| Let's
just say that no one has ever been disappointed for lack of cycling on an
Erickson tour, in terms of both route quality and mileage/elevation gain
quantities. The 2003 season will be no exception with our tempting array
of mountain-venue tours designed to satisfy and perhaps happily exhaust the
challenge-seeking, racer-in-training, hammerhead cyclist, or Titan tandem
team.
We never fail to anticipate with enormous
excitement our French Alps tours, which will not only challenge a multitude of
past and present Tour de France routes and cols, but will place us in prime
position to cheer for our heroes on this year's Tour de France; Col d'Izouard,
Col du Galibier, and l'Alpe d'Huez.
Returning to the
Dolomites in Italy, we
eagerly return to fabulous climbs and descents on the twisting roads which
connect high alpine passes with lush green meadows below.
Continuing our exploration of the
Swiss
Alps,
we head south to the mountain venues of Zermatt, Grindelwald, the Albula, Bernina,
and San Bernardino passes, climbing everything we can, including the Gavia and Stelvio in
Italy.
The Maritime Alps rising far above Nice and
the Côte d'Azur in SE France guard some of the best-kept secret cycling routes
in France. Col d'Izouard, Col de la Bonette, and Col de la Madone, and
the revered Mont Ventoux are just some of the famous climbs and descents
awaiting the seasoned rider; yet, it is the myriad of small scenic roads with
little or no traffic, the remote villages, which captures the charm of these
wild and wonderful mountains.
This season our
Pyrenees
tour takes a
moderate turn; we've planned a tandem friendly tour which will help open this
splendid region to our tandem friends as well as the more intermediate
cyclist. The classic Tour de France climbs of the Tourmalet, Cols
d'Aubisque, Peyresourde, and Aspin, are still there for the well-conditioned
experienced cyclist but will be optional for those who want a choice.
Likewise, our
Switzerland Lakes, Valleys, Vistas tour is designed to remove the 'intimidation factor' which
invariably arises with thoughts of bicycle tours in Switzerland.
Beginning with leisurely riding along the Bodensee, we'll cruise up the
Emmental and Rheintal before a little more is demanded of us in the foothills
beneath the Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau.
Any
of our tours designated for tandems and single bikes are an excellent choice
for a more leisurely cycling vacation. These are ideal trips for the
intermediate level cyclist, as well as for couples and groups who enjoy riding
and sightseeing together.
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Dordogne
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