We're devoted cyclists and fantastic planners. You'll pedal happy, smile a lot and eat well.

Marty has been building his own bikes - as well as friends' - since he was a child. He has worked as a draftsman for engineering firms and in the winter teaches telemarking, alpine skiing, and snowboarding at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Idaho. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, and epic mountain bike rides, preferably long singletrack journeys. When not cycle touring, Marty volunteers for the local bike club doing trail building and maintenance. He also dabbles with photography and is learning how to ride a unicycle.

Kempton grew up in rural Washington riding and racing anything with two wheels. When motocross became too expensive a hobby for a 19-year-old's salary, he switched to bicycles for good. An avid cyclocross and mountain bike racer and road bike enthusiast, he's taken and guided bike tour vacations all over the world - in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Morocco, France, Mexico, Italy and Thailand. Says Kempton, "I can't wait for the list to be twice as long!"

Favorite Tour: Oregon Crater Lake Classic

Why: "Being able to take in the natural beauty of Crater Lake - and experience a day with [guide] Mark Wojahn  - is something everyone should have the opportunity to do."

Favorite place to stay on a Bicycle Adventures tour:  The Inn at Spanish Head [Oregon Coast Classic Tour] - "Every room hangs right over the Pacific Ocean. The sunset looks like it's in IMAX!"

First Bike: Schwinn Stingray Junior. "Bright red, of course!"

Hobbies: "I've been a professional musician for 20 years, and try to play my bass every day I'm home. I also love to spend time walking my Border Collie, Jack."

As a former bike racer, Brad has been to many of the 50 Unites States. (He believes that Todd Starnes, Bicycle Adventures' president, is the best cycling coach he has ever had.) Brad's an avid University of Washington Huskies fan with an English Literature degree and a love for the outdoors and all things sports-related. Brad’s professional background prior to Bicycle Adventures was in operations and logistics. Brad is married and has four children - two boys and two girls.

Favorite Tour: Oregon Coast Classic. "This coast is ever-changing and ever beautiful. My wife and I took our honeymoon here, and it will always hold very special memories for me."

Favorite Place to stay: "As a former bike racer I'd have to say - preferably someplace with a bed!" - The Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria, B.C. (San Juan Islands - Victoria Classic)

Favorite Movie: "Revenge of the Nerds!"

Matt says he (humbly) feels he can own the statement: “I have tried it all.” He served in the military with the U.S. Coast Guard, finished his bachelor’s degree on a Wednesday night and started his master’s degree on Thursday. On a whim and after one visit, he packed up and moved to Seattle. He spent many years as his own boss; he spent several more working for a boss in corporate America. He lost over 60 pounds and many pant sizes, ran a marathon, got beat in a 5k by his mother, and spent a summer as a Pedi-cab driver. He’s been on a prime-time Friday night TV show, saved lives in and out of the water, and failed public speaking in college - only to become public speaker years later. He says he became a personal trainer and SPINN instructor (a current passion) completely by accident. 

First bike: "It was a Huffy that I actually got TWICE. My mom and dad painted it without me knowing and gave it to me AGAIN!"

Favorite movie: Rudy (1993 American sports film.) "It's a story of great success and inspiration." 

Favorite book: Love (Leo Buscaglia)  "...or anything by David Sedaris."

If you were a superhero, who would you be? "I gotta go Batman on this one. Christian Bale's Batman." 

Hobbies: "Drooling over bicycles online. Fitness in any shape or form, because I love food! Trying new places to eat is always such a treat. Trying new coffee is a very close followup to trying new restaurants. I also very much enjoy discovering new music, which I often use to teach indoor cycling classes."

Jeff grew up in Wisconsin, spent 4 years in Washington D.C., then traded city traffic for 8 years in Utah (including two back-to-back winters with over 700 inches of snow at the ski resorts!) After a dozen-plus years in health care, he worked another dozen in education as a classroom teacher, then an administrator. He still does staff development training during “shoulder seasons” between cycle tours and teaching skiing. In the winter he is a ski instructor at Crystal Mountain near Mt. Rainier. Although a competent skier and cyclist, Jeff has recently become a true beginner in the sport of paragliding. (Ask him about his many humbling “failures to launch!") When not on a Bicycle Adventures tour or skiing, Jeff enjoys time with his wife and two adult sons. Jeff loves getting to know the people that he bikes and skis with. "I have the best job(s) in the world! I love my office!"

Favorite Tour: Canadian Gulf Islands

Why: "This tour is truly in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Traffic is light, locals are friendly, and lodging is incredible. There are so many beautiful views, some from the water and some after short hikes."

