LifeCycle Adventures Guided Group Trips

~ Starting in July ~

What do you want to see?

Please contact Stacey for an itinerary for trips running from July through September. There’s lots more to see on these trips!

Email Stacey at stacey@lifecycleadventures.com

Earlier this year, we shared that Kristen Gentilucci, one of our California Guides was taking her bike and her guiding skills to join the 2012 Bike & Build effort. They will travel across the country – diagonally – from Maine to Santa Barbara to raise awareness for affordable housing and help build houses in some communities. Now that is a powerful way to pedal!

This month, we introduce you to Ross Battersby, the other Brit in our crew (the first being our fearless founder, Tony).

Ross was born and raised in southern England, just south of London. He started riding and racing his bike at 13 and baffled his parents with his commitment to training and racing. In the early 1980′s Ross went to university to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne where he found a new outlook on life. During and after university, there were so many things to do and experience: rugby, marksmanship, a commission in the British Army, and not to mention the studies in Estate Management (that’s agricultural estate!) As if that wasn’t enough adventure, Ross followed that with a job running expedition style trips worldwide in 4×4 trucks for an unorthodox company. His first venture was to East Africa where after 6 weeks of training he was running safaris. This was followed by several Trans-Africa expeditions and several trouble shooting trips that really were very testing. All this excitement translated into several years as a safari guide in Tanzania for a US outfitter. Quite conveniently, he met his wife on one such expedition. After many more adventures Ross and his wife landed in California’s Bay Area where he ran the operations department for a worldwide adventure travel company. After 3 years in a cubicle, the sand in his shoes began to itch and he and his wife decided to realize a dream and set off on a two year trip across the US and Canada and through Europe and Africa in their own Ford F250 4×4 – with no tourists! It was the trip of a lifetime – straight out of an Indiana Jones storyline. They reached the Cape of Good Hope in October 1993, amidst the first multi ethnic elections in South Africa. They later returned to California and moved to Sonoma County’s wine country, where Ross used his rough and ready skills to become a winemaker. He worked for a large corporation and then as the winemaker for a small estate vineyard, making 12 different wines from vines as old as 110 years. The small vineyard struggled financially, so 15 years later and with the world economy on the brink Ross was released into a new world.

Experienced and travelled but without direction, he followed his legs on a bike again, (after 22 years of no steady cycling) and began guiding trips in Sonoma and Napa for LifeCycle Adventures. Ross enjoys showing visitors the delights of our magnificent area and the stunning vineyards and exquisite wines we have to offer. Ross loves riding his bike and his wife and son (adopted from Vietnam) join him on tandems rides. They travel through the forests and local trials and participate in the local Gran Fondos and centuries in our area. Ross and his wife have marshaled for Levi’s Gran Fondo on their tandem for the last couple of years. Whatever the weather, Ross loves to ride, long or short trips, and there is always a challenge, a delight, or something new to enjoy…maybe an espresso and a sticky bun at the end….if the work has been hard enough!

When you join us on a tour, Ross is definitely a good source for the wines and for tackling some of our more fun and challenging hills, and he just might teach you a word or two in Setswana.

Cheers from California!

Laura

A: We have all been designated Bicycle Friendly Businesses by the League of American Bicyclists.

Yesterday, the League of American Bicyclists added LifeCycle Adventurers to their list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses; a list of 412 businesses and agencies who are, in their words are, “transforming the American workplace.”  We’re proud to take our place alongside these other bike friendly businesses.

We will continue to work to make the bicycle an integral part of our lives and the lives of our employees, guests and contractors – be it cycling to a meeting or running the best bike-friendly tours in California, Oregon and Hawaii!

I’m in Hawaii putting the finishing touches to our Big Island Bike Tours.

In designing our new Hawaii bike tours tours I’ve worked with one of the islands most experienced bike guides.  She’s guided on the island for over 15 years and has helped me discover “Hidden Hawaii” – not just the beaches and tourist resorts.

