Alsace, France Wine Route & Medieval Villages

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW:  Come cycle through the untainted, historic and architecturally beautiful 16th century half-timbered and flowered villages of Alsace, France, as it borders the Rhine River and Germany.  Partake of savory and sweet Alsatian delights and taste the fragrant and exceptional white wines made from the local vineyards.  Your BAC Director has lived and travelled throughout France (20+ times), led a highly-rated BAC trip in Finistere-Brittany, France in 2017, and thinks of Alsace as another “hidden gem” of unspoiled picture-perfect medieval villages, markets, castles and bucolic scenery alongside and among the vineyards. 

This ride focuses on the entire length of the Alsatian Route, and perhaps even a trip across the Rhine River into Germany.  You will stay at least 2 nights at each lodging; no packing and unpacking everyday so you can explore each area in-depth.  Happy hours will include ride briefings and regional delicacies; we’ll have several dinners together with other evenings free to discover your own gastronomic adventures of this cross between the subtleties of French cuisine and the earthiness of German food such as Flammekueche, a thin-crusted cream, onion and bacon tart, fresh-baked pretzels or Alsatian cheesecake.  You’ll sample the region’s delicious golden Munster cheeses from the nearby Vosges Mountains, and Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat and Cremant d’Alsace wines.  Cue sheets and maps will detail long and short loop ride options in each area, with descriptions of villages, special sites, restaurants, and roads radiating out from each hotel and village, typically 15-30 miles daily, with mostly flat rides and/or rolling hills.  You will also be encouraged to get out and explore without cue sheets using village signposts and geographic markers.  Sometimes 'getting lost' is the best way to discover your own private Alsace! (See Ride Rating section below) for further details on distance and terrain exceptions to the 2A ride rating). 

Following the Alsatian Wine Route south you will travel along and into the wine villages along smaller roads and “chemins” used primarily by the wine makers.  Villages to include are Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Mittelbergheim, Hunawihr, Kaysersberg and many others. 

Onward south to the beautiful Colmar area, “The heart of the Alsatian Wine Road”; you’ll have an opportunity to visit the town’s prestigious Unterlinden Alsatian Cultural Museum and the village of Eguisheim, recently named the most beautiful village in France, This will be the southern most point of the ride. 

Heading back north alongside the Rhine River, and perhaps an excursion across the river into Germany, you will wind your way back, over the next 2-3 days to the Strasbourg area for our “Au Revoir” and bus to the Strasbourg train station after breakfast of our last morning.

This ride is being organized and led by BAC Ride Director David Docter, and is not a commercial tour. The Ride Director’s goal is to design a unique and fun BAC ride based on his personal experience in the beautiful Alsace. 

RIDE RATING: The Ride Rating is 2A with an 'Alert' based on average mileage and elevation gain of the required rides. Expect some short climbs or rolling hills.  Optional rides range from 20-50 miles, with mostly flat terrain and others with higher elevation gains. With the exception of the rides necessary to move from one hotel to the next, you may choose any of the varied ride options each day.  Those who like mileage can get their miles (or kilometers)!  Optional rides each day will also include 1A or 1B rides through the vineyards and nearby villages, and 2B/3B rides into the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, so all riders will find "suitable" and fascinating rides.  Hotel-Move-Day rides are mostly along the valley floor of the Alsace Wine Route.  There will be 4-5 required rides,only for moving from one hotel to another. Move days easily fit the 2A rating or lower, with one exception; one required hotel move-day will include a 6-8% grade climb for about one-half mile (and an elevation gain of more than 1500 feet for that day).  Other ride days will include options provided by the Tour Director. The general itinerary may vary slightly following the Ride Director’s October 2018 scouting trip.   

WEATHER: The weather in the Alcase region in mid September is generally mild with warm and sunny days in the mid-60s to 70 F.  It can also be quite changeable during a day's ride, and can turn windy and wet with temperatures in the 50's.

LODGING & MEALS: Accommodations will be in two, three, and four star hotels, and will include all breakfasts, and six dinners.

LOGISTICS:  The tour begins on Monday afternoon, September 16, 2019 when a chartered bus will pick you up at the Strasbourg Train Station and take you to your first hotel in a nearby village, most likely in Obernai. You may want to arrive in Strasbourg a day or two earlier to acclimate to the time change and to tour the beautiful city of Strasbourg, including its exceptional cathedral.  Strasbourg is accessible by train from many points in Europe, with either Paris or Frankfurt being the easiest routing points, or by plane from various European cities.  Once settled into the hotel a 'get together' Happy Hour will orient you to the region, ride options, etc., as you meet your Ride Directors and fellow riders.  On the hotel-move day you will ride into the heart of the Alsatian Wine Route. The tour ends after breakfast on Friday, September 27, 2019 with a drop off at the Strasbourg train station.  Bike rentals will be available, but arrangements must be made between the rental agency and the participant.  Tandems are welcome.   If you're considering an E-Bike, they are also welcome, but please talk to the Ride Leader.  In the Ride Leader's previous experience in France, no participant brought their own bike; they all rented.  In the event that there are some participants who bring their own bike, up to 5 bike boxes can be accommodated in the van.  Over 5 boxes will be stored at the initial hotel.

COST & ADMINISTRATION:  In addition to the $100 non-refundable BAC fee, and payment processing fee, the estimated tour cost of $2725 includes 11 nights (double occupancy) in two, three, and four star hotels; all breakfasts, 6 dinners, maps and cue sheets, van support for luggage transport throughout the tour from first hotel to last day, and transfers to/from Strasbourg train station on first afternoon and last morning after breakfast. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS before the trip begins.  Price does not include admissions to sites/museums, lunches, or alcoholic beverages with dinner.   Except for the welcome aperitif at the first hotel, all happy hour/map meetings will be cash bar because French hotels have restrictions on bringing in wine or beer.  Group dinners will be at the hotels or nearby restaurants (wine excluded).  The cost of the tour is based on an exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.25 dollars.  Final payment of $1725 is due by March 1, 2019.  Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.

SINGLES AND SOLOS POLICY:  Singles and solos are welcome.  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own.  However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until November 15, 2018  to find a roommate.  If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the ($600) single supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  Solo rooms will be very limited but if available, a portion of the supplement may be refunded if there is a cost savings as compared to a double room. Hotels in the Alsace are generally small and thus the number of available rooms may limit the number of riders accepted as solos.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1000 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.