Ciclismo Classico

Trusted Adventures Adds Ciclismo Classico as its Newest Member

Bike and Hike Specialist Ciclismo Classico Joins Trusted Adventures Travel Alliance That Now Serves Nine Distinguished Tour Companies

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, June 14, 2010 – Just announced - Trusted Adventures, an alliance of award-winning travel companies, has added Ciclismo Classico as its newest member. This brings the total to nine independent tour companies now represented by Trusted Adventures.

Lauren Hefferon, director and founder of the bicycle and hiking specialist Ciclismo Classico that is based in Arlington, MA, said that the new relationship with Trusted Adventures dovetails with her company’s mission of meaningful collaboration.

“We collaborate with our community on cycling events and advocacy, we collaborate with our team to tweak our business and make it better and we collaborate with our guests to ensure that we are providing the kind of tour and services that they desire,” explains Hefferon.

“Over the years I have met, shared ideas, challenges (and beers) with many of the Trusted Adventure members. The natural step was to take our relationship to the next level of collaboration. We have much in common with all of the alliance members and together we can make our businesses stronger, better and more in touch with our wonderfully exciting industry. While we enjoy our focused mission, it's always nice to be a part of something bigger that is making the world a better place,” Hefferon said.

She added that as a specialized boutique bicycle tour operator since 1988, Ciclismo Classico provides the most authentic, unique and enriching cycling vacations in the adventure travel industry. Their well-crafted, award-winning educational trips in Europe, South America, New Zealand, Asia and New England are active immersions into local art, language, music, folklore and delicious cuisine. By combining legendary service and rare cultural experiences, the Ciclismo travel experience continues to energize and transform each and every guest. For more information about Ciclismo Classico, call 800.866.7314.

About Trusted Adventures
Recognized worldwide for uncompromising quality, exceptional guest care and sustainable travel ethics, the Trusted Adventures alliance is a partnership of nine distinguished, award-winning companies; Austin-Lehman Adventures, Wildland Adventures, Western River Expeditions, Myths and Mountains, The Wayfarers, ROW Adventures, Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations, American Safari Cruises/ InnerSea Discoveries and now, Ciclismo Classico. United under a common mission to provide authentic, transformational travel experiences, Trusted Adventures offers the world’s finest collection of active vacations showcased online in a richly textured, easy to use website: www.trustedadventures.com .

The alliance helps individuals, families and groups find active walking, rafting, cycling, cruising and trekking trips throughout The Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Antarctica and Africa. With a Trusted Adventures company you travel with the experts on carefully crafted itineraries designed to enrich your experience while preserving the planet and its cultural heritage.

Bicycling Today Radio Show Welcomes Founder Lauren Hefferon

Ciclismo's Greece to Italy Trip on About.com

Norway Trip Highlighted in Wall Street Journal

Cycling (Way) Up North

Here's a change of scenery for cycling enthusiasts: riding amid the seascapes and snow-covered peaks of Norway's Lofoten Islands, an archipelago just above the Arctic Circle.

Ciclismo Classico, an Arlington, Mass., operator of bicycle vacations, says its eight-day Lofoten trip—new this year—is ideal for beginning and intermediate cyclists. With a guide, a group of as many as 18 riders covers 20 to 40 miles a day over sparsely traveled and relatively flat roads. (A second guide follows in a van, while those wanting a challenge can take longer routes between destinations.)

Along the way, cyclists stop in remote fishing villages, where they can visit art galleries and museums, including the reconstructed farm of a Viking chieftain. Nature figures prominently, with stops at sandy beaches and cliff-side nesting colonies. At "night" (this is, after all, the land of the midnight sun), cyclists stay in bed-and-breakfasts and renovated seaside cabins.

Read more about our Lovely Lofoten cycling trip!

Read the Full Story

ABC News Reports: Amazing Outdoor Vacations

Amazing Outdoor Vacations

Biking, Rafting and Hiking Trips Bring New Adventure to the Family Vacation

...Lauren Hefferon, owner of Ciclismo Classico, a Boston-area bicycle company, tells a similar story.

"Get fit, eat well, be with your family and be one with nature," she said of her biking vacations. "We like to take hobbyist to passion."

While such active vacations are a small part of the overall travel industry -- one or two big cruise ships might have more customers than Hefferon sees in a season -- such trips are growing in popularity.

Ciclismo Classico tries to teach its travelers not just about the area around them but also about biking and how to improve their experience, Hefferon said.

"We sincerely believe in it as an alternative form of transportation that is good for the world and good for people," she said. "We call it the cycling movement because it really is a movement."

Read Full Story at ABC News

Follow the French Race Trip in American Airlines' Celebrated Living Magazine

CYCLING - WHAT'S NEW

WATCH IT

A biking trip that combines riding with watching is offered by companies such as Ciclismo Classico, which takes travelers to the Tour de France and organizes rides that allow for viewing of the race's various stages. After seven days of channeling your inner Lance Armstrong, while perhaps watching Lance Armstrong, you'll finish up with a group dinner and toasts to Tour de France competitors.