Our Hawaii itineraries link together some outstanding rides and have you staying in some amazing hotels & B&Bs.  These bike tours are available from September 2012.

The first five people to book – mentioning this blog-post – will receive a $200 discount off their trip. (Just in case my badly taken photos are not enough to tempt you!

Mahalo (thank you).

Tony

Successful in California & Oregon, Self-Guided Bicycle Tour Company Now Booking Tours in Hawaii

SAN FRANCISCO (March 9, 2012) — LifeCycle Adventures (www.lifecycleadventures.com), a premier bicycle tour company known for its customized, self-guided tours in California and Oregon, is now offering tours in Hawaii. Tours start and end at Kona Airport on the Big Island and are booking now for departure dates from September, 2012.

“We’re thrilled to offer a way to experience Hawaii that’s more than just the run-of-the-mill hotel, beach and pool package,” said Tony Blakey, LifeCycle Adventures founder. “Our clients can see ‘Old Hawaii’ from the best vantage point: two wheels. There’s an intimacy and sensitivity to this type of travel that make it a great way to enjoy one of the most beautiful and unspoiled parts of a uniquely American paradise.”

LifeCycle Adventures launched in 2006 to provide tailored, self-guided bike tours throughout Napa and Sonoma Counties, primarily for couples and small groups. By 2010 the company expanded to offer tours in Oregon’s Willamette Valley & Columbia River Gorge. Unlike most bicycle-vacation companies, which require guests to join a group, LifeCycle Adventures’ on-the-ground staff works with travelers to create custom itineraries, arrange lodging, move luggage and provide bikes – and to find those “hidden gems” that only locals know about. They also provide private transfers from regional airports to maximize the time guests have for riding.

High-touch service and attention to detail are the hallmarks of LifeCycle Adventures tours, traits that have been recognized in the industry; National Geographic Adventure Magazine has named the company as one of their “Best Outfitters on Earth.”

Pricing varies depending on accommodation choices and length of stay, but commonly ranges from $1,000-3000 per person. Guests can book a tour by calling 1.888.NOW.BIKE in the U.S. (0800-587-8663 in the U.K.) or visiting Lifecycle Adventures on the Web at www.lifecycleadventures.com.  As tours fill up quickly, especially in peak season, it is recommended that guests book their tours at least three months in advance.

BIG ISLAND, HAWAII TOURS

Big Island, Hawaii is a tropical paradise but there’s so much more to this island than white sand beaches and palm trees. These Hawaii bike tours focus on the north and west of the island, home to the best weather and the best cycling. Guests get to experience four very distinct areas in terms of landscape, climate, history and culture. Sample rides include:

• Waikoloa to Hawi (pronounced Ha-vee) – On this ride, lava fields give way to grasslands, and then the landscape becomes lush before arriving in Hawi.  Hawi is tropical, relaxed Hawaii at its best – and home to a vibrant artist community.  En route you visit a National Historic Site as well as world-renowned beaches.

• Hawi to Waimea (Kamuela) – Great for those who like climbing hills on two wheels. In just a few miles, you transition from the lush, tropical world of Hawi to the open cattle ranches of Waimea highlands – with its rolling hills and quiet lanes. In the distance you’ll see Mauna Kea – at 13,796 feet it’s the highest point in the state.

• In and around Waimea — Cruise down to Honokaa on the east coast and on to the stunning Waipio Valley Lookout. The return ride is on the Old Mamalahoa highway – a great opportunity to ride along quiet lanes under hanging vines and tropical flowers.

• Waimea to Captain Cook — you cruise downhill to the coast while enjoying stunning views out to the ocean.  From here, you head south along the oceanfront past many small beaches to the town of Captain Cook.  Captain Cook is in the heart of Kona coffee country and has some of the best snorkeling on the island.  Ideal for those wanting to end the trip with a sip & splash!

