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Riders Write Their Own Reviews


"We had a fantastic 2 weeks with A2Z in Portugal and would certainly , ...

" I did the Pyrennes tour with A2Z when the company first started ... more reviews

"If you want large busses, large groups and large, "big box" hotels, Adventure Travel Group isn't for you. BUT, ...

" ... Being a part of the craziness of the Tour de France itself, the restaurants and food, the lodging--all far surpassed my high expectations. I've been on many bike tours and ... more reviews


Austin Lehman Adventures austinlehman.com

"The hotels are comfortable and clean, generally in smaller friendly towns ....

" ...   Here's what we like: great, incredibly helpful guides, well-planned itineraries; unstructured, informal days with just enough group activity but not too much; flexibility; excellent bikes; great value ....more reviews

Butterfield & Robinson butterfield.com

"After having taken a lot of Backroads trips, I thought B&R was going to be a more expensive version of the same thing.  It's not ...

"... Appreciably more expensive than some but they stay in the top places available in the area - often converted castles or chateaux. In our experience on several trips with them ...more reviews

Backroads: backroads.com  

"My Backroads vacation riding through Tuscany was the best vacation of my life ..

".. I like that they have different pricing options (classic or deluxe).   Go now while the tourism business is hurting ...more reviews

Bike and the Like: bikeandthelike.com

"Experienced, knowledgeable ride leaders who instantly turn a group of strangers into a circle of friends ..."

The choice of hotels are in classic locations, where possible (Misquamicut Beach, view of surf fishermen just outside the window; 100 year old San Remo Hotel ... more reviews

BikeRiders  bikeriderstours.com

"The hotels and food were excellent and the guides were top notch. The small group size was ...

"We have taken three tours with BikeRiders.  All three were excellent ...more reviews

Blue Marble bluemarble.org

"For the price, I was really impressed with the lodging. We actually stayed at mostly 3 star ...

" ... I was not looking forward to carrying two day's worth of baggage in my paniers ... more reviews

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Carolina Tailwinds:  carolinatailwinds.com

"... Carolina Tailwinds' tours are operated by the owners of the company. Thus, their level of service exceeds that of other companies ..." more reviews

Ciclismo Classico:  ciclismoclassico.com

"Every year we take a trip with Ciclismo Classico.  They just seem to keep getting better and better ...

" ... Having travelled with B&R, Backroads and CC, I'd say that Ciclismo Classico hotels are almost as good as that of ...more reviews

Classic Adventures:  classicadventures.com

" ... a well planned tour at an excellent value.  Our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly... more reviews

:Creative Catalonia  creativeCatalonia.com

" ... since they live in the area and they are not a huge company they willingly alter trip details to suit individual requests... more reviews

CycleItalia:  cycleItalia.com

" ... well thought-out itinerary, challenging yet fun rides, and lots of great food when off the bike ..."

"This specialized operator has a wealth of knowledge about cycling in Europe. They are former racers ... more reviews

Discover France: discoverfrance.com

"... FANTASTIC!  Excellent routes and accommodations.  Highly recommend.... "

"We found Discover France to the be the value for self-guided touring in France. They were about 25% less .."more reviews

Discover Tuscany: discover-tuscany.it

... Leonardo speaks excellent English and will tailor his pace and route to meet the needs of your group ... . . more reviews

Duvine Adventure's: duvine.com

"... bicycle vacation through unspoiled villages in France, while staying in charming inns and chateaux, eating gourmet cuisine and tasting world-class wines ...

"  This was my second trip with DuVine, and they always seem to make life so easy ...more reviews

Easy Rider Tours easyridertours.com

"I've taken trips (over 40) with all the major companies and Easy Rider is the best value by far..."

"If you are considering a bike tour of Ireland, more reviews

Experience Plus!  experienceplus.com

"... Excellent value and wonderful tours with great accomodations and meals.  Roads selected are paved country lanes with very few busy highways. 

"ExperiencePlus' system of using chark to mark the route at the start of the day is fabulous ... more reviews

Far and Away Cycling FarAndAwayCycling.com

"The routes take you on the most interesting, less travelled roads with beautiful sceneries ...

