INFORMATION

All you need to know...

We are dedicated to providing an enriching and challenging cycling experience while lodging in comfortable surroundings and enjoying exceptional cuisine. Our fully supported bike tours offer women the opportunity to gather together to celebrate who we are and what we can accomplish. Every detail is taken care of for you – you do nothing but ride, eat and relax. Imagine that? After all these years of tending to others, it is now your turn to be tended to!

Group Size:

We feel a group size of 6-12 women is the ideal size for our tours. Big enough for the group experience, small enough not to feel lost in the group.

Traveling Solo:

Many women find traveling alone is an extremely desirable way to see the world. Joining together on a cycling tour is a very rewarding experience and allows for like-minded women to meet and connect easily. We anticipate that over half the women riding with us will be traveling solo. Perhaps you will meet up with your family and/or friends at the beginning or end of the tour? Mount Washington Valley, NH provides a myriad of vacation opportunities.

Typical Schedule:

Check-in is between 3-7 pm on the first day of the tour. We will have a pre-trip meeting in the evening, followed by dinner. The next morning, we will begin riding around 9:00am after a hearty breakfast. We will plan to ride until late afternoon each day with several stops along the way, including a gourmet lunch. A scrumptious dinner is included every evening except for the last day of each tour.

Tour mileage and your pace:

Mileage varies with each tour with most daily ranges from 30 to 40 miles, and some days of 40-plus. We encourage every woman to ride at her own pace. One of the two guides will ride as the “sweep,” bringing up the rear to ensure everyone finishes safely. If necessary, a ride in our SAG wagon is always available.

Bicycle Rentals:

For New Hampshire and Maine bike tours, bicycle rentals are available for a fee through our local bike shop, Red Jersey Cyclery. Please click Red Jersey Cyclery or call 1-603-356-7520 to reserve your bike. Their expertise in fitting you with the right bike is critical for a great tour. If you would like to bring your own pedals and seat, feel free to do so; Red Jersey will adjust them to your rental bike. For Texas tours, bicycle rental is included in the tour price.  We will be fitted at Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin, Texas.

Your Bike:

If you would like to bring your own bike we will provide overnight storage. Should you wish to fly to the starting point with your bike, a packing and shipping guide will be provided to you.

Tour Leaders/Guides:

As the owners and operators of Vesta Velo, Virginia and Jeanne will lead and guide every tour. We have sought out the very best partners to ensure a magnificent and successful tour for you. Our familiarity and experience with the Mt. Washington Valley, Texas, road biking, mountain biking and leading tours allow us to be dedicated to providing you with an amazing tour experience.

Pricing:

All our rates are per/person based on double occupancy and includes all meals, lodging, transportation (if needed) between lodging properties, service of two guides, as well as taxes and gratuities for lodging, dining and guiding. For women traveling solo we will pair you with a roommate. For those wishing to have their own room, a limited number of single rooms are available for an upcharge (please call for pricing). A few of our lodging partners will accommodate a 3rd person in a room, at a slight discount. Prices cover land costs only; they do not include travel (air/auto) to and from the tour starting point. Prices also do not include alcoholic beverages.

Accommodations and Meals:

Our base hotel for New Hampshire and Maine cycling tours will be the The White Mountain Hotel & Resort a luxury resort nestled in the picturesque 254-acre estate of Hale’s Location in North Conway, New Hampshire. The guest rooms, dining rooms and tavern feature spectacular mountain and cliff views. This full-service hotel offers all of the modern amenities that discerning travelers expect. Situated at the base of White Horse Ledge and adjacent to Cathedral Ledge and the State and National Forests, the breathtaking setting is perfect for relaxing and pampering yourself after a long day in the saddle. Conveniently located just minutes from North Conway Village, the hotel provides peace, tranquility and exceptional cuisine.

Weekend Bike Tours:

Our weekend tours are based both nights at The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. Breakfast and dinner are served at the hotel, from their dining room menus. You are not limited to a specific menu.

Multi-day Bike Tours:

New Hampshire and Maine bike tours begin and end at The White Mountain Hotel & Resort. We will travel by bicycle to each of the lodging properties featured on the tour. All luggage will be transported to each destination by our SAG wagon. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are inlcuded in the tour price. Texas Hill Country tour begins and ends in Austin, Texas.  We will stay our first night at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark near the airport and end our tour at the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin.

