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Wild Heart Cycling
By spokesman | March 29, 2009
NOTE: Wild Heart Cycling seems to be out of business -
Bicycle tour companies differ based on the type of support that they provide for riders. One important variable is the support van or sag vehicle. The van serves several important functions including transporting luggage, riding ahead to set up rest stops, and patrolling the route to pick up riders. Some companies don’t provide a support van on the road although they may provide luggage transfer and/or emergency pickup.
I recently came across a touring company called Wild Heart Cycling, that provides a unique level of support. They don’t have a sag vehicle. However, lumping them in the unsupported category would be incorrect because each tour includes two guides who travel with the group. The guides carry tools to do repairs, food and other common goods for the tour. Along the routes, the guides pick up additional food and supplies. On camping trips, the guides help to set up camp and cook. There are two guides for the groups of six to 10, so one is always riding sweep to ensure no one gets left behind.
Each of the riders in the group need to carry their own gear. The company provides Burley trailers – a light two wheeled trailer that the ride can tow with their gear. Of courses if you have a touring set up including panniers, you can use them instead of the trailer. You can bring your own bike or rent one from the company. If you bring your own bike, they will store the shipping box during the tour. The company offers a recommended packing list so that riders will bring the right amount of gear and don’t add unnecessary weight. They offer both camping trips and lodge trips. For camping trips, riders will need camping equipment including a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. These items can be rented if from the company if you don’t own them.
For those who have considered a self supported camping tour but have not done it for any number of reasons, Wild Heart Cycling is a good way to develop experience for that type of tour without all of the burdens. It is a good way to ease into it. Wild Heart Cycling is a more “green” way to travel compared to other companies. Without a support van, you are saving fuel. The company offers tours in Oregon, California and Vermont that range from 3 to 8 days.
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Topics: Tour Companies |
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Sounds like a great model, more a touring partner than company. Thinking about some of the tours my friends have done this kind of support would have been fantastic.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:15 pm
So much for Wild Heart Cycling, it’s now a dead link.
Thanks for the update, I will revise the post