Reading Room Blog

Bicycle Training

Cycle Tours France

Destinations: France,  About ExperiencePlus!: Rider Spotlight

My First Bike Tour

My First Bike Tour  Conquering Fear and Finding Bliss Last fall, with no bike travel experience or real training to speak of, I went on my first guided cycling tour.... Read More »

A typical lunch spread.

Travel Planning: Food and Meals

Managing Your Food Intake on a Bicycle Tour

One of the most important things in life is FOOD, we can’t live without it!  Food can be one of the best parts and biggest challenges in a day; did... Read More »

training

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

How Hard Should I Train For This?

To start this section off we want to remind you first and foremost that although these trips can accommodate travelers with just about any level of fitness, you will be... Read More »

A rewarding descent photo from Mont Ventoux.

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Prepare to Succeed

It’s about that time: it’s getting cold, dark, and breezy, and the idea of riding your bike outside may seem less and less appealing. So what now – how are... Read More »

A happy cyclist in the Languedoc

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Cadence is the Key to Cycling

Have you ever come back from a ride and thought, “Wow, my legs are toast. Why do people enjoy this?” I know I have. When I was new to road... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Keeping Your Body Happy, Keeps You Happy

So you’ve been putting in lots of hours of training and preparation for your upcoming ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tour, fantastic!  All of these hours will certainly help make your tour that... Read More »

Biceps and Biking in Argentina with ExperiencePlus!

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Mighty Motivation

What is motivation? Quite literally, it is the desire to do things.  Everyone has motivation but it seems like some days we have more of it than others.  Motivation in... Read More »

Cycling in Argentina and Chile with ExperiencePlus!

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Training for Hills When You Don’t Have Any

You have an exciting Experience Plus! Bicycle tour of Chile and Argentina to look forward to!  You are visualizing the beautiful Cardenal Samore Pass with inviting thermal pools waiting for... Read More »

Yoga at the border of Chile and Argentina

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Preparing for Cycling Season

As a native Floridian who has a fierce hatred of the cold, it will still be a couple weeks before I venture out for an outdoor ride in beautiful Northern... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Bicycle Training Calendar Level 4 – 4.5

Level 4 – 4.5 Training Program Joe Friel, nationally recognized fitness expert, designed this 12-week Training Packet specifically for ExperiencePlus! Bicycle tours. Our level 4 – 4.5 tours are for... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Bicycle Training Calendar Level 3 – 3.5

Level 3 – 3.5 Training Program Joe Friel, nationally recognized fitness expert, designed this 12-week Training Packet specifically for ExperiencePlus! Bicycle tours. Our level 3 – 3.5 tours are for... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Bicycle Training Calendar Level 2 – 2.5

Level 2 – 2.5 Training Program Joe Friel, nationally recognized fitness expert, designed this 12-week Training Packet specifically for ExperiencePlus! Bicycle tours. Our level 2 – 2.5 tours are for... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Bicycle Training Calendar Level 1 – 1.5

Level 1 -1.5 Training Program  Joe Friel, nationally recognized fitness expert, designed this 12-week Training Packet specifically for ExperiencePlus! Bicycle tours. Our 101 level tours are perfect for people looking... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Training for an ExpeditionPlus! Tour

By ExpeditionPlus! veteran, Mary Gantz Mary Gantz doesn’t let living in pancake-flat Florida inhibit her cycling success. She road Coast to Coast across Chile and Argentina in 2006; from St... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Fear and Cycling

Fear? Yes, fear. Come on, admit it. There have been times when the thought of riding hasn’t always been pleasant. Maybe it’s the fear of the open road, riding in... Read More »

Bicycle wheel. Copyright Joe Coca

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Spring Fever: Getting Ready to Ride

Finally. Spring is upon us. The days are getting longer. The desire to get outside and ride is growing. Unless you have been able to ride outside throughout the winter,... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Yep, It’s Winter. Take Your Work-Out Inside…

and Reap the Benefits. By Leah Barrett, Nutritionist and Wellness Counselor at become fit in Fort Collins, Colorado OK, some of you are hard-core and no matter how cold or... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training

Get Out and Ride

Get Out and Ride (even if you don’t feel like it) By Leah Barrett, MS, LCSW Nutritionist / Wellness Counselor at become fit in Fort Collins, Colorado So, you’ve signed... Read More »

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training,  Travel Planning: Health and Safety

Joe Friel’s Health Benefits of Cycling

by Joe Friel It can be difficult to keep up an exercise program, especially if you don’t see results right away in the mirror or on the scales. After all,... Read More »

Bicycle Advocacy

Safe Cycling is Smart Cycling

The League of American Bicyclists is the nation’s premier bicycle advocacy group which, over the last forty years, has developed THE national standard in bicycle safety education. It is unfortunate... Read More »

Short story suggestions for bicycling in Europe.

Travel Planning: Bicycle Tour Training,  Travel Planning: How to Plan a Vacation,  Travel Tips

Tips to prepare for your bicycling trip

Interview with Joeann Gutowski We visited with Joeann Gutowski in our Fort Collins office before she heads to our Bicycling Through the Best of Provence tour this fall to ask... Read More »

Awards, Memberships and Reviews