Frequently
asked
questions
Frequently asked questions
Bikes, roads & navigation
The road surface depends on the tour style you select. Read more about what type of surface to expect on our Tour Styles page.
Quick answer: whichever bike you are most familiar with and comfortable riding.
For more insightful look at the difference between these two bike types read our article with information that will help you select the right bike for you.
You should ride whichever bike you are most comfortable on and which you normally ride. We find that a trip like this is no time to try out a completely new bike. If you ride both styles at home the choice is up to you. Unless otherwise noted in the itinerary all of our routes are suitable for road bikes.
Yes, we offer e-bikes on our tours in Europe as well as on our tours in Argentina and Chile!
E-bikes handle much like a regular bike and can be a great alternative for cyclist needing an extra boost. E-bikes provide greater access to bicycle touring for cyclists that are recovering from injuries (and have not fully regained previous fitness levels), less-experienced riders, and those desiring the opportunity to conquer more challenging tours.
Before committing to an e-bike on tour, we encourage you ride one for a full day over a variety of terrain at home. Many bike shops have e-bikes available for rent. Because these bikes are heavier (50+ pounds) they require both strength and balance, especially when mounting and dismounting the bike (regardless of terrain) and when traveling at slow speeds. If you have trouble with stability, handling or balance these bikes are not recommended for you.
Read our full information on e-bikes here.
We require that everyone wears a helmet on tour. We recommend that you bring your own helmet so you know it fits and is comfortable. Consider adopting one of these strategies for packing your helmet and keep in mind we can usually provide a lightly-used helmet upon request. You will need to provide your helmet size.
All of our bikes, including e-bikes, in South America and Europe accommodate bar-end mirrors.
Absolutely. There are a variety of ways you can save money on your next bicycle tour.
While we have a variety of saddles for you to choose from, saddle preference can be a very individualized choice. Because the bike saddle plays such a prominent role in your comfort we encourage you to bring your own saddle if you feel it would be best for you. If you do bring your own saddle do not bring the seat post and make sure that the saddle has rails for mounting in order to fit our bikes. Our tour leaders will mount and adjust the saddle at the bike fitting and remove it at tour end for you. Please note: carbon saddle rails are not compatible with our seat post clamps.
We find that if you are very tall, very short, or just hard to fit in general, it may make sense for you to bring your bike. But 99% of our customers find that the bikes we provide are perfectly adequate. Take a look at the detailed description on Our Bikes page and let us know if you have any questions.
If you decide to bring your own bike, you will be responsible for transporting or shipping the bike to and from the tour and will cover any costs you incur in so doing. You must be able to assemble and disassemble your bike and have the tools and any spare parts necessary to maintain its operation.
Yes, we encourage those who want to have ‘clipless’ pedals to bring their own – and don’t forget your shoes! We recommend you bring cycling shoes with a recessed cleat (e.g. mountain bike style shoes), or a light back-up pair to carry in the rear pack so you can walk around comfortably when taking a sightseeing break.
If you’re on a Classic, Bike and Boat, or Expedition tour, you’ll follow the arrows! Learn what that means in this article. If you’re on an Explorer tour, you’ll use a GPS or the Ride with GSP Experiences app on your phone.
On-tour essentials
On Classic, Explorer, and Expedition-style tours we use comfortable hotels and local-style inns. In Europe, this means they are primarily 3-4 star hotels. We might occasionally use a 2 star hotel when there are no other choices. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential, so we choose comfortable, well-managed hotels. All rooms have a private bathroom.
Above all, we select our hotels for location. In cities, for example, our hotels are within walking distance of city-center sights. When we (rarely) choose a luxury hotel far from the center of town, it’s worth it.
In Argentina/Chile our hotels are, of necessity, a mixture of traditional, small country inns and modern resort hotels.
Accommodations on Bike and Boat tours are smaller, by necessity.
For more information, read “What’s in a room?“
We do our best to accommodate all dietary preferences and restrictions although in some locations access to various food supplies can be more limited than others. Read more on meals and drinks on tour.
We plan our tours around the best cycling season. For more detailed weather information about the area you are going to travel in, including historic averages, there are plenty of resources online. You might start with this article we wrote.
Lots of options for how you can go about doing laundry, although the easiest is just to plan to use the sink and some soap from home. This article offers other suggestions.
We provide a detailed packing list that includes all you need but not too much. Many of our customers wear lycra bike shorts and cycling jerseys for the rides. We also recommend gloves, sunglasses and a helmet (mandatory).
You bet! All our tours have full van support including: luggage shuttle, water and snack resupply, mechanical assistance, and rides for tired cyclists!
For questions related to COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 FAQ Page
Travel planning
Every tour webpage includes specific information on arriving at and departing form tour, as well as a daily itinerary that provides an overview of each day’s starting and ending location, activities, mileage/gain, included meals, and accommodations.
ExperiencePlus! offers help with travel logistics! We are here to help you coordinate your transportation to and from the tour, as well as reserving extra night’s stay at your tour starting and/or ending hotels. Read more on ExperiencePlus! Traveler Services.
Flights are not included in our tour prices. ExperiencePlus! can refer you to Exito Travel, a 24/7 flight desk, or help you request a quote.
ExperiencePlus! recommends taking out travel insurance to cover unexpected cancellations or trip interruptions. We work with TravelEx, although there are many providers.
Please review our separate FAQ dedicated to Cuba.
Please take a look at our Travel Planning resources for additional travel information, including specifics to the countries you plan on visiting.
Selecting and booking a tour
Inclusions differ by tour style and we have four. Compare them on this grid and then drill down to learn more.
Our travelers tend to be recreational cyclists who pedal during the summer and on weekends during good weather. These folks might make up 50-60% of your group. The remaining cyclists might be split between complete novices (who have never pedaled more that 10 miles in their life) and avid cyclists (who will ask for more mileage every day).
Our typical minimum is 6-8 people and the typical maximum is 18, however we do occasionally go as low as 4 people and as many as 19. ExpeditionPlus! and Bike and Boat tours have higher maximums, usually between 20 to 25 people. Some tours also have higher minimums such as our Bike and Boat Tours. Call us and ask about the departure you are interested in as we normally have a good idea of how tours fill during certain times of the year.
You’ll naturally find others in the group who pedal your speed. Most of our groups include 2 – 4 solo travelers. On our classic, bike and boat, and expedition tours, we simplify navigation by marking the road with chalk arrows, so couples can easily split up and ride at their own pace. We’re happy to tell you about the group composition before you sign up. Just give us a call.
Yes! We have several options for groups traveling together, from joining a published tour to designing an entirely custom offering. Click through to learn more about your options.
Absolutely. There are a variety of ways you can save money on your next bicycle tour.
No. However, our sister company, CycleEurope, offers self-guided tours and bike rentals in Europe!