Question 1

What's included in the fee for a standard tour?

Accepted Answer

Hotel accommodations – Day 0 through the night before the last riding day are included in the tour fee.  Double Rooms are standard.  A limited number of single rooms are available as an upgrade.  Hotels are two- and three-star properties.  In some cases, a locally owned property may be used.
Digital routes through Ride with GPS is the standard method for route sheets.  We want to be environmentally mindful and will have paper route sheets available as a backup.
Daily Route Rap to discuss upcoming route highlights, notes and changes.
Expert trip leaders and support staff.  Our staff are experienced adventurers and ready to support your Journey.
All ride day breakfasts.
Tour kick off dinner (Day 0).
End of tour banquet (evening before last riding day of the full tour).
Evening meals when dining options are limited.
SAG service, snacks and hydration.
Daily luggage transport
America Bicycle Journeys swag

What is not included – trip insurance, personal expenses and travel arrangements to and from the tour, such as your airfare and shipping expenses for your bicycle.

Question 2

Are meals included with a standard tour?

Accepted Answer

Included -- Kickoff dinner (Day 0)
Included -- End of tour banquet (evening before last riding day of the tour)

Ride day:
Breakfast included
Lunch excluded
Dinners excluded with some exceptions that will be communicated during tour orientation and daily ride briefings

Area dining options for the upcoming overnight cities will be provided each day. You may dine with a group, or you may dine solo. We want dining to be flexible, not stressful, and give the option to eat when, where and what you want, and to be able to manage your tour budget.

However, there are some overnights that have limited dining options due to the size of the town or location of the hotel. In these instances, we eat as group, and these few situations are included in the tour fee. These group gatherings promise lively table conversations!

Rest days:
All meals on your own

Question 3

What is a Legacy Tour?

Accepted Answer

A Legacy Tour is a custom cycling experience created for small groups. With a limited rider roster, these tours are built around your group’s schedule while using our proven routes. Riders enjoy dedicated, highly personal support, daily route briefings, and full SAG service—including snacks and hydration. If you have a group and an idea, let’s talk.

Question 4

What's included in a Legacy Tour fee?

Accepted Answer

Daily on-route van support on all ride days
Daily SAG support on ride days, including      snacks and hydration
Daily gear transport on ride days
Digital daily routes and cue sheets      provided to all riders
Daily route review with riders
Hotel logistics coordination
Hotels will be identified and a block of rooms reserved by America Bicycle Journeys (ABJ). Riders are responsible for booking a room from the group block and guaranteeing it with a personal credit card prior to the start of the tour, then settling room charges and incidentals directly with each property at check-out.
Area restaurant referrals for meals
Kickoff and end-of-tour group dinners
America Bicycle Journeys (ABJ) branded swag
Tour Air Tags for rider use and logistics support

Not Included in Legacy Tours:
Mechanic services
Hotel settlement, lodging costs, or incidentals
Meals, other than:
Kickoff and end-of-tour group dinners
Travel arrangements to and from the tour, including airfare, ground transportation, and bicycle shipping expenses
Travel insurance
Personal expenses

Question 5

What are the overnight accommodations?

Accepted Answer

We do not camp.  We offer only hotel-based touring.  Business class properties are selected whenever possible based on availability of double rooms for the group, amenities offered and competitive rates.  At times, the selected property is the only available option in the area.  Value, quality and comfort are always at the forefront when selecting accommodations.

Question 6

Is Wi-Fi available?

Accepted Answer

The vast majority of overnight accommodations will have Wi-Fi available.

Question 7

I want to go on a tour but I’m coming alone and don’t want the single upgrade.  Can you assign a roommate?

Accepted Answer

Yes, standard accommodations are double rooms for riders. There will be a roommate pool of those traveling as a single, and roommates will be assigned. The assignments will change at each overnight stop.

Question 8

What is “Life Like on Tour?”

Accepted Answer

Simplistically - eat, ride, eat, sleep, repeat.
  
You’ll wake up, dress and fill water bottles for the day.  Then you’ll load your luggage on the trailer that’s waiting in the hotel parking lot, eat breakfast then load up on snacks from the tour snack table.  Now you’re ready for the day.

