To Bring or Not to Bring (Bike): www.tdf-tours.com Tour de France Trip 2010

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Client Question: "Should I bring my bike?"

I hear this question almost every day. Now that we've opened up another 2010 Tour de France trip for sale, and particularly a trip with a great deal of riding, many clients are debating whether they should bring their own bikes. After contacting several former Spyns clients who opted to bring their own bikes, this post is an objective analsys of the "pros" and "cons", including a cost analysis based on information provided by our former Tour de France clients.

Pros

Comfort is by far the biggest benefit to bringing your own bike. I remember a former Spyns client on our 2009 Tour de France trip with an obsession for handlebars. He swore that by riding one of our rental bikes (a Scott Carbon) that his neck muscles were seizing up. "Do you ride a custom bike?", I eventually asked. The answer was yes. Not surprising. If you ride over 100 miles a week and own a bike worth as much as a used car, bring it (but read the "cons" section).

Cons

Unfortunately the list of negatives is rather long. For starters, you will have to get your bike to our Tour de France starting point in Pau. This will mean lugging a bike box to the Paris airport, claiming it there from "Special Baggage", cramming it into a taxi, paying extra to the cab driver for oversized luggage (not a racket but actually a legal requirement under French transport regulations), and storing it in your tiny Paris hotel room. You'll likely repeat the process back to the train station or airport for the trip down to Pau. I should also add that French transportation personnel will take every opportunity to apply a surcharge or simply yell at you for being complicated. Once on tour, it's never smooth sailing because you'll constantly worry about your bike. Our guides will eventually have to move the bike so there is a risk of scratches or light damage. I remember a former Spyns client (TDF 2009) tearfully cradling his beloved Trek because of a light scratch to the underbelly.

Shipping: the solution?

If you do plan to bring your bike, ship it. It will cost you between $200-$300 one-way. Return shipping from France is normally too expensive as you pay in Euros so I'd recommend bringing your bike back post-tour to save some money. By shipping, you avoid the many hassles discussed above but there are some risks as we learned last year. Four former Spyns clients had their bikes held by French Customs. Apparently their paperwork gave the impression the bikes were going to be sold in France. Their bikes were eventually sent home but not after a few sleepless nights. There were also a few bikes that arrived late. In both cases we scrambled to find bikes while desperately trying to locate the lost or delayed velos. For clients planning to ship their bikes this year, we have a "pre-shipping checklist" explaining the above.

In closing, you'll enjoy your Spyns Tour de France trip with our without your own bike. Using one of our rental bikes is a stress-free way to enjoy our 2010 tours. Although the fit may not be custom-perfect, you won't lose sleep over the inevitable wear & tear that comes from moving bikes to 3 different regions.

========================================================= For additional information about Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips, please call 1.888.825.4720, email info@tdf-tours.com, or visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/.

Bye Bye Bordeaux: Tour de France Trip 2010

It was with a very heavy heart that I departed Bordeaux wine country yesterday. Although I've been running trips in France since 2003, I never cease to be awed by the jaw-dropping beauty, delectable food, and fine wines of my second home. I obtained my French passport in 2001, now speak the language fluently (and even without an accent someone told me yesterday!), but I still feel like the same 18-year-old kid from Canada the first time I came to France way back in 1989. This is why I love running tours both in France and throughout Europe. The reason is simple: I absolutely love what I do.

Before breaking into song, I first wanted to re-cap my busy schedule yesterday. I started the day in Saint Emilion re-working the rides there. I had originally planned some abitious swings looping east with a wine tasting lunch at a friend's winery but that was too complicated. Taking advice from Spyns former clients, they have often told me that I overplan and overcomplicate their daily rides so my motto this year will be "simple simple simple". Moderate riders will likely want to do some riding so I re-jigged the ride to include a number of trips radiating out from the chateau similar to a clover pattern with the hotel at its centre. This will give clients the opportunity to do as little or as much riding as possible while remaining a maximum 10 km (6 miles) from their hotels. I finally had a chance to pop in for lunch to see my friend Pascal's wine bar in Saint Emilion (see photo). For about $25, I enjoyed homemade soup, broiled quail, and chocolate mousse washed down with an excellent red that Pascal recommended. We'll probably bring one of our groups to Pascale's restaurant for lunch and dinner because the food, quality and price are all excellent.

After lunch, I mapped out the rides for the Bordeaux time trial. On day 5 of the trip, clients will bike from their chateaux along a beautiful greenway right into the heart of Bordeaux. We'll watch the time trial from our top-secret viewing area (details on that to follow next year). Bordeaux is truly a spectacular city. Parts of it are as beautiful as Paris but with fewer than 1 million "Bordelais" the city is friendlier that much larger cities. The people also have a singsong southern French accent which is a mixture of the Spanish and Italian intonations. The place is truly intoxicating.