Ride on Italian Alps & Sud Tyrol tour in Continental Airlines Magazine, March 2010

ESCAPE TO LAKE COUNTRY

TRENTINO ON TWO WHEELS

by Jim Cornfield

Bicycling is practically a religion in this country. There's even a patron saint of cyclists — La Madonna del Ghisallo. Italy has produced numerous top professional racers and boasts thousands of miles of bike routes, through some of Europe's most luxuriant scenery.

My connection to Italian cycling for this journey is Ciclismo Classico, a U.S.-based operator specializing in cycling tours of Italy (among other countries). My guide and companion is Ciclismo's European operations manager, Davide Marchegiano, a veteran cyclist and an articulate tour leader. Davide's staff of guides leads groups on cross-country rides of 6 to 15 days. Today, we'll do one loop of a popular Ciclismo tour along the Sarca River, which feeds into Lago di Garda.

In crisp morning air, on the outskirts of Riva del Garda, we pedal toward the Alps, past fruit orchards, vine-covered stone walls, and small, tidy farms. Approaching the village of Arco, we pass a group of rock climbers shouldering their gear to one of the local vie ferrate, prebolted climbing routes. Arco is a world capital for the sport, no surprise given the dizzying limestone cliffs that soar above the town to the west. Perched atop one of these cliffs is Castello di Arco, whose crenellated battlements date back to the 10th century.

Farther north, I'm surprised to find citrus trees around us even though snowy, 7,150-foot Monte Bondone is visible in the distance. Lago di Garda and the neighboring lakes are not far above sea level, resulting in microclimates that are more Mediterranean than alpine. Here in Arco, we even see palm trees planted along the road, and as we coast by one small farm, the aroma of freshly harvested olives fills the air. The olive groves of the Trentino lowlands are the northernmost in Italy.

Our path narrows and we turn onto the cobbled surface of a Roman-era bridge, stopping in a village called Dro for an espresso at a paninoteca oddly named the Green Bar. Across the sunlit piazza is a Romanesque church with an incongruous Russian-style onion dome, one of many reminders that this alpine region of Italy is very much a part of northern Europe.

Leaving Dro, we pedal fast along a manicured bike path to Pietramurata, arriving at the family-run winery of Gino Pedrotti, a favorite watering hole on Ciclismo Classico's tours. Pedrotti's specialty is vino santo Trentino, a rare and delicate wine that he makes from Trentino's indigenous Nosiola grape. His daughters fuss over guests, bringing us plates of local delicacies, pickled vegetables, marinated trout, locally grown prosciutto, pancetta, and a fine artisanal cheese, Spressa delle Giudicarie. The meal ends with a glass of vino santo and another reminder of the local northern influence — a slice of the best apple strudel I've tasted outside of Vienna.

We reembark for Lago di Garda, spinning hard along the east bank of the Sarca, past pine forest and the ancient rock slides of the Marocche geologic preserve. Back in Riva, Davide locks our bicycles in the hotel basement. Although today's ride was only a segment of Ciclismo Classico's regular excursion, I can honestly call it one of the best cycling experiences I've ever had.

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Ciclismo Classico on First-Ever National Bike Summit Panel on Tourism

Arlington, Mass. – Lauren Hefferon, Founder and CEO of bicycle tour company Ciclismo Classico, is honored to announce she will be a panelist at the first-ever National Bike Summit Panel on Tourism during the National Bike Summit being held March 9 – 11, 2010 in Washington D.C. Ms. Hefferon and the Panel on Tourism will explore ‘How Tourism Can Help Transform Cycling in America.’ Lauren will address the impact and allure of bicycle tourism and specifically how tourism changes the attitude of communities, and how bike tours bring sustainable tourism to regions.

Speaking to over 500 bicycling advocates and state delegates, Lauren and this National Bike Summit Panel on Tourism will address the fact that tourism is one of the largest industries in many cities, states and regions. The panel will discuss how bicycle friendly communities are not only great for their residents but also become tourism friendly communities with an opportunity to market their “cycling attractiveness” to increase leisure, convention, event and business tourism. This panel will give attendees ideas on how cycling advocates and bicycle dealers can partner with regional tourism authorities, tour operators and tourism vendors, such as hotels and restaurants, to play an active role in the tourism vision for the destination and to increase and improve ridership, infrastructure, and travel dollars for their communities.

“Bicycling is my hobby, my business and my politics,” said Lauren Hefferon of Ciclismo Classico. “I have witnessed how cycling can transform people and places and I look forward to being the first representative of a bicycle touring company to be invited to share my experience and passion with delegates and advocates from across the country.”

In addition to Lauren Hefferon of Ciclismo Classico; the panel will include: Jim Sayer of the Adventure Cycling Association addressing the key ingredients of bicycle travel, and Kristin Dahl of Travel Oregon presenting a bicycle tourism case study. The moderator of the panel will be Todd Copley of Summit Travel Consulting.