"The hotels and restaurants were of excellent quality ... the routes chosen were very condusive to riding." more reviews

Freewheeling Adventures FreewheelingAdventures.ca

" .. Freewheeling will never cancel a trip, no matter how few participants.  We stayed at the same luxurious locations as Backroads but our trip cost much less. "

"Groups are smaller than most other groups.  I was impressed both with the quality of our guides and the quality of our accomodations ..." more reviews

Great Explorations: greatexplorations.com 

“..The biking was challenging and the coast was great....

 “We had a great time. Robbin was a great guide and tried to satisfy everyone in the group ... more reviews

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La Corsa: lacorsa.com 

" ... great routes and guides, challenging cycling, great hotels & food and the very personal attention of the directors on each rider's needs.

"... beautiful road with very little traffic.  Service was outstanding as the ride leaders were the company owners.  more reviews

Pack & Pedal tripsite.com

We had a wonderful, independent cycling trip in Holland. ... Hotels were all accommodating and they were all prepared for our arrival. ...

... I was looking for a company that could help me organize a bike/barge European tour for 22 people and where we would be able to write a contract for the use of an entire barge. Pack and Pedal came through and were most helpful in accomplishing that for me .... more reviews

Randonnee: randonnee.com  

"... There is a tremendous sense of freedom in being on your own with no schedule except your own but also knowing that Randonnee is there ...more reviews

Russian Cycling Touring Club rctc.ru

" ... These tours are organized by cycling enthusiasts in the club, many of whom are college professors. They offer you the chance to see the real Russia by traveling through small villages and towns ...."

" ... Highly recommended to those who are keen to be further off the beaten track, and don't mind roughing it - which just added to the sense of achievement ... " more reviews

Siciclando siciclando.com

"... We have been on dozens of bike tours and the four tours we have done with Siciclando in Sicily and Basilicata (Italy) are amongst the very best ever ...

"Excellent communications,personal welcome and service, very good bikes, a wonderfully eclectic mix of accommodation [nearly all small, family run] ... " more reviews

Spyns spyns.com

" .... I'd used a few of the bigger bigger bike tour companies before but didn't like being a number and paying sky-high prices ... "

" Personal attention from the time you make contact with the owner/President Ryan and all through the trip. ... "
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Terracotta Journeys terracottaJourneys.com

" ... Every minute was rich with cultural mind openers, and pleasures of all sorts. ... "

" ... Terracotta Journeys confirms the wisdom of selecting a company that specializes in a region. " ore reviews

Trek Travel trektravel.com

"... The bikes were exceptional (as you would expect of Trek); the guides friendly and hard-working; and the other riders fairly strong and very social ...more reviews

Van Gogh Tours:  vangoghtours.com  

"I've done three tours with this company and plan to do more.  Here's why: ...

"My husband and I have tried three bicycle tour companies, and Van Gogh is our favorite. The rides are ... more reviews

VBT Tours:   vbt.com  

" ... VBT is a great value compared to many of the other groups. ...

"We had a wide range of riders, from novice to very experienced.  All got to bike at the level they enjoyed ..

"I thought I would save money and buy the plane ticket through VBT. What a mistake! ... more reviews

Other Tour Companies

AdventureBugTours.com:Excellent and affordable. Focus was the villages and comfortable (not luxurious) accommodations and meals. Lots of culture and exploration with moderate cycling. " - T Parsons, Burlington, VT

Bent's: This is a UK based company specialising in Germany and Austria.  They provide good value tours with very enjoyable bicycling.  Organisation is reliable, and they should be considered by anyone wanting good value. - J. Brua, London England

Bicycle Adventures:We have taken three tours with BA in the western USA and enjoyed them thoroughly.  Their guides are superb, equipment is first class, and logistic arrangements are flawless.  This is a very reliable company, well managed, which provides great value. - Larry D., Tacoma, WA

Bicycle Africa: This is a not for profit group that offers guided, self-supported tours in Africa (and now some in Cuba and SE Asia). The tours are off the normal tourist paths and while a bit more "adventure" than most group tours, they are the experience of a lifetime. Not the kind of trip for everyone, but a truly memorable trip. - Mischa K, San Francisco, CA

Bicycle Adventures: Whitefish, Mt.to Jasper,Alberta. Staggeringly beautiful scenery,30-60 miles/day. seven days riding.Some challenging hills. Good lodging(including lunches on the road), good food, good guides. 12 guests Approx.$3,000. Definitely felt that the company delivered. Will gladly travel with them again. - Lanny F., Syracuse, NY