A story: "Here’s a story from last summer that illustrates the Gulf Islands: we're on a ferry when Orca whales are spotted. The captain S-L-O-W-S the ferry so that we can watch the whales as they parallel the boat. It's a sunny day with crystal-clear blue skies. And here we are on the water with lush, green, tree-covered islands in the background and snowcapped mountains in the distance. And then a bald eagle flies over our heads. Perfect!"

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip: The ride into Cattle Point in American Camp on San Juan Island. "It's always breathtaking. I have had guests who have toured all over the world say that this ride is one of their top five!"

Of note: Jeff is licensed to officiate weddings for guests who want to combine their love of cycling with their love of someone else.

Raven is a botanist, a cyclist, a chef, gardener and yoga practitioner. "To be on a ride is like life’s playground to me because there is so much to take in. I love learning about the world that surrounds me. I like to immerse myself in the plants and mountains and waters of wherever I am." She learned Thai cooking in Thailand. 

Favorite tour: Cactus Classic (Arizona)

Why? "The desert in bloom is one of the most beautiful things in the world to me."

What's special about a Bicycle Adventures tour? "The beauty of Bicycle Adventures is that no matter where you are biking you can expect to be moved by the exquisite natural beauty of the area."

A story: "One of my favorite memories is from a Cactus Classic trip. We were gearing up to ride Mt. Lemmon and a rider came past the van on a recumbent bike with his dog. He told us that the first riding he ever did in his life was with Bicycle Adventures over 20 years ago, and he's been riding ever since!"

First bike: A speckled Huffy mountain bike

Favorite book: East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

Favorite vacation destination: Maui, Hawaii (7 Sacred Pools); Turtle Island, Thailand

Hobbies: "Reading, learning, hiking, playing with my dog Oso, swimming with dolphins (the underwater world fascinates me) -  and following my bliss."

Sandra was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Surrounded by beautiful tropical beaches, islands, rainforest and mountains, Rio inspires many people with a deep desire to enjoy nature - so, like most “Cariocas” (natives of Rio), she fell in love with nature at a very young age. Her love of biking also got an early start, at approximately age 7 when she went on her first long-distance bike trip. Since then she's been biking for fun and guiding trips from coast to coast in the U.S., through the National Parks in the Southwest, and commuting and working as a bike messenger in NYC and Seattle. Sandra earned a degree in Geology and Oceanography at the University of Washington, where she worked as a Seismic Analyst. Sandra has been working as an Outdoor Educator, Wilderness Guide and Tour Guide for a number of outdoor schools and companies for over 20 years.

First bike: Caloi (Brazilian maker)

Favorite movie: Antonia’s Line

Favorite book: Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer)

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip: Over Washington Pass and Rainy Pass in Washington State

If you were a superhero, who would you be? "My Grandmother."

Favorite vacation destination: Washington state and South America

Hobbies: Traveling by bike, climbing (alpine, rock and ice); long backcountry trips in remote areas, sustainable living

As a past Bicycle Adventures guest herself, Ginger has a unique perspective. A passionate cyclist and California native, she's participated in over 100 cycling events (including both the Glacier-Banff-Jasper and Cascades Epic tours.) She's also participated in what she calls "several crazy endurance events." Along the way, she found that sharing cycling strategies and training others came naturally, and so began her own coaching and event-planning business. She currently teaches beginner cyclists bike handling and group riding skills; she coaches novices and helps them prepare for their first - or most challenging - century event. In her other life, Ginger spent 20 years directing a nonprofit for sixty-five after-school child care programs. In 2012 she finally stepped back in order to pursue her longtime passions for cycling and the outdoors. "I love being outdoors and exploring new places on and off the bike." 

As a past guest, what’s special about a Bicycle Adventures vacation? "The ability to disconnect from the 'real' world and enjoy a week of quality people time."

Favorite tour? Glacier-Banff-Jasper. "The scenery and open roads, the quaint little communities and lodging we experienced and the anticipation of seeing a 'bear jam!' "

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip? "Anything with a steady hill climb!"

Cycling nickname: Spice


Favorite vacation destination: New Zealand

Hobbies: "Besides cycling?" Paddle boarding, hiking, hanging out at the beach

There’s little that Lizzie loves more than a good road trip. In 2008 she set off with two teammates from her college rowing team, two-wheeling from New York City to Seattle – and promptly fell in love with bicycle touring. When not on her bike, she sings in a band, works in her garden, and manages a home furnishings consignment store.

After earning a BA in Environmental Sociology, studying in South Africa and traveling in Europe, Karie discovered a passion for exploration and finding new places to play outside. This led to a post-graduate life working with kids on low ropes courses, teaching mountain biking, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, and just plain getting dirty. In an effort to postpone growing up, Karie now plays with bigger kids, guiding Bicycle Adventures tours. Karie is inspired by the beauty of the regions we travel to and loves creating a playful, active and rewarding experience for guests.In the off-season Karie tends to spin the globe, throw a dart, and will go so far as to live on a little sailboat in the Caribbean. All in the name of ADVENTURE!

