October 2009 Newsletter

Website improvements !!!

We’ve added a number of new features to the website.

• Better pictures ! The images used to showcase each day of the tour have been reformatted and posted using “Java”. Just click on a picture and see it enlarge ! After, click “next” and pass to the next picture !
• Elevation charts for each day of the tour ! Just go to a day page, look under the text and press the button. Be aware, when looking at an elevation chart, you need to keep the scale in mind. For example, you may think that the Lite Route is mountainous, but the elevation is recorded in small increments, so these “mountains” are really just small hills. No worries… the Lite Tour is quite flat…relatively speaking.
• Day schedules for each stage of the tour have been posted next to the elevation charts. We hope that this level of detail will give everyone a flavor for the day, while also showing the extensive planning that has gone into each of our tours.
• Updated tour pictures have been posted. If you did a tour with us this summer, click here and see yourself and friends.

Tour Improvements !!

We’ve decided to change DAY 3 of the Lite Tour, so from now on we will be staying in Yverdon rather than Estavayer. There are numerous reasons for this itinerary change: the town is more vibrant. The hotel is much better and we will be a five-minute walk away from Yverdon’s famous mineral baths and waterpark.

For more information about the new hotel, click here.

For a look at the Yverdon baths, visit their site here.

Bicicleta Suiza !!

We had 10 riders from South America this year and one from Spain. They were all wonderful, positive and excellent cyclists and in an effort to attract more we are translating our site into Spanish. We’ve just hired the translator, but things should go quickly and the Spanish version of the site should be on line by November 1st ! Other languages to follow, the goal being to make give our rides a truly international flavor.

The Franco-Swiss Jura Challenge

This tour is taking shape and will be on line in 2011. We intend to do a loop following the Jura mountains from Geneva to the North of Switzerland and then coming back down to Genva on the French side. The riding is probably 20% more climbing than the Challenge Tour. This part of Switzerland/France is very sparsely populated, little traffic and pristine countryside. We’ll be staying in small villages and country hotels, (no cities on this tour after Geneva). We’re looking for strong and experienced cyclists to do this tour, so if you have what it takes, keep the tour in mind for 2011.

Canary Islands Ahoy !!

Flights from Chicago to Las Palmas at this period (Feb 20-28, 2010) are around $850 (that’s with tax). So a sunny cycling vacation in Winter on a an exotic Spanish island is cheaper than you’d expect.

In order to get accelerate our sign-ups, we’ll be giving away Bikeswitzerland in Canary Island Jerseys to all those who give us their deposit before November 1st. Those who have already sent in a deposit will also receive the free jersey. This offer will end on November 1st.

Be a collaborater !

We want to harness your invaluable charisma ! We’re looking for people to “talk up” our tours through bike clubs, emails, brochure handouts, on the internet and at events. We have a reward program for collaboraters, and if you can direct people our way, we’ll make sure that you get the credit. We’re very generous. Bike Switzerland already has a number of collaborators in different states, but if your area is not represented and you have done one of our trips, then we would like you to come on board.

Questions ?

I’m often here at my desk, so feel free to ring me through the site if I can help you out with any questions.

JOHN