Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/93784
62 EUROPE›› MULTI-COUNTRY The CYCLING diff erence We've geared our European Cycling program towards riders of all calibers, from slow-and-steady to rough-and- ready. Whether you're ready to follow in the tire tracks of the pros on the world's greatest race routes or prefer to take it as easy as can be, we've got you covered. Here's what to expect: Casual or challenging What you get out of a European Cycling trip all depends on how much you want to put in. Low-key trips in Tuscany, Northern Spain and France's Loire Valley are perfect for pleasure-seekers, while the more demanding routes across the Pyrenees will give the more competitively-minded all they can handle. In-the-know experts Wherever you go, your group will be led by both your CEO and local guides with expert knowledge of the region's landscape and available trails. Most routes feature a variety of ways to get from point A to point B, and can be customized on-the-fl y to suit the needs and experience levels of the group. Top gear We provide you with a bike and helmet, so you won't need to worry about bringing all of your gear with you on the trip. If you'd prefer to bring your own personal equipment, though, by all means bring it along! We'll make sure it goes wherever you do. We lug, you ride Some people might enjoy the challenge of strapping their belongings to their backs and riding on to the next town. Those people are crazy. While you bike, your luggage rides along with the group in a van, where it belongs. 2 1 TOP Chain reaction: Cycling in Southern Tuscany. 1. France's Loire Valley was practically built for bikes. 2. The mist-shrouded majesty of Tuscany. Tour de Everywhere Europe and the bicycle have been in a serious committed relationship for centuries, and it's not hard to understand why. The picturesque hills, splendid riverside trails and towering peaks of this part of the world offer options aplenty for leisurely pedalers and hardcore asphalt-eaters alike. Cycling through Europe brings you closer to the land and its people than just about any other style of travel. The mobility of a bike gives you the chance to see well-known locales from a new perspective and opens up their more remote corners to deeper exploration. And since you control the pace, you're free to stop at a friendly café or roadside market whenever you like, or turn that rolling field you just passed into an impromptu picnic spot.