Sports Then and Now

One of the best ways to experience the fall season and its changing leaf colors and new crisp breezes, is from the seat of a bicycle. Riding in a pack surrounded by fellow biking enthusiasts, you get a new perspective of the gorgeous autumn countryside. The following six fall bike tours are some of the best rides suggested by various members of local bike clubs and tour organizers from around the country.

Boise, Idaho
October is the best time to check out the foliage in Idaho. The brisk weather ranges in temperature from the 40s to the 60s and the bike tour along a 25-mile-strech of path through the Boise River Greenbelt that skirts the Boise River is one of the most popular treks. Several bike rental shops are located along the river trail for those who want to rent a bike rather than rather than bring their own.

Lake Champlain, Vermont
One of the favorite foliage viewing locations in the New England area is Vermont’s Champlain Valley. Particularly popular is the six-day tour out of Bristol, Vermont. After heading north to Lake Champlain, the tour makes stops in Ticonderoga, New York, and ends in Middlebury, Vermont. Riding from 13 to 33 miles a day, you’ll be surrounded by an array of fall colors through the entire ride. This wonderful all-inclusive bike trip doesn’t come cheap. For about $2,000 per person, you are provided with a top-class touring bike, nightly lodging at local inns, and terrific meals at local restaurants.

Black Hills, South Dakota
The famed Black Hills of South Dakota this time of year are ablaze in the golden colors of aspen, birch and oak trees. One popular tour recommended by local cyclists takes place along the Centennial Trail marked as Trail 89. Bikers can access the bike trail at the Dalton Lake Trailhead close tor Nemo, South Dakota. Six miles north of the trailhead, you’ll come to an area that locals call the Dalton Plateau. From this vantage point, you have a wonderful view of Bear Butte, Custer Peak and Harney Peak.

Asheville, North Carolina
In October, a bicycle tour that follows the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Town Mountain Road in Asheville, North Carolina is a regional favorite. The self-guided tour starts and ends at the campus of the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Cyclists on the 20-plus mile route often see wildlife like deer, wild turkeys, albino squirrels, and even an occasional black bear.

Kebler Pass, Colorado
Some fall bike tours are not recommended for amateur riders and take skill and experience. One of these tours that is a ride around Kebler Pass in the Colorado Rockies. The gravel road can challenge even the most skilled riders. But from the stories that are told, the incredibly beautiful array of yellow-leafed aspens is worth the hours strenuous pedaling and resulting day-after soreness. Be sure to stock up on ASEA Supplement products for better rest days and rejuvenation along a long tour like this one.

Staunton, Virginia
The Fall Foliage Bike Festival takes place on October 17-19 at Staunton, Virginia. This ride tours the Shenandoah Valley which is ablaze with fall colors this time of the year. Cyclists have a choice of 13 different cycling routes, each of which provided a varying degree of difficulty. From a 6.4-mile family route on Saturday to a rigorous 100-mile century tour, everyone can find a route that fits their skill and endurance level.

Whether you embark on one of these organized bike tours or not, don’t pass up the opportunity to get out and explore the wonders of fall where you live. Make a fall bike tour a yearly event right along with Halloween and Thanksgiving.