Bike Adventure Club - Rode 2 weeks, 12 days riding / 2 rest days, in Dordogne.. Well organized. Excellent que sheets. 2-3 star hotels. BAC is nonprofit. Any money not spent during tour is returned to riders. Actual cost of tour was $1600. Included all breakfasts, all dinners except 1 night. Only possible drawback to BAC trips: Trips set up by trip leader so they get trip for free. Trip only as good as leader. - Ron W, Denver, CO

Bike and Cruise: With the exception of a couple of killer hills, I felt like I was on a 2nd grade field trip. We rode the routes as a group, with the fastest going no more than 10 mph and sometimes barely fast enough to keep your bike upright, then stopping and waiting forever for everyone else to catch up. And the waiting, my god, the waiting. We waited on the pier in St. Lucias for an hour and 45 minutes for our police escort, and this was typical. The food on the islands consisted of cold sandwiches for the most part and the beaches were all sub-standard. Overall, a huge disappointment.- M. Vondra, Plymouth, IN

Bike Dreams: The company states they run a race/adventure ride from Paris to Dakar,I raced in 2007 and returned in 2009 to defend my title.There were issues concerning race organisers/crew racing and interfering with paying customers race results in 2007. In the 2009 event the same happened with the race director continually racing/guiding participants I withdrew in protest half way.A good tour concept but as a race they fail the competency test - a adventure ride only avoid if you want to race a waste of training,money there are better organised races. John Faulkner, Culverden New Zealand

Bike Hike Adventures: This company is top notch. They run multi-sport adventures in South and Central America, Canada, New Zealand and Tanzania. Days are full of adventure, the equipment is real quality, food is plentiful and yummy, hotels are quaint with loads of character and the guides, 10+. I highly recommend them. - Gordon Ross, Toronto, ON

Bike New England, Gordon Harris led us on a tour around Ipswich, MA during June, 2007. The biking routes and sights were first class. I received a good work out and got to see Massachusetts from the inside out. A local writer/naturalist gave us very good information about the area and its waters. Our bed/breakfast was also very good. The owner and his wife were terrific and knew how to make their guests feel at home. We were able to reach Ipswich on public transportation, another bonus. Our biking companions were extremely friendly and very good bikers. - Charles Geiss, Valparaiso, IN

Bike Switzerland: Bike Switzerland is an excellent value. Days are organized so that riders have a choice between doing a long day or a short day. The tour crosses the while country West to East...an excellent way to see Switzerland. - John B.   

Bike Spain: Generally good organization. Staff was friendly and outgoing. They worked hard to give the full "Camino" experience. Van support was very helpful on those terrible uphills! Food was generally very good. Dawn S. Ottawa, Canada

Black Bear Adventures Bicycle Tours: I have been fortunate to participate in a lot of trips in my lifetime. If I were to rank them, the Epic Tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway would be right up there at the top. You and your staff did an excellent job of keeping up our group morale and making sure we were all well taken care of. In spite of the difficulty of the ride, I found myself enjoying the experience. In short, I will not hesitate to do another tour with you. - Hank B., White Bear Lake, MN

Breton Bike. Flexible, accommodating, a true pleasure! We booked a last-minute trip, had to fly across a continent so there was little room for error. Their easy flowing manner made it easy to calmly depart for the trip and arrive there feeling confident all was in order. The bikes were spectacular, their local knowledge impressive, all arrangements were taken care of without having to follow up or badger them. The accommodations were adequate equaling our expectations. We did set lower than normal expectations knowing we were on vacation in the country. In several cases we were pleasantly surprised to find a lovely setting. Great for kids! My 9 year old son travelled the whole trip with me and enjoyed the whole thing--from the history, to the challenge of biking, to the simple pleasures of the hotels and the outdoors. I'd do it again without skipping a beat!!!

Celtic Trails: I just had the best vacation of my life on Celtic Trails.  Paul who runs all tours is past cycle racer for Ireland.  He only leads tours in Ireland because that is what he knows best.  We went to the neatest hole-in-the-wall pubs with amazing music.  The biking is a scenic 40 miles a day (generally on empty roads).  He takes pictures of your whole trip (we had over 1000 at the end).  Plus, wine is included as are daily lunches and dinners!  - Melina Hoyer, Berkeley, CA

Cicloposse: The owners are a charming Italian couple, and I would like to say that they gave us great service and that will use them again, but that's not true. We had multiple problems with the bikes: chains constantly falling off, 3 flat tires in one day, etc. One day we were stranded without being able to ride as we waited for new equipment. We have traveled with many other companies, so we knew it wasn't us. - Warren H, New York, NY

Cycletours Holland: We took a bike and boat tour with this company and cannot be more pleased. Everything was as listed except that it was much better. Our guide, Jans had an encyclopedic knowledge of Holland and it was fun listening to him repeat in three other languages. - C & K Daigle, Broussard, LA

Cycletours Holland: Thinking of taking a Bike and Barge trip tour in Europe? DON'T TAKE CYCLETOURS. We did from Amsterdam - Brugge. Here's the report:The boat was dirty, damp, and cramped. Zero cleaning or fresh linens during our 11 day trip. The food started out okay, but ended up as fried fish patties, mashed vegetables, and frozen French fries. The captain was autocratic and a bully; the crew had an us-them attitude. They cancelled 2 days of bike touring because of the tour guide's bad mood (we salvaged the situation both by arranging to hook up with another tour campany docked nearby and by guiding ourselves). CycleTours Director did nothing when we brought our situation to his attention. We loved the biking and the Low Countries, but will choose another company next time. LD, Los Angeles, CA

Cycle Tours Slovakia: Cycle Tours Slovakia, www.cycle-sk.com was a wonderful experience. We have ridden in three continents and were surprised to find Slovakia one of the most varied and fun. We brought our road bikes and did many days of pretty tough cycling with some great mountain passes. The three-star hotels and all-inclusive food were great but the Gypsy band Jana had arranged for us was a real surprise! -  S. Feller,  Phoenix, AZ

Cyclewest.com: Cyclewest.com offers fantastic tours of western Ireland run by an Irish native. The routes are designed to be far from traffic, and the lodgings are the stuff of which memories are made.  Each day she can offer you a variety of cycling routes if you want something more challenging! - M Brigham, Troy MD

Cycling Country: I had my doubts touring with a smaller company in Spain, but this outfit comes highly recommended. We cycled from Seville to Granada and the accommodation was excellent (staying in the same places as the other bigger tour companies such as Experience Plus) and the guides (the company owners from Canada and UK), so knowledgeable. And their prices are unbelievable for the experience, probably due to the fact they live in Andalusia and have less costs. They are rolling out a tour to Portugal this year - we'll be back!

I cycled through Spain with these guys and I can honestly say it was the best bike trip I have ever taken. The company is run by a couple Maggi and Geoff who are delightful and give you all the support and information for this adventure through Moorish Spain. What surprised me most was the high quality of accommodation, restaurants and bikes, and the route was just beautiful. - Robert Woodlow, Seattle, WA

Cycling-centuries.com - On a scale of 1-10, Cycling-Centuries.com provided a trip that was an 11.  We rode along the coast of Portugal in September of 2005 and they did an amazing job of running the trip.  It was definitely a trip we won't forget and look forward to the next one with them! - Steve Johnson, Plano , TX

Cycling Thru The Centuries. I've done 2 tours with CTTC - Portugal and Spain. Both were great trips. The service was great and the guides were very knowledgeable about the regions we visited. My experience with CTTC was above and beyond what I expected. And finally, both trips were excellent value for my money - quaint hotels, great meals, excellent bikes, clearly marked routes (in addition to good maps and directions).- David B., Dallas, TX

Cyclobuddies: I've recently come back from a trip to the Tour de France. Cyclobuddies has an accreditation with the Societe du Tour de France which allowed us to go inside the Village du Tour or after our rides to the VIP bus to watch the finish of the stage in the best conditions. They organize other tours to the Spring Classics in April or to Spain in early spring where they have a training camp near Girona. This fall, they will go to the Beaujolais area to hammer and to do some wine tasting. - Tom L, Greenville, SC

Dakota Bike Tours: I’ve taken several bike tours thru various companies over the past 20 years, and have unfortunately had occasion to have to cancel a few due to health or other issues. Refund policies vary (e.g. partial refund, nothing, credit towards future tour, etc.). Not only did owner Jim Brooks send me a full refund, no questions or forms necessary, it came with a personal note wishing me a complete recovery. If this thoughtfulness is an example of how he runs Dakota Bike Tours, then I definitely plan to travel with him, God-willing, next year. J. Blinder, Allentown, PA

