etape) is very similar to Stage 8 of 2010 Tour of California. Ryder Hesjedal of Canada won the stage that day in 2010. This year you could be the one.

Route: 20+ mile circuit route, 4 loops, 80-miles total.

Start/finish line on Townsgate Road/Village Glen in Thousand Oaks (really it is Westlake Village), heading south to Agoura Hills, starting the ride along Mulholland Hwy past the Rock Store at the foot of the climb, followed by a very technical descent back to Westlake Village. Repeat three more times. 8,800ft total elevation gain. 

Getting to the Etape:

If you fly in for the event, consider both LAX and Burbank airports for arrival. Burbank is actually an easy location to get in and out of quickly, and only a 40-minute drive to Westlake Village (in light traffic). It'll take you that long just to walk through LAX. Westlake and Thousand Oaks are nice pleasant suburban locations with chain hotels and strip malls filled with shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Parking is easy with street parking and some limited for use parking lots. 

If you need a hotel, the host hotel Hyatt Westlake Plaza, has $139 rooms available through March 10th only. My parents live nearby in Camarillo, Calfornia, but I will miss this great ride this year. I will be the for the 2014 Amgen Tour of California however.

Facts 

Official website: letapeducalifornia.com
Cost: $90 from February 2 through March 28, $110 from March 29 through day-of-even. You can pay $255-275 for VIP if you desire "preferred placement" in the roll out and a free photo of yoruself. Or you can go cheap and try to pass 987 people through out the course of the race (ride). 
Register is open: sign up now
Support: nutritional and mechanical on course. 
Prizes: every rider receives a medal (!) and a tshirt. Plus you will be included in the KOM timed climbing competition (whether you like it or not). Jersey are an extra $90, Champion Systems may no longer sponsor a pro cycling team, but they still make jerseys.

History of L'Etape du California:

2006 - first year of the Tour of California
2011 - first year of the Etape - Claremont to Mt. Baldy L'Etape du California 2011
2012 - Ontario to Mt Baldy L'Etape du California is back for 2012
2013 - Mt Diablo (there were two Etapes in 2013)
2013 - Escondido
2014 - Westlake Village

L'Etape du California is modeled after L'Etape du Tour,. A major event run in France annually to allow citizens to ride one complete stage of the Tour de France. The tradition is a marvelous one, because nothing is better than getting out and riding on the route yourself and then watching the pros do it (much faster).

Etapes are very much like gran fondos (both are timed citizen rides), only L'Etape du California and L'Etape du Tour are run in conjunction with a pro stage race, allowing the amateur to test his/her time against the pros. The word etape means stage in the French language. So you will be riding The Stage of California.

The peloton roars through on Townsgate Road at the 2010 Tour of California in Westlake Village.  Photo by Kenny Rakestraw for Pedal Dancer®

This year the riders who challenge themselves on the 2014 L'Etape du Tour will have to wait until May 18th to watch the pros do the same on the final stage of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California.

Route map of 2014 Etape du California (Stage 8) click to enlarge

Profile map of 2014 Etape du California

Volunteer if you are interested in helping. Photographs of all cyclists will be available after the event at: Finisher Pix. I will be writing much more about the Tour of California in coming weeks. I love this stage race. TOUR OF CALIFORNIA.

VeloNews recently included the Etape du California on their Bucket List: 17 must-do rides and races in North America.

I have just one final word - compact

Photo for the Day - Tourmalet Loop Ride

One of the best loop rides in the Pyrenees

Riding along the D26. Part of this recommended loop ride, this road is between Lourdes and Bagneres-de-Bigorre in France

The first road I ever rode a bike upon in the Pyrenees was this beautiful green road above (D26). This may also be one of the very first pictures I took while riding in the Pyrenees. I'd say it was a good introduction.

The D26 happens to be part of one of the best 102 kilometer rides in the Pyreness (in my opinion) and one I have yet to map out and recommend on this blog. So here it is - the loop ride of: Lourdes - Bagnères-de-Bigorre - Campan - Col du Tourmalet - Barèges - Luz-Saint-Sauveur - Argelès-Gazost - Lourdes (starting at any point along the route) and riding in one big loop.

This year, a dream week in the Pyrenees awaits any cyclist lucky enough to attend the Tour de France. If you will be riding in the 2014 L'Etape du Tour, you will ride (race) much of this loop. If you will be attending stages 16,17,18,19 of the TDF, be sure to leave a day available in your itinerary to complete this entire ride on a non Etape (July 20th) or non Tour day (July 24th).

