ExperiencePlus! Blog


Julie Horton

  • ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours rear rack pack.

    What’s In My Rear Rack Pack

    On every ExperiencePlus! trip we provide a rear rack pack to carry the items you’ll need during your ride.  As with any kind of packing, there is a delicate balance between bringing what you may need and overpacking.  I have… Read full article

  • Pasta with Sugar Snap Peas and Asparagus

    We know it’s spring when asparagus and sugar snap peas hit the grocery stores! We have the perfect recipe to combine these two treasures. Ingredients: 1 pound farfalle pasta prepared per instructions. Garlic 2 Tablespoons butter 3 Tablespoons olive oil… Read full article

  • Gear Review: Tiem Cycling Shoes

    Packing just got a lot easier. How many pairs of shoes did you bring on your last cycling vacation? Let me guess: your cycling shoes, your comfy walking shoes, a pair of sandals, and perhaps one more pair “just in… Read full article

  • Why Spring? The List is Long…

    And the time is near! Spring tours are filling and just around the corner and there is no reason to miss out on one of the best bicycle touring seasons in Europe. Along with the wonderful weather and lack of… Read full article

  • OTTOLOCK by OTTODesignWorks.com Review

    The search for a lightweight combination lock for my bike has officially ended! My bike is my car, my exercise companion, one of my dearest friends, and as the years go by, the two of us have taken more to… Read full article

  • 3 Pieces of Gear I Fell in Love with this Cycling Season

    3 Pieces of Gear I Fell in Love with this Cycling Season Fall is fast approaching and the changing weather has me reminiscing about summer cycling adventures. This year I found myself feeling safer and more confident because of three… Read full article

  • Da Brim Bicycle Review

    Gear Review: Da Brim Helmet Visor

    Gear Review: Da Brim A Sporty Cycling Helmet Visor Summer is nearly here and for those of you who are not excited with the idea of the sun in your eyes or beating down on your neck while you are… Read full article

  • Lumos Helmet Review

    Gear Review: Lumos Helmet Julie tested out the Lumos Helmet for a month The Lumos helmet was designed by two engineers that wanted to solve the problem of cyclists feeling invisible on the road. Their answer: a helmet with a… Read full article

  • Julie enjoys cold water cycling in Northern Argentina

    Make Cold Water on a Hot Day

    Baby It’s Hot Outside! “Make” cold water on your next bicycle ride According to a recent study in The Journal of the International Society of Sports drinking cold water can help you keep your core temperature lower and significantly increase… Read full article

  • Giovanni Valetti and crew

    The Surprising Life of Tour Leader Gabriele Monaco

    Gabriele Monaco – Film Maker, Tour Leader, History Buff Q & A with Gabriele about his film Valetti – The Forgotten Hero When Gabriele Monaco isn’t leading ExperiencePlus! bicycle tours in Italy you’ll find him working on his latest film… Read full article

  • Jewel by Club Ride

    Product Review – Jewel by Club Ride

    Jewel by Club Ride. As anyone who knows me will tell you I’ve been on the search for the perfect undergarment for cycling for years. I’ve tried a multitude of underwear options – boy’s cut, thongs, seamless, going without any, and… Read full article

  • Wild Tales

    Wild Tales – Written and Directed by Damián Szifrón

    Argentine director and writer Damián Szifrón holds bragging rights for Argentina’s most popular film of 2014. His film “Wild Tales” was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign film, as well as, the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film… Read full article

  • Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine

    Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free, By Héctor Tobar On August 5th 2010 the San José mine located just outside of Copiapó, Chile collapsed and… Read full article

  • St Malo, France where the ExperiencePlus! Brittany and Normandy tour begins.

    All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

    “All the Light We Cannot See” was on almost everyone’s top books of 2014 list and was also a finalist for the National Book Award. This intriguing story follows two young people, Marie-Laure a blind girl who lives with her… Read full article

  • Cycling in Ireland with ExperiencePlus!

    Chocolate Guinness, Bailey’s, and Whiskey Cupcakes

    Looking for an inspired Valentine’s Day gift for the love of your life? We have the perfect idea – A bicycling tour of Ireland presented with this decadent and delicious chocolate cupcake featuring Guinness, Bailey’s, and Jameson’s whiskey. This recipe… Read full article

  • A Year in Burgundy

    A Year in Burgundy Directed by David Kennard

    My knowledge of wine is limited to what I can remember from the several wine tours I’ve been on with ExperiencePlus! and I’m confident that I would I would fail the “Davis test”  (have a friend pour room temperature red… Read full article

  • Scrubba Wash Bag

    Scrubba: A Pocket-Sized Washing Machine

    My methods for doing laundry on bike trips have always left me wondering about my cleanliness. It is one reason I am a fan of Dr Bronner’s peppermint soap because even if my clothes aren’t really clean at least I… Read full article

  • Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise

    April marks the beginning of asparagus season in Germany and in France and is cause for celebration because it also means that spring has finally arrived. In Germany asparagus fever continues until mid-June and takes many forms including competitions to… Read full article