Favorite Tour: Glacier-Banff-Jasper

Why: "The sheer size and magnitude of the Northern Canadian Rockies are stunning! You feel connected to those mountains after a rewarding day cycling alongside glaciers, subsequent rivers and over mountain passes. Guests are always surprised with and proud of themselves (and rightly so!) after riding such raw landscapes." 

Best thing about guiding: "Experiencing the week together. Having someone just as excited as you are to take that photo, eat the amazing food, charge that hill, and celebrate at the top! Guests go from strangers to friends in only one week."

Favorite book: White African, Louis Leakey's biography

Favorite place to dine on a tour: Duck Soup Inn on San Juan Island. "I have met people all over the world who share my love for this gem, hidden on a Washington Island."

Favorite place to stay on a tour: Lakedale Resort, San Juan Island. "After the best meal of your life, who wouldn’t want to stare out over the lake on the deck of this lodge?"

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures tour: Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park or up Mount Constitution on Orcas Island, WA.

The youngest of five, Rhett was raised on a dairy farm in Carnation, Washington. With plenty of unspoiled countryside to explore, he began adventuring at a young age, riding his bicycle wherever he could. He began cycling competitively in high school, racing in the Marymoor Velodrome and the Seattle area scene. Rhett attended Colorado State University to study Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism, continuing to race his bike for the Rams and spending as much time in the Rocky Mountains as he could, riding, skiing, hiking and camping. After college, Rhett discovered Valdez, Alaska and began working for a heli-skiing company in the Chugach Mountains as a cat-ski and heli-ski guide. Recent years have found him ski patrolling at Crystal Mountain in Washington in winter, heading north to Valdez to ski in spring, then working summers in Alaska on a commercial fishing boat in Prince William Sound.

First bike:  "A hand-me-down, white and blue 16-er"

Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption

Favorite book: On the Road (Jack Kerouac)

Best thing about guiding? "I love sharing a wonderful place, a good view, a challenging ride on a beautiful road or trail or slope - giving them an experience that they may have never had before. There are so many great things in this world that the average vacationer doesn't get to see. Being able to time it right and to nail an opportunity to drop jaws and treat someone to one of the best moments of their lives is why I love to guide."

Lynn developed a passion for the outdoors while growing up on a small farm in Troy, Idaho [pop: 862]. She spent several years working as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service, traveling the world during the off-season. She studied in Pau, France and Anchorage, Alaska before graduating with a dual major from the University of Idaho. This last winter she spent several weeks in Thailand, exploring the northern region on rented motorcycles and rock climbing on the Phra Nang Peninsula. (“...eating fantastic food!” she says.) She loves exploring new areas, being active and meeting new people.

Hobbies: rock climbing, mountain biking, running, surfing, playing guitar

Favorite Bicycle Adventures tour: "Bryce & Zion. Or the Idaho Epic tour for its scenery, tough riding and beautiful landscapes. Plus, that tour went through my hometown."

Best thing about being a guide: "I love seeing the smiles on people's faces while they are biking on beautiful roads. It makes us all happier versions of ourselves."

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures tour: Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana [Glacier-Banff-Jasper tour and Glacer 4-Day tour].

Catherine has been teaching middle school math for the past 8 years, currently in the Snoqualmie Valley of Washington and previously in Belgrade, Serbia. In addition to teaching, she coach cross-country and track and takes kids on ski club trips. When not teaching, you'll find Catherine enjoying outdoor activities both in the Pacific Northwest and abroad: skiing, biking, climbing and kayaking! At home, Catherine love’s spending time in her garden or with her dog, Tucker.

First bike: a blue Muddy Fox hand-me-down from my brother. 

Favorite movie: The Princess Bride

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures tour: From Nelson to Creston, BC on the Northern Idaho - Selkirk trip ("It includes a ferry ride!")

Favorite place to stay on a tour: Coeur d'Alene Resort (Northern Idaho - Selkirk Loop tour). "It reminds me of my childhood - and it has such a beautiful view!"

Ruth's story is a bit unusual. She's currently a massage therapist with a background in event management (cycling events and triathlons), physical education/health, and a few other pursuits that don't require a person to sit still. She lives on Bainbridge Island with her partner and seems to keep coming out of Bicycle Adventures Guide Retirement, she says, "...because it's my favorite job of all time!" She's been on staff since 2004, give or take a few retirement hiatuses.

How many Bicycle Adventures trips have you guided? "Uh...30-ish?"

Favorite tour? Bryce & Zion: "The scenery against the color of the sky...electric blue...and the perfect climate in Utah in the early fall."