Detours in France This company arranged our trip but we actually biked on our own. We sent lots of emails bake and forth before going bikiing with this company in France. Their hybrid bikes were great but my husband and I rode a tandem (which we do at home) and it was heavy and had gearing trouble. We wish it had been comparable to the bikes our kids had. The maps they gave us were good but we were missing a couple of crucial pages. The hotels were fine. This company had agreed to give us three dinners during our week but when we got there said that they hadn't. And hence we are out a fair amount of money. Biking in France is great; we're not sure we really needed a company, but it was good to have one for our first bike trip experience. Wish I had found this site before we left home. - Nancy K

Discovery Trails. Excellent and affordable bike tours in Auvergne, the heart of France. Quality hybrid (Cube) and Electric (Gazelle) bikes, and incredible support. The routes and accommodations beat the tired old routes that one can take in Europe. We have a spectacular vacation in a region that is completely unknown, but so incredibly beautiful. We biked on excellent roads, without any aggrivation from other tourists - we had the impression that the area had been privately reserved for us alone. A well organised tour, top quality bikes, and well written bikeroutes... a real 'hidden jewel' to recommend for someone who wants a bike vacation in what is perhaps the most beautiful part of France. - - Joop ten Cate, Assen, Drenthe

Dreamtrips. Our trip with Dreamtrips was extra special. One night they drove us up to a home in the countryside where a friend of theirs made us the most fabulous black truffle pasta. Another night, he took us to a local winemaker's home and we drank some of the most delicious wines of the trip. Having ridden with more than ten different bike tour companies, these were WAY beyond the average tour "excursion". They were very accommodating and flexible because our group wanted a more advanced trip. By combining certain days, we got enough miles and hills. Maru D., La Jolla, CA

Erickson Cycle Tours: I have a love-hate relationships with ECT. I have done 2 tours (Dolomites and French Pyrenees). Stunning scenery and HARD! riding. Small groups. Nice hotels and meals. Support minimal, however--there is a van but you never see it, and even if you call them for help, it is unlikely you will get it. I would use them again only because they offer unique and challenging routes and they carry our stuff. They need to improve their service, however." - Bend, OR

I just completed a two week trip in Italy through the Dolomites with Erickson Tours. This was the best--Glenn and Nancy Erickson, both former masters cycling champs put together a wonderful tour at a reasonable price. They provide excellent support materials, very good food and accomodations, and perhaps most important, a very warm and engaged presence coupled with the highest level of competence and support. Many return riders attest to the great job they do. - Boulder, CO

Eurocycle: " We have used Eurocycle for three tours in France, Austria and Italy and have been well pleased. Their web site offers both independent and guided tours throughout Europe www.eurocycle.at with independent tours running about $125 per day.  One of the best cycling values I have ever seen, including B&B, luggage transfers, bike rentals.  Guided tours are slightly more." - Larry D., Tacoma, WA

Europe by Bike:  Just returned from their Tour de France trip.  It was highly disorganized, had way too many people (180). I would not recommend this company to anyone. - Kevin MacAfee, St. Paul, MN

"I went on Europe By Bike's Tour de France tour in 2004.  It was a disaster of a trip.  It was under staffed and had insufficient resources.  The rides had no cue sheets or maps and were poorly planned.  The rides also had no support... The bikes were carried on home-made racks in box trucks cushioned from each other by pieced of cardboard!  I know of several bikes (mine included) that were seriously damaged.  There are so many things that went wrong on this trip, it was unbelievable. " - Brian S., Rockville, MD

Eurovelo Tours - Excellent Tour, Excellent accomodations, Superb meals,Fantastic itniaries, Increadible hosts...Thanks...Will go again will have no problem telling all my friends and cycling enthusiasts - Mark N., Toronto, ON.

