FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How you spend your precious vacation time is an important decision.  To help in this choice, we have prepared answers to our most frequently asked questions. 

If you don't find the answer you were looking for, or just want more details, please send us an email and we will gladly answer any queries you may have.

How long is a typical day's ride?

When we create your itinerary, we will ask you how far you like to cycle and over what sort of terrain.  In addition, each day you have the option of a shorter or more challenging ride.
The minimum daily mileage we can cater to is between 15 and 25 miles.  When ridden with three or four breaks, any reasonably active person can easily achieve this.  By arrangement, we can also organize a van transfer if you choose not to cycle one of the days.
If you are a beginner, and you have the opportunity to do a few training rides, great.  If not, we find that novice riders get fitter and more confident as they get into their trip so you will, likely, be able to tackle some of the longer detours towards the end of your trip.
For more advanced riders, there are many options for detours up into the hills including lung-busting century rides.  This really is classic cycling country and some of the longer and more remote rides will take your breath away - literally.

Where will we stay?

We only use lodging that is clean, well-located and friendly. Beyond this, however, different guests value different levels of luxury. We help you find the boutique hotel, the charming B&B or the cottage in the redwoods – as best suites you. This is just one way we combine an exceptional level of personal service with great value.

Broadly, we have four levels of accommodation:

• Exceptional Luxury
• Boutique Hotel
• Charming B&B
• Character Inns

Can I bring my own bike?

Yes.   If you have a favorite bike, it would be a shame not to ride it on these classic roads and trails.  We transport you and your bikes from downtown San Francisco.  For information on transporting your bike to San Francisco, see: The Adventure Cycling Associations Boxing Your Bicycle page for comprehensive advice on packing your bike and George Farnsworth's site for information on transporting your machine.

Do I have to carry my own luggage?

No, that's our job!  We transport your luggage leaving you free to explore unencumbered.  You will, most likely, choose to carry some snacks and light clothing with you for use during the day.  We provide panniers or a seat-post bag to help with this.

What sort of people go on your trips?

The one thing that all our guests share is a love of being outdoors.  Other than that, our guests come from many backgrounds and have different levels of cycle-experience. 

We host people who are visiting Northern California on vacation as well as locals from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Are children welcome on your trips?

Yes. Families with children are very welcome, but bear in mind that everyone must be happy and safe cycling on public roads.  We can arrange kids bikes or a "tag-along" to attach to an adults bike.  If you are traveling with kids, we ask that you and they pay particular attention to the tip sheets Safe Cycling and Cycling Efficiently.

How much do the trips cost?

Prices vary according to duration and the type of accommodation you choose.  Detailed prices can be found in the Pricing section of Our Bicycle Tours page.

What is your refund policy?

Our refund policy is one of the most generous in the industry.  Refunds depend how much notice you give of your cancellation:

• Over 90 days: full refund, including any deposit
• From 30 to 89 days: 90% of the full trip price is refunded.  Normally we simply keep the 10% deposit
• From 8 to 29 days of the start of the trip your choice of: EITHER:
  50% refund OR:
  90% of trip cost available towards a future trip with LifeCycle Adventures.
• Within 7 days of travel: sorry, no refund.

We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance to cover you in the event of having to cancel your trip.

What is included in the price of the trip?

Your itinerary will have a detailed list of what's included in your trip price and what isn't. The Trip Comparison Table has a summary of what's included in our trips and what's not. Or email us or call us if you have specific questions.

How far in advance should I book?

During high season—May through October—accommodation and our availability can book out several months in advance.  So, the more notice you give us, the better able we are to match your requirements.  For high season, in particular, we would recommend booking at least three months in advance.

What other activities can we do?

There are many great things to do in the area.  Examples include:

• Hiking in the redwoods and across the meadows
• Kayaking down the Russian River
• Golfing among the redwoods
• Ballooning at dawn above the wine valleys
• More spa treatments than you could imagine

We will be happy to make reservations for any of these activities.  Typically people choose to do these activities on rest days or at the start or end of their cycling trip.

What should I pack?  Do I need any special kit?

When packing for your trip we would suggest you check out our Kit Considerations tip sheet. Please let us know if you have questions or want advice on sourcing any of these items.

Where should we stay in San Francisco?

We don't typically recommend or book particular hotels but, for those who don't know the city, we have a guide to the main hotel areas.  Click here to see our areas by area guide to staying in San Francisco.

How can I contact you?

Call us, email us or fax us, we'd love to hear from you.  See the Contact Us Section of this site for telephone number, email addresses and fax numbers.