After Bordeaux, I mapped out the time trial route northwest through the Medoc wine country. If you've never been to the region, the Medoc is home to the grandest Chateaux (Rothschild, Palmer, Margaux to name a few). I did the entire route from Bordeaux northwest to Pauillac and the chateaux and scenery were spectacular (see photo). I can't wait for our Tour de France clients to see it.

It was difficult leaving the region but there is still much to do in preparation for Spyns Tour de France 2010. More posts and photos to follow.

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For more information about our company or tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Saint Emilion Spectacular: Tour de France Trip 2010

I spent the day working on our 2010 Tour de France trips and the weather could not have been better. After a steady stream of pouring rain in Pyrenees, I'd almost forgotten how nice the sun was. I spent the night at Chateau Camiac - my good friend Jean Marc's castle hotel near Saint Emilion. I was feeling decidedly grizzled after the previous night's 2 bottles of red wine complete with 4-hour bacchanalia of red meat, cheese, and chocolate. Oy vey.

After saying goodbye to Jean Marc at his stunning Château (see photo), I headed northeast to Saint Emilion. The village is a UNESCO world heritage site and I always enjoy driving there although the roads are ridiculously narrow as my battle-scarred van can confirm. On the roster was a day of ride planning and some other mundane details such as paying deposits for our guides' hotels, and confirming some final non-riding activities such as the cooking class and a walking tour. Most tourists are so interested in shopping above ground in Saint Emilion that they completely miss the endless underground caverns carved by generations of monks. There is even an underground cathedral if you can believe it. Our TDF Tours clients will discover the secrets next July. The sun peeked out so I couldn't help but take a few snaps of things our Tour de France trip clients will see while exploring this great little town.

After that, I was off to Bordeaux (about 13 miles due west of Saint Emilion) to prepare a little surprise for our clients when they see the Stage 19 time trial. I also met with our bike mechanics, almost tore the roof of the van because of a botched underground parking attempt, and drank a freshly-squeezed orange juice while wolfing down homemade cookies at the Hotel Regent tearoom across from Bordeaux's Opera House. All in all an excellent day.

I'll be sad to leave this beautiful region, especially with the vines all turning golden yellow. But it will be nice to see my wife and kids again - especially little baby Spencer who just celebrated 10 months. Before heading home though, there is more work to be done and I have a busy day planned tomorrow including wine tasting confirmations, some riding if the weather is good, and interviewing a potential guide who lives in the area.

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For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France 2010: Bonjour from Bordeaux

It's late but I just wanted to leave a brief post for all of our 2010 Tour de France clients. I was poking around Basque Country today in the southwest corner of France. The Basques are a distinct ethnic group with communities straddling the border regions between France and Spain. Although I love a good GPS, today things went horribly wrong and my "fastest" route between our hotels near Pau and a new hotel I wanted to inspect took me through some terrifying terrain (see photo). As a Canadian, I'm used to driving on slick roads but snowy conditions combined with a 1000 ft drop were a bit much. There was a treat however because I saw a rare Pyreneen Vulture. These majestic birds were almost extinct in the 1970s but through conservation now number in the 100s. I tried to take a snap but the vulture flew away. Its wingspan had to be at least 6ft across and I hadn't seen such a large bird since the bald eagles in northern British Columbia.

After the hotel inspection, I headed north to Bordeaux wine country. I'm here to do final chateaux inspections and also to test our rides for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips. While driving I had a call from Jean Marc (owner/manager) at Chateau Camiac where our classic tour clients will be spending a few days before the Bordeaux time trial (see photo). He graciously offered to put me up for the night and on top of that cooked me an incredible dinner. We drank too much wine and traded stories about working in the service industry. Jean Marc has owned the Chateau Camiac since 1989 and has had a very interesting life working in high-tech, the medical services industry, and lately tourism. I was planning to do some work but we ended up talking for 3 hours while enjoying some excellent red wine from the local vineyards (even a 2003 Figeac which was excellent). He's a great guy and I can't wait for Spyns clients to meet him.
Tomorrow I'll be in the village of Saint Emilion (a UNESCO world heritage site) to confirm our walking tours there. The town has incredible underground caverns, including an underground cathedral if you can believe it. I'll also be stopping by a friend's wine bar for a chat over lunch. More updates to follow over the next few days.

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For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

TDF Tours: Former Client Interview

Potential clients have often asked for reviews about Spyns and our tours. As a relatively young company, people considering our tours often ask for references but would prefer to find information independently of our website. This interview is hopefully a way for clients to find out the thought process that went into a former client's decision to join her TDF Tour's Tour de France trip.