A rather new company. They spare no expense and attend to every detail. - Toni Wallachy, Toronto, Ontario

First Light Bicycle Tours: I went on a 7 day tour from Prague to Vienna with First Light. We continually met up with a group of cyclists from another tour group who were staying at the same hotels we were and riding the same route. We were surprised how little they rode and how much more they paid for their tour than ours. - - Phil W., Krakow Poland

What a remarkable journey we had with First Light! We loved it! In fact, my wife has called me at work already several times whining that she wants to be back in Bohemia on a bicycle.Judith M., San Francisco, CA

We did an extensive search before choosing First Light for a Southern Bohemia tour. We're glad we did. Our lodging was the best in the area, all 4-5 star. The food was exquisite...we ate at only the best restaurants and the wine was surprisingly excellent for Czech wines." - Vince B., San Diego, CA

"Great routes, comprehensive maps and I love those Cannondale bikes…thanks to the great trip guides too. We especially liked the fact we were paying at least $500 less than another bike group who was staying in the same hotel as us and cycled one day less too! Hats off for pulling off such a quality tour for the bucks. - Fiona J., London UK

France Active Travel: Great ride on country side roads. My husband and I went on their provence trip and we were pleased by the kindness and high knowledge of the guide. The trip was van supported, small group (they don't take more than 8). Good choice of accommodations and the food and wine.... lovely.- Anne Kraviski, New York, NY

Gears and Grapes Getaways: This is a small, new luxury company that I really enjoyed. This was my first bike tour so I don't have much to compare it to but my girlfriend and I (both wine lovers) decided to go on a trip. It was a three day trip through Napa and Sonoma, California tasting wine. The best part about the way things are run is that I could bike in the morning with other cyclists while my girlfriend enjoyed the yoga class and spa. Then we were able to spend the afternoon cycling together, drinking amazing wine and learning through talking to our sommelier guides and the vintners themselves. We both got what we wanted out of the vacation and got to spend time together. I like biking, she likes lounging. We both love wine. This was really the perfect weekend getaway. Josh Gould, Los Angeles

Girona. tour company staff was very helpful with getting emergency information from the U.S. to us, locating local cycling jerseys, describing routes, and getting bike tools we needed. Spanish people were very courteous to us as riders and the roads were in spectacular shape and clean. The accommodations were clean, modern, and much better than I had expected. Anne Hughes, Sharon, CT

GreatCycling.com offers choices of over 20 rides based out of a three-star hotel in Riccione, Italy.  The rides are geared for riders of all levels, from leisure to triathlete.  Packages are fully inclusive with many extras, yet comparatively value priced."  - Eli S, Toronto, Canada

Greenways Travel Club: Customized self-guided or guided bike tours along the Prague-Vienna Greenways (www.PragueViennaGreenways.org). Friendly people, music, architecture, good hearty food, excellent beer and Moravian wine. Unique experience.  - Suzanna H, Brooklyn, NY

HAT Tours: ... offers affordable Bike and Barge tours in Europe. We did the Loire Valley tour last year and loved it. We averaged 25 leisurely miles/day riding rolling hills through quaint villages with frequent stops at wineries, impressive castles and many interesting sights. The barge meets you each day at your destination so no need to pack up daily and those wanting a break from cycling can spend a day on the barge. This is a perfect vacation for a couple where one partner is a cyclist and the other isn't. $1100 for 7 nights included accomodations, bike rental, tour guide, transfers and 3 meals per day (breakfast and packed lunch were pretty basic but justified daily visits to bakeries).  Accomodations were small cabins but okay. Bikes were heavy 21-speed dutch hybrids which were suitable for the terrain. I took my own saddle and clipless pedals. This is NOT a luxury tour nor is it for avid cyclists seeking long distances or speed on lightweight road bikes. But, it's affordable and fun. We'll be back next year! www.hat-tours.com - Linda H., Vancouver, BC

Headwater Holidays: Self-guided tours mean you get a map and a destination, with some vague route suggestions.   Good hotel choices, and good food.  Curiously, the tour prices are MUCH higher for registering from the US as opposed to registering from the UK.  Overall a good experience - Chuck P, Washington DC.