If you have ridden in this area before, watching the landmarks pass by during this year's TDF Stage 18 TV coverage will bring back fond memories. Any time you find yourself riding on the D918 through the Pyrenees, you will surely find a corresponding smile on your face.

Loop ride, Lourdes-Col du Tourmalet  click to enlarge 
Google Map

Route: D26 - D935 - D918 - D921 - D913 - bike path/D921B or D13 through Boo-Silhen back to Lourdes.

This loop ride provides a good sampling of what it is like to ride both the small roads and big mountain passes in the French Pyrenees. I particularly like the first part of this ride (be sure to take the D26 and not the busy D937) through the low-traffic green hills between Lourdes and Bagnères-de-Bigorre. It might seem like it is taking more time than the bigger highway, but the ride and short punchy climbs, are beautiful, fun and a good warm-up to the long steady climb up the D935 to the Col du Tourmalet.

Photos from the ride:  all photos by Karen Rakestraw (or ride partners) at Pedal Dancer (2003-2012)

That is me climbing on the nice quiet road to Campan from Bagnères-de-Bigorre

One of the most recognizable structures on the climb to La Mongie/Tourmalet is this avalanche shelter, (look for it in the TV coverage and you will know how much further the riders have to the summit).

The village of La Mongie might be a little quiet in summer, but you will see lots of cyclists on the road who will give you an encouraging cheer.

Looking back down at the ski village of La Mongie, you have a sense of accomplishing a big climb.

Almost to the top and the steep long climb continues

Just a few more hundred sheep to pass

A couple more curves to the top of the Col du Tourmalet

That small passage to the left marks your arrival at the summit. You will not be alone, this climb is very popular.

You'll need to take your own photo of the Giant, the landmark of the summit.

Sit on the patio at the restaurant at the top of the Tourmalet, have a drink, and watch the riders come and go. For most the climb is an incredible accomplishment.

Carry a souvenir back down the mountain in your jersey pocket

Now you'll have to get off the Tourmalet - down that valley you go on a long long descent west.

Look back to see how high you had climbed

Roll through the town and Barèges

Continue through Luz-Saint-Sauveur, or stop for a drink before continuing

Into the Lavendan Valley and past Saint-Savin (on the hill) and into Argeles-Gazost on your way to Lourdes.

From here you can catch the bike path/road back to Lourdes, this is your warm-down but plenty of miles of steady pedaling. Bikes are not allowed on the freeway, it's a bit tricky at the junction at Argeles-Gazost so check your GPS or map.

Remember the Hautacam sits within this loop ride, at the point of Argeles-Gazost: Photo for the Day - Hautacam.  Luz Ardiden is another off-shoot from this loop, take a left (south) onto the D921 at the town of Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Col d'Aspin can also be climbed from this loop ride, veer off onto the D918 east at the town of Campan.

More information

The #1 source of information, climb profiles, wonderful photographs, and history about climbing the Tourmalet can be found at: Velo Peloton Col du Tourmalet 

Other loop or recommended bike rides I have written about in France:

• Recommended Ride: 100km around Mont Ventoux
• Recommended Bike Route in Pyrenees, France (foothills near Pau)
• Magnificent day in the Haute-Pyrenees (Hourquettes d'Ancizan - Col d'Aspin)
• I conquered the Col de Marie Blanque today (a tough beautiful ride)

The route of this year's L'Etape du Tour (July 20th) includes some of this recommended loop ride (including the section of road between Bagnères-de-Bigorre - Campan - Col du Tourmalet - Barèges - Luz-Saint-Sauveur - Argelès-Gazost). This is basically Stage 18 of the 2014 Tour de France.

Map of route from the city of Pau to the climb of Hautacam.  Map from pyreneesmultisport.com

Best Sportives and Gran Fondos

Favorite Citizen Event Rides

By way of CyclingTips today comes this recommended viewing video from GCN listing the top 10 Cyclosportifs and Gran Fondos in the world. I have to say I fully agree with this list. These are the events that come closest to allowing amateur cyclists to feel what the pros endure on any given stage. They are true challenges, and I am sure there is some fool out there trying to conquer all ten.

