Ride Director Comments

Ride Description

Albi and the Tarn Valley: Explore the History, Cuisine, and Landscape in a Quiet Corner of Occitanie (fixed base)

 22-30 May 2027 

OVERVIEW

Join us as we explore Albi and the Tarn River area of southern France. The riding offers something for everyone - with hills and mountains to the east and north, the rolling Gaillac vineyards to the east, and flatter valley along the Tarn River. Being a fixed-base tour also gives us the opportunity to dive more deeply into the rich culture in and around Albi while allowing for plenty of memorable riding. We have scheduled several unique experiences as part of this tour.

·       Albi, a UNESCO world heritage site is home to St.Cecile Cathedral, considered the largest brick building in the world. One morning will include a guided tour of the Cathedral, with ample time for an afternoon ride or more exploration of the city.

·       One ride will take us to Domaine de Brin, a local, organic winemaker. We will provide a picnic lunch to enjoy at the winery. Domaine de Brin produces a wide variety of Gaillac wines that will be available to taste.

·       Another day, we will ride to Cordes sur Ciel, one of the oldest bastides (fortified towns) in Occitanie. Here we will have a tour with an American guide who researched the ornaments and façades of the buildings in this spectacular medieval village. We will learn more about the history of the area as we enjoy expansive views of the Cèrou Valley and pause for a lunch.

Our rides to Cordes sur Ciel and Domaine de Brin give us ample opportunity to explore the quiet roads northwest of Albi. A choice of two routes each day will take us out to explore other landscapes and sites, including:

·       Southeast to the surprising treasure of the Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption d’Alban.

·       East along the Tarn river through beautiful gorges.

·       South to Lautrec with its half-timbered buildings, also known for the pink garlic (l’ail rose), grown in the surrounding area.

·       West through farms and vineyards to the medieval villages of Puycelsi and Castelnau de Montmiral.

·       West to Gaillac, heart of the Gaillac wine AOC. Take some time in Griffoul Square for their incredible Friday market.

Need a day off the bike? There is much to explore in Albi, including the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, housed in a 13th century building that was originally the palace of the Bishop of Albi Cathedral. Or take a stroll through the centre ville, or along the Tarn, stopping at one of the many cafes for a coffee or a glass of wine. 

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 leaders 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 is rated 2B. Each day will offer one shorter and one longer route. The total average of the 14 routes is 46 miles with 2528 feet of climbing. Totaling the shorter routes only, rides average 39 miles with 2220 feet of climbing (with just 1 day exceeding that at 3000 feet). The longer rides average 54 miles with 2835 feet of climbing. The first few hundred meters of each day’s ride will be along city streets with some traffic and with bike lanes, before we turn off onto quiet streets and/or separated bike lanes that take us out into the country-side within a few kilometers. Some of the rides include stretches of the voie vert, bike paths that are often crushed-stone, but can be easily traveled on road bikes. Many of the routes have been scouted and scouting is anticipated to be complete by summer of 2026. 

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES: The ride leader will provide RWGPS routes prior to the start of the tour.  Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT, which will include all routes for the tour.  Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the free version of the RWGPS app to receive voice turn by turn directions.  Participants wanting cue sheets will need to print their own from the files provided.  The routes in RWGPS are easily loaded to GPS devices. 

WEATHER: The average temperature in Albi in May typically ranges between the mid-70’s as a high and the low 50s for the low.  The highest temperature recorded for the month is 90 F, the lowest 40 F, so bring layers to be prepared. There can be rain in the spring so bringing rain gear is recommended.  

LODGING, MEALS, AND HAPPY HOURS: We are currently negotiating with a 4-star hotel in the heart of Albi’s city center, which will offer us comfortable rooms in a convenient location. We will meet there for daily happy hours, to include one beverage of your choice and light snacks.  With a population of about 50,000, Albi has a rich food scene as well, and we will have four group dinners to sample a variety of cuisines, including two Michelin-mentioned restaurants, L’Epicurean and Alchimy. Four dinners on your own will enable you to explore several of the smaller, more intimate restaurants in Albi. 

LOGISTICS:  

The first group meeting will be on 22 May 2027 at 5:30 pm at the four-star Hotel Lapérouse in centre-ville Albi. We will be using the same hotel for all eight (8) nights. Weather permitting, we intend to also have the happy hour by the outdoor hotel pool on a couple evenings. 

Getting There: Albi is located 85 km east-northeast of Toulouse, with a large airport (TLS). and good train connections to Albi (about one hour from the Toulouse Matabiau station in central Toulouse). There are frequent buses from the Toulouse airport to the Toulouse Matabiau train station. Download the SNCF (French national rail system) SNCF Connect : Book your train tickets for France app (free) to your phone to purchase tickets ahead of time. Note that you cannot take a cardboard bicycle box onto any train. And, you must book space ahead of time for your disassembled bicycle (free, but must be done before you travel). Standard bicycle boxes (e.g. Scicon, Orucase et al) are acceptable on the train.  Bicycle boxes will be stored at the hotel for the duration of this trip. The hotel is about 1km from the Albi train station. It is walkable or there are taxis.

