The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting gym closures have driven surging interest in at-home and outdoor cycling, as consumers rushed to find alternatives to public transport, fitness routines, and beloved pre-Covid spin classes. Leisure road bike sales rose 203% in 2020, while indoor bike sales increased by 270% in April alone. The WHO also ranks cycling as one of the safest ways to travel during the pandemic, making pedal pushing equally good for respiratory, physical, mental, and environmental health.
With the pandemic continuing into 2021, hotels and resorts across the globe are finding new ways to keep pace with this trend, while also empowering guests to explore new scenery, practice social distancing, and decompress in nature. From challenging high-altitude single track cycling at Scarp Ridge Lodge in Colorado, to hydro-cycling in an Olympic pool at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in California, below are six hotels with innovative programs that pull away from the pack.
The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana (www.theranchatrockcreek.com)
This luxury guest ranch in Montana offers an extensive road and trail system for solo and group biking adventures. All guests receive a mountain bike upon check-in for easy transportation between the Granite Lodge, the Rod & Gun Club and accommodations. All able guests are encouraged to walk or bike during their stay using the trails and pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek. The Ranch also offers the opportunity to try one of Western Montana’s favorite sports—cross-country mountain biking. Options range from an easy pedal along Rock Creek Road to a more challenging trail that hugs the hillsides and traverses the sagebrush flats of the 10 square mile ranch. Join General Manager Jon Martin on a cross-country ride across this trail during your stay. As an avid cyclist, he’ll guide guests through this 2-3 hour adventure while sharing information about The Ranch’s landmarks. In addition to traditional mountain bikes, The Rod & Gun Club has e-bikes and specialized fat tire bikes. Fat tire bikes are available for use year-round, and are an enjoyable way to traverse our snowy tracks and trails.
Be-Spoke at W Scottsdale (Arizona) : The Be-Spoke bike program at W Scottsdale encourages guests to hit the road and experience Scottsdale’s miles of paved bike trails and stunning desert vistas. More than just free (and sanitized!) bikes, the Be-Spoke program includes custom itineraries, organized group rides and ambitious Tour de Scottsdale routes arranged by the hotel fitness team. Exclusive to W Scottsdale, “Be-Spoke” lets guests explore Scottsdale’s sights at their own speed with food-driven “Spin & Savor” restaurant routes, a “Bike & Hike” itinerary that takes guests to local hiking trails, and a “Wheel & Deal” bike route including discounts at local fitness studios for showing up on a Be-Spoke bike. www.wscottsdalehotel.com
Colorado Mountain Biking with Eleven Experience Eleven Experience sets a new standard in experiential travel, road cycling & single track riding. Eleven’s cycling experiences are designed to showcase famous and little-known routes on both mountains and paved roads. Unprecedented adventures and authentic connections are at the heart of every trip. At Scarp Ridge Lodge in Gunnison, Colorado (considered the birthplace of mountain biking) down-to-earth guides share a day in their life so guests get to know the destination like a local adventurer. The Gunnison Valley is ground zero for mountain biking and has attracted both beginners and diehards to its miles of single track trails for decades. Scarp Ridge Lodge offers a plethora of top-end mountain bikes for guests to gear up and hit the surrounding trails, from challenging climbs to scenic cruises through mountain meadows.
Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, Vista, California (www.cal-a-vie.com)
Cal-a-Vie is an award winning destination health spa located in North San Diego County. With year-round sunshine and warm weather, guests can enjoy spinning in the Olympic sized swimming pool in one of the Hydrorider classes. The Hydrorider is a unique aquatic stationary bike that allows you to pedal in the water while taking advantage of its multi-use functions. The bike has state of the art features for custom fitting and can be used by those who are conditioned, unconditioned, and populations with special limitations. Hydrorider advantages include the property of buoyancy which in return provides stress-free training for the joints and the lower back, and are an excellent option for active recovery.
Quebec City Fat bike tours: Tuque & Bicycles experiences recently launched the first winter fat biking activity in Old Quebec offering a unique way to safely explore the historic city in the colder months. The widely popular modern fat bike, originally debuted in the mid-1980s as an option for a way to enjoy the sport all 4-seasons, has rapidly gained interest in Quebec over the past 5 years. Now Quebec City’s locals and visitors alike can not only explore the snow covered city with maximum comfort, but also take a cruise along the Saint-Charles river on the way to the grand Market. The turnkey guided 90-120 minute fat biking tour is suitable for both beginners and experienced riders and passes through the Basse-Ville du Vieux-Québec, snow-covered trails and the Grand Marché of Québec. Retire to Auberge Saint-Antoine, a historic boutique hotel adorned with artifacts in the heart of Quebec City, for authentic Quebecois hospitality and bistronomique cuisine. (https://quebecfatbike.com/) (https://www.saint-antoine.com/)
Peddle Through Provence at La Coquillade Village – (https://coquillade.fr/en/cycling-center.html)
Nestled in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of France, the Relais & Chateaux hotel is the perfect place from which to explore the beautiful Luberon Valley and Mont Ventoux, Provence. The charming hillside hamlet and cycling mecca of sorts attracts Tour de France aficionados with its postcard-perfect routes and unrivalled selection of famous Swiss BMC bikes from the on-site BMC Cycling Center. From scaling the legendary Mont Ventoux, to pedaling peacefully around the breathtaking region of the Luberon, options are bountiful for seasoned cyclists and recreational riders alike. Guidance from experienced cycling coaches and test center facilities are also available. Back at the resort, guests can wind down with a après-cycle spa treatment at the hotel’s remarkable 20,000 square foot wellness center, followed by dinner at one of the three refined restaurants and a glass (or five) of the estate-produced Aureto wine.
