I have the distinction of being LifeCycle Adventures' first client for their Oregon bike touring. I had a 5-day/4-night solo bike tour of the Willamette Valley in Oregon in late April 2010. My route included Portland, Forest Grove, McMinnville, and Silverton, and it was tailored to my own specific interests and cycling abilities.
Although I was their first Oregon cyclist riding during a decidedly dicey time of the year, my experience was fantastic from start to finish.
The tour was organized meticulously and with a personal touch. Weeks in advance of my trip, I was in frequent contact with one of the tour organizers by e-mail and phone as they worked out my route and prepared for my arrival. They gave very personalized treatment and were always friendly and helpful.
The accommodations I had each night always exceeded my expectations. In Forest Grove I enjoyed an exquisite 1910s Craftsman style bed and breakfast -- all to myself! -- and the proprietor brought me over a hot meal from the diner she also ran a few blocks way.
The bike I rented was a real delight and a surprise. I was expecting a Trek road bike based on the information provided by the website; that would've been adequate. Instead I was given a Masi, a fine California brand with Italian racing heritage. A real treat to ride. One day I took a minor spill on the bike, and the next morning one of the tour organizers drove down to meet me at the b&b to check out the (minor) damage and replace a derailleur cable. Nice to know that you can count on them to not only cart your luggage to the next town on the route but be there to assist you wherever you are. And indeed, throughout the trip I was in surprisingly frequent contact with the organizes by phone, email and text message. (It's definitely a plus to have a smart phone while riding.)
Being an east coast native, I absolutely loved Oregon. The Willamette Valley is charming and beautiful, full of orchards, wineries, hop fields, and tree nurseries. Folks were friendly everywhere I went. And the wine! The best Pinot Noir anywhere. If you're in McMinnville, you must try Nick's for an elegant but relaxed dinner. Small town sophistication.
There were a couple of minor glitches in the bike route. Some of the mileage information and one turn instruction were inaccurate, and once or twice I encountered unpaved roads when I wasn't expecting them. But that was to be expected as a sort of pioneer. (The tour organizers warned me of this too, and reduced my charges accordingly.) I'm confident, knowing the tour organizers just from my experience with them on this trip, that they'll work out these minor kinks and have better route and guidebook information as they head into the summer season.
I would have given LifeCycle a full 5 star review if it weren't for the latter issue. Overall I was delighted with the support they provided on the trip and hope to go with them again soon. read more