New England in the fall

This Holiday is classed as Moderate (Grade 4)

The terrain varies between rolling and occasionally hilly

We will be travelling through New England in the United States of America

The tour starts and finishes in Boston, the nearest airport is at Boston Logan International Airport, 3 miles from downtown.

Travel to the start and from the finish is not included in this holiday. It is very important that you note that neither your Tour Organiser nor Bikexplore are responsible for you in any way until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. Should you fail to arrive at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses you may incur in order to meet up with the tour group. Before finalising travel arrangements, you should ensure that the tour is definitely going ahead.

Should there be insufficient bookings or pandemic travel restrictions are re-imposed, we reserve the right to cancel the tour at any time. It is therefore recommended that you book fully flexible and refundable transport and accommodation or wait until you have been told the tour will go ahead. In the event of the tour being cancelled we will not be responsible for any losses incurred outside what you pay us.

Transfer from our hotel in Boston to Brattleboro and from Brattleboro to Logan International airport is included in this holiday, as is transfer of your bicycle.

Other trains / flights are available and many arrive within a reasonable time frame. If you don't wish to take this transfer then you will need to arrange your own transportation to Brattleboro.

We will use WhatsApp to communicate details like café stops, meal arrangements, places of interest and any emergencies on route. Ideally everyone will bring a smart phone and be happy to be included in the group.

If you are unable to join the WhatsApp group I will do my best to keep you updated, by email and personal communication.

The maximum number of participants will be 12 including the Tour Organiser. Sarah (my wife) will be joining us.

We will stay in a mix of excellent accommodation as this is part of the holiday, from Bed and Breakfast, Inns, hotels and an excellent motel.

There are 2 twin 4 double all en-suite. Rooms will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Single rooms are not readily available in the USA. If you are travelling alone, I can hold your booking until another person applies, so that you can share. Single supplements are not financialy viable, unless you wish to pay for two places.

Prices are based on two people sharing a room.

When booking with a partner to share please specify twin or double beds.

Meals – Breakfast is included on cycling days throughout the holiday. Lunches and dinners are not included. On these days we will eat out at available places in consultation with the group allowing you to make your own choice.

We will frequently be travelling through rural areas and will stop at cafes during the rides whenever possible but you should buy and carry sufficient food and drink for lunch in case of emergencies. In the information, I have highlighted places to buy food and these are at least once a day, even in rural parts of New England.

Check which meals are provided in the Payment Schedule and ensure you have access to sufficient monies to cover any meals you will need to buy.

Check that you have informed the Tour Organiser of any dietary requirements in your Booking Form.

Please remember to pack any medications that you need to take regularly.

Health – please check the current Foreign Office advice for the USA:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/health

A touring cycle, hybrid, tandem, or recumbent would all be suitable for this holiday

You should ensure your cycle is well maintained, paying particular attention to wheels, tyres and brakes.

A low bottom gear (eg. small chainring the same size or smaller than the largest cog on your rear wheel) is recommended; if unsure about gears, please talk to the Bikexplore Leader about them.

Mudguards are optional but demonstrate respect to those who are following you in wet weather.

Lights are recommended in the very unlikely event of arriving back late and useful if walking outdoors at night. A bell is advised and bring a bike lock for security. Water bottles are required to ensure you are hydrated at all times.

You will be expected to carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and minor repairs, including two inner tubes, a spare gear cable, split link and spare brake pads. There may not be many bike shops on route and they are never when you need them.

You are advised to use 32mm tyres, or larger, to suit the variable terrain.

You will be carrying you own luggage and therefore you must ensure that your panniers, or bike packing bags, are of sound construction and are secure to the bicycle.

Before the holiday you are advised to have a trial run with the weight on board to ensure that you are happy with the handling and that the equipment is suitable. Do not over pack as you will have to carry this for the whole tour. It is suggested that the overall luggage weight should be no more than 10-12kg, which is usually sufficient for any holiday, washing spare clothes each night. If you need advice please contact the Bikexplore Organiser.

The holiday is for 16 days and has 1 rest days. However we do spend 6 nights at various locations, where we plan to have 6 led rides unencumbered by luggage. So, if anybody needs a rest and repair day, they can sit out on one of those. No-one is obliged to ride those days.

Most of the roads are minor and used by rural/tourist traffic and maybe/will be hilly in parts. We may need to use some busier roads at times but avoid them as much as possible.

Part of the route may take in greenways, canal towpaths and/or bridleways.

Most of each cycling day may be spent cycling. People will be expected to ride at their own pace and often in loose groups, at around 16-20 km on the flat, slower up hills, usually meeting up at cafes for lunch and refreshment breaks. You will be notified of the two or three available or recommended refreshment stops each day.

It is expected that you may want to stop for photographs, look at the view or explore and this is okay. You are on holiday.

Inevitably, you might consider parts of the route hilly, and there is no back-up vehicle to carry your luggage, so you need to be fit to get the most out of this tour.

It is essential to get out on your bike and do some 80 km rides before the tour starts.

There may be steep descents too, so you should be able to negotiate these safely.

Please note it may not always be possible to follow the itinerary exactly due to road works or weather etc, as things do not always go as planned. In these circumstances, you will be advised of alternative arrangements.

The Organiser will not always be at the front of the group but may be anywhere within it, as circumstances require, so you will need to be aware of the route and likely stopping places each day.

Lightweight clothing, suitable for a range of temperatures is needed and possibly smarter, warmer clothing for the evenings.

Waterproofs/windproofs will be needed.

Sun cream, lip balm and sun glasses are recommended along with insect repellant and bite cream.

We are cycling in New England in the fall and towards the end of the season. The days should be warm, but please be prepared for extremes of weather, as it can snow at any time of year. Therefore you should have plenty of warm clothing, a waterproof coat and gloves.

Culture– please check current Foreign Office advice for USA:

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

A gpx of each day’s route and detailed route notes, will be provided before the start of the tour. I provide a very detailed tour booklet

For UK nationals traveling abroad, travel insurance is essential. Please check if your insurer has requirements for cyclists eg wearing a helmet.

Current Covid and Influenza vaccinations are recommended for participants of 75 years of age and over and those deemed medically vulnerable.

It is recommended that you are vaccinated against hepatitis A, typhoid, polio and tetanus and that protection has not expired. You should contact your doctor at least 3 months prior to travel to obtain these vaccinations and the latest advice for travelers.

UK citizens must hold a passport that is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour.

Holders of non-UK passports are advised to check whether they require a visa.

The local currency is the dollar

You will need an ETA Electronic Travel Authorisation. Providing you are a British Citizen and don’t have any unspent convictions for criminal offences, you need to apply for this authorisation for entry to the USA by going to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and completing the form online. This must be done at least 72 hours before you fly, but it would be much better to do it well before that. The application lasts two years, so if you have travelled there recently you should still have a valid authorisation. Anyone not travelling on a British passport should review the requirements carefully for their nationality

I have led 10 tours in the USA, including a similar tour in 2010. Over 20 years, I have created and led over 80 tours all over the world. I like to cycle for the scenery and food. I am happily married to Sarah who will be coming with me on this holiday and we have two grown up children. Our day jobs are veterinary surgeons, I locum to enable me to take cyclists away to glorious places. Any queries please contact me at Neil@tandem-club.org.uk. Thankyou for looking at this tour