Bicycle Rentals: Road bikes and e-bikes can be rented from the Giant Store in Lescure-d’Albigeois, which is 4 km from our hotel in centre ville Albi.

Contact

Telephone: + 33 5 63 40 60 55

Email: giantalbi@unibike.fr

Website:  https://www.giant-albi.fr/fr

Giant will deliver to and pickup from our hotel. Fees are 210 € per week for a road bike and 290 € per week for an e-bike (prices valid at the end of 2025. At that time, staff indicated that they had about five of each type of bike available. All arrangements for bike rentals are the responsibility of the participant and must be made directly with Giant. Participants thinking of renting a bike should contact Giant as soon as possible to arrange rentals. Also notify the ride leaders if you are renting from Giant so that we can coordinate a delivery of rental bikes to the hotel. If additional options for Albi bike rentals develop, those will be provided to participants. 

COST & ADMINISTRATION

In addition to the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $150, the estimated tour cost is $1,825 based on an anticipated exchange rate of $1.25 = 1 € (Euro) and a minimum of 16 participants. The estimated cost includes: 8 nights lodging with full breakfast including eggs; daily BAC social hour with beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages; four group dinners; two lunches (at Cordes sur Ciel and Domaine de Brin), emergency sag support; storage of bike boxes; GPS files containing all the rides; and a tip for the guide at Cordes sur Ciel. Four dinners will be on your own. We will have a list of area restaurants available which range from pizza to intimate dining experiences. Lunches on days other than at Cordes sur Ciel and the Domaine de Brin winery, and beverages with dinner are not included. A deposit of $1,000 assures your place on the tour and due when signing up for ride. The BAC fee of $150 is also due when signing up for the ride. The final payment of $825 is due by 15 December 2026.  This final payment may be adjusted to reflect significant currency exchange rate changes. 

SOLO & SINGLES POLICY
Since the hotels have very limited number of rooms, solos will only be taken on an exceptional basis at the ride leader’s discretion.

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 1 September 2026 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 Solo Supplement of $1,025 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.

The solo supplement payment of $1,025 is due by 1 May 2026 and 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 or Ernie Coose erniecoose.bac@gmail.com. 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.

EU EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM (ETIAS) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION: 

US and Canadian travelers are still covered by the Schengen rules, which allow US and Canadian passport holders to stay 90 days in any 180-day period without requiring a separate tourist visa. It is up to each person to keep track of how much time they have spent in the EU. For those planning other EU trips at the same time, either before or after this trip, here is a calculator to determine how close you are to the 90/180 limit: https://ec.europa.eu/assets/home/visa-calculator/calculator.htm?lang=en

However, like the “RealID” Act in the US, the EU has been planning additional security requirements, and the rollout of these has been delayed several times. As of this writing, at the end of 2025, the ETIAS is supposed to be in effect by October 2026. This is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals. The ETIAS process will require short-term travelers to apply online, pay a small fee (€7 – roughly $7.40) and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved. The authorization is good for a three-year period or until the traveler’s passport expires – whichever comes first. Unlike the ETA, ETIAS will not be required for a layover as long as you remain within the airport's international transit area and do not leave to enter the country itself. For all of these programs, airlines will be required to notify passengers of requirements in enough time in advance of their flights to complete the process. BAC will continue to update members as the things change. The ETIAS website is located at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

Passengers arriving at one EU airport who are continuing on to another EU airport will have their luggage checked through to their final destination. Example: You’re flying from Seattle through Paris to Toulouse. Upon checking in in Seattle, your luggage will be checked for you all the way to Toulouse. You will clear customs in Paris. If you are Sky Priority (Delta, Air France, KLM), use the special customs lanes which are faster than the regular lanes. These are clearly marked.

Special Note for Passengers Transiting Through the UK on Their Way to the EU

Since Brexit, the UK is not part of the EU. In 2024, the UK implemented a Visa requirement for foreign nationals. This applies even if you are simply transiting through a UK airport. The fee is 20 pounds, and the application is done on line. Approval typically takes 48-96 hours. The Visa is valid for a three-year period after it is issued. Travelers can stay in the UK for up to six months. The online application is found: https://uk-eta.visasyst.com/application Travelers must also download the UK Visa app, as the entry process is entirely electronic (you position your phone with the valid Visa at a screen when you enter the country).

Also note that, also because of Brexit, passengers checking luggage must reclaim their luggage at the UK destination (e.g. London Heathrow) and then recheck it for EU destinations.

Finally, any days spent in the UK do not count against the EU 90/180 Schengen rule mentioned above.

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 PARTICIPATION POLICY

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 STATEMENTS

BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. 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.

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 and $150.00 international 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.