Favorite place to stay on a tour: Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes, on San Juan Island

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip? Crater Lake Rim Ride

Best thing about guiding? "Making lunches! And being thankful every day for how cool it is to take people to play outside (especially when other people work in cubicles...and I don't!)"

If you were a superhero, who would it be? "I would be Peter Pan and never grow up (wait, I think I AM!!)"

Cycling nickname: Ruthless ("...college soccer nickname, but let's go with it.")

Favorite vacation destination: "Anywhere I can swim in the open water, run, bike, and drink a good beer afterwards! New Zealand and Ashland, Oregon are both in the top five."

Hobbies: Cooking, swimming, biking, running.

Having spent his childhood in both Northern Mexico and Southern Arizona, Noe has a passion for the Sonoran Desert. As a 10-year veteran volunteer crew leader for a 25-mile segment of the Arizona Trail (also known as the AZT) he finally gained enough credibility to make it a paid position. An equally passionate cyclist, he spent 10 years as Event Director for El Tour de Tucson, the Race across America, and the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo mountain bike race...just to name a few. Noe also spent years as a professional outdoor guide leading trips in Mexico's Copper Canyon, in Honduras and in his hometown of Tucson.

Favorite Tour: "The one that I'm on! It's a privilege and honor for me to be entrusted with our guests' safety and fun. I take both - fun and safety - very seriously!"

Hobbies: "It's paddles and pedals for me, this life experience! Bring on the adventure!"

David’s zest for adventure was fueled by a 20-year career as a globetrotting TV reporter on the West Coast. He won six Emmys and covered stories from Europe to Asia and Alaska to the Caribbean. Prior to joining Bicycle Adventures, he also worked for Nike in corporate communications and as a public relations specialist, focusing on crisis communications and media training.
Born and raised in New York City, David is a graduate of Dartmouth College and has a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University. He is also an award-winning poet. When not riding his bike on a Bicycle Adventures trip, David enjoys participating in organized cycling events throughout the country, such as Hotter ‘N Hell 100, TOSRV, RAGBRAI, El Tour de Tucson, Amtrak Century, STP, RAMROD, Santa Fe Century, Tour de Palm Springs, Solvang Century, etc. He enjoys sampling microbrews and following college football.

Favorite tour: Napa & Sonoma Wine Country

Why: "Exceptional food and lodging, plus a myriad of cycling options to satisfy every taste."

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures Trip:  Avenue of the Giants (California Redwoods tour)

Best memory from a tour: "Being an official witness as a couple got married on the layover day of a California Redwoods trip."

First bike: Ross 3-speed

Favorite movie: The Third Man

Favorite book: Anything by Elmore Leonard

Brad is something of an extreme-sports Renaissance Man. From pioneering the exhilarating sport of 'snowkiting' in the Pacific Northwest to paragliding and mountain biking, he's not one to sit still. Brad's constantly thinking of fresh new ways to keep guests entertained (hosting a one-man outdoor cooking show and writing ballads chronicling tours are two of his favorites.) Prior to his guiding/sliding/showbiz career, he spent 13 years managing a grocery store.

Favorite tour: San Juan Islands/Victoria

Why: "Once you get to the San Juan Islands it's just so relaxed and tranquil - the food is world class, and everyone else is there for the same thing: to enjoy a Pacific Northwest summer!"

Favorite place to stay on a Bicycle Adventures tour: Skamania Lodge [Hood River & Columbia Gorge tour]

Go-to guide lunch: Wild green salad with black cherries, feta, mangoes, avocados, lime, green onion and seasoned rice vinegar

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures tour:  "The ride into Zion National Park. Hands down."

After growing up in the small town of Sequim, WA, Tracey flew far from home - to Willamette University, 6 hours away. After obtaining degrees in Sociology and Spanish, her flights became more frequent and farther reaching: to date, Argentina, Spain, Italy, India, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Morocco, Portugal, Mexico and New Zealand, with extended cycling tours in several of those countries. Although searching out the world's natural highlights has captured her heart, Tracey also loves spending time in her NW home where she tries to maintain her garden, takes cello lessons, and fixes snacks for her neighbor kids...and her own adorable baby boy.

Favorite tour: Glacier/Banff/Jasper. Or Crater Lake. Or Bryce/Zion.

Guide go-to lunch: "I love making a pesto, quinoa and smoked salmon salad. Or basically any dish involving quinoa."

Favorite ride: "I love riding the Canyon Drive in Zion National Park. I've ridden in at dawn just as the sun begins to illuminate the sandstone. Stunning."

