By: Marcia Abramson
It is possible that the leader of the pack in the yellow jersey was Lance Armstrong, the winner of several Tours de France. They did not have time for our questions and left the scene as quickly as they had arrived. But, believe me the exciting memory of that afternoon still lingers on. Great Neck's Federal Court Judge Jack Weinstein and his wife took to the bike paths of France during many a summer vacation. Former Five Towner and radio personality Joan Hamburg often reports about how pleasurable her bike tours are in European ports-of-call from the Radisson Cruise ships. I learned that Bike Riders, a company out of Boston, specializes in planning wonderful travel itineraries for the growing numbers of biking devotees of all ages. Their groups are small with 16, the maximum number in some programs. By being small in number they claim to have entre into small domains where larger groups could not squeeze in, such as the ultra deluxe palazzos, friendly vineyards and family ristorantes. Touristy commercial hotels are strictly "no-nos" for Bike Riders. Cycling Ireland's Emerald Coast can be a dream come true for many Americans. The magnificent cliffs, the thatched and stone cottages, the mystical Celtic ruins, the winding country lanes, and the fields of bogs and wild flowers just add to the twinkling blue eyes and lilting brogues of the locals that make this tour a true delight. Stopping at a local pub for a pint of Guinness, a taste of the fabulous Irish smoked salmon, and gourmandizing on rich regional cheese with a song or two to the music of the Irish fiddler make this tour a must in my mind. There's no better way to catch the flavor of Italy than pedaling along the country roads of the Tuscany area. The landscape is like an artist's palette with lush green swaying cypress, rusty red terra cotta rooftops and golden ochre valleys. These colors have been the inspiration for the famous Renaissance painter Raphael. Local residents who gather in the piazza suspend their bacchi competitions to "ciao" the cyclists. Restful nights can be spent in comfortable villas with every conceivable amenity. Additional bike tours go through Venetta, past the walled city of Castelfranco Venetta and quiet farmyards winding through cornfields and along the Venetian Canals. Stops include visits to villas that house treasured frescoes and antiques hundreds of years old. A special treat can be a gourmet dinner in the fabulous Cipriani's exclusive restaurant in Venice with vintage wines from their own property vineyards. Bike Riders also have cycling tours through one of the most beautiful regions of France, the Loire Valley. I only motored through this locality, stopping to visit the famous historic chateaux, but can imagine how wonderful this tour can be from the seat of your bike. Bike Riders are recommended by Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, Vogue, Fodor's, New York Magazine and The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and the San Francisco Chronicle as well as word of mouth from bike travelers. Their trips are planned for the good weather months of May through October on off-the-beaten track roads through noteworthy landscapes with little or no traffic. The daily itineraries are less than 35 miles and take into consideration the level of biking skills and experience of the participants. There are vans accompanying each group of bikers that can be contacted by cell phone for the weary rider to hop in. There is no prohibition against bringing your own bike, but custom designed Cannondale 24 speeds are available for hire. They have light aluminum frames, grip shifts, rapid-fire, v-brakes and plush gel seats to ensure a smooth and stable ride while you sight-see foreign lands from your seat.Bike Riders can be reached at 1-800-473-7040 or HYPERLINK "http://www.bikeridersstours.com" www.bikeridersstours.com
© Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
