Outfitter Bicycle Tours Blog

The Sights and Smells of Lavender on a Bike Tour

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 16, 2018 | Blog, France, Provence | 0 Comments

There are few things in life more relaxing and more breathtaking than a field of lavender in full bloom. Although we would argue that seeing lavender on a bike tour is one way to up the ante. Stopping for a breather alongside a field overflowing with the deep purple...

Top 5 Sights in Siena to see While On A Cycling Vacation

by Jamie Gilpin | Mar 10, 2018 | Blog, Italy, Self Guided Tours, Tuscany | 0 Comments

If Tuscany is the heart of Italy, Siena is the heart of Tuscany. It’s truly a special place that is featured on almost every one of our Tuscan tours. Many itineraries include an overnight stay in this storied city so we thought we would share our top 5 sights...

Dordogne Cycling Vacations: Our Founder’s Favorite

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 28, 2018 | Blog, Dordogne, France, Self Guided Tours, Update | 0 Comments

Our Founder, Dick Powell, shares why he has a particular soft spot for Dordogne cycling vacations in this post written in 2014. Jamie and Joy Gilpin have since taken over the running of Outfitter Bicycle Tours but still rely on the expertise and local knowledge of Dick and his...

Our 4 Favorite Provence Rides

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 14, 2018 | Blog, France, Provence, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

Our fearless leaders, Joy and Jamie, spend much of their summers in Provence. They’ve spent their time riding the roads and getting to know each climb, each sweeping turn, and each winding descent. With varied terrain for any cyclist, there are options for everyone. From conquering Mt. Ventoux to...

Why take an Asheville Cycling Vacation?

by Jamie Gilpin | Feb 8, 2018 | Asheville, Blog, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

It’s true that we offer life-changing cycling vacations in storied international destinations like France and Italy. But did you know we can also arrange your life-changing Asheville cycling vacation in Western North Carolina? Asheville and the surrounding area is quickly climbing up to join the ranks of Tuscany and...

Our Year in Review: Amazing tours, Rockstar Guests and Remarkable Moments

by Jamie Gilpin | Dec 28, 2017 | Blog, Guided Tours, Self Guided Tours | 0 Comments

We know we aren’t alone in taking time to reflect on the past year. Sometimes we fly through the year too quickly to truly soak in all of the amazing tours, rockstar guests and remarkable moments. We’d like to take a few minutes to relive (ahem, share) some of...

Our Top Apps for Communicating While Abroad

by Jamie Gilpin | Dec 21, 2017 | Blog, Preparation, Tips & Advice | 0 Comments

One of the most common questions we get from upcoming tour guests is how do we stay in touch with our loved ones while we’re traveling? Should we buy a phone card? Well, you certainly can but to many international travelers, phone cards have gone the the way of...

Top 5 Can’t-Miss Experiences in the Luberon

by Jamie Gilpin | Dec 7, 2017 | Blog, France, Provence | 0 Comments

The Luberon is a corner of Provence that encapsulates everything you’d expect from Provence – great food, rich history, and beautiful views. The region was made famous by Peter Mayle’s book, “A Year In Provence”. We love the area and love to show it off on bike tours but...

Top 5 Views in Provence

by Jamie Gilpin | Nov 19, 2017 | Blog, France, Provence | 0 Comments

Provence stands out as one of the most VISUALLY impressive destinations where we offer bike tours. From vast vistas to flowing lavender fields, Provence has it all. We want to share the beauty with you in person but until then, let us share our top 5 Provence views in this...

Top 5 Highlights of Chianti Bike Tours

by Jamie Gilpin | Nov 16, 2017 | Blog, Italy, Self Guided Tours, Tuscany, Update | 0 Comments

Chianti is the highlight of any cycling tour to Italy. More than just a destination, Chianti is a cyclist’s paradise in the heart of Tuscany. If you daydream about bike tours on smooth quiet roads over rolling hills and then relaxing with long wine-soaked dinners, Chianti bike tours are for you!...