I just want to use this forum to recommend Trek Travel for any athletic vacation you are considering. Just last week I went on their California Wine Country trip. It was 1 day in Sonoma, 2 days in Napa, and 2 days in Alexander Valleys. If anyone who has been there, you know how beautiful the scenery is, how bike friendly the communities are, and the climbing challenges available to cyclists. Overall, a great venue for a vacation centered around cycling.
What highlights the trip is the value you get for your money with the hotels, restaurants, and personal winery tours. We stayed at amazing one of a kind local hotels. The service was impeccable. Trek got the group a personal dinner with a french chef at small but excellent winery. But what really elevated the trip were the guides. Both were extremely knowledgeable, gracious, patient, and fun. They were mechanics, cooks, cheerleaders, and (obviously) tour guides. Having done this trip numerous times, they knew the valley back and forth. Also, if you did not feel like riding or you wanted a more or less challenging ride for the day, these two were more than eager to shuttle you to any such destination. “Flexibility” was a word they constantly repeated to us and delivered. (Example, they shuttled me to a winery that was not on that day’s itinery).
Finally, the best part, they provided full Ultegra Trek OCLV 5200’s. If your looking for the ultimate test ride, you found it. I’ve never ridden full carbon fiber and am now convinced of its value for hilly and/or long rides. (Rumor is that Trek Travel is switiching to offering Madone’s next year!).
If you check out their website, they have trips all over the globe and for major EU races. They go to the Gyro and Tour. Since Trek has such close ties to Lance they turn the trip into a cycling fantasy camp with USPS team dinners and climbs up Alp d’Huez and Ventoux.
So, if your looking for a vacation other than the IM variety or just love to ride, this is your trip. Definitely, one of the most memorable times.
Endorsement over.