Have you ever done any cycle touring? For if you had you wouldn't be asking these questions.
Rule 1. Never pay to go on an organised cycle tour organised by some one who has never done any cycle touring.
Rule 2. Never sign up to anything where payment is talked about pretty much straight way.
If any one was thinking about cycle touring who hadn't done it before I would say either go for it solo, it can be very liberating, but if you prefer the herd mentality then join your local cycling club and try to find a few other people of similar ability and expectations to you to enjoy a few miles cycling. But I would avoid this enterprise.
Hi crankarm,
Yes, I have done organised cycle touring: once in Ireland (Kilkenny, Wexford) and two weeks in Santa Barbara, California.
Not to ring my own bell, but I think the above post calls into question my credibility:
I am also a professional cyclist of four years. I have extensive knowledge of the region in which my tours are based having been born and raised here. If you count all the "tours" I've done as a professional, we're probably into the hundreds.
I am also a qualified cycling coach and qualified in Sports Technology and currently studying Sport Science.
The questions presented in this forum were in order to draw on a wide range of opinions and experience. This is my first business and I want it to be excellent.
In terms of talk of payment: I am not a large abta and iata bonded travel company and want to assure peace of mind to my customers.
I am not sure I can take anything constructive away from your post. But yes, people might like to go solo, learn about cycling through a club, etc and I encourage that. We're comparing apples and oranges here.