Bike Tour Ratings
Bike Tour Difficulty Ratings
Our goal is to make our tours accessible to everyone, many are geared for beginner to intermediate riders, with route options for advanced riders. Remember, there is a Support And Gear (SAG) van following every tour! Cold drinks, snacks, encouragement, bike mechanic help and a 4-wheeled ride are usually close by.
Easy (3-4 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
These rides are flat and slightly downhill. There’s little to no traffic to worry about, so you can feel free to enjoy the sights.
Your fitness level:
You’re in pretty good shape — you can ride about 15 miles a day, with a long ride of up to 30 miles. You’re comfortable riding 8 – 10 miles per hour. You also don’t mind hopping in the support van when you’ve done enough.
Your ideal day:
A leisurely start in the morning, and a shorter bike ride that leaves you with lots of time to relax and enjoy your vacation.
Rail Trail Tours: Easy Rider GAP Tour / New York Erie Canal West
Relaxed (3-4 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
These rides are on flat to gently rolling routes. On road bike tours, you will encounter some traffic.
Your fitness level:
You ride regularly and lead an active lifestyle. You’re comfortable pedaling up gentle climbs, and you can sustain a 10 – 12 mile per hour pace for 25 to 35 miles. You’re comfortable riding on roads, and you understand basic road biking safety.
Your ideal day:
You want a cycling vacation to be equal parts cycling AND sightseeing. You want a longer ride every day, but you’d still like plenty of time to take photos and chill at support stops.
Rail Trail Tours: Washington Olympic Discovery
Road Bike Tours: Maryland Chesapeake Bay Bike Tour
Active (4-5 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
Moderate mileage with flat and/or hilly terrain. On road bike tours, you will encounter some traffic.
Your fitness level:
You ride your bike on a weekly basis and can sustain a relatively quick pace (12 – 15 miles per hour) for 2 hours or more. You’re comfortable riding with traffic on roads, and you understand basic road biking safety.
Your ideal day:
You’d like to spend a good part of your day riding. You enjoy rolling hills and longer days in the saddle. A weekend ride for you is between 30 and up to 60 miles.
Rail Trail Tours: Wisconsin Wanderlust Rail Trail Tour / Missouri Katy Trail / Great Allegheny Passage Bike Tour / Idaho Coeur d’Alene & Hiawatha Trail / South Dakota Mickelson & the Badlands
Road Bike Tours: Quintessential West Cuba / Gettysburg & the Civil War / New York Finger Lakes / Kentucky Bike & Bourbon / Cycling Colorful Colorado
Experienced (5-6 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
These rides feature longer mileage and/or mixed terrain. On road bike tours, you will encounter some traffic.
Your fitness level:
You ride almost every day, and you can maintain a good pace (10 – 15 miles per hour) for a long time.
Your ideal day:
You want cycling to be the main focus of your vacation. Extra points if it’s in a beautiful place! You want to ride at least 40 miles a day, and you can handle a ride up to 60 miles.
Rail Trail Tours: Ohio: Cycle Cincinnati to Cleveland / Pittsburgh to DC: GAP and C&O
Road Bike Tours: Shenandoah & Civil War Bike Tour / New York Adirondacks Road Bike Tour
Advanced (5-6 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
Longer mileage, requiring advanced handling skills and endurance. You will encounter some traffic.
Your fitness level:
You ride almost every day, and you can maintain a strong pace for a long time. You can crush long climbs, and maybe you even race for fun. Maybe you’ve done a few century rides, and you’re comfortable riding an 80-mile day.
Your ideal day:
You want to ride as much as possible – at least 50 miles a day – in a gorgeous setting. You’re comfortable riding fast (15 – 20 miles per hour) in a group, and you’re looking for some serious elevation gain.
Epic (6-8 hours of daily riding)
The daily routes:
These are epic routes for serious cyclists, with lots of climbing and long days in the saddle. You will encounter some traffic.
Your fitness level:
You ride almost every day, and you can maintain a strong pace for a long time. You can crush long climbs, and maybe you even race for fun. Maybe you’ve done a few century rides, and you’re comfortable riding a 100-mile day.
Your ideal day:
You want to ride as much as possible – at least 80 miles a day – in a gorgeous setting. You’re comfortable riding fast (15 – 20 miles per hour) in a group, and you’re looking for some serious elevation gain.
Road Bike Tours: Colorado Kick Some Pass