5 Benefits of Guided Tours

There’s nothing more exhilarating than hitting a path, peddling with all your might and feeling that breeze on your face as you ride.  Cycling is more than just a way to stay in shape – it’s also a fabulous way to explore and experience new places, sites and cultures.  One of the best ways to do this is by participating in a guided tour.  Sure, there are plenty of great self-guided options available, and you may be tempted to venture off on your own, but here are 5 compelling benefits of choosing a guided tour instead.

Security

The beauty of riding with a guide is the fact that they are professionally certified in a number of safety techniques, including first aid.  Should anything happen, you can rest assured that you’ll be in good hands whether you’re on a well-traveled road or a rugged mountain path.  What’s more, because they ride for a living, guides know which roads to take and which ones to avoid, bettering your chances of a safe, secure ride without incident.

Knowledge

When you’re riding on your own, you just may be missing out on some juicy tidbits and fascinating facts.  Guides are intimately familiar with the region and routes they take, which provides ample opportunity to learn something new that you wouldn’t ever have known if you were on your own.  Hear interesting and intriguing stories about the past and learn about the area and the unique cultural differences that each destination features.  Guides can also educate you in proper nutrition and what to eat during your ride for optimum performance.

Backup

Many people who choose guided tours appreciate the backup and support their guides provide to them during their rides.  In addition to the guides themselves, these tours also feature a van that follows each group and is ready to assist should any of the riders be unable to complete the route on any given day.  Guides are also available to prepare lunches and provide water and snacks throughout the ride if necessary.

New Friends

Perhaps one of the best things about guided tours is the fact that they provide riders with the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.  Exploring a new place and experiencing new things together is a tremendous bonding experience.  Who knows – you may find a lifelong friend!  Plus, our groups are the perfect size to feel supported but also provide a sense of independence at the same time, so you can feel free to get to know one another during your journey.

Stress Free

With a guided tour, every detail is taken care of for you.  Bike routes, itineraries, lodging, meals (either planned or restaurant suggestions) – everything is handled for you.  Even in the event that something goes wrong, such as a flat tire or bike adjustment, your guide is prepared to step in and fix it.  Your job is just to hit the trail and have the time of your life!

While self-guided tours offer more flexibility and autonomy, and are great options for some people, guided tours can provide the best of both worlds.  You still get the ability to explore and discover new things, but with the added benefit of a little extra support when and where you need it.  Guided tours are perfect for someone who:

• Would prefer more support and security throughout the day
• May need assistance with bike adjustments and repairs should the need arise
• Likes the idea of having a backup available when on the road
• Enjoys traveling with others and meeting new people

If this sounds like you, then check out our available guided tours to learn more and to book your own adventure.  If you’re not quite sure which is better for you, contact us and we’ll help you plan the perfect trip that’s just right for your individual needs and desires.

We Love Our Guides and You Will Too

With many tour providers to choose from, just what sets Discover France apart from the rest?  The answer could be several-fold, with superior service, unique adventures and masterfully crafted itineraries.  But what truly makes Discover France the best tour company to work with is our expert guides.  They bring to the table years of experience, extensive schooling, and a variety of other skills.  Best of all, they know how to have fun and make every trip an unforgettable adventure.  Here are a few of the many reasons why everyone loves Discover France guides.

Certified Professionals

At Discover France, we don’t take chances when it comes to guiding our valued customers.  It takes rigorous training to become a professional bike tour guide and our experts have been through it all.  Every one of our guides has their Brevet d’Etat, or Diploma (State Certificate) of Educator in Sport Specialized in Cycling Sports Activity, which typically takes about two years to achieve.  DF guides aren’t “trip leaders” but real and knowledgeable cycling guides, certified experts at what they do.  Simply put, our guides are the most qualified and certified professionals available, and for us that makes them the best in the business.

Locals

One of the most important components to safely guiding guests is communication.  While our guides all hail from France, they are all bilingual and some are even multilingual, ensuring that you will be paired with the perfect leader for you and your family or group.  Yet because France is their home, essentially their “back yard”, our experts are intimately familiar with all of the country’s most scenic routes and back roads.  This gives our guests the security of knowing that all of the turns and obstacles that lie before them are already anticipated by their guide.  It also provides the benefit of getting to experience some of France’s most breathtaking paths and passages and other hidden gems like the best local pubs.

