Outfitter Bicycle Tours Blog

Experience the Best of Provence: A Customer’s Journey on Our Relaxed 5-Night Biking Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 27, 2025 | France, From The Blog, Guided Tours, Testimonials | 0 Comments

Soft Adventure Bike Tourism: Exploring the World with eBikes

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 20, 2025 | From The Blog, Guided Tours | 0 Comments

Discover the Thrills of the 2025 Giro d’Italia & Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Formula 1 Tours

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 13, 2025 | Blog, Featured Tours, Guided Tours, Italy | 0 Comments

Join Outfitter Bicycle Tours for an unforgettable 2025 Italian adventure, combining the excitement of the Giro d’Italia with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Enjoy premium F1 race access, scenic cycling routes through Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, and exclusive cultural experiences. Reserve your spot today! Let us Start Curating Your...

Experience the Ultimate French Biking Adventure on a Provence Bicycle Tour

by Daniel Rock | Nov 4, 2023 | Blog, France | 0 Comments

Your Ultimate Guide to Wine Tasting & Touring in Burgundy, France

by Jamie Gilpin | Jun 12, 2023 | Blog, France | 0 Comments

Burgundy is one of the most famous agricultural regions in France, and while it is a relatively small wine region, it is home to some of the most highly regarded wines in the world. So it is no surprise that wine tourism is an important part of the local...

Here’s Why Provence, France is a Must-See Cycling Destination

by Jamie Gilpin | May 2, 2023 | Blog, France | 0 Comments

Provence, located in southeast France, offers a unique experience for travelers. With ideal terrain for both relaxed and aggressive cycling tours, as well as amazing food, culture, and nature, it satisfies the wanderlust of any traveler! Our experienced Provence bike tour guides share some of our favorite reasons to...

Awaken Your Senses in Provence this Spring

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 22, 2023 | Blog, France | 0 Comments

You’ve done your travel research and decided you’re ready to pedal and climb your way across the south of France on a custom Provence Bike Tour. Excellent choice! Provence is famous for its picturesque landscapes, delicious food and wine, rich history, and breathtaking art and architecture — and spring...

How to Stay Safe on a Self-Guided Bike Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 6, 2023 | Blog, From The Blog, Preparation, Self Guided Tours, Tips & Advice | 0 Comments

While bike tours are meant to be incredible experiences packed with fun, adventure, and learning, it’s essential to consider your safety and security. Cycling newcomers, those new to touring, and even seasoned cyclists planning excursions in new and unfamiliar locations need to keep a number of important things in...

5 Top Tuscan Sites On A Bike Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Jan 30, 2023 | Blog | 0 Comments

Soft Adventure Tourism: The Next Global Travel Trend

by Jamie Gilpin | Jan 4, 2023 | Blog, From The Blog, Guided Tours, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

For many, travel is the best way to experience all that life has to offer: exploring somewhere new while feeling invigorated and transformed by memorable experiences. But not everyone likes to travel in the same way, or with the same intensity. Soft Adventuring is one of the fastest-growing segments...

7 Essential Items to Bring on Every Bike Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Dec 7, 2022 | Blog, Guided Tours, Preparation, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

Whether you’re a beginning rider or an experienced distance cyclist, bicycle touring is one of the best adventure experiences you can have. And like every adventure, you’ll want to be prepared. There are many checklists out there listing what you should pack—from food to clothing to equipment—and you’ll need...

Fall Bike Tours: Where to Go & What to Know

by Jamie Gilpin | Oct 25, 2022 | Asheville, Blog, France, Italy | 0 Comments

If you thought bicycle tours ended when summer did, think again! Travel between September and December has its perks, including fewer crowds, better bargains, and cooler temperatures. It’s also an enchanting time for experiencing local festivals and taking in breathtaking fall foliage. However, not all fall bike tour destinations...

The Anatomy and Inner Workings of an Electric Bicycle – with Infographic!

by Jamie Gilpin | Oct 14, 2022 | Blog, FAQs | 0 Comments

In the previous post we answered all of your top questions about e-bikes. And now for a continuation of “E-Bike 101” we will go deeper into understanding the parts of an e-bike and how they operate! Electric bikes are essentially normal push bikes but with a few key extras....

Your Most Burning Questions About E-Bikes Answered

by Jamie Gilpin | Sep 29, 2022 | Blog, FAQs | 0 Comments

Electric bicycles or E-bikes—which are part bicycle, part motorized vehicle—are becoming hugely popular for all uses, including commuting, recreational cycling, and touring. E-bikes provide many of the same benefits as regular bikes, with a few impressive perks. While they may sound completely modern, hybrid bikes date all the way back...

Our 5 Favorite Things about Sault

by Jamie Gilpin | May 3, 2021 | Blog, France, Guided Tours | 0 Comments

We’ve proudly declared Sault to be one of our favorite European villages. We’ve traveled to this Provencal town on numerous occasions so are maybe a little biased but there are several reasons we keep going back. There’s something refined about the French travel experience when you go to Sault....