I Bike Tuscany: Read several glowing reviews on Trip Advisor, Frommers -- even Chowhound.  Checked out the website, read the testimonials and loved the very personal, genuine and non-corporate feel of it.  My husband and I went for it and booked a five-day tour in Tuscany last fall and we were not disappointed.  True to what we had heard, Marco was a FANTASTIC guide; professional, caring, patient, knowledgeable and most of all, FUN.  He made our trip in this gorgeous region truly unforgettable and we haven't stopped raving since we've been home.  In addition to the spectacular bike routes, we stayed in incredible places, ate amazing food and sampled wonderful wines (and cheese!  And olive oil!  And honey!).  Oh, and the bikes were top-notch.  You should definitely look into this small but very well-run company. - Alicia R., Los Angeles, CA

Italian Cycling Center: The Italian Cycling Center, rather than doing point to point tours, offers guided rides from a base at the foot of the Pre-Alps in northeastern Italy. Three groups, at different ability levels, do a daily loop through the mixed terrain of the Veneto. Riders can choose between daily Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner routes. Dates are whenever you choose during the May through September season. All meals are provided, including wine and bottled water. Very reasonable price -  G. Pohl, Philadelphia PA

The Italian Cycling Center is a wonderful way to experience Italian cycling and life in Italy.  Each day offers a few rides depending upon level of fitness and interest.  The rides are wonderful!  Typically, you return in early afternoon for a great lunch and spend the afternoon doing whatever interests you.  Based in a small hotel located in a small town about 1 hour from Venice.  The central base has the added advantage of allowing complete flexibility in your arrival and departure dates.  As a result, interesting people are always coming and going during your stay.  I met my future wife on one of my trips! - Tom Kraus, Foxboro, MA

International Bike Tours: - Great value for the price!  A support van and two guides.  Small, probably 3 star hotels, clean, family owned, accommodating.  Very supportive group riding, various levels of rides.  These folks do the rides for Elderhostel, as well as the rides they do under their own name.-  L Anderson, Gladstone, OR 

Lost Coast Wheelman: California cycling website, www.Lostcoastwheelmen.com is an ideal site dedicated to promote road cycling in California, Lost Coast, Humboldt County and beyond. You are invited to read about the wheelmen, their bicycle adventures.

Nice Cycle Tours: Nice Cycle Tours is a guided bicycle tour which gives you an introduction to Nice, gateway to the French Riviera. The 3 hour tour explores Nice through its architectural, historical and cultural landmarks with the best places to eat and drink thrown in. - D Lang, Nice, France

Pedal & Sea Adventures: Tours in Europe and Canadian Maritimes.  An awesome company with very small groups and personal attention.  Guides generally have a relationship with the innkeepers and restaurateurs along the route, so the hospitality service is superb! -  Joe S., New Hartford, NY

SOJOURN: Had an amazing time on the Martha's Vineyard tour. The tour leaders were great and loads of fun. Met some very interesting people from around the country. Service from booking to departure was efficient and friendly. Lodging was first-rate and the food superb. I highly recommend Sojourn. - Misha Y., Portsmouth, NH

We just took a trip with this operator. They only do US tours and appear to be largely staffed by former VBT people. These guys did a great job. In spite of some challenging weather and unforseen events (a ferry broke down in route to us), they were great at improvsing when needed and giving everyone alot of personal attention. They need to be included on the review site. George K., Atlanta, GA

SpiceRoads Cycling Adventures. I was a bit worried about traveling in Asia, and frankly about taking a bike tour. However, I was soon put at ease. SpiceRoads answered all my pre-tour questions. They helped with my Visa, and communicated clearly about exact cycling days and what to expect on the tour.They are pretty clear that the support responsible tourism and solicited my participation in their upcoming Tour of Hope, which supports funding for cervical cancer research. I fully recommend them www.spiceroads.com - Jance Karsh

SummerFeet: We had a nice time but it didnt compare to what we have received in the past with Backroads or more recently CycleGreece. There didn't seem to be any thought into the routes. The meals were at very average restaurants. The leaders were nice, good with the bikes but not trained for the other aspects of leadership. One day we rode on an island and they didnt know until we arrived at that only one small grocery was open. So we ate at a grimey hole in the wall - if they had planned in advance we could have prepared and brought a picnic and enjoyed the island instead of being in that awful place with awful food. Many other examples of lack of planning but too lengthy to go on.

