Cycling Sprees (con't)
“When a tour is co-ed, women get the idea that they are not good enough. They get wrapped up in competing with men who bike faster and are competitive. The women form a strong, supportive community even on a short tour and this helps many do something they never thought possible. Women-only tours can be life-changing events.”
Nine years ago, Jackie Marchand, number two in charge at Terry Bicycles, was working in a field she loved, but it wasn’t enough. A nagging voice in her head kept pushing her to do something more. As chance would have it, she met the founder of WomenTours, Gloria Smith, on none other than a bike tour. Gloria urged Jackie to listen to her inner voice and make a change. As Gloria told her, owning WomanTours was the perfect fit.
Fast forward to today, and Jackie has never looked back. As she says, “. . . it’s better than I ever could have expected. I work with my sisters, cousin and other great women doing something I love.”
With locations as far away as Bhutan or as close as Maryland’s eastern shore, and time frames as short as a weekend or as long as a two-month cross-country adventure, there is a trip for you. According to Chris Redfield, an avid cyclist, “I wouldn’t hesitate to take another tour with this company. I took the Louisiana Bayou tour because the dates fit my schedule and ended up falling in love with the Cajun culture and group. I don’t want to dis men, but it was refreshing to bike without the competitive edge that men bring.”
On a typical trip, cyclists ride between 25-30 miles per day on flat, hilly or mixed terrains, depending on the designated skill level of the ride. Guests range in age from eighteen to seventy-nine with about forty percent of the women coming on their own, many as first time solo travelers. Overnight stays are typically at quaint local inns or bed and breakfasts. The majority of participants share a room, and participants are encouraged to change roommates on a daily basis to foster relationship building.
A support van accompanies each tour with snacks, water and mechanical supplies for sustenance and the inevitable breakdown. Participants can also ride in the van at any point along the way for as long as they want. Riding in the van is considered as much a part of the trip as biking the route—a major difference in attitude from co-ed tours where peer pressure against riding in the van rules.
Part of Jackie’s vision is to hire the best women tour guides and support staff she can find and allow them to run their own tours. Some guides, such as Laurie Collins, have worked for the company since Jackie took ownership. As Laurie says, “I hate to sit still, love to ride bikes, and love being around people who like what they do. When I’m out there, it’s my tour and I’m in charge of making it work. It’s the perfect match for me!”
If you can ride five miles on your own, Jackie says you can easily train to ride twenty miles and be ready for a tour.
I’ll let you know if she’s right. I signed up for the Massachusetts Island Hopper, a five-day tour of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and just got my training schedule in the mail.
Nine years ago, Jackie Marchand, number two in charge at Terry Bicycles, was working in a field she loved, but it wasn’t enough. A nagging voice in her head kept pushing her to do something more. As chance would have it, she met the founder of WomenTours, Gloria Smith, on none other than a bike tour. Gloria urged Jackie to listen to her inner voice and make a change. As Gloria told her, owning WomanTours was the perfect fit.
Fast forward to today, and Jackie has never looked back. As she says, “. . . it’s better than I ever could have expected. I work with my sisters, cousin and other great women doing something I love.”
With locations as far away as Bhutan or as close as Maryland’s eastern shore, and time frames as short as a weekend or as long as a two-month cross-country adventure, there is a trip for you. According to Chris Redfield, an avid cyclist, “I wouldn’t hesitate to take another tour with this company. I took the Louisiana Bayou tour because the dates fit my schedule and ended up falling in love with the Cajun culture and group. I don’t want to dis men, but it was refreshing to bike without the competitive edge that men bring.”
On a typical trip, cyclists ride between 25-30 miles per day on flat, hilly or mixed terrains, depending on the designated skill level of the ride. Guests range in age from eighteen to seventy-nine with about forty percent of the women coming on their own, many as first time solo travelers. Overnight stays are typically at quaint local inns or bed and breakfasts. The majority of participants share a room, and participants are encouraged to change roommates on a daily basis to foster relationship building.
A support van accompanies each tour with snacks, water and mechanical supplies for sustenance and the inevitable breakdown. Participants can also ride in the van at any point along the way for as long as they want. Riding in the van is considered as much a part of the trip as biking the route—a major difference in attitude from co-ed tours where peer pressure against riding in the van rules.
Part of Jackie’s vision is to hire the best women tour guides and support staff she can find and allow them to run their own tours. Some guides, such as Laurie Collins, have worked for the company since Jackie took ownership. As Laurie says, “I hate to sit still, love to ride bikes, and love being around people who like what they do. When I’m out there, it’s my tour and I’m in charge of making it work. It’s the perfect match for me!”
If you can ride five miles on your own, Jackie says you can easily train to ride twenty miles and be ready for a tour.
I’ll let you know if she’s right. I signed up for the Massachusetts Island Hopper, a five-day tour of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and just got my training schedule in the mail.