Jill has a Masters Degree in Higher Education, and has been guiding wilderness backpacking, biking and travel journeys since 1986. She's worked as a Program Director, Trip Planner, guide and staff trainer. In Bicycle Adventures' off-season, Jill guides backpacking adventures in the Grand Canyon. She has biked across the US and Canada in one 8,200-mile trip and plans yearly personal adventure trips across the world. Her picnic lunches are legendary.

Having grown up running trails and riding mountain bikes in Southern California and Hawaii, relocating to Washington State was challenging for Karen! Her road riding career began when she received a road bike as a birthday gift. “To be honest, it sat on a trainer in the garage for weeks before I had the courage to ride it on the road with those skinny tires. I was afraid I’d fall over and get hurt before my first marathon!”

Karen is a certified personal trainer and esthetician, and has coached High School Cross Country and Track and Field for several years. She's completed 4 Ironman-distance triathlons, multiple marathons and currently races road bikes with Bikesale, a Seattle-based team.

First bike: Diamondback Apex. "It carried me from Mammoth Mountain to Big Bear and over the Pali!"

Favorite quote from a guest: "Me: “Do you have any special requests or requirements for dining?’ Guest: 'No, I’m a goat. I’ll eat anything!'”

Favorite tours to chat about with guests: "Hawaii - love it there!"

Favorite thing about living/riding in rural Washington: "All the animals and farms along the way. I'm a sucker for cute, furry faces."

Hobbies: cooking, reading, gardening, spending time with friends & family

As the Salish Lodge's Adventure Director, Stephanie led biking and hiking tours in the region around Washington's Snoqualmie Falls and Tiger Mountain. Her Recreation and Tourism degree highlights her passion for traveling to new places, getting outdoors and exploring. At home, Stephanie enjoys baking, crafts, walking her dog, gardening, brewing wine and beer  - and is experimenting with growing her own wine grapes for brewing!

Favorite book: A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson) or the Harry Potter series

Favorite vacation destination(s): "La Push, Washington - because of all of the great sights and beach combing. Germany, because of the interesting history and great food!"

Superpower: "I'd choose the ability to teleport anywhere instantly so I can travel to more places."
 

Laura grew up in the Seattle area and spent childhood summers romping in the Cascade Mountains and San Juan Islands. She discovered climbing and skiing in her early teens; cycling in her early twenties. While attending the University of Washington, she raced with both the Husky Ski Team and Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle mountain bike team. After graduating with dual degrees in Physics and Earth and Space Sciences, she took a break to work as a ski instructor at Crystal Mountain Resort on Washington’s Mount Rainier. Eventually, dreams of research called her back to grad school for a master’s in Glaciology from the University of Alaska. When not on Bicycle Adventures trips, she can be found skiing, climbing, mountain biking, or sharing adventures with her dog Asia.

Favorite tour: Canadian Gulf Islands.

Why? "I spent a fair amount of time in the summers of my youth sailing in the Canadian Gulf Islands. It's been fun to see those islands from a different perspective. The lodgings and scenery are some of the best in the West!"

Favorite inn: Skamania Lodge [Columbia Gorge tour]

Favorite ride: "The BZ Corner - Troutlake - Glenwood loop on day 4 of the Columbia Gorge trip. Great views, nice open highways, and a fun descent."

First bike: "A Strawberry Shortcake with training wheels, tassels and a great bell."

When you're alone, who do you pretend to be? "Me, only slightly smarter, stronger, gutsier and better looking."

Hobbies: Skiing (back-country and in-area), climbing, biking, knitting hats.

A pro cyclist with UCI Professional Continental Team Champion System, Craig will be joining Bicycle Adventures as guest celebrity coach for our Hawaii Training Tour scheduled for January 26. Craig has a Giro d'Italia 1st Place Team Time Trial to his credit, and is a two-time National Champion who soloed to a stage win at the Tour de Beuce this summer. He's trained with George Hincapie and Mark Cavendish; Jonathan Vaughters says that Craig has "...a beautiful style on the bike, along with a confident flair." His comeback story after a crash in the Tour de Georgia - and another in the Giro d'Italia - is nothing short of miraculous.

Specialty: All-around

Years Pro: 8

Age he began cycling: 15

Hobbies: hiking, fly-fishing, mountain biking, traveling, and "anything wine-related”

Highlights: Two-time U23 national champion, 1st place team time trial Giro d’ Italia

Favorite Races: “My favorite and least favorite is the Giro Italia.”

Chris Mader's other job is teaching middle and high school science at an independent school in Portland, Oregon. "On trips, I always bring too many geology books about the area. But I spend a lot more time ‘reading’ and appreciating the actual geology than I do reading the books!"  Chris spent about 10 yrs as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School, leading and guiding thirty-day mountaineering trips. He now teaches for the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS out of Lander, Wyoming. In winter, Chris can be found skiing Oregon's Mt Hood, in the backcountry of Jackson, WY, or on skinny skis at any number of Nordic Centers.