Video link : Top 10 Best Sportives And Gran Fondos To Cycle In The World. By GCN

 


What are the top cyclotourist rides - although they are more like races!

1. Etape du Tour, Annecy, France - 130km: July 7, 2013
2. Haute Route, Geneva-Nice, 7 days (with time trial) - 866km (also in Pyrenees)
3. La Marmotte, Central Alps - 174km: July 6, 2013
4. Gran Fondo Stelvio Santini, Italy - 151km: June 2, 2013
5. Paris-Roubaix, France - 212km: April 6, 2013
6. Mallorca 312, Spain - 312km:  April 27, 2013
7. Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo, Flanders, Belgium - 140km: March 3, 2013
8. Wiggle Dragon Ride, South Wales, UK - 216km: June 9, 2013
9. Levi's Gran Fondo, Ca1ifornia, USA - 165km: October 5, 2013
10. Scody 3 Peaks Challenge, Victoria, Australia, 235km: March 10, 2013

Whether you call them a gran fondo, cyclosportif, cyclosportive, cyclorace, citizen's ride, event ride, or just plain crazy, I think these events are amazing, so I have written before about getting out there and doing it yourself. Related reading, previous posts by Pedal Dancer:

• You too can race the cobbles
• Cyclosportives - you can do it!
• 2012 Ronde van Vlaanderen for cyclotourists 
• 2012 l'Étape du Tour Mondovelo
• L'Etape du California is back for 2012 
• Levi's GranFondo 2011
• The best climbs in Europe in the Grand Tours  
• Fast Freddie Gran Fondo, and a New Champion 2013 

Recommended reading: Gran Fondo Bucket List By Cycling Tips

You can do it!

You've got the right stuff

I can see you now, wondering, planning, scheming which events and what equipment you will ride in 2013. I am calling 2013 the year of doing it yourself. So what if our heroes have fallen, so what if they too are now seen as mere mortals. We, the collective and rapidly growing mass of amateur cyclists are building momentum.

This sport of cycling is growing

More and more people are taking to the bicycle, and age is not a deterrent. I recently popped up the website for the grand-daddy of them all - the Death Ride in California, a brutal 129 miles (270km), 15,000ft (4,572m) climb over 5 mountain passes near the border of Nevada and California. There is an interesting statistics page on their website; did you know that of 2,902 riders in 2012, 81.2% were men, 18.8% were women. The oldest rider was 87-years old, the youngest 12. Six percent of rider were from out of state or out of the county. Riders from Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Korea and Switzerland traveled to California to participate in the ride. Only 66% of those who started the ride, finished the ride (only 45% of the women finish). That is one hard event ride! But most interesting - look at the spread of age groups of the finishers:

5 PASS FINISHERS BY AGE GROUP:
12-21: 27 finishers
22-31: 178 finishers
32-41: 392 finishers
42-51: 728 finishers
52-61: 517 finishers
62-71: 95 finishers
72-81: 3 finishers

You is kind, you is smart, you is important

No wonder we are the dream target market for bike equipment and cycling apparel companies. There is a reason why the bike service industry is willing to sponsor and pay those professional cyclists and teams - because they want our attention! Maybe they should turn their efforts to supporting more local events and races. Not just the cycling fan, but the amatuer cyclist holds the buying dollar in this sport. The number of amatuer racers and the number of casual cyclists continues to grow. Think about how many more people you see out cycling than you did 10 years ago.

Event rides are not a piece of cake

Don't discount how difficult some of these amateur event rides can be. The slew of increasing Gran Fondos are timed citizen rides with a winner, but even non-timed events can result in a cyclist being on the road for 5-9 hours in a day. Some events run for several days in a row at this level of effort and mileage.

You are not your average water cooler kind of guy

Chances are most of your family and friends realize you are a bit different. We Cyclists find our motivation in the challenge, the adventure, the preparation, the determination, but mostly in the feeling that cycling is a means to get us in, and keep us in, incredibly good shape. We find our reward in feeling like kids again, in improved health, and in being part of a community of fellow cycling enthusiasts.

Cycling is our hobby, not our bread and butter

For each one of you who feel like you are hot stuff in your local area races, remember that there are towns all over this country, all over this world, where cyclists spin the pedals daily achieving and meeting their goals. You are a fish in a magnificent sea of cyclists. This effort is going on daily around the globe.

