FAQ’s – Bike Riders Tours
Find detailed information about Senior Cycling.
How long have you been in business?
We started Senior Cycling in 1999.
What age do you consider a senior for your tours?
Senior cycling uses the AARP definition of senior, 50 years of age or older.
I personally think anyone 15 years older then myself is a senior but do not think I can find enough 86 year olds to make the business successful.
What is the average ability of your riders?
Our riders average between 8 and 14 miles per hour. The speed varies with the skill of the rider and also with the surface of the road or path. We encourage everyone to ride at their own pace.
What is needed for a multiple day bike ride?
Our trips are designed for active seniors who are reasonably fit. If you bike some either outdoors or indoors on a trainer, you should be fine. If you work out regularly but don’t bike, you should try to spend time on a bike. The major reason for this is to break in your sit bones. No seat or seat cover can keep your bottom from hurting if it hasn’t spent time in the saddle. We recommend that you give yourself a week before the trip start to recover and sit comfortably. You will still have the benefit of having conditioned your posterior.
What do your trip ratings mean?
Our beginner rating is for the occasional rider and the rides are usually on bike paths, flat terrain and low mileage. Our intermediate rides are for the more experienced rider and the mileage is usually 30/40 miles per day and we may ride on roads and have some rolling hills. For the advanced rider we may average 50 miles per day, these are usually road rides and you should be comfortable with traffic and hills.
What is your group size?
We specialize in personal service and therefore our group size in never more than 12 riders.
Please explain single supplement.
The single supplement is for riders that are traveling alone and prefer a room to themselves. If a single would prefer a roommate and one is available, we will try to match folks up. On some tours we stay in B&Bs where the bedrooms have only one bed. Folks unwilling to share a bed will be charged the single supplement for that night.
Do you have rental bikes?
Yes we rent bikes for $20 per day. Helmets for $3. per day.
What is included in the trip price?
- All overnight accommodations
- Some meals and snacks as listed in the individual trip information sheets
- Evening social, snack, beer, wine, or soft drink
- Sweep rider, sag wagon and cue sheet for all rides
- Entry fees for some side excursions included in the trip
- Senior Cycling T-Shirt and insulated logo bottle on 5+day tours
Not included: Alcoholic beverages with meals, personal expenses and transportation to and from the tour start and end. On trip start days there is no breakfast provided and on trip end days there is no dinner provided.
Does the entire group stay together or are there staggered smaller groups riding at various speeds and paces?
Everyone can ride at there own pace with others or by themselves, with Pat always with the last riders.
Can you participate in a group ride if you are new to cycling/beginner level or have never done a long ride before?
Occasionally couples are not at equal riding levels or have not done multiday rides before but they want to share the ride together. We will choose the most scenic morning or afternoon and they can ride half day.
What should I bring (packing)?
• EQUIPMENT • • CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES •
Required equipment:
- HELMET!
- Bike in good condition
- spare tube
- rack bag
- water bottle(s)
Suggested equipment:
- Pump and standard tools
- rearview mirror
- bike lock
Suggested:
- cycle shorts and jerseys(2/3)
- long sleeve shirt
- short sleeve shirt
- tights
- long pants
- short pants
- cycle gloves
- jacket
- socks(3)
- raingear
- sunscreen
- camera,binoculars
- underclothes
- Toiletries