Favorite place to dine on a tour: Coho Restaurant on San Juan Island

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip: "Tough one to answer – the Aufderheide Scenic Drive in Oregon; no wait..the Lost Coast in California on the Redwoods tour…. Or maybe Mt Hamilton in California - or the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park - or the riding in the San Juan Islands, Mt Constitution… ahhh, they’re all great!

Best thing about guiding? "Easy one…. Having fun with the guests!"

"What makes our tours special is that the guests get an incredible experience riding through some amazing scenery and landscapes while everything else is taken care of. Our trips are seamless, with guest experience and customer support our highest priority as guides. As a guide, I feel like I have the responsibility, and the leeway, to make a trip special for my guests. That could mean anything from arranging a massage to an unexpected celebratory bottle of wine waiting for a guest in their hotel room - or going for an early morning ‘off the itinerary’ ride with them. Guests are at the center of what we do and why we do it."

First bike: Yellow Schwinn Stingray

Hobbies: "Besides cycling (which actually might be above ‘hobby’): skiing, kayaking and photography."

Born in Iowa amongst the corn fields, one of Chad's earliest memories is seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time. He was only about 3 years old, but says, "I knew our family was headed in the right direction!" He spent a lot of time in the outdoors growing up: hiking, fishing and hunting with my parents. As a youth, soccer was his favorite sport. "I was like a junkie for the black and white ball, chasing it constantly, 5-7 days a week." During college, music became another interest and over the years Chad has played bass guitar in a number of different bands. In his 20’s and 30’s his passions turned toward travel to foreign destinations as well: Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. "These days, the wilderness is my temple and I like to get my spiritual 'fix' as often as possible. Weekends, you are almost guaranteed to find me out 'on the trail.' ”

Favorite tour: Volcanoes of Washington

Why: "It has it all: Amazing scenery and challenging rides on low traffic roads. Plus, there’s just something about these volcanoes that is … beyond words."

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip: Icefields Parkway (Glacier-Banff-Jasper and Banff-Jasper tours)

Favorite book: "Who can pick a favorite? Maybe Friend of the Earth by TC Boyle."

Favorite vacation destination: "Impossible to pick a favorite. If you are a parent, do you have a favorite child?"

Nathan has been guiding and catering to travelers in New Zealand for more than 17 years. He is fluent in Japanese and has worked with a wide range of international travelers, from tourists to film crews. He loves making sure everyone is well taken care of — Kiwi style. He is an ex-semi-pro rugby player (“footie” to Nathan) and is eager to share his love of the sport with guests. He is a Christchurch native.

Matt grew up amid the wheat fields of Eastern Washington. An avid cyclist, he worked as a bike messenger in Seattle for a handful of years. (Stories from those years include plenty of elevator banter - plus racing the only indoor, figure 8 velodrome with Run-D.M.C. on the stage.) He spent a decade building downhill bikes and splitting time between racing and Whistler, B.C. These days, he splits his free time between camping with his family, traversing the High Cascades and exploring little-known mountain bike trails. When Matt isn't scouting peaks to push a bike to in the Cascades, you'll find him in his recording studio making records or editing movie sound design - or canoeing with his wonderful wife and daughter. 

First bike: Schwinn Pixie. "Plastic tires until I destroyed them doing skids."

Favorite movie: Dune

Favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time

If you had a superpower, what would it be?  "I would choose the power to hold time still. Flying would be fun too."

Cycling nickname: 66

Favorite vacation destination: Neah Bay, WA

Randy came from 10 years' experience in a hard union labor job to guiding tours for Bicycle Adventures. "It’s a dream come true!" says Randy. "I started riding bicycles two short years ago and just fell in love. Bicycling is now a huge part of my life and I love to share my enthusiasm with others."  When he's not guiding, Randy is a bike racer and also enjoys a good game of Ultimate Frisbee, hiking and 'thrifting.' On tours, he loves meeting the guests and hearing their stories.

First bike: K2 cross bike

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures trip:  "I love the ride from Timberline Lodge to The Dalles on the Columbia Gorge tour. You go from a snowy mountain where people snow ski the glacier year 'round into the Gorge -  where its 80-plus degrees!"

Favorite place to dine on a Bicycle Adventures trip: The Bay House Restaurant [Oregon Coast Classic tour]

What makes a Bicycle Adventure special: "The trips start with a hand shake and a hello, but they end with hugs."

A Washington native raised in Forks (home of the Twilight novels), Julie came to Bicycle Adventures after more than 14 years in sales and customer service, including the Starbucks Corporation and amazon.com. She enjoys running, volunteers for the local marathon and rides regularly with Capital Bicycling Club's fixed-gear group.