Background: Kathy & Dave Trost are the classic Spyns tour couple, he rides, she doesn't. They joined our 2007 Tour de Frace swing through the Pyrenees, Bordeaux, and Paris for the finish. We previously offered just riding tours but Kathy made us change our minds. Suffering from chronic knee problems, Kathy simply could not ride so we designed a separate itinerary just for her. An idea sparked: why not offer a full itinerary for people who don't want to bike? Voila, hence our separate itinerary for non-riders which has become so popular the last few years. Here is a copy of our e-interview with Kathy:

TDF Tours: Describe your search for a Tour de France tour.

Kathy: I just typed "Tour de France tours" or something similar and your company was first or second on the google list.

TDF Tours: What did you do then?

Kathy: I sent in a request for info and Ryan called back so fast that he almost ruined the surprise. This was a surprise birthday gift for my husband. He left a message and I called the toll-free number and got Ryan. (Ryan King is TDF Tours President/Owner.)

TDF Tours: And then? Kathy: It was a pleasure speaking with the owner. I found Ryan funny, enthusiastic, and very accommodating. I was up-front about my knee problems and that I couldn't bike. Back then they didn't have a separate itinerary for people who didn't want to ride. He said it was possible but couldn't promise anything until he'd done some research. As promised, he called back in a few days after emailing me my own private itinerary. I was impressed.

TDF Tours: How was your tour?

Kathy: Magical. You always wonder if web-based companies are real so this was a bit of a shot in the dark. I was confident about our choice because the registration process and pre-trip back-and-forth were very professional. But we were both relieved when the guide picked us up at our hotel on time. We were a bit jet lagged so Dave didn't feel like riding so Ryan set us up in the hotel (a castle!) lounge with a bottle of champagne, snacks, and the tour on satellite TV. It was a great start.

TDF Tours: What was the highlight of your Tour de France trip?

Kathy: Dinner at the Eiffel Tower.

TDF Tours: What were your comments about TDF Tours for the website?

Kathy: There are no words to describe the cultural, visual, gastronomic and exciting experience we had with you. We will recommend Spyns to everyone we know and meet. We will never forget the tour or you. A million thanks.

TDF Tours: What would you say to someone considering a Tour de France tour with us?

Kathy: Do it! You only have one life and perhaps one opportunity to see the Tour de France. You made our first trip to France unforgettable.

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For more information about TDF Tours Tour de France tours, or to request references from former Tour de France clients, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Selecting a Tour Company: Things you should know

Some great comments from a former 2009 Tour de France client on how he chose our company:

1. Websites, brochures, and written references are nice, but you want to actually talk first-hand with someone who has traveled with the company before. Ask the tour director for a list of contacts that YOU yourself can choose from.

I can't agree more and this is why we routinely provide a list of references, quite often from a potential client's home town. It's essentially to contact people who have previously traveled with a company as they can provide an unscripted and unbiased review of TDF tours and its products.

2. Find out the size of the currently registered group (and what the expectations are before departure) and compare that number with previous years trips. Be wary of a tour company that has experience with smaller groups but has vastly increased their numbers for your trip.

This is an excellent point. In 2010, we chose to limit the group size to ensure that we maintain the right guide to client ration.

3. Prior to departure, ask for a final itinerary. Yes, a few things may still be up in the air, but most of the details SHOULD have been ironed-out before you actually leave.

Our final itinerary is available on our website and pre-trip materials are sent in February the year of travel.

4. Absolutely do not pay with a check! If things go horribly wrong, you have zero recourse for getting your money back. If the tour company insists on a check instead of a credit card, then find another tour company--period.

An excellent point. Fewer than 1% of our clients actually pay by check, preferring rather to pay with credit cards.

5. Make note of communication patterns with the tour company up to and prior to your date of departure as they are likely to manifest into a full blown issue when you are overseas.

I couldn't agree more. The longer the lag in communication, normally the more disorganized the company.

6. When you arrive at your destination, you should have a welcome kit with a final trip itinerary in your hotel room. No comments. Great point.

7. As it is a cycle tour, a huge concern of yours should be the bike you will be riding for the duration of your travel. If you shipped your own, you will need to schedule time with the tour mechanic/s to help assemble the bike and make sure everything works as it should.

We've discouraged clients from bringing their own bikes in 2010 as there were often delays in getting out for the first day's ride. For those who do, we ask that they complete our "Getting your bike ready" form and that they ship their bike to France so that it arrives at least 24 hours before the first day of the tour.

8. Make note of how the bikes are transported. Any and all vehicles transporting your bikes should have the appropriate bike rack or trailer.

In 2010, we'll have several modes of transportation including our vans with roof racks, trailers, and for those bringing their own bikes, a cube van that can fit their bike boxes.

9. Be wary of last-minute changes to lodging and/or itinerary. When traveling in France during the tour, hotels, restaurants, and attractions book-up solid.

I can't imagine any company trying to book hotels just days (or weeks) before the Tour. This is why TDF Tours pre-books its hotels in September/October the year before the tour.

Posted by Ryan King, http://www.tdf-tours.com/