2010 marks the 10th year that the League of American Bicyclists has organized the National Bike Summit where advocates, industry executives and education experts gather from across the country to speak-up for bicycling on Capitol Hill.

League of American Bicyclists

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org .

Ciclismo Classico

As a specialized boutique bicycle tour operator since 1988, Ciclismo Classico provides the most authentic, unique and exciting vacations in the adventure travel industry. Their well-crafted, award-winning educational trips in Europe, South America, New Zealand, Asia and New England are active immersions into local art, language, music, folklore and delicious cuisine. By combining legendary service and rare cultural experiences, the Ciclismo travel experience continues to energize and transform each and every guest.

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Does Adventure Travel Matter?

This article appeared in a recent issue of our bi-weekly newsletter, The Pasta Times. Click here to subscribe.

As I was walking my 6-year old to school down very busy Massachusetts Avenue he remarked at the car fumes and quietly said "You know mom, I don't think there is much we can do about global warming." Whoaaa! Simultaneously I was concerned yet curious that a young child could already sense the precarious state of the world and feel so hopeless. Later that day I had the same concerns expressed to me by an elderly woman who was similarly concerned about the demise of the planet she had seen in her lifetime and the serious environmental issues that her 20 grandchildren would face.

My retort to these two voices representing a complete generational spectrum was the same: We cannot be optimistic or pessimistic, we must be determined to make a difference. I heard this powerful nugget of wisdom at the conclusion of a troubling yet call-to-action talk about biodiversity, erosion,and climate change by Astrophysicist Hubert Reeves at the annual Adventure Travel World Summit held in Quebec this October. Hosted annually by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Summit is a powerful, creative, exciting, productive gathering. The Summit brings together diverse facets of the industry to network, collaborate, and learn. Attendees are enabled to effectively and readily tap into the burgeoning potential of adventure travel.

Dr. Reeves was one of many inspiring keynote scholars, environmentalists, and business gurus addressing 500 delegates from the adventure travel industry. Their collective message really hit home for each of us: Adventure Travel Matters.

This was the main point of Adventure Travel Trade Association President Shannon Stowell's "state of the industry" address. Adventure travel companies like Ciclismo Classico create situations in which travelers experience transformation, discovery, cultural engagement and the miraculous web of life. We share with our clients our passion, wisdom, and experiences that can change beliefs and the way we all interact with the planet. But Shannon asked, do we as an industry matter? How would it be different if we were absent? His answer was a resounding yes, adventure travel matters now more now than ever before for three major reasons:

We are one of the few industries that intrinsically can achieve the "triple bottom line" goal of people, planet and profit
Because we are one of the few industries that deals in transformation - we create advocates not just repeat customers
More than ever, travelers are interested in the authentic and real; and interest in adventure travel is surging worldwide

Having attended many of these summits and adventure conferences over the years, at this years summit I felt more empowered than ever. Whether it was Jeff Dossett, CEO of Adventurelink.com sharing his midlife Mt. Climbing epiphany which lead to him becoming the 3rd Canadian in History to complete the "Seven Summits," or Dr. Wallace Nichols from the California Academy of Sciences whose lifelong love of turtles and the sea led him to passionately promote his (r)evolution that is helping save the planet and is making a difference; the message rang loud and clear: as leaders in adventure travel interacting with literally millions of travelers annually, we are making a difference in the way people are experiencing the world's most precious resource.

Adventure travel companies (and their guests and stakeholders) have a crucial role to play and we at Ciclismo Classico hope you play it boldly. Together we represent millions and millions of consumers worldwide. Bicycle tour companies, eco-lodges, adventure operators, outfitters, safari companies, rafting companies, diving companies, walking tours... the list goes on and on. But we know instinctively that as a group we do impact millions of people in nearly every region on the planet with what we do.

We wholeheartedly embrace the clear vision of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Ciclismo Classico is proud to be a part of a thriving community of responsible organizations who transform customers and businesses alike into advoctes for sustainability and justice worldwide. And like Dr. Reeves said convincingly, "Let us not be optimistic or pessimistic, but to be determined to make a change."

As you make your travel plans for next year, we applaud your decision to tread more lightly on the planet and to take a bicycle tour with Ciclismo Classico or a fellow member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. While the economics of time might dictate otherwise, simplifying our lives by leaving all our stuff behind and interacting with the world by bike might just be the panacea many of us need to grow and create a new reality. As a tribe of travelers let's be determined together to make a difference.

Visit Ciclismoclassico.tv for videos

We've got more video on our Youtube channel now than ever before. Ever since Andrew C got his tiny Flip Mineo HD video camera, there's been no stopping him!

Visit our Youtube channel at ciclismoclassico.tv to see interviews with Boston cycling women, snippets from rides, and, premiering on June 10, 2009, an exclusive interview with our latest tour consultant, Andrew Krulewitz.

For the 2009 season, we're also inviting our guests to contribute their videos - and the one that best showcases the spirit of Ciclismo wins a free tour in 2009!