FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about traveling with Undiscovered Country Bike Tours.
How difficult will the riding be?
Most of our daily rides have long and short options, so you can pick the one that's right for you each day. To help you choose a ride that meets your expectations, we classify each ride into four categories: easy, moderate, challenging, and epic. See below for a description of these categories.
How should I train?
The best training advice we can give is just to go out and spend some time bicycling! The more time you spend riding, the more fit you become, which adds enjoyment to your trip. Your body needs time to get used to being on the bike. If you can't spend as much time on the bicycle as you want, any sort of aerobic activity that gets you breathing through your mouth will help. Jogging, fast walking, swimming, skating, or cross country skiing are good choices. Most gyms will have a good selection of exercise equipment: treadmills, stationary bikes, stair steppers, etc.
If you've been riding for less than a year, your confidence handling a bike in traffic may need improvement. Going on rides with more experienced cyclists is very helpful in this regard. If there are bicycle clubs in your area, consider joining one of their scheduled rides. Attending a local bicycle safety class for adults is also a very good idea—even for experienced riders.
What type of people come on your tours?
Adults of all ages join our tours, from the college grad student to the retired couple. We don‘t ask how old our guests are, and they usually don’t tell us. Some travel as couples, some travel as solos. Some are straight, some are gay. Some are American, some are from another country. But everyone has one thing in common, a love of bicycling.
How many people are on a tour?
The maximum size is 14 guests on our scheduled tours, which is the largest size we can accommodate and still provide an “undiscovered country” experience. We stay in cozy inns an dine in tiny restaurants, which wouldn’t be possible with a larger group. We can accommodate larger groups on private and custom tours, however.
Do you operate all of your tours?
Absolutely. We believe the only way to ensure the quality of our tours is to operate every one ourselves. We never contract out to other tour companies.
How do I reserve space on a trip?
You can reserve space on a trip up to two days before the trip begins, if space is available. To reserve a trip, call us toll-free at 1.877.322.1667 (outside the USA at +1.650.494.1635). You may also check availability and reserve space online by clicking the RESERVATIONS link on a tour's web page. All trip prices are listed in US dollars. A deposit of $200 is required to complete a reservation. The balance of the trip cost is due 30 days before trip departure. Undiscovered Country accepts credit cards, PayPal payments, personal checks, money orders, and cashier's checks.
Can I change my reservation to a different trip or departure date?
You may change to a different trip or departure date 31 or more days before the original trip's departure date at no charge. You may transfer to any trip that starts within 24 months of the original trip. Within 30 days of departure, no changes may be made without total forfeiture of the trip cost.
If I cancel my reservation, can I get a refund?
If you are forced to cancel a trip reservation, we will refund some or all of your money, based on how much notice you give us. The table below describes the size of your refund:
| Refunds for Trip Cancellation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Days Prior to Start | Amount Forfeited | Amount Refunded |
91+ |
none |
100% |
61-90 |
10% ( not to exceed $200) |
90% |
31-60 |
20% ( not to exceed $200) |
80% |
less than 30 |
100% |
0% |
Can I get a partial refund for arriving late or leaving early?
In a word, no. Each tour is a package. There are no refunds for arriving late, leaving early, electing not to use one of our bicycles, or choosing not to participate in any of the scheduled activities.
What if you cancel a tour I’ve signed up for?
Once you have reserved space and paid for a tour, we guarantee your tour will run. We will not cancel a tour due to low enrollment. The only reason we will cancel a tour is for force majeure (natural disaster, war, etc.). If we must cancel a trip for which you have registered and paid a deposit, you will receive a full refund, PLUS a $200 credit which may be used on any Undiscovered Country tour within 24 months of the cancelled trip date. Undiscovered Country Bike Tours is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trip, such as airline tickets, or for costs incurred due to travel days, flight cancellations or illness.
Should I get travel insurance?
Travel insurance is a very good idea. Missing a trip is no fun, but losing the money you paid for your trip is even worse. Our cancellation policy is strict—if you are forced to cancel within 30 days of a trip departure, you will receive no refund. If you are forced to cancel due to events out of your control, travel insurance can reimburse you. Some policies even allow you to cancel for any reason. If you agree with us that travel insurance is a good idea, we recommend TravelSafe Insurance. They have very good coverage plans (including “cancel for any reason” options), their rates are very reasonable, and you can purchase directly from their web site.
What if I am traveling solo?