This is your tour. Enjoy the day at your pace.  Follow the digital cues provided from Ride with GPS.  You’ll see the vans and trailer along the route and at designated SAG stops to refuel and fill water bottles.

We’re taking care of logistics in the background.  Your responsibility is to ride from point A to point B.  When you get to point B you’ll find your gear in a designated location and the rest of the day may include spending time at the pool, seeing area sights, enjoying a treat at a local ice cream shop or doing chores (showers, laundry or cleaning bikes).

We also assemble daily to review the next route and to talk about the sights and adventures everyone has experienced.

Question 9

Are tours self-guided?

Accepted Answer

All tours are fully supported with assigned staff.

Question 10

Are there age limits?

Accepted Answer

Cyclists must be at least 15 years old and accompanied by an authorized adult(s) – one or both parents, close family member, or custodial parent.  Adult is responsible for their minors and must cycle together on the road during the day and room together for all nights.

There is no upper age limit, although we ask for a medical clearance from a primary care physician for those over 60. We celebrate everyone who takes on the challenge of crossing the country on two wheels!

Question 11

What kind of roads do we ride?

Accepted Answer

Our routes are curated with safety in mind.  Tours are primarily road rides with bike paths wherever possible.  Our major focus is on low traffic roads but there will be a variety of roads and surfaces that will challenge your comfort zone at times. You will view the real America from the seat of your bicycle on tour.

Question 12

Do you rent bikes?

Accepted Answer

We do not.  We feel everyone is most comfortable with the bike they have trained on and most familiar with.

Question 13

Can I bring my e-bike?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we’re able to accommodate anyone using an e-bike.  Trailers have an e-track system to transport your bike, if needed; but, vans and trailers are not equipped for charging e-bikes.  You should bring what’s needed to charge overnight and may want to consider bringing an extra battery or extender if that is an option for your model.  You’ll also want to investigate how you’ll transport your bike to the start and from the end of the tour as batteries need special consideration when shipping.  Your local bike shop is an excellent source of information.

Question 14

How do I train?

Accepted Answer

Tours are more enjoyable the more you prepare.  We’ll be able to provide training guidance as part of the pre-trip communications that you’ll receive.

Question 15

Are tour dates flexible?

Accepted Answer

Published dates for standard tours are fixed.  They are carefully selected based on the overall tour schedule, major local events, and anticipated conditions along the route.  Time of year and expected weather are also key factors in determining the best dates for each tour.

If you require flexibility, ask about Legacy Tours.

Question 16

Describe SAG support.  Are there aid stations with snacks?

Accepted Answer

Support and Gear: Rider gear is transported by ride staff to the next overnight location.  Riders carry only what they want for the day.

During the day, there will be designated locations on the route that are called “SAG Stops,” also known as aid stations.  At those stops, and also in the vans that are on the route, there will be water, a hydration drink option, an inventory of various sweet and savory snacks and fruits.

You may make the decision at a SAG stop not to continue riding that day (or to bump ahead on the route for a little relief).  The bike is loaded on the van (as the trailer may already be down the road) and you get in the van.

If at a time other than a SAG stop, tap your helmet at the support vehicle (van) as it goes by and it will pull ahead (or stop with you if it’s a mechanical problem that has you stopped), and the same process – the bike is loaded and you get in the van.  Riders will also have the cell phone numbers of all the staff/vans and may make contact for support that way.

Question 17

How many cyclists are on a standard tour?

Accepted Answer

There will be a minimum of 10 riders for the tour to run and a maximum of 20 riders to ensure everyone is receiving the support needed.

Question 18

Is daily cell phone charging provided?

Accepted Answer

Since tours are hotel-based, services will be available at hotels to charge phones and e-bike batteries.  Support vehicles are not configured for charging cell phones nor e-bike batteries.

Question 19

Can friends, family and team members do a segment if I do the full ride?

Accepted Answer

Each part-time and full-time rider is welcomed.  The diversity of the group is what makes touring so much fun, but sometimes “real life” gets in the way of the passion and prevents a rider from doing a full ride. We understand.

Frequently Asked Questions