Timberline Cycling Adventures: I have done four tours with this company.  I will not be doing anymore.  Timberline offers tours in many wonderful areas and it was that which drew me back to them even after I found their first tour less than satisfactory. However, the last tour in the High Sierra of California was so poorly organized that I will not be touring with Timberline again. The daily route maps are awful, often wrong in some important detail.  The leaders have sometimes good, but most often have been more interested in their own party than in supporting the group. - Carl G., El Cerrito, CA

We have now been on 2 Timberline tours and are keen to sign up for a third. On both tours the guides were always on hand to help with any punctures/repairs and the van was regularly available for refuelling stops. The routes were challenging but the landscape more than made up for the challenge. We were impressed by how many of our fellow cylcists were repeat Timberline people some have been on more than 20 tours with them, we're now hooked. Gill McIntosh, York, UK

Tuscany Bike Tours: This bike tour took our travel experience to another level. After having traveled through most of the European countries and taking part in many different bike tours I found Tuscany Bike Tours the best all-round value for money together with a very pleasurable crew who picked us up in Florence with buses and brought us inland towards a beautiful old castle. The bike tour took us back to the castle where we took part in a guided toour of the vine making facility and we were treated to some wine tasting and a delicious lunch ..." - Dave Gahan, Rotterdam

Transalp Riders: " ... a new tour operator specialized on mountain bike vacations that cross the Alps; typically traverse 3-4 countries during an 8- to 12-day adventure vacation. The company sets itself apart from other tour operators by practicing sustainable tourism (supporting public transportation, organic products, small-scale businesses, conservation projects), by offering clients daily choices between epic or easy rides, and by being the only-English-language Transalp tour provider with a full roster of tours from West to East.

Velo Classic Tours: I have been on 3 different tours, and my experience with Velo Classic Tours was by far my best!I was blown away by the quality of the hotels, the food and most important, the Eastons! The ultimate testimonial-we are already picking our next trip! - M Crosno, Kingwood, TX

I am a repeat customer of VCT, and its the only company I will travel with. Never an issue, always dependable, always accurate, always first rate, and always exceeds expectations. Ride with the founder and owner. Easton knows all the roads and ridden all of them. Now offering multiple ride options for each tour which is a plus. Options for practically every major event through the pro season and well connected across Europe. Run into a major bike issue? Pete will solve it and your holiday will motor on. No reservations recommendation. - Chris F, Knoxville, TN

VeloSport Vacations: I can't say enough good things about Velosport Vacations.  My wife and I did the Tour de France trip and the Provence camp.  The riding was great: route selections, ride leaders, options for differing rider ability, great maps and cue sheets etc. The restaurant and hotel selections were excellent.  Velosport specializes in France (and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean) - I only wish they went more places! - Martin R, Washington, DC

Wanderlust Bike Tours: Wanderlust Bike Tours is a "Mom/Pop/Son/Friends" operation, which is "still making it up". It calls itself "Luxury," but it is absolutely not. The operators are very nice people and fun to be around, but are not fluent in languages (only American), provide only adequate bikes (Wilmot), limited service (e.g. one lady had a flat tire for a day and a half;left bikes out overnight in the rain/gel pack seats got wet; missed rendezvous; did not brief daily trips adequately, possess only limited historical knowledge of areas toured). Nice folks who like to ride but their company is not recommended. - Paul,Coronado, CA

Wide Open Road: A great company running low key camping / hotel based trips in France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy. Returning in 2010. - C Holdsworth Melbourne, Australia

Women Tours: Tours include cycling as well as multi-sport. Great for females of all interests, as Women Tours offers trips in a variety of locations and the range of skill levels. Guides are experienced and hard working, and the comraderie is contageous. Reasonably priced. I found the 9-day Alaska trip, that included kayaking and hiking, a well-organized and excellent mix of terrain from the water to forrest. Meals included (not alcohol.) Even an evening at the theater was arranged. Mary M , Washington DC

WoWCuba: Canadian company with resident representatives offering the best supported cycle tours available in Cuba. Enclosed trailers, top notch equipment, bilingual, experienced staff, and toll free res service in Canada. www.wowcuba.com - K. MacQueen, Havana, CU

"By far the best company doing fully serviced Cuba bicycle tours: terrific cycling, good itinerary, excellent food, knowledgeable and resourceful tour leader, very good hotel choice. They are really in a class of their own."


Yellow Jersey Tours: "went on their Tour de France trip last a couple years ago and had such a great time.  I have just returned from my 2nd trip with them--a training camp in the Basque region.  Staff is overly helpful and humorous.  Their groups are very small ..." Maloy, San Francisco, CA