Our tour prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you are traveling solo and would like a guarantee of a private room every night, we will reserve your own room and add an additional single occupancy fee to your trip cost. If you would like to share a room, we will make every effort to pair you up with a roommate of the same gender. However, if you ask for a roommate and we can't find you one, we will put you in a private room and waive the single occupancy fee.
What are the activity levels?
We have classified our rides into four different categories, based on the distance and amount of climbing. If you have any questions about what level may be appropriate for you, please contact us. We're happy to advise you.
| Activity Levels for a Ride | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Miles | Length of Climbs (miles) |
Ride Time (hours) |
|
1 |
10-20 |
N/A |
1-3 |
|
2 |
20-30 |
0-2 |
2-4 |
|
3 |
30-40 |
2-3 |
3-5 |
|
4 |
40-60 |
3-5 |
4-6 |
|
5 |
60-120 |
5-22 |
5-7+ |
|
Level 1: An average of 20 miles per day or less. Terrain is mostly flat or rolling, and climbs—if there are any—are short in distance. At any time during the ride, you may choose to ride in the support van. On any day, you may also choose not to ride at all.
Level 2: An average of 20-30 miles per day. Terrain may have a few climbs up to 2 miles in length. On substantial climbs, the support van will be available to carry riders to the top.
Level 3: An average of 30-40 miles per day. There may be one or more climbs of 2-3 miles in length.
Level 4: An average of 40-60 miles per day. There may be multiple climbs of up to 5 miles in length.
Level 5: An average of 60 miles per day or more. Terrain is often mountainous and travels over high mountain passes. Climbs may be up to 22 miles in length—with some that rival the most difficult climbs of the Tour de France. These are truly epic days and a challenge for even the most fit rider.
Some tours show a range of activity levels. Why is that?
On many days, we offer an easier and a harder option for the day’s ride. You can choose the level that suits you on that day. On any day, we can also customize a route for you if you wish to increase or decrease the daily mileage. The van is always there to shorten the ride distance, also.
What are the age requirements?
All of our trips are for adults only—18 years of age or older. Other than that restriction, we welcome riders of all ages, genders, national origins, religions, and sexual orientations. Undiscovered Country is proud to be a discrimination-free and hate-free company.
What about bicycle safety?
For your safety, we require the use of a bicycle helmet. You should be able to ride comfortably on the road with vehicles and other riders, and be able to follow the rules of the road. If you are unsure of your bicycle handling skills, we can recommend attending a bicycle safety/skills class in your area.
Can I rent a bicycle?Many of our guests are active cyclists who have a special connection to their bicycles. If you are attached to your own bike, we encourage you to bring it with you. But if you prefer to leave your bike at home, we will provide a high quality road bike for you at no additional cost. |
 |
Do your bikes have racks, handlebar bags, panniers, etc?
Absolutely not. Our bikes are premium, ultra-lightweight carbon fiber road bikes. It would be a shame to weigh down such a fine bicycle with racks or large bags. Moreover, it's impossible to mount a rack on one of our bikes. If you want to carry extra gear, we encourage you to take advantage of the support car.
Can I ship my bicycle to you?
Yes, shipping your bike to us before your tour is easy and usually less expensive than flying with a bicycle. You can ship it to a bicycle shop near our offices. They will unpack, assemble, and tune your bicycle. We will pick up your bike from the shop and deliver it to the start of the tour. At the end of the trip, we will deliver your bike back to the shop for packaging and shipping back to you. Cost of this service is $100, not including shipping.
How long have you been hosting bike tours?
Our very first tour was in 2003: the now-famous Kiss of Death High Alpine Challenge. We have grown our offerings every year and currently have 12 different itineraries and over 40 tour dates in 2009, including several custom and private tours. With 12 different itineraries in the state, we offer more California bicycle vacations than any other.
Your prices seem to be lower than other companies, why?
Undiscovered Country Bike Tours was founded in the belief that commercial bike tours could be made more affordable, without compromising quality in any way. By controlling our overhead costs, we pass our savings along to our guests. We don't spend money on lavish color brochures, magazine advertising, spacious offices, phone reservationists, since none of these things impact the trip experience. We never compromise on the things that make a tour great— lodging, meals, bicycles, and top notch professional tour staff focused on service. We remain committed to producing tours of the highest quality, while keeping prices as affordable as possible.
Do you offer discounts?
Never. The price listed on our website is the price everyone pays, guaranteed. We do not offer discounts to anyone, for any reason.