For each one of you planning your first 40-mile event ride, know that waiting for you is an incredible feeling of accomplishment at the finish line. Plus a squadron of cyclists who will be riding next to you, supporting and sharing your enthusiasm. Nothing feels better than sharing a passion or hobby with others, especially when cycling brings people from such varied backgrounds together on two wheels. You are guaranteed to meet amazing people on a bike.

No effort is too small, no effort too great

I learned a lesson in 2012, some of the most interesting people I met in 2012, I met during my local bike rides or on event rides or at the pro races. They were not pro riders (with the exception of the always fascinating Ted King) or race directors or team managers, they were passionate common cyclists who loved riding a bike. I also learned that most of what I need I already have, most of what I want is in my own back yard. Following my pattern of every other year to Europe, this is my year to stay on home soil.

I have had fun penciling in some rides on my calendar and planning registration. I am thinking about traveling in Colorado, California, Utah, and Oregon this year, plus personally tackling the entire route of the USA Pro Challenge on a bicycle over several weekends. Why not?

Yes, the sport of cycling is growing, read ...

• 2011 Update on U.S. Bicycling Levels and Trends 
• Olympics fever will help to make 2012 the year of the bike 
• Growing Cycling in America

Where are you going to ride in 2013?

2013 Colorado Bike Events and Races
You too can race the cobbles (and in 2013!)
2012 l'Étape du Tour Mondovelo (and in 2013!)
L'Etape du California is back for 2012 (and in 2013!)

The road does not always lead to a podium or to glory, but it does usually lead to satisfaction. 

The end of an exceptional ride !
Man that hurt, man that was great!!

An Interview with Thomson Bike Tours

On being a cycling guide operator in Europe - a fun and informative interview with Peter Thomson of Thomson Bike Tours

Have you ever dreamed of taking a vacation trip to France to ride your bike? Have you watched the Tour de France from your home and yearned to be there, riding and cheering? Your dreams are possible - experienced bicycle tour companies are ready, whenever your are, to turn your dreams into reality. But the tour operator you select matters, as a fan who has traveled to France and the Tour de France for many years, I appreciate the hard work that goes into providing excellent experiences for cycling fans, I also recognize quality.

I was happy to have a Skype conversation with Peter Thomson of Thomson Bike Tours (www.thomsonbiketours.com) last January. I specifically wanted to interview Peter because of his company's deep and broad experience. They operate bike tours in Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium, guiding trips for fans to the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, Criterium du Dauphine, and the Paris-Roubaix as an official partner with A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organization), organizers of the Tour de France. 

Thomson bike Tours is one of only two operators worldwide to hold a "Master" License as official tour operator for Paris-Roubaix Gran Fondo and all other ASO cycling events.

As a partner Thomson Bike Tours is eligible to lead bike tours and offer VIP access to any A.S.O race. In 2012, they will be registering riders for both acts of the 2012 L'Étape du Tour, held in July, as an official tour operator. Thomson Bike Tours is also known for their popular non-race chasing trans trips offering avid cyclists the opportunity to cycle across a choice of mountain ranges in Europe. In addition they run cycling tours to the Alpes, Tuscany, or Lombardy and Lake Como.

Looking for a challenge - ride across a mountain range in 1 week. 2012 trip schedule.

You could be here (on the Col d'Aubisque).   Photo by Thomson Bike Tours

Prime road side race viewing    Photo by Thomson Bike Tours

I would love to have a staffed support vehicle behind me     Photo by Thomson Bike Tours

always another climb just around the bend

I know enough about cycling in France to recognize a very well planned itinerary. I believe Thomson Bike Tours does it right and is contributing to making the fan experience a good one. In 2008 I rode to the top of Col d'Aspin on a stage of the Tour de France, and there I witnessed the happy Thomson Bike Tour clients gathered under this tent at the summit of the col. Believe me, I wanted to join them. I never imagined when I clicked this photo below that I would be meeting Peter by Skype years later.

Thomson Bike Tours at the Tour de France, photo by PedalDancer.com

Thomson Bike Tours created one of my all-time favorite lists - a list of the top 50 climbs in Europe. A purely fun list which instantly creates a bucket list for every cyclist who dreams of cycling in France and Italy. Request your copy of their recommended top 50 climbs by writing to Thomson Bike Tours at: Send me my new to-do list.

What are the benefits of joining a tour company?  