I'd love to have lunch with: Aung San Suu Kyi or Bob Roll

Favorite vacation destinations: Phuket, Thailand; the Oregon Coast; New Zealand

First bike: Sparkly blue with a banana seat, monkey handlebars and a flowered basket

Favorite ride on a Bicycle Adventures tour: New Zealand's Lake District, Going-to-the-Sun-Road in Glacier National Park - and the rim ride at Crater Lake

Favorite hike on a Bicycle Adventures tour: The Narrows in Zion National Park

Hobbies: Reading, riding, watching bike racing (international and local), hiking 

For the last 7 years Lori’s worked at the bike shop at Arlberg Sports in Wenatchee, Washington. Her favorite bike rides are with her co-workers: they load up with camping gear, take off on some nice singletrack, ride for awhile, find a flat spot with a good view, set up camp, and light up a bonfire. “Every bike camp trip has an outrageous story!” She commutes by bike 20 miles each way to work. Her passions, though, are paragliding and speedflying. “I love being able to travel with my wings on my back. I’ve flown in Hawaii, Sun Valley, the Owens Valley, the North Cascades, the Oregon coast, the Atacama Desert in Chile, and Chamonix, France. Traveling is another love and being able to take a wing along enables me to get a totally different perspective.” Life goals include traveling to the Karakorams in Pakistan and paragliding in that range and swimming with a whale shark. She’ll be moving to Hawaii this fall with Armond, her partner and best friend, where she’s hoping to check off the whale shark swim. Says Lori: “I am happiest when I am immersed in nature. Doesn’t matter where; I love the ocean, the rainforest, the top of a snow-covered mountain, the desert, flower filled meadows......these places fulfill me and give me a sense that I am very small in the grand scheme of things and am part of something much greater than myself.”

 
First bike: "Strawberry Shortcake bike. No training wheels!"

Favorite movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Favorite book: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (Nathaniel Philbrick)

If you were a superhero, who would you be? "Wonderwoman. And I'd have an invisible jet."

Teri grew up in Alabama, Idaho and California. She ran cross-country and track in high school. After attending Boise State University, she moved to Oregon where her love for all things 'outdoors' grew into an unbridled passion. When she isn't working, you'll find her on a trail somewhere, smiling. Her two boys, Charlie and Jalen, are living out their own dreams - respectively, in Montana and Oregon.

Favorite tour: "Just one? New Mexico (Classic and Classic Plus tours), Southern Oregon & Crater Lake Plus, Oregon Wine Country, Washington Epic...so many...all for different reasons."

Favorite tour dining spot: Cafe Pasqual's [both New Mexico tours]

Favorite place to stay on Bicycle Adventures' tours: Sun Mountain Lodge, in Winthrop, Washington [Washington Cascades Epic tour]

First bike: " A Hasbro 'Inchworm' - I fell in love with wheels early in life!"

Favorite book: Ishmael [Daniel Quinn], The Power of One, Lone Survivor

Hobbies: "Hard for me to pick favorites! Skate skiing, mountain biking, running, cooking, hiking, snowshoeing...."

Best thing about guiding: "Bicycle Adventures' guides are given the autonomy in the field to provide flexibility and options to our guests. That freedom allows us to provide a 'best vacation' experience - and makes our job fun."

Chris grew up in the northeast U.S. and in Heidelberg, Germany. He studied at England's University of Sheffield, worked as a camp counselor in Maine and graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee with a degree in Film and Video Production. He’s been a video engineer and technician for concert tours and large corporate events and has been on tour with Kid Rock, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson (to name a few). He would keep his bicycle in the bay of the tour bus and would ride for miles in the afternoons during the few hours off before the shows after load-in was complete. “Cycling has always been my favorite way to see places and meet people.” He also is a tandem cycling enthusiast, and rides with his wife in tandem rallies in the US and Europe when given the chance.

First bike: "A GT Timberline I bought with paper-route money in 8th grade."

Favorite Movie: Cinema Paradisio

Favorite Book: A Tramp Abroad (Mark Twain)

Superpower: "I'd like the power to speak every human language perfectly and the power to heal wounds like E.T."

Cycling Hero: Tyler Hamilton

Cycling Nickname: Somertime

In his former careers as sports scientist and sports marketer, Todd traveled extensively throughout the U.S., South and Central America and Europe. An avid cyclist, Todd has a degree in Sports Science from Seattle Pacific University and an MBA from the University of Washington. He grew up in South Dakota and left as soon as possible to pursue college, travel, and his favorite sports: bike racing, skiing, running and triathlons. Finding himself a much better trainer than athlete, Todd went on to coach bike racing and triathlons at both national and international levels. He continues to volunteer his time coaching at a local high school. Todd is married and has two college-age daughters, but does manage to fit in several Bicycle Adventures tours each year. As the self-proclaimed worst guide in the company, Todd loves getting lost on tours and meeting as many guests as possible, though the two don't always mix.

