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How to Choose

Suggestions to help you select your dream tour

Top Considerations

To help you decide on your dream tour, start by asking yourself these questions. Then look at the tour descriptions to guide your choice.

1. How much riding have I done (and where)?

Do you like riding up hills or mountains, or are you more of a flatlander—or somewhere in between? Check each tour’s level of difficulty and its terrain. Choosing the right terrain—flat, rolling, hilly, or mountainous—can also make or break your tour (or you). And if you’re a flatlander, don’t rule out hillier tours. Instead, consider ones with electric assist bikes available.

2. How comfortable am I with traffic?

Would you prefer a route that primarily follows paved bike paths or quiet back roads? Are you comfortable with light to moderate road traffic? Will going “off-road” even on wide, packed-dirt trails make you nervous (or smile with glee)?

3. What's a comfortable riding distance for me?

Remember you are on vacation and there will be a lot to see along the way—so allow time for stopping, taking pictures and rewarding yourself with ice cream. In the case of multi-day tours, remember that you’ll be riding for several days, usually back to back. So don’t use your weekly Sunday ride as a guide. We almost never hear feedback that daily distances were too short! Again, electric-assist bikes are perfect ways to make longer distances seem much shorter!

How to Choose Your Dream Bicycle Tour

To help you decide on your dream tour, start by asking yourself these questions. Then look at the tour descriptions to guide your choice.

1. How much riding have I done (and where)?
Do you like riding up hills or mountains, or are you more of a flatlander—or somewhere in between? Check each tour’s level of difficulty and its terrain. Choosing the right terrain—flat, rolling, hilly, or mountainous—can also make or break your tour (or you). And if you’re a flatlander, don’t rule out hillier tours. Instead, consider ones with electric-assist bikes available.

2. Do I prefer riding alone or with a group? Am I comfortable riding alone or with a guide or support vehicle?
Bike the South offers three primary types of tours: Guided, Self-Guided and Supported.

Guided tours
are great if you like riding with a group and have a guide and/or support vehicle on hand to provide a carefree experience? They give you peace of mind and often the most thorough tour and exploration experience.

Self-guided tours
are perfect for independent travelers who are comfortable riding alone or with friends.

Supported tours
are like self-guided tours but with a "safety net," a nice mix of independence and peace of mind. Supported tours include a ride-along escort and/or accompanying or on-call support vehicle.

Remember: Almost every tour can be made a private tour, where you ride with family or friends along with options for a private guide, ride escort and/or support van with driver. Nearly every private tour can be adapted to be shorter/easier or longer/harder.

More about tour types

3. What's a comfortable riding distance for me?
Remember you are on vacation and there will be a lot to see along the way—so allow time for stopping, taking pictures and rewarding yourself with ice cream. In the case of multi-day tours, remember that you’ll be riding for several days, usually back to back. So don’t use your weekly Sunday ride as a guide. We almost never hear feedback that daily distances were too short! Again, electric-assist bikes are perfect ways to make longer distances seem much shorter!

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