Experience; a professional tour company will save you 100's of hours in planning a trip on your own. They remove the guess work, the probable blunders, the communication gaps, the need to check your GPS every 12 miles, the need to rent a car, arrange accommodations, or pack all your water and food on your back during an already hard-enough climb up a mountain side. Tour companies are a smart luxury. 

By the looks of their profile maps they also count the Cols for you, and maybe encourage you to keep climbing!

Thomson Bike Tours Trans-Alps route, do this in 7 days!

Now that we have covered who, where and why, it is time to hear from Peter. Knowing that the readers of Pedal Dancer are a group of fun-loving professional cycling fans who like to ride a bike and enjoy the culture of other countries, I contacted Peter Thomson with some simple questions. I finished the conversation wishing I could spend a week cycling with Pete, his enthusiasm and knowledge were evident but relaxed.

Peter Thomson

Thomson Bike Tour clients riding in the Pyrenees

Interview with Pete Thomson of Thomson Bike Tours:

One comment can change your life 

In 2002, after moving to Barcelona with his wife, Peter headed to the Tour de France organizing a trip for 4-5 friends to watch the race in the Pyrenees. Two or three days into their own trip, one of those friends suggested to Peter that he "do this for a living." That very night they happened upon a Graham Baxter tour group at their hotel in town. After listening to the comments (and yes complaints on logistics) from some of the 60-80 guests, it occurred to Peter that he could do it better. He returned to Barcelona where he currently lives, had a friend put together a website, organized his trip to the 2003 Tour de France, within one month he had bookings. "Ok Paul what do we do now," he laughed remembering his comment to his friend. 

The next year he lead a dozen clients on his first tour to the Pyrenees and the Alps. "It all just took off from there, pure chance, I had never thought about it before," Peter said. They had a great time, the clients returned home and told their friends, the next year they had 60 clients. Peter had been working in IT at the time, he was a project manager at SAP. He marveled how that one comment at the 2002 Tour de France had changed his life (and many others). The last 4 years have been particularly busy for Thomson Bike Tours.

Interview:

Karen: Not everyone is suited to lead a tour or build a company as you have, to complete the logistical work so that others may enjoy themselves. What made you think this was a good fit for you?
Peter: I have always loved cycling, I have always loved the mountains. I grew up in Scotland, we would ride our bikes to get to the mountains so that we could climb every weekend. And I have always loved maps. I could sit and look at a map for hours. I could ride my bike, I could share all these great bike rides with people, and I could use the maps. All the skill set I learned in project management - I could use in organizing bike tours. I had my resource and gantt charts (he laughs) - it all worked. All the planning that went into the trip, everything just worked and the client really appreciated that, they loved being able to relax and enjoy themselves. I get emails from people that say it has changed their life forever, just phenomenal emails. We have clients who come twice a year. They say, "I don't have to pay for a therapist, I just come to Thomson Bike Tours." I have built up so many friendships over the years. I view most of the clients as friends. 

85% of Clients are returning customers 

Karen: Do you have a large percentage of repeat customers?
Peter: About 85% of clients each year are either repeats or word or mouth. It is a huge network, we don't have to do much advertising. If you put on a good trip and everyone has a great time, they will go back on their Sunday morning ride and tell everyone about it. If you put on a bad trip, the same will happen, so you just have to continue to put on great trips and the clients will do the work for you. They absolutely want to come back. People come every year, or two years, on some trips we have 20-30 repeats on the one trip. It becomes a club atmosphere, the old clients take care of the new clients.

Karen: I saw your group at the top of the Col d'Aspin in 2008, I saw your tent and I have to say your clients were having a great time. On over five trips to the Tour de France I have seen most tour companies out there, some are over the top, some are huge, sometimes the people are clearly not happy; I wanted to speak with you because you appear to do it right.
Peter:: We have a lot of fun, the staff are all personalities in their own way. It is what I want to have; we ride hard, each tour is very very challenging, but at the end of the day we want to have a good time, we want to have a good laugh. It is that mix of having really good rides, behind it all you have to have good support, the clients are willing to get out and try to ride 4 cols in one day because they know the support is there. The support has got to be there, then have a nice time at night. That night before the stage of the Col d'Aspin, there was a huge thunderstorm at 1:00am, all the tents blew off the top across the road and down the mountain side, it was wild, but it all came off pretty well the next day. 