Always Prepared

The guides who work with Discover France always come prepared because they are true professionals.  They start early and go to sleep late just so they can always remain one step ahead and provide our clients with the most unforgettable journey possible.  They are flexible and remain ready to roll with any unforeseen adventures that may arise, and they always have happy, positive attitudes.  What’s more, our guides are experts at the machinery they ride.  They know everything there is to know about bikes and can quickly and efficiently handle any mechanical problems that may occur during a trip.

Passionate

Our guides love what they do and it shows!  To them cycling is much more than just a means to get from here to there or a way to stay in shape.  It’s a way of life – a passion that engulfs them to the core.  Some of them have even quit lucrative careers just to be able to ride and guide others.  And because the Discover France guides love cycling so much, they want to share that love with others.  Our ultimate goal is to create an unforgettable experience that will stay with each guest for years to come.  We want to share our passion for cycling and show you all of the things our beautiful country has to offer.

So what are you waiting for?  Grab your bike and come ride with us.  See for yourself why Discover France’s guides are the best in the industry.  We promise you it’ll be the adventure of your life!

Discover France Guides – Best of the Best

At Discover France Adventures, we specialize in bicycle tours throughout France as well as multisport tours, custom tours, and specialty travel.  We offer unique opportunities to discover the French culture and lifestyle.  In addition to our pioneering self-guided tour offers, we operate a significant number of custom guided trips for groups of all sizes and abilities.  Our guides are the most qualified and certified professionals available, and for us that makes them the best in the business.   All of our guides go through intense training, unlike guides in other countries or ‘trip leaders’ that come to France to lead tours.   Our guides and experience really stands out, and so we really want to brag about their knowledge and the in depth training they go through before we hire them!

First, all of our guides have their Brevet d’Etat, short for Brevet d’Etat d’Educateur Sportif Activité du Cyclisme, or BEESAC.  In English it’s called a Diploma (State Certificate) of Educator in Sport Specialized in Cycling Sports Activity.  To achieve their Brevet d’Etat riders must take a two part course.  First, they must complete 300 classroom hours during a six week time period to acquire knowledge in a variety of fields including biological sciences, psychology, pedagogy (teaching), communications, legal, nutrition, and organization.  They must then prove their knowledge by taking a two hour written exam and two challenging oral tests.

The second part involves 380 hours of education specific to the sport of cycling.  Students must first take a qualifying test to determine if they are eligible for entry into training.  They then receive 60 hours of pre-training followed by an examination.  Once that’s complete, the final training is given in three units, as follows:

• UF1 : Takes approximately 120 hours and involves initiation and perfection of various cycling activities
• UF2 : Part 1 – Improving Practice;  Part 2 – Teaching the practice of cycling (about 100 hours total)
• UF3 : Takes approximately 100 hours and covers the cycling environment and safety topics

Students must then complete about 100 hours of hands-on training, at least 40 hours of which is in a federal structure.

To put it into perspective it typically takes about two years for a guide to complete the required coursework and graduate.  Seems like a lot of work so far, doesn’t it?  But there’s more.  Cycling Guides as riders are also given a three day test which entails the following:

• A discipline (road, MTB, BMX Track and Cyclo-Cross) cycling chosen for a performance and calibrated on a professional cyclist in the discipline
• Randomly selected and calibrated for a performance on a professional cyclist in the discipline
• Orientation in the outdoors with map and compass
• Educational/teaching  test in a situation with a group
• Written teaching test on a subject drawn at random with 4 hours to write an essay
  • Oral test – technical knowledge

Riders must declare their diploma to the National Youth and Sport for the right to work in the industry as a licensed professional.

In addition to technical and formal training, guides must also know a great deal of practical information such as how to disassemble and reassemble a bike, how to problem solve and keep their group safe, nutrition and food to bring on rides, and each must also pass an exam with Firefighter Certificate of Training in First Aid (AFD).

Discover France is very selective when hiring guides – we only want the best for our clients!  Our guides are all highly educated and have attended a university where they received degrees in various fields, from engineering to sports tourism management.  We hire only those who have top level experience in the sport of cycling, have extensive knowledge of nature and heritage, exhibit great interpersonal skills (to make rides fun and exciting) and are multilingual.  Most of all, we look for guides that are passionate about cycling and showing others how amazing it can be.

So what does all of this mean to our clients?  With Discover France, you can be assured that you will receive an exceptional cycling experience with professional, knowledgeable and well-organized guides to show you the time of your life.  Our guides are among the very best in the business and are eager to help you discover France as you never imagined you could and give you an unforgettable experience you’ll treasure for a lifetime.