Massage:

Most of our lodging partners offer a variety of massage services. Like pro bike riders, every cyclist needs a good massage after a long ride. Please contact the hotel directly to arrange your appointment.

Cuisine:

We endeavor to provide you with savory, healthy, hearty, gourmet cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have carefully selected our partners so you will be treated to the finest fare each talented chef have to offer. While riding, we provide gourmet picnic lunches to enjoy in lovely, tranquil settings.

Dietary Concerns:

As long as we have prior notice, our lodging and dining partners have no problem accommodating special dietary requests. Please specify any dietary restrictions when making your reservation.

On the Road:

Our support vehicle (SAG wagon) will be available throughout each day of the tour. We offer you assistance, whether it’s a ride in the SAG wagon, encouragement, snacks, water, first aid, bike tools, whatever. The owners and operators of Vesta Velo, Virginia and Jeanne, will accompany each tour - one of us leads, the other “sweeps.”

Travel:

If you decide to drive to our starting point for the New Hampahire and Maine women's bike tours, you will be sent driving directions from your area. If you are flying, we suggest flying into Portland, Maine which is about an hour and a half by car from Mt. Washington Valley. We will provide transportation for you and your bicycle to and from Portland’s airport to the White Mountain Hotel & Resort. On the first day of each tour, our van will leave the airport promptly at 5:00pm in order to be at the hotel by 7:00. Please make sure your flight arrives well before 5:00pm. Once you make your reservation, we will confirm pick-up with you and where to meet. There is a $25 per person charge for this service, each way.

For the Texas women's bike tours, we suggest flying into Austin, TX. Our partner hotels, Omni Southpark and The Driskill, offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.

Getting Ready for Your Tour: Fitness 101

Once you register for a tour, we will send you training tips and guidelines to help you get into shape. If you can ride 50 -60 minutes now and are willing to make the commitment to train 2-3 times per week at increasing intervals, you will be able to do our tours. We will average about 2+ hours at a stretch in the saddle with frequent breaks for refueling and relaxing.

Reservations and Cancellations:

To make a reservation simply call us at 603-986-1173 or email us. Our mailing address is:

1. VESTA VELO
2. PO BOX 2521
3. NORTH CONWAY, NH 03860

At the time you make your reservation, we require a 50% deposit of the total tour price. Reservations are confirmed when your deposit is received. The balance is due 60 days prior to starting date of your tour. If you make a reservation less than 60 days prior to the start date, payment is due in full at the time of the reservation. We accept checks, Mastercard, Visa, AMEX, money order or PayPal. On receipt of your deposit, we will send you a confirmation packet including: a general information sheet with suggestions on what to bring, training tips and guidelines, details on the rides and weather, travel directions and lodging partners.

All reservation cancellations are subject to a $100 administrative/cancellation fee per person. The remainder of your payment is refundable up to 30 days prior to departure. There will be no refunds of any kind, for any reason after this deadline, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism and war, weather, natural disaster as well as family or personal emergencies. There is no refund for leaving a tour early or arriving late. Tours are not transferable from one person to another. You may change your 2013 tour choice and/or tour date 60 or more days prior to your originally scheduled tour departure on a space available basis. There is no change fee, but if you change to a more expensive tour, any difference in costs will be due in order to reschedule. No tour changes are permitted less than 60 days prior to your scheduled departure. There are no exceptions for any reason.

Travel Service:

We work with a local travel service agency familiar with all our itineraries, Penny Pitou Travel who will be happy to assist you with all your travel plans. Penny Pitou Travel or call toll-free at 800.552.4661.

Tour Cancellation by Vesta Velo:

We hope we never have to cancel a tour. In this unlikely event, all payments received by Vesta Velo, Inc. will be refunded. We are not responsible for additional expenses such as non-refundable airline tickets or change fees. Again, we strongly urge the purchase of Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance:

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to adequately cover yourself in the event of lost baggage, unforeseen emergencies or tour cancellation.

For more information:

We always look forward to hearing from our guests, so if you should need any further information please feel free to give us a call at: 603-986-1173 or email us.

Private Tours:

A private tour with Vesta Velo is a great way to bring all your favorite women together. Choose any of our destinations and then choose the date that works for you, we do all the rest.

Last updated November 2012