Karen:  Do you have a guide that stays overnight in your locations?
Peter: Yes, to get that place on the Col d'Aspin we have students that work with us, they will go up and camp out 2-3 or 8-10 nights before the stage comes through. They camp out and hold the spot, then set up the day before. It is the only way to get a good spot. On Mont Ventoux we had a team in place 10 days before. People will say to us, "oh your trip is kind of expensive" but once they have been on the trip and see all that goes into it, they say "wow". Because a lot of tour companies abandon their clients on the mountain tops, one year on the Peyresourde, we had the entire Steve Bauer Tour inside our tent watching the TV. 

Favorite climbs in Europe

Karen: I have always enjoyed the list you put together of the top climbs in Europe. Which is your favorite?
Peter: Your favorite is often the climb you rode well on the year before, but I would say one of my favorites in the Stelvio, or the Col d' Bonnette, it is a beautiful climb from the northern side.
Karen: What about your clients?
Peter: The ones they want to do before they come over are Alpe d'Huez, Galibier, and the Stelvio. After they have been over the most popular climb is probably the Stelvio. Have you done the Stelvio?
Karen:  No, I haven't.
Peter: Oh, from the Plateau de Stelvio, is beautiful.

Karen: Last year A.S.O. began offering two stages in L'Etape du Tour, are you guiding both and why did they decide to offer two stages for cyclotourists?
Peter: Yes, and demand. There is a massive demand in Europe, they sell out. From an organization and logistics standpoint it is big, I will be going to both of them this year. Our tours will be limited to 20-30 people for each stage, I want to maintain a level of quality and control.

Karen:  Which tours have already sold out this year (this interview was in January)?
Peter: Trans-Dolomites is completely sold out. Trans-Pyrenees, Trans-Alps, and our Trans-Swiss. We have a series of trans trips and they are doing really really well. It is the level of difficulty, and the aspect of crossing a mountain range that appeals to people, it captures their imagination. 
Karen: That kind of imagination is especially nice when sitting at an office desk throughout the winter months. 
Peter: If you look at our typical client they are definitely Type A personalities, they love the challenge, they love it to be hard, they have been successful in their business life and now they want to do something else. 

Logistical planning at the Tour de France

Karen: Have you ever been blocked off at the bottom of the Tourmalet on a day of the Tour de France? 
Peter:  Oh ya, many times, for various reasons sometimes they change the [closure] time. It happened on Mont Ventoux. I was waiting for the last few clients to come through, I have a checklist of clients, as I waited they [the Gendarmes] closed the road. I always have a plan B, I had scoped out another route through a vineyard, so we ran through the vineyard and hopped back on our bikes. There is always a way around, you just have to know the area, and keep going at it. 

Karen:  Where do your clients come from?
Peter:  80% from North America, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Hong Kong. If Europeans want to go to the Tour de France, they jump in their car. There has to be an overseas clientele [Peter speaks English, Spanish, French]. By 2013 there is a good chance we might begin offering tours in North America.

Karen:  I am not certain people understand the level of quality you offer on your tours.
Peter:  Unless you have been with us, people cannot understand the level of service. We have clients who have been with 8-10 other tour operators but once they have been with us they realize this is a whole different level of service. It is like the Tour de France, unless you have been, it is hard to explain to anyone what it is like. [so true!]

Karen:  Some of the cycling tour companies are huge, I don't know how they don't loose people.
Peter: Oh we have found people. I think the first one was two guys we found in the Pyrenees at the top of a Col de Peyresourde. It was between 7 and 8 at night, they were completely lost, they hadn't seen their tour group in the past 2 days! They had stopped and found their own hotels. They had a .pdf with the tour hotel names, we took them to the bottom of the valley [2 valleys away], and set them on the bike trail to Lourdes. They were two climbs away, they were cold, lost and starving, so we took them in the van. That is terrible. There was another tour operator team of a husband and wife at the Giro who had 3 clients and managed to loose all three. The husband was standing outside the hotel with a pair of binoculars at 8pm looking for them. There are lot of good tour operators, but some are an embarrassment.

