Lycra and helmets, sore buns and quads, wheels spinning over some of the country's most gorgeous back roads — it's an intriguing combination, one that Adventure Cycling has been orchestrating and guiding for nearly 40 years.
You don't have to be prepping for the Tour de France to have a grand cycling adventure. With a wide sampling of destinations around the United States, distances, number of days and difficulty levels, riders of every skill level and family combination can find a good match.
You might choose an "easy" van-supported family trip in Idaho or an "intermediate" ride through Big Sky country, maybe even the "advanced" Great Divide Canada mountain bike trek. Scroll through Compare Tours on Adventure Cycling's website to narrow your options based on destination, length of trip, daily mileage, difficulty and whether or not you want to camp.
A little about the rating system: Beginner trips are 25 to 45 miles a day, usually over flat terrain with few hills; Family trips are 20 to 30 miles per day; Intermediate riders will cover rolling terrain, climb hills and pedal an average of 40 to 60 miles per day. Longer distances, steeper grades and 60-plus miles a day typify Advanced tours.
adventurecycling.org, 800-755-2453, ext. 3
