Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Restaurant Etiquette & Tipping in France

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Two of the most common questions I hear from Spyns former clients while on tour are: 1. How much should I tip while in France? and 2. Why are the restaurant staff so rude? Here is some useful information for your Spyns Tour de France trip.

1. Tipping in France 101

The short answer is: nothing! Scrutinize any French restaurant or bar bill and you'll see a nice little 15% surcharge added to your total. These aren't taxes but rather a built-in service charge or gratuity. While most of my French friends disagree, I rarely leave money beyond what's on the bill simply because the tip is already calculated in your total. To do so would mean leaving your server a 25-30% tip which is exhorbitant in my opinion. Contrary to widespread opinion, French service is usually quite excellent (see below) but short of handling a blood transfusion between courses, your server doesn't deserve anything beyond what is included with your bill. But when you ask a server whether a tip is included with the bill, the crafty French will avoid answering and usually say something like, "Did you enjoy your meal?"

2. "Rude" Restaurant Staff

I've often heard former Spyns clients say French hotel, restaurant and bar staff were "rude". I disagree and wanted to understand what exactly was happening. I speak French fluently and personally find French hotel/restaurant staff discreet, hard-working, and generally excellent. The flip side of the coin are my French friends and family who dispise North American servers. Like so many things, I assumed the difference was cultural and it turns out I was correct. When I asked our former North American clients to define "rude", 99.9% of them said something like: "We arrived at the restaurant and they completely ignored us. We waited for hours for our server to bring anything." Bingo!

3. The Cultural Differences

French culture is designed around food whereas North American culture is more about speed. I believe this is the root of the problem. A typical restaurant meal in my native Canada will last about 1-2 hours maximum. The normal Canadian dinner experience goes a bit like this: arrival at restaurant between 6-7:30 (but a good 30 minutes later than your actual reservation); hostess seats you within 30 seconds; server arrives within 2 minutes with menus, announces specials and takes drink order; light conversation with server ("Hi my name is Bill and I'll be your server tonight." "Hi Bill. Where are you from?" etc); 5 minutes later you place your order and everyone has something different because you have a huge choice of appetizers, main courses, and desserts; your appetizers arrive; and you're eating your main course within 20 minutes following arrival. The waiter comes back to your table 4-5 times to ask if everything is ok and to bring water, fresh drinks, etc. You order dessert, eat it, pay and leave. 1-2 hours max. Now to France.

4. Foreigners in France: The Many Faux Pas

The late arrival is an institution in the US/Canada. You can make a 6:30 dinner reservation and show up at 7:00 or 7:15 without causing a stir because you can normally wait at the bar. There is no bar in France because the French are always on time for restaurant reservations. They also sit down to eat between 7:30 and 9:00. Show up "fashionably late" for dinner in France and the staff is already pissed because they're not used to it. Add a language barrier and things degenerate from there. The normal French meal goes like this: you arrive on time; Madame (the chef's wife) seats you and is usually a little frosty; you sit down and chat for 10-15 minutes before your discreet waiter appears to take your drink order (called an aperitif); no banter with your server because Madame (the owner) forbids them to chat with clients; drinks come about 5-10 minutes later; everyone says "cheers", clinks glasses, and chats for another 15-30 minutes while slowly reviewing the menu. So you've already been in the restaurant for 45 minutes and still haven't eaten anything. The menu is also different in France. Normally you order a fixed menu with choices of starters, main courses, optional cheese, and dessert. 99% of French people order a fixed menu which is a dream for the owners because your choices are limited. This allows the chef to do most of the chopping, marinating, make sauces etc. in preparation for the evