OVERVIEW
The purpose of our Introduction to Bicycle Touring Classes is to teach and familiarize participants with the basics of self-contained bicycle touring. The major emphasis is on the process of self-contained bicycle travel, and course materials are designed to convey many years of accumulated bicycle touring knowledge to participants.

Instruction for both paved road and dirt road Introduction to Bicycle Touring courses touches on equipment, group touring techniques, budgeting, safety, public relations on the road, and low impact camping. However, the major focus is on learning the process of loaded bicycle travel. Some instruction occurs indoors in lecture format, while demonstrations and hands-on teaching help give students working knowledge on the ins and outs of loaded touring. Instructors are readily accessible to answer any questions during the tour.

Courses begin with a group meeting at 4:00 PM on day one and usually last until late afternoon on day six. It is recommended to book flights home for the day after the tour ends or later. Most courses have two days of instruction, demonstrations and exercises on the intricacies of bicycle touring followed by a camping tour of two to four short riding days to practice touring techniques. Maximum group size is 14 participants with one instructor.

Tour Costs
The tour cost covers one leader, group food, designated indoor overnight fees, camping fees, group equipment use, preparation and instruction materials, maps, a T-shirt, a safety triangle, and more.

Meals
The tour cost includes three meals per day. During the classroom portion of the course, the group will share cooking. On the “mini-tour” portion of the course, you will be included in a more structured cooking and cleaning rotation. This means that one day during the trip you and your partner(s), assigned by the leader, will purchase food for that evening's dinner and the next day's breakfast and lunch. You will prepare the dinner and lay out the foods the next day for breakfast and lunch. Each participant then prepares a sack lunch and takes it with them on the route.

Accommodations
During the classroom portion of the course, you will either camp at a comfortable State Park, or sleep indoors at a hostel or motel. Each night of your “mini-tour” will be spent at a campground. Campsites range from Forest Service campgrounds with minimal services to State Parks and private campgrounds with luxuries such as hot showers and laundry facilities.

Gear
All of our Intro courses are self-contained on the tour section of the course; you'll carry all your gear -- and a portion of the group gear -- in panniers or on a trailer. You will receive the Adventure Cycling "Before You Go" booklet when you sign up. This booklet provides complete information on preparing for a self-supported bicycle tour.

Adventure Cycling Association Tours has panniers, tents, sleeping bags, and camping pads available for rent. A rental form will be included with your Tour Information Packet.

GENERAL LOGISTICS
Trip Application and Sign-up
Upon signing up for a tour, you will receive a Tour Confirmation Invoice and preparatory materials, including a “Before You Go” booklet that contains a packing list and training tips. About 60 days prior to the tour or sooner, you will receive a Tour Information Packet with specific details about your starting location, recommended bike shop, travel tips, and much more.

Please feel free to contact the Tours Department if you have questions that are not answered here. Call (800) 755-2453 toll-free or (406) 721-1776 x3. Or send an email to

Bike Transport
The two most common options are (a) to ship your bike to the start of the tour or (b) transport your bike with you by plane, train, or automobile. If you decide to ship your bike, send it to the recommended bike shop at the start of the tour. For each tour, we select a local bike shop to manage this. They are able to provide several levels of service for you. They can assemble your bike before the ride and ship it home afterward for a reasonable fee. They can also simply accept shipment if you plan to assemble it yourself. Your best bet is to take your bike to your local shop and have them ship it to the appropriate place.

The other option is to take your bike with you, however you’re traveling to the tour. If you plan to take your bike on an airplane, the airline typically will charge an additional fee to take a bicycle. Please check with the airlines or travel agency directly for details.

Bike and Gear
You need to supply all of your own cycling gear (bike, helmet, shoes, and clothing) and camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, and pad). A suggested packing list is included in the “Before You Go” booklet.

Parking
We plan to accommodate parking on all of our tours shorter than 14 days. In most cases, cars will be left at the starting location. At other times, parking is available at another location nearby. On some occasions, there is a cost involved to park your car during the trip. Details are provided in the Tour Information Packet.