Take the Trip: What to Expect on an Urban AdvenTours Bike Tour
So you’re ready to hop on a bike and see Boston, but you’re thinking: What can I expect on an Urban AdvenTours ride? Will the tour cover all the sights I want to see? Do I look good in this spandex bodysuit?
Well, first and foremost, you should know Urban AdvenTours offers some of the friendliest, most knowledgeable guides Boston has to offer. Their number one priority is to offer you a fun time getting to know the ins and outs of the city. Boston is a pretty accessible placeâespecially on a bikeâso you’ll cover a lot of ground and learn a lot.
Urban AdvenTours offers three basic guided daily bike tours of Boston: the City View Tour, Photography Tour, and Art and Architecture Tour. All three hit the major Boston hot-spots. The places you’ll visit are all really cool in the way that they are all so ridiculously different from each other. You’ve got the always-present buzz of Red Sox devotion surrounding Fenway Park. There’s the dichotomy of old and new at Copley Squareâhistoric churches across from modern skyscrapers (seriously, check out the image of the 130-year-old Trinity Church reflected in the mirrored Hancock Towerâit’s freaking awesome). You’ve also got the charming brownstones of Back Bay and the South End, the bustle of Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Markets, and the European warmth of Boston’s “Little Italy,” the North End. Hereâs a hint: once you hit the North End, request a rest stop. You’ll find the cafes have the best espresso drinks and everyone on your tour will love you for providing them with the opportunity to “refuel” with a cappuccino and a cannoli. The rides also cover Beacon Hill, the Esplanade along the Charles River, and more.
You’ll also get your fill of Boston history and fun facts, as well as plenty of time to take photos. UA guides are all well-versed in the city’s background and love pointing out its idiosyncrasies. Plus, they are more than happy to snap some shots of you and your loved ones in front of the Prudential Center or wait for you to capture some photos of yet another Dunkin Donuts.
I guess this highlights another huge factor that sets UA tours apartâthey are hands-on. Instead of falling asleep in a bus or a trolley while some driver cracks the same eye-rolling one-liners he’s been spouting for months about Sam Adams, you control the ride. You are a part of the city, not just a spectator. You are experiencing and exploring with your own hands and feet. Groups are usually around five to ten riders per tour (with the exception of special group rides and corporate tours) so it’s a personal, interactive experience.
Here’s a brief run-down on the mechanics of taking a tour: First, book it (duh). Then, on the day of your ride you’ll meet your guide at Landry’s Bicycles and be outfitted with a helmet, a mountain bike, a drink, and a snack. Then be prepared to hit the streets of Boston and enjoy a good ride. All levels of riders are welcome, though you should be (at the least) comfortable on a bike. Oh, and spandex bodysuits are purely optional.
Got any questions? Email us at info@urbanadventours.com. And be sure to keep it wheel.
The Tour de France comes to Somerville
Redbones has once again proved why we love it so much: it took two of our favorite things –eating and biking– and combined them in one awesome event. It’s holding a Tour de France Bike Breakfast this coming Wednesday, July 25, where people can eat breakfast, hang out with some fellow cycling enthusiasts, and watch a mountain stage of the Tour de France (Orthez – Gourete Col d’Aubisque). Some of the Urban AdvenTours crew made it last week and had a blast. There’s even a photo of some of the UA crowd on Redbone’s events page!
If you don’t know a lot about the race here’s a little run down. The competition is in its 94th year, and 2007′s race began July 7 running through July 29. There are 20 stages, which include various terrain, and will cover a total distance of 3,550 kilometers (that’s 2206 miles to some of us shaky with the metric system).
Let me just say that there is nothing like watching a mad rush of cyclists tearing up the mountains of France to get you amped for a ride of your own. The weather has been pretty inviting here in Boston and all I can say is it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to ride on over to Redbones next Wednesday (they’re offering free bike valet), enjoy the food and company, and then hop on a city tour with UA. Well, that’s what we’re planning on doing!