Ride Director Comments

Ride Description

Overview: If you are into fine dining and luxurious accommodations, this tour is NOT for you! Riding the Trace will feel like a step back in time. Participants need to be comfortable with modest accommodations.  For those of you with the Natchez Trace on your bucket list, this is your chance for a great cycling adventure!  

The Natchez Trace is a historic trail and parkway that's been used for transportation and recreation for thousands of years, and it's a popular destination for bicycle tours. This will be the first time this ride is offered; however, the ride leaders have ridden the Natchez Trace in both directions.  

The 444 mile (paved road) Natchez Trace Parkway leads you through three states and 10,000 years of North American history. This scenic parkway links Natchez with Nashville and crosses some of the most beautiful terrain in the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Significantly, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has declared the Parkway a National Scenic Byway as well as an All-American Road, and it has earned a spot as one of America's 10 best biking roads. 

To read about the history of the Natchez Trace click here: https://www.nps.gov/natr/learn/historyculture/index.htm

This tour will begin in Nashville, TN and participants will ride south on the parkway to Natchez, MS.. The northern part of the trail will have more elevation gain than the southern part with long gradual climbs and descents. The parkway is excellent for cycling, and sports minimal car traffic with a speed limit that does not exceed 50mph.

Health and Safety: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned. 

Ride Rating: This tour sports a 2D! rating. There will be eight consecutive days of riding with a total distance of 522 miles and 19,405’ of elevation gain, all on paved roads. The average daily distance is 65 miles and 2426’ of elevation gain. Day 1’s elevation gain is 4,484’ over 69 miles. Two other days just exceed 2500’ by 80’ each. The daily mileage is: 69, 76, 54, 77, 53, 82, 65 and 45.  The further you travel south on the Trace, the less elevation gain encountered. Water and snacks will be provided by the luggage vehicle on days where amenities are sparse along the route.

Ride with GPS:  An Event will be created using RWGPS and will be shared a month prior to the tour. Participants may print their own cue sheets from this file.  

Weather: The Natchez Trace experiences mild temperatures and pleasant weather  in April. Highs typically range from the 70s to 80s, and lows are in the 50s and 60s. Average precipitation is around 4.5 inches, usually in the form of afternoon showers. Participants need to be prepared to ride in the rain.  

Lodging & Meals: Lodging will be a combination of comfortable hotels and bed and breakfast establishments both historic and non historic. Many of the B&Bs only have one queen size bed in the room.  Breakfast will be included each morning as well as 4 group dinners.  When amenities are not readily available along the day’s route, supplies for making a sack lunch will be available. Also included are 9 Happy Hours / Route Reviews with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.  There will be limited flexibility with meeting special dietary restrictions. Please keep this in mind when registering for this tour. 

Logistics: If you are flying to the start the closest airport is the Nashville International Airport (BNA) which is 25 minutes from the starting hotel. The preferred method of transportation to and from the hotel is Taxi, Uber, or Lyft.  

Participants may leave their cars at the starting hotel free of charge.  Bicycle boxes may also be stored at the starting hotel.  

The first meeting is social hour at 5:00pm at the Quality Inn and Suites on 100 Coley Davis Rd  in Nashville Tennessee on 4/11/26. Social hour will be followed by a group dinner. The tour ends on 4/21/26 after breakfast at the same hotel in Nashville were the tour started. 

Tandems and pedal assist bicycles are welcome.  Bike rentals will be handled individually by participants. One option for rentals is Trace Bikes (615) 646-2485 https://www.tracebikes.com/articles/rental-bikes-pg185.htm

Participants may be asked to share the driving on the return trip to Nashville.  Minivans will be rented for this purpose (cost included). 

Cost & Administration: The approximate cost of this tour is $2250.  This fee includes: 10 nights lodging, 10 breakfasts, lunch supplies when necessary, daily happy hour, 4 group dinners, gratuities for the B&B establishments, luggage transport each day, and return transportation to Nashville for bicycles and participants.

A deposit of $1250 is required upon acceptance on the ride.  The second payment of $1000 will be due January 5, 2026.  The current budget is figured on 15 paying riders. 

Singles & Solos Policy: Please contact the ride leader prior to signing up if you are interested in participating as a solo or a single. Solos are welcome and will be required to pay the solo supplement of $1595 by September 1, 2025.  

Due to lodging configurations, there is only one room available for single riders needing separate beds. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single rider without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until September 1, 2025 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 Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $1595 Solo Supplement and stay on the ride. If a single person 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.  

The solo supplement payment can be paid by Zelle or check.  To pay using Zelle:  

• In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org

• Initiate a payment

• In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. 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 canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling 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 canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo 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 the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. 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 might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions. 

Insurance: Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.