Getting in Shape for your Bike Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 19, 2021 | Blog, FAQs, Preparation, Tips & Advice | 3 Comments

You’re booked and thrilled for a new adventure! We’re so excited for you! Bike tours will introduce you to new landscapes in a different way than a rental car ever could. You’ll have time to take in all the smells of the Provencal countryside, you’ll be able to see...

Have you met Jamie Gilpin, OBT Owner?

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 26, 2021 | Blog, Tips & Advice | 3 Comments

Haaaave you met Jamie? or Joy? You may have emailed with them about your tour details or sat with with them on the sidelines of the Tour de France waiting for riders to come by. But do you really know them?? They’ve answered a few fun questions and a...

OBT Owner Joy is a joy to know!

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 26, 2021 | Blog, Tips & Advice | 1 Comment

Why An Asheville Bike Tour might be the best Vacation Option

by Jamie Gilpin | Jan 21, 2021 | Asheville, Blog, COVID-19 | 0 Comments

While we patiently wait for some level of herd immunity that will allow for safer European travel, Asheville boasts the perfect setting for your next adventure! Follow along to learn why Asheville bike tours might be the best vacation option. Let us Start Curating Your Cycling Vacation! Name*This field...

An Optimistic Forecast for 2021 Bike Tours

by Jamie Gilpin | Dec 17, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19, FAQs | 0 Comments

2020 is on it’s way out. (Thank the heavens!) So naturally we’ve turned our attention to 2021. Our global community has been put through the wringer this year and it’s looking like this winter season will be yet another test. While there are hard truths in the headlines, there...

Top 5 Things to do in Cortona

by Jamie Gilpin | Oct 14, 2020 | Blog, Italy, Tips & Advice | 0 Comments

Do you know what Tuscan city we don’t talk about nearly enough? Cortona. Cortona is a favorite stop on our Tuscan bike tours. This small hill town has an incredibly rich history. George Dennis, an explorer and Etruscologist, said “You may have traveled far and wide in Italy, but...

What to Know about your 2021 Bike Tour!

by Jamie Gilpin | Sep 11, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19, FAQs, Preparation | 0 Comments

It’s about that time. Time to make your cycling vacation plans for 2021. As most international travel plans for 2020 were squashed by COVID-19, 2021 is going to be LEGENDARY! Travelers looking for solace, families looking for adventure and cycling fans looking for excitement and history can all be...

How to Watch the Tour When you Can’t Watch it in Person

by Jamie Gilpin | Aug 28, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19, Guided Tours | 0 Comments

We can’t wait to see some of the strongest athletes in the world toe the line at the 107th edition of the Tour de France. This year will be a little bit different. We’ll watch the ride and cheer on our favorite riders while enjoying some brews stateside. We...

The Four Seasons of Asheville: The Four Best Times to Visit Asheville

by Jamie Gilpin | Aug 19, 2020 | Asheville, Blog, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

It’s no secret that Asheville is a top travel destination for 2018. At least, Fobes, TravelZoo, and Travel+Leisure certainly think so. It is a regular on “must-visit” lists around the world. Our fearless leaders, Jamie and Joy even relocated here with their family. If that alone doesn’t tempt you...

The Best Bike Tours for Early 2021

by Jamie Gilpin | Jul 8, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19 | 0 Comments

You know it. We know it. 2020 gets a big thumb down. Now, let’s move on to 2021. We’re so excited to turn the page on 2020 and start 2021 with a bang. We know so many of our friends and family have had to push off their vacation...

How are we handling COVID-19?

by Jamie Gilpin | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19 | 0 Comments

Traveling while the world is still learning to deal with COVID-19 man be a question for some. That question will likely lead to many others. We hope you find this roundup useful. It’s all of our COVID-19 posts from reading lists to indoor cycling equipment and from safe cycling...

Let’s Talk about Safe Lodging during the Coronavirus

by Jamie Gilpin | Jun 12, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19 | 0 Comments

As our tours get going again we know there will be lots of questions. One of the most common questions we’ve gotten and we expect to get is what about hotels? Are they safe? Are they even open? The first thing to know is that we are doing everything...

Safe Cycling in the World of COVID-19

by Jamie Gilpin | Jun 9, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19 | 0 Comments

We firmly believe that good health is a multi-dimensional target. We strive to be healthy in body, mind and spirit. For us, that means we need to exercise our bodies to keep our muscles strong, we need to be constantly learning to keep our minds sharp and we need...

Running Safe Bike Tours in a COVID-19 World

by Jamie Gilpin | Jun 3, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19, Update | 0 Comments

For many of us, the urge to adventure and explore did not diminish when the coronavirus pandemic took over our world. We still feel the drive to breath in the fresh air from a bike saddle, to learn about a new culture and to meet the characters that make...

What are you reading during the pandemic?

by Jamie Gilpin | Apr 25, 2020 | Blog, COVID-19, Tips & Advice, Update | 0 Comments

We’re at home with our young kids so we’ve been attempting to relearn some basic academics and spending a lot of time in the kitchen. We always love to read and we have some family and friends who are at home plowing through their reading lists. We love to...

Let us Start Curating Your Cycling Vacation!

Contact Us