It’s nothing new to see bicyclists cruising around California’s Wine Country, reveling in the fresh air and gorgeous landscape, but when Tony Blakey launched LifeCycle Adventures back in 2003, it wasn’t as if he was reinventing the wheel.
“There really wasn’t anything in the region like the customized, self-guided, high-end, ‘high-touch’ experience we offer,” says Blakey, who has led bicycle tours in Costa Rica, Cuba, England (his homeland), France, Italy, Scotland, Spain, Morocco, and Vietnam.
Combining the flexibility of independent programs with the local knowledge and expertise found on group tours, San Francisco-based LifeCycle creates individually tailored itineraries and arranges bicycle rental, lodging, luggage transport, and add-ons like culinary demonstrations, kayaking, and hot-air balloon rides, leaving riders free to roam the beautiful countryside of Napa and Sonoma counties—with customized tour books and maps in hand.
“We take pride in the fact that every single person that does our trips has an awesome experience,” Blakey says.
With its solid reputation among independent travelers and the business background that Blakey and co-founder Dan Moore, two longtime business consultants, bring to the table, LifeCycle has also enjoyed a successful foray into the incentive and corporate markets. The company arranges programs for groups of from 10 to 100 people that include everything from custom-designed bicycle tours and team-building challenges to private wine tastings, catered meals, lodging, spa treatments, and recreational pursuits like kayaking and hiking.
“Our attention to detail and quality of service set us apart, and what really sells us is the fact that we’ve been on the other side of the fence, so we understand there’s a corporate standard and we have an appreciation for how important it is to impress clients,” Blakey says.
LifeCycle certainly gives participants something to write home about, whether it’s a gently rolling ride in Dry Creek Valley, a luncheon on the lawn of the circa-1881 Madrona Manor Victorian inn, or tastings at the elegant Ferrari-Carano Winery and the intimate Everett Ridge Vineyards.
A recent success story was the “2007 Charles Schwab Tour de Napa,” with 80 clients enjoying an invigorating ride, along with interesting stops such as Paoletti Estates for a private tasting and tour of the caves.
“Paoletti fits well with our intimate angle,” Blakey says. “People think much more of us taking them to a little place at the end of the lane than a big commercial winery they would have found by themselves."
For More Info
LifeCycle Adventures 888.NOW.BIKE
www.lifecycleadventures.com
