Challenge & Epic Tours
Great Tours for Dedicated Cyclists
Quiz: Pedaling a grand mix of challenging miles and epic scenery is:
a) My idea of a perfect vacation.
b) The ultimate way to pass the day, and the next day, and the day after that...
c) Something I'd love to do with other like-minded people.
d) Not for me — I'm more of a casual cyclist.
If you answered a, b, or c, you'll love our Challenge and Epic tours.
We make no bones about it: These trips are harder than our other ones. Both types of tours feature 60-80 miles per day, with plenty of climbing. Of course, we still pamper you with outstanding lodging and meals — not to mention full van support. Great scenery? Yes. Great routes? Definitely.
What's the difference between a Challenge and an Epic tour?
Epic tours are by far our most challenging. They are for people who love to ride hard all day. And then do it again. We introduce a new Epic tour each year, in a different region, so you'll never run out of highly challenging options.
Challenge tours are still – well, challenging – but a bit more doable. Most debuted as "Epic" tours but have been since modified. You'll still have all the miles you'd like, but we've made some climbs optional and added another layover day to give you more rest (if you want it, that is — cycling is always available on layover days for diehards). Challenge Tours are for solid cyclists who enjoy being in the saddle all day, but may not relish all that the Epic tours have to offer.
The Challenge & Epic Collection
California Challenge
Our 8-day California Challenge tour begins in Santa Rosa and features some of California’s premier rides, from wine country to redwood forests to coast, all the while weaving through the Coast Range. It’s the region where Greg LeMond honed his skills for his Tour de France wins and where Levi Leipheimer still trains. Two layover days allow you to explore artsy Mendocino on the coast and visit the elegant wineries surrounding Healdsburg.
New Mexico Challenge
This 7-day tour features the most spellbinding cycling the Land of Enchantment can dish out, plus world-famous art, culture and cuisine. You'll ride the Turquoise Trail through the historic mining towns beneath the Sandia Mountains, the High Road to Taos beside the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the legendary Enchanted Circle, with its 84 miles of stunning scenery. Two layover days will allow time to go whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, visit Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch, and hike among ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings.
Volcanoes of Washington Challenge
Two wheels. Four mountains. Eight days. A million memories. This trip starts in Seattle and visits four spectacular volcanic mountains — Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams in Washington, and Mt. Hood in Oregon. We'll ride through pristine national parks and forests, adding some unforgettable hikes. The views are nothing less than astonishing. “My first glimpse of the snow-covered [Mt. Rainier] off in the distance was while rounding a corner on a mountain pass,” described Boston Globe writer Diane Daniel after her Bicycle Adventures tour. “When I saw it I gasped, my eyes filled with tears, and I pulled over to swoon.”
Epic Oregon
2008’s Epic Tour is a glorious ride through the hilly, ancient woodlands and dazzling coastline of Southern Oregon. From Portland, we’ll transfer south to Eugene to begin our 8-day cycle-fest. We'll ride through pastoral Willamette Valley, then head west over the Coast Range and follow the Pacific Ocean south to Gold Beach, the sunniest spot along the coast of either Oregon or Washington. Then it’s time to turn inland again, following the stunning Rogue River Canyon toward the Crater Lake finale. Magnificent!