Favorite Tour: San Juan Islands. “I am always amazed at the diversity of the San Juan Islands. I never get tired of the ferry ride, and having such a great place so close to a city like Seattle is a special treat.”

Favorite Place to Stay: Lake Moeraki, New Zealand. “Where else can you see glow-worms and six foot meat-eating eels?”

Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams

Go-To-Guide Lunch: In-N-Out Burger

Maui Starnes has been guiding for Bicycle Adventures for two years - primarily local tours in the Seattle area, as she prefers the local cuisine and pursuit of local wildlife.Her entire life has been spent in the Pacific Northwest; she has a keen sense for the trails and knows our dog parks intimately. When not guiding, Maui enjoys a good stick and a romp in the creek next to Bicycle Adventures' World Headquarters. Prior to guiding full-time, Maui was a stay-at-home puppy. Herding comes naturally to Maui, so keeping everyone together on a tour is a top priority. She hopes to one day travel to New Zealand and demonstrate her herding skills with the native sheep dogs.

Favorite Tour: Volcanoes of Washington "...it's close to home and has some great hiking!"

Favorite Place to Stay: Lakedale Lodge. "They love dogs and have a great lake to play in."

Favorite Movie: "Duh.... Lassie."

Go-to Guide Lunch: Peanut Butter Treats

Chris is no beginner to adventures on a bike. From loaded touring to racing tandems on the track, Chris has a broad background involving two wheels. After graduating from the University of Washington, he worked for a local frame builder, and then traveled the Pacific Northwest while running his own sales rep business in the cycling industry. His personal cycling expeditions include the French Pyrenees, the Spanish Picos de Europa, New Zealand and the Caribbean (to name a few.) His greatest bicycling revelation is that when it comes to cycling, the winner isn't always the first one to cross the finish line, but the one who finishes with the biggest smile on his or her face. When not riding, Chris supports his cycling addiction by driving a fire truck.

Cycling Hero: "It used to be Greg LeMond, but now it’s the person in a developing nation who hauls his pig to market on the back of his bike."

Favorite cycling destination: Pointed uphill. "The North Cascades offer world-class cycling right in our own backyard!"

Hobbies: Nordic skiing, rowing, water skiing, hiking and climbing, "...and trying to keep up with my wife."

Gee whiz: "Did you know that in New Zealand, they measure wind speed using the Beaufort scale? When the weatherman reports winds of '6' there [25-31 mph] it’s a lot different from winds of '6' in North America."

Favorite movie: Cool Hand Luke

Something of a Renaissance Man, Chris designed software for Microsoft and raced on the pro circuit before eschewing the corporate world to lead tours for Bicycle Adventures. He co-owns a small personal training studio called GeekFit (and even works there when not on the road.) He is learning to weld and fabricate his own 'frankenbikes.' Though unofficially retired from competitive racing, he still enters the occasional triathlon or bike race just for fun.

He enjoys candlelit dinners, long runs on the beach, Northwest microbrews - and annoying guests with terrible renditions of popular songs whenever the opportunity arises. 

Jada lives the dream in the activity hub of New Zealand: Queenstown, on the South Island. She currently manages a Zipline Ecotour company (www.ziptrek.com), assigning guides, inspecting and maintaining the courses and occasionally guiding tours. Living at the foot of the Southern Alps, she spends a considerable amount of time on her mountain bike as well as commuting to work on her road bike.

Favorite tour: New Zealand (of course)

Why: "It's a brilliant place full of active, adventurous people just living to play!"

Mark's life is crammed with games, sports and music. He ran cross-country and track throughout high school and college; then it was marathons and road races.  He spent 18 years working with children in a variety of youth camps and has run a bevy of skiing programs for over 20 years, including seniors' cross-country and snowshoe programs. When not guiding tours or teaching snow sports, Mark's time is spent ice dancing and ballroom dancing. He loves to learn something new, "...especially when it is physically and mentally challenging," he says. An avid photographer, Mark gets credit for many of the images appearing in our website. He's led more than 200 Bicycle Adventures trips and is famous for his beautiful recorder music and his purple marionette, Sylvia.

Favorite tour: Crater Lake. And the Columbia Gorge. 

Why: "I have great experiences like running Seniors' Cross Country ski week in the Crater Lake area, so I really feel at home there. And I am excited for what the guests will see and experience each day. There are great rides and super scenery. The Columbia Gorge trip has very diverse environments along with a raft trip and hiking. I like the variety of activities for the guests and the potential for a more relaxed pace."

First bike: "Red. I found it by the Christmas tree."

Favorite book: Mark Twain's Letters from the Earth