CALIFORNIA & OREGON TOURS

LifeCycle Adventures continues to offer its signature California Wine Country cycling tours. Here guests explore the classic wine regions of Napa & Sonoma.  The gateway city for these California bike tours is San Francisco.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a patchwork of vineyards as well as scenic hop farms, orchards and the wheat fields of the French Prairie. Bike tours of the Columbia River Gorge, also in Oregon, include the stunning, snow-capped peaks of Mount Hood and Mount Adams, bucolic fruit orchards and the magnificent waterfalls of the Gorge. The gateway city for these Oregon bike tours is Portland.

ABOUT LIFECYCLE ADVENTURES

LifeCycle Adventures is an owner-operated bicycle tour company based in San Francisco that offers cyclists some of the most personalized and well-supported tours in the industry.  The company is meeting a growing demand by travelers for tailor-made vacations; combining local knowledge previously only found on group tours with the flexibility of individual travel.  Visit LifeCycle Adventures on the Web at www.lifecycleadventures.com, email info@lifecycleadventures.com or call 888-NOW-BIKE/888-669-2453 (from outside the U.S. call +1 415 366 3806).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Tim Hart

Tel. 415.992.7854

Skype: tim-hart

Email. thart@hart-communications.com

Twitter: timtext

Perhaps you took a trip to Napa and Sonoma and soaked in the vineyards, redwoods and coast or maybe you cycled in Oregon along the quiet lanes of the Willamette Valley or the heart pumping climbs of the Columbia River Gorge?

As a small company we feel gratitude to each and every one of you and not only do we hope that you’ll join us on another tour, we also hope that you will help us get the word out to your friends, family, colleagues, Facebook acquaintances, Twitter followers, blog devotees, and more.

We will, of course, reward you for your efforts! So here’s the deal:

• If five or more of your friends contact us to learn more about our trips (whether they book or not), we will send you one of our bike jerseys as a thank you. Just have them mention you when they call or email. (If you already have a jersey how about a bottle of Oregon pinot noir or Californian olive oil.)

• If one of your referrals takes a trip with us, we’ll send you a Rapha rain or wind cycling jacket ($295 value). Rapha is one of the top cycling gear manufacturers in the world and we love these jackets.

• The person you refer will also receive complimentary bikes for their trip. So, there is a little LifeCycle Adventures love for everyone.

Thank you for spreading the word and we would love to hear from you either directly or through Facebook if you have memories or photos to share or if you just want to say hi!

Springtime means easing back on skiing, running, time in the gym and getting back on the bike.  One of LifeCycle Adventures’ spring highlights is providing spare bikes, vehicles, and support for the Aeolus Endurance Sport Marin Training Camp in Mill Valley, California.  The camp runs for 5 days at the end of March each year and takes in all of Marin County’s best cycling.

The riders stay at a beautiful, secluded retreat high on the side of Mt Tamalpais, and enjoy cycling, massage, yoga instruction (provided by our head of sales, Stacey!), and excellent food.  They learn how to climb faster, descend with more confidence, and ride safely in groups.  They’ll also enjoy the best cycling the bay area has to offer.

Sunshine Cycling along Tomales Bay

Stacey has asked me to include the list of her favorite Camp things:

1.)    Riding with great people

2.)    The food at the retreat

3.)    The retreat dog

4.)    Daily massage

5.)    Post ride coffee and pastries in Mill Valley

If you or someone you know is interested in enjoying some spring sunshine in Marin, send Adnan  an email at adnan@lifecycleadventures.com and he’ll send you a detailed schedule for the week.

Kristen Gentilucci

Kristen’s was born in Los Angeles, escaped to Boston, Nebraska, and then Santa Cruz searching for a home with trees and good people.  She eventually  found it in Oakland, CA, the perfect mix of art, redwoods, real people with disparities, and thus potential.

