Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!


Our 20 years of annual tour catalogs.
The year 2015 marks our 20th anniversary! WomanTours is among a select few - only a quarter of all companies succeed this long. We’ve had a wonderful couple of decades!

I owe our success … to all of you who keep coming back to travel with us. Women like Mary, Margaret, Marlene and Cheryl who between them have taken nearly 100 tours. Thank you!

… to all of you who have stepped out of your comfort zones to join a tour for the first time. It may be your first experience traveling on your own, your first trip out of the country, your first ride longer than 10 miles, or your first attempt to use clipless pedals. I continue to be amazed and humbled by your bravery.

… to our founder, Gloria Smith, who had the initiative and foresight to bicycle across the country and then start this company.

… to the best guides in the business – women who have worked with me for years, who make hard work look easy, and who I know are a big reason so many of you keep coming back. 

… and lastly, to family - to my sisters Jen and Michelle who always have my back, to my cousin Kelly for her fresh perspective and cool confidence, and to Sandra who is like a sister. She showed me the ropes early on and continues to run our western office with aplomb.

Thank you for helping WomanTours become the world’s leading bicycle touring company for women. Here’s to our next 20 years and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Happy Holidays from all of us at WomanTours

As I write this, I'm watching the rain through the window beside my desk. Typically, we have snow this time of year. In my younger days, I'd squeeze my eyes shut and wish hard for snow, thinking that the harder I wanted it, the more likely the snow would fall. Now I've learned that whether it snows or not, it's still the holidays. It's still the time to take off from work or school, do the things that bring us joy, and spend time with those we love. It's still the time to reflect on our good fortune and give thanks. And it's still the time to know that next year is another chance to make things even better!
May you enjoy this holiday season, with the ones you love, doing what you love. Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 15, 2014

Gift Certificates Available

Trying to find the perfect gift? Look no further! Available in any amount, our gift certificates are good for any tour. If she doesn't like it, you can get your money back. No risk. Call or email us to finish up your holiday shopping now!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Drawing Winner Revealed


We gave away $1000 to one lucky cyclist who could tell us the correct number of countries we toured in during 2015. We videotaped the random drawing. Be sure to watch our short video to the end.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Article about us in Adventure Cyclist

There is a wonderful article about WomanTours in Adventure Cyclist magazine this month. Thank you Ellee Thalheimer for some great reporting! Great photo of Jean too! (Click on the photo to see the whole thing.)

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

2015 Guide Schedule Set

Here is our 2015 guide schedule. Follow your favorite tour leader or get to know someone new. We hope to see you in 2015!

Patty Jackson (on right on our NW Loop tour)
Southern Tier - March
Atlantic Coast - April
Cascades to Glacier - June
Glacier National Park - Aug.
Idaho Greenways - August
Yellowstone National Park - Sept.
Moab Arches and Canyonlands - Oct.
California Wine Country - Oct.
Death Valley National Park - Nov.
New Zealand - March 2016

Denise Purdue (on left on our NW Loop tour)
Arizona Spring Training - Feb.
Atlantic Coast - April
France: Castles and Wine - May
France: Loire Valley - May
France: Burgundy - May
Yellowstone National Park - Sept.
New Mexico: Land of Enchantment - Sept.
St George Red Rock Canyons - Oct.
Death Valley National Park - Feb. and Nov.

Laurie Collins (left at WT hdq)
Natchez Trace Parkway - April
Cape May - May
Washington, DC - May
Maryland Eastern Shore - May
Yellowstone National Park - June
Teton Valley - July
Sun Valley - July
Acadia National Park - Aug.
St George Red Rock Canyons - Oct.
Moab Arches and Canyonlands - Oct.
Outer Banks of NC - Oct.
Florida Gulf Coast -Nov.

Jack the dog - has to stay home

Jackie Marchand (next to Laurie)
California Wine Country -May
Finger Lakes Wine Country - Aug.
Prince Edward Island - Sept.

Michelle Slusher (far right at WT hdq)
Florida Gulf Coast - Feb. and Nov.
Atlantic Coast - May
California Wine Country - May and Oct.
Ireland: Connemara - July
Niagara Falls Pathways  - July
Glacier National Park - Aug.
Idaho Greenways - Aug.

