Touring around the U.S. to see all of the MLB stadiums, NFL stadiums or college stadiums is certainly not a new concept. For years people have been making a pilgrimage to these houses of sporting worship, but most do not even get to step on the playing field of their heroes. Cycling is on of those sports that fans can actually ride on the same “playing field” as the pros if they are willing to guide themselves, learn enough of the local language to communicate with the locals and unfortunately battle traffic. Knowing that fans want to ride on the same course as the pros, numerous touring companies have cropped up offering cyclists to opportunity to ride the famous courses of their heroes. Sometimes even on the same day as the pro race, just hours in front of the peleton, and be fully supported with guide services, food and accommodations. Seeing an opportunity of their own to diversify their business, the bike company Cervélo, has teamed up with the touring company, Butterfield & Robinson Management Inc., to create the Cervélo Pro Travel Experience.
The new Cervélo Pro Travel Experience currently has almost 15 tours on the calendar that fall under two categories – Race Events and Iconic Rides. The race events cover the major races from to Tour de France to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and occur at the same time as the professional road races. The iconic rides, including the Classic Cols of Provence, the French Alps and wine country around Santa Barbara, are scheduled for the time of year that would allow for optimal weather conditions.
The tours are typically 4 to 6 days in length and riders can expect to ride on average 100 kilometers or 60 miles each day. For each tour, each group ranges in size from 8 to 20 riders and each rider can either use their bike or borrow a Cervélo team bike. Each of the tours cost between $3500 and $5000 based on double occupancy, not including airfare. So what can be expected for all of that money?
All accommodation and most meals, snacks and drinks for daily rides, all transfers and baggage handling, use of an Cervélo R3 Team bike throughout (including 3T tubular wheel sets where appropriate), a complimentary Cervélo gear kit made by Castelli, use of a Garmin Edge 800 with pre-loaded routes, services of a ride leader(s), full ride support from a support vehicle, all private tours, tastings or entrance fees to on-trip events; all local gratuities for special events, local guides, transfers, hotels and restaurants.
Cervélo is certainly not new to the concept of conducting a tour in conjunction with a professional race, in previous years they ran their own moderately successful tours under the name ‘Cervélo TestTeam Travel’. The past Cervélo tour participants were able to get up close and personal with the drama that occurs during the ’race events’ as seen in the Beyond the Peleton video. The Cervélo Pro Travel Experience is promising a similar experience.
Built around the world’s marquee professional competitions, our Race Events turn you from a spectator into a participant. You’ll see the sport’s top riders in action firsthand, pedal the very routes they tackle on the very same bike, and meet them or members of their support team in person for an insider’s account of life on the circuit.
httpv://youtu.be/UWBQLZzW4N0
Does the chance to ride the same course as your heroes sound appealing? The Cervélo Pro Travel Experience just might be the ‘full ride’ you need for the perfect vacation!