She studied graphic design and art history at UC Santa Cruz. She likes… no no, she LOVES her bike. She found this love for a bicycle a few years ago and it has taken her around the world on two wheels. Kristen wants to be a traveler that meets people from all walks of life and shares in their excitements and also their tales of sadness and hardship.

This summer, Kristen will be leading a bike trip of 27 young adults ages 18 to 25, across the USA (from Maine to Santa Barbara) for Bike and Build. The goal is to raise awareness for affordable housing. While biking across the country diagonally they will meet with members of the communities they cycle through and tell them about their trip and the affordable housing issues, and help them become involved in efforts to alleviate the problem.

There will also be several days where the group will trade bikes for hammers, and help construct affordable homes with local affordable housing organizations like Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity. In order to participate in Bike & Build, each cyclist must raise $4,500, including the leaders. The proceeds from the trip will be used to fund young-adult driven affordable housing projects.

We wish Kristen all the best on this adventure and certainly look forward to having her back in the Fall for more cycling tours around our bountiful fields of the harvest season.

To learn more about Bike and Build or to support Kristen’s efforts please visit: http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/5558 .

Cheers from California!

Laura

Jenn’s & Andrew’s Self-Guided California bike tour started in the Napa Valley at Calistoga.  From there, they headed into Sonoma County via the Alexander Valley.  Sonoma has some great bike riding in Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River.  Their trip ended with a ride down the Pacific Coast to Bodega Bay.

Thanks for sharing these great photos!

There comes a juncture in the late fall in Oregon when you resist riding a bike. It’s rainy, it’s cold, and you just aren’t ready to face the music of winter. So my best small French friend, Nathalie, and I decided to book a weekend away at one of Oregon’s best resorts in the Columbia River Gorge – Skamania Lodge and Spa – sans bikes! We were sad not to bring our bicycles but vowed that our next trip to Stevenson would include bikes.

We each packed up a tiny bag with some toiletries and a change of clothes (I planned to stay in my robe most of the weekend) and hopped into her new cherry red Volkswagon Jetta TDI to begin our adventure on Friday afternoon. We giddily breathed in the new car smell, turned up the seat-warmers until our butts were blazing, and fumbled around the center console trying to figure out how to work the defrost before we were completely fogged in for the 45 minute ride to Stevenson, WA.

We arrived around 5pm and walked from the rain into the large, warm lobby with floor to 100ft ceiling windows and a big, welcoming fireplace. After checking into our spacious Double Queen room we decided that we were hungry and it was time for chow. I had been craving a cheeseburger for two weeks so we wandered down to the River Rock Lounge and with great anticipation I found my cheeseburger on the menu immediately. Nathalie ended up ordering the Gorge flatbread, which came out as a gorgeous piece of art – an artisan flatbread piled high with carmelized onions, wild mushrooms, asparagus, pear, oregon blue, and white truffle oil. We couldn’t help ordering a Hood River cherry cobbler complete with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream. Wow, wow, and more wow. These were fresh cherries grown in Hood River, fat, juicy, and not too sweet. I sure wish that had ridden my bicycle so that I had a reason to eat all of that!

In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast and tossed around our options for the day. We consulted with the Forest Service Center that is housed in the hotel lobby and the ranger offered us some nearby hiking ideas. We ended up at Horsetail Falls about 15 minutes away from the resort for a 5 mile hike. Though we had a car, the resort offers a shuttle to some hiking areas, which is great for our guests on bicycles!

Stacey on the way to Horsetail Falls

The next day, just before check out, we decided to try the four miles of hiking trails that Skamania Lodge has onsite. There are spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Mountains. What a great way to finish up our weekend retreat. After the hike, Nathalie decided to indulge one more time in the pool and sauna while I reveled for the last hour in the cozy bed with my book. We reluctantly packed up our tiny bags, glancing longingly behind as we walked to the car for the ride back. We’ll be back, Skamania Lodge, and next time we’ll bring BIKES to tour the Columbia River Gorge!!!