Mountain top finishes

Karen: Do most of your clients want to go to a mountain top finish, time trial, start or finish of a stage?
Peter: The mountain top. They might want to go to a stage finish, just to hang around the technical area and meet some of the riders. But the main focus is the mountain top, because we have the tents and the satellite TVs, and the big buffet lunch, and such a nice atmosphere - they really enjoy that.
Karen:  I am smiling because for me, when on my own, a mountain top finish means I will be out there for hours, hungry, thirsty, cold, absolutely wiped out the next day. I need a full rest day after a day at a mountain top. No wonder your clients like the experience if you make it so nice for them.
Peter: It is a bit of a fear factor for me, I am going to take 30 guys to the top of the Tourmalet, it can snow in July at the top, I can't leave them at the top without shelter. It can be miserable up there. 
Karen:  If your clients are well taken care of, it means they can enjoy every day of their vacation.
Peter: If you have ridden up Tourmalet, and you have sat up there freezing all day, and you need to ride up over the Peyresourde to get back to your hotel ... what a miserable day. I think of myself, what would I like to do? Every client has a backpack we bring up for them so they can change out of their wet clothes and have a nice time up there, it is a different philosophy.
Karen: I want to sign up.
Peter:  For us it is a logistical nightmare, but there are ways of getting the supplies to the top.

Difficult beautiful bike riding

Karen:  Do your clients come with proper gearing?
Peter: No. I recommend they come with a triple or at best if they are a strong rider come with a compact 34-27/28. Take my recommendation. But every year someone comes with a 39-25, by the second day they are cooked. People don't understand if you ride these climbs one-off you can get up, but if you ride 4 cols in a day, and then the next day and the next day, then your legs start to hurt, so you need the small gears to get through the entire week. I could be a millionaire if we had a stock of triples and where selling them halfway up the Tourmalet. It doesn't help that it looks relatively easy on the TV coverage [by the professionals].

Karen:  Every year when the route is announced, is there an area where you are excited to see included and pleased to go back to? 
Peter: Probably around La Clusaz near the Col d'Arvis/Col d'Croiz Fer (Grand Bornand area east of Lake Annecy). It is a beautiful area [this happens to be my favorite as well]. Other than that I am always happy when there is something around St-Lary-Soulon, Col d'Azet/Val Louron, Col de Peyresourde [all in the Pyrenees].  There are some areas where you know the hotels are hard to find or there will be van transfers, we avoid van transfers at all costs, clients come to ride their bikes.

Karen: What is your favorite region of France?
Peter: Definitely the Pyrenees. A lot of people start on the Tour de France with us. Then they realize they want to come back and do the rides without the chaos of the Tour de France, and that is when they do the Trans-Pyrenees trips. You do not want to see the Tour de France every day. Keep it simple, see it once or twice to experience it but not get exhausted. I really believe for a week at the Tour de France if you see it twice that is enough and ride the other five days, it is perfect. [so true!]

A master of logistics

As much of a logistical wizard that Peter Thomson is, he is also a good rider and an excellent story teller. He has been to the Tour de France for 30 years, guided for 10 years, if you enjoy stories of race history, travel, and key riders through the years - Peter Thomson is a treasure trove of stories. I will save these stories so you may hear them first hand during your trip. You will be assured of hard rides during the day and entertaining stories over dinner in the evenings. During our 1'20" interview I enjoyed Peter's stories of Bernard Hinault (an old teammate of his), Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Poppo, and others.

This morning Thomson Bike Tours published an interview with two of their recent clients in their newsletter. Sign up today and you can read Fred Schwartz from Larkspur, California and Gary Mann of Seattle, Washington tell their stories.

Related posts and links: 

I wrote a previous post about Thomson Bike Tours and their top 50 climbs list included in the Grand Tours of 2011: The best climbs in Europe in the Grand Tours, or A non-cycling fan trip to the TDF (also offered by Thomson Bike Tours). An earlier post about cycling tour companies Take a Tour. I have included sections of this interview with Peter in other posts in recent months: George Hincapie, Contador and Armstrong.

View the 2012 Thomson Bike Tour trips, view their trip photo albums. Sign-up for Thomson Bike Tours' regularly published newsletter with stories and wonderful photography. Watch a video of their clients at the 2011 Tour de France (with loud music). 

I wish them luck and hope to see their happy clients out of the road in France this July, where I will be wishing I had a buffet lunch waiting for me on a mountain top in the Pyrenees. I am encouraging Peter to come to Colorado to lead his quality of tour at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, if interested - please ask him. Perhaps one day soon we can see this level of tour operator within range of an easy national flight.  www.thomsonbiketours.com

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