Cy Pugh (in back on our Maine tour)
Hawaii (beginner) - Jan.
Hawaii (advanced) - Feb.
Island Hopper: Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard - June
Niagara Falls Pathways - June
Finger Lakes - June
Around Lake Erie - July
Prince Edward Island - Sept.
Pennsylvania Dutch - Oct.
Kentucky Bluegrass - Oct.
Bermuda Blues - Nov.



Jen Thompson (in front on our Maine tour)
Bermuda Blues - March


Kelly Attridge (in white on our Island Hopper tour)
Florida Gulf Coast - Feb.
Bermuda Blues - March
Niagara Falls Pathways - July
Finger Lakes - Aug.
Acadia National Park - Aug.
Cape May - Sept.
Island Hopper: Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard - Sept.
Maryland Eastern Shore - Sept.



Sid Moffat (left in Death Valley)
Hawaii (beginner) - Jan.
Hawaii (advanced) - Feb.
Natchez Trace Parkway - April
Washington DC Bikeways - May
Cape May - May and Sept.
Maryland Eastern Shore - May and Sept.
Teton Valley - July
Sun Valley - July 
Idaho Greenways - July
Island Hopper: Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard - Sept.
Pennsylvania Dutch - Oct.
Kentucky Bluegrass - Oct.
Outer Banks of NC - Oct.

  
Kimberly Masters (right in Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park - Feb.
Arizona Spring Training - Feb.
Island Hopper - June
Niagara Falls Pathways - June
Finger Lakes  - June
Italy Bike and Barge - July and Aug.
Bermuda Blues - Nov.



Linda Gryczan (left with Michelle)
Prince Edward Island - Sept.
New Mexico: Land of Enchantment - Sept.



Sue Lincoln (left in Belize)
Yellowstone National Park - June

TBA
Around Lake Erie (with Cy)
Southern Tier (with Patty)
Atlantic Coast (with Patty and Michelle)

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Win a $1000 Credit for a Bicycle Tour

Our 2015 tour catalog is in the mail. If you're not on our mailing list, send us your address and we'd be happy to mail you one.

Enter our drawing to win a $1000 credit toward our bicycle tours. Just tell us the number of countries we visit next year. Email us at info at womantours.com with the correct number and your name by October 15, 2014.

One entry per person please. The reward has no cash value and must be used for one of our 2014 or 2015 tours. We'll announce the randomly drawn lucky winner the following week.

To view our new 2015 tour catalog online, click here.

Good luck!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Women Only Fun Rides

Join Jackie and Michelle on a bike ride this summer!
We're hosting bicycle fun rides for women only from our WomanTours headquarters in Rochester, NY.

Join us Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 5:45pm for a beginner ride of about 10 miles. We'll be on the Erie Canal Trail. If you'd like to go longer, you can. Afterwards, we invite you to stay for a drink or a bite to eat at a nearby pub. One of us will ride last, so no one will get dropped or lost. If you need to borrow a bike for the ride, let us know as we may have one available.

Then join us Friday, September 12, 2014 at 5:45pm for a 12-mile ride along our bike paths. Again, stay to join us for drinks or food afterwards if you can.

All ages and abilities are welcome. Both rides will have a sweep cyclist riding last who will help fix any flat tires. The ride will start at our office at 3495 Winton Place, Building E, Rochester, NY 14618.


Let us know if you can join us by emailing or calling. We'll hope to see you!

Friday, March 07, 2014

Southern Tier tour takes off for Florida

Our 2014 Southern Tier cross-country bike tour left San Diego for the 3000-mile, 2-month trip to St. Augustine, Florida. Here they are this morning dipping their rear wheels in the Pacific Ocean. Wish the women luck!

You can follow their ride by following these blogs:

Cathy Allinder
Rona Altschuler
Karen Coffey
Lynn Kelly Avery
Janine LaBossiere
Karen Lankeshofer
Sheila Ruckley
Gail Vanderlee
Sharlene Washington