Passion to Pedal: Cycling CEO’s Favorite Bike Rides of 2015

Aspen, Colorado, USA

This year I had the opportunity to ride with George Hincapie, one of the most recognizable professional cyclists in the world. I got to feel what it would be like to be a pro cyclist, and I’m glad I’m not, actually! I’m competitive, and I like to push myself, but it hurts. You have to go hard. George pulled me up to Ashcroft—a 14-mile climb and a classic ride in Aspen. It’s about 11 miles at a 3 percent incline. My goal was to beat my own time of 45 minutes and to beat everyone I was riding with, so George was nice enough to pull me up for part of the way, yelling “cowboy up, DuVine” the whole way. He told me, “I’ve done the TDF 17 times. You couldn’t be on a better wheel. If we win this, we’re going to do a Champagne toast.”

I wanted to cry for happiness during the ride—knowing that George Hincapie has battled up some of the greatest climbs to finish at the Champs-Élysées , and I had the opportunity to have him as my own personal domestique. But I also wanted to cry because it was so painful. I’m not a pro cyclist. I have the heart, and I put in the time, but it was painful.

So long story short—it was a beautiful day, I was winning most of the way, and in the last 30 seconds, my friend Steve beat me at the line. I finished, fell to the ground, and didn’t have a Champagne toast. But I got a huge pat on the back by George and Steve. And with anything you love, you get back in the saddle and try again. Next up: TDF.

Experience some of the world’s greatest climbs and ride where the legends like George Hincapie rode on our TDF and Race Series Bike Tours.

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

My shoes were off, my feet were in the Mediterranean, and I was holding my bicycle in the sand—knowing that the next time I took off my cycling shoes in the water, I’d be in the Atlantic. It was a very cool vision. Every day on the Pyrenees Journey was a true bucket-list cycling experience, but this day had a special magic to it. It’s pretty special to know you’re making a journey: to ride away from the sea, moving away from it higher and higher, on the beginning of a new journey.

Join us on an epic Pyrenees Journey to dip your toes (and your wheels) in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

Provence, France

The Gorge de la Nesque is the Grand Canyon of Provence, but there are no tourists and no traffic. It’s one of those narrow, winding French roads, but it cuts through the side of the mountain, creating natural tunnels in the rocks. You just can’t stop pulling over to take photos—it keeps getting better and better around every corner. It’s an hour of just riding the wave and being thankful that you can ride a bike. And that’s what it’s all about.

If you’re a strong cyclist, you can make a great loop out of this ride. If you’re not looking for anything too challenging, you can transfer to Sault (pronounced like “so”) and then coast downhill 22 kilometers with the stunning Gorge de la Nesque below you. Sault is the epicenter of lavender fields. If anyone tells me they want to go see the lavender, I always tell them to head to Sault. Imagine purple fields for miles and postcard-worthy backdrops. It’s not easy to get to, but that’s one of the great things about it because it’s not overrun by tourists.

At the bottom of the descent from Sault, you can turn right to climb the epic Mt. Ventoux, or take a left to head back to our five-star hotel in Gorde.

Take in the stunning views of the Gorge de la Nesque on DuVine’s Provence Bike Tour.

Napa + Sonoma, California, USA

There’s something about Sonoma that represents everything that’s great about America. Yet, at the same time, cycling there brings me back to the farmlands of Burgundy, France. You see farmers, countryside, wineries, good roads and pavement, and no traffic or tourists. In the Dry Creek area and Alexander Valley, you’ll find country general stores with organic food. Sonoma is organic food and organic riding.

Ride along vineyards with beautiful trees and gentle rolling hills for miles, all the way to Napa. From there, you can go up to Pope Valley to start climbing or skip the climbs and do a wine tasting at Silver Oak or Opus One instead. The weather’s awesome, the food’s awesome, and the riding’s awesome. It’s perfect for February or March when the rest of the country is frozen over. California is open all year round; this playground doesn’t close.

Explore the Alexander Valley on DuVine’s Napa and Sonoma bike tours.

Burgundy, France

From Beaune to Gevrey-Chambertin—this is the classic “Grand Cru” ride, through the Grand Cru vineyards with Grand Cru riding. You can’t ride by better Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the world. Whether you’re going in the spring or the fall, the smell of the grapes and the terroir and the colors of these vineyards surround you on these France bike tours.

You’ll pass by real French people working the vineyards, producing some of the best wine in the world. You’ll bike by some of the most expensive wine properties in the world, and there’s no gate, just a hidden sign. It’s very understated, very quiet, and very green. You just can understand why France is the number one travel destination in the world.

If there are any cyclists or food or wine lovers who haven’t done Côte d’Or—it has to be done. If you’ve already done it—come again. I’ve done it 1,000 times, and it never gets old. I just get old.

Ride the Côte d’Or on DuVine’s Burgundy Bike Tour.

Umbria, Italy

Day four of our Umbria tour always stands out to me. It all starts with lunch at Enoteca Properzio with truffles, cheese, olive oil, and wine in a fourteenth-century town square. It’s heaven. When the church bell rings at noon, you know you’ve arrived to a place that’s just special—no tourists, just real Italians.

From there we bike to Assisi. You have an option on this Italy bike tour to do a flatter route or go around the backside of town. There’s a little road about 35 kilometers long where you can cycle from one little village to the next. There’s always just one random man or woman sitting in a chair who waves as you pass by and makes you think, “this is Italy.”

And then after this beautiful ride, you’re in Assisi at our awesome Nun hotel and spa. It’s just one of those rides you never forget.

Catalonia, Spain

In Costa Brava, it’s really farm-to-table cycling: you’re cycling through farmland from one great table to the next. It’s real Spain, and it’s made for cycling. There are no cars, and the pavement is beautiful. There aren’t any crazy climbs or mountaintop views; pros cycle around here not to get strong, but because you can go forever. You can ride every day for 200 kilometers and not see cars. It’s a perfect tour for a beginner cyclist because there aren’t big hills, but there are good roads, good weather, and nice villages.

Another thing I love about Costa Brava is that I was able to fly from Boston, land in Barcelona, and be on my bike in Costa Brava by 11am.  It’s easy to get to this place, yet it seems so far away. To have both the Mediterranean and lovely countryside so close is a homerun for anyone getting into cycling.

Experience Catalonia on our Costa Brava Bike Tour.