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. Ride through majestic redwood forests and the vine-stitched Napa, Sonoma, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. Indulge in the region's signature wineries, acclaimed restaurants and luxurious accommodations at 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 cycling legends Bob Roll and Ned Overend
- Enjoy four days of extensive test-ride opportunities on a fleet of premium Specialized bicycles—the Tarmac or Roubaix for men, and the women-specific Ruby or Dolce for women—fitted to each tour participant
- Show your colors with limited-edition Bicycling cycling apparel from Castelli
- Upgrade your style on and off the bike with a pair of Giro sunglasses
- Snap into action with a Canon A2000 IS digital camera and post your best images from the tour on Bicycling.com
- Get moving with pre-tour training advice from Chris Carmichael, and receive special discounts on CTS coaching services
Days 1-2 Healdsburg
Meet in Bodega Bay 
Hop on your premium Specialized demo bike, and spin along the coast past steep-walled bluffs and a string of Sonoma coast state beaches Follow the Russian River inland to Guerneville Ride into Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, where we enjoy a picnic under the towering thousand-year-old giants Swap the shade of the redwoods for open vineyards and pastureland as you glide toward Healdsburg Pedal across gently rolling hills blanketed in vineyards and farmland on your journey through the famed Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys, considered Sonoma's most beautiful scenery Take a break from the saddle at one of the many wineries along the way to sample some of the chardonnays, cabernets, zinfandels and merlots that thrive in the region.
Days 3-4 Yountville
Pedal from Healdsburg to Calistoga, pausing to taste celebrated reds and whites along the way Browse at a charming art gallery just outside Calistoga before biking on to the culinary mecca of Yountville Opt for another ride or head to our hotel's acclaimed spa for an revitalizing treatment Challenge yourself on one last ride up the tough Oakville Grade, followed by an exhilarating downhill through towering redwoods Shuttle back to Yountville or San Francisco.
WINE COUNTRY CLASSICS : Premiere Inns
Hotel Healdsburg
Healdsburg (2 nights): With contemporary interiors and plush amenities, this boutique hotel rises to the top of the class, making Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List.
Hotel Healdsburg photo credit: Cesar Rubio
Villagio Inn & Spa
Yountville (1 night): In the heart of Napa Valley, this Travel+Leisure favorite features a pool, spa, spacious guest rooms and proximity to world-class dining.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 2 to 5
3 Route Options Available - 25, 46, 56 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 2 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 23, 38, 62 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 21, 43, 64 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 2 2 Route Options Available
- 20, 26 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Trips For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next - and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. |
||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2009 DATES
September Departure:
09/13 - 09/16/2009
October Departure:
10/11 - 10/14/2009