Bicycling's Dream Rides
Announcing Ultra-Premium Tours of California Wine Country
Bicycling's Dream Rides deliver the ultimate cycling experience as you pedal through California's Wine Country, a land ripe for exploring on two wheels. Bike through majestic redwood forests and the vine-stitched Napa, Sonoma, Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexander Valleys. Indulge in the region's signature wineries, acclaimed restaurants, and luxurious accommodations at Boday Bay Lodge & Spa, Hotel Healdsburg and Villagio Inn & Spa.
In addition to the peerless standard of excellence that Backroads offers on its premium Wine Country bike tours, Bicycling's Dream Rides include bespoke enhancements to further exceed the expectations of discriminating cyclists.
- Pedal alongside former Tour de France racer Alex Stieda
- Ride a premium Specialized Tarmac, Roubaix, Ruby or Amira bicycle
- Dress like a pro with limited-edition Bicycling apparel from Castelli
- Accessorize in style with Giro sunglasses and gloves
- Don a new Specialized Riders Club jersey
- Capture your favorite moments from the tour with an Olympus Stylus Tough camera
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Bodega Bay
Meet in Kenwood 
Kick things off with a tour, tasting and lunch at Château St. Jean winery, a leader in Vineyard Designated wines, known for its acclaimed cabernet sauvignon Hop on your premium Specialized demo bike and pedal west toward the coast, enjoying the scenery as it changes from vineyards to groves of eucalyptus, rolling pastures and wide-open cattle-grazing country Gather for a wine reception—a great chance to ask Alex Stieda questions about the pro cycling world—before dinner at award-winning Duck Club Restaurant.
Days 2-3 Healdsburg
Spin along the coast past steep-walled bluffs and a string of Sonoma coast state beaches Follow the Russian River inland to Guerneville and continue to Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, where we picnic under the towering thousand-year-old giants Swap the shade of the redwoods for open vineyards and rolling farmland as you glide toward Healdsburg Pedal across gentle hills blanketed in vines on your journey through the famed Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys, Sonoma's most beautiful scenery Take a break from the saddle to taste celebrated reds and whites at Mazzocco Vineyards and other wineries.
Days 4-5 Yountville
Pedal from Healdsburg to Calistoga, pausing if you wish at Sausal, which offers a delightful zinfandel; Hanna, with an excellent merlot; and Robert Young, known for its cabernet Browse in a charming art gallery just outside Calistoga before biking on to the culinary mecca of Yountville Opt for more miles on two wheels or head to our hotel's acclaimed spa for a revitalizing treatment Challenge yourself on one last ride up the tough Oakville Grade, followed by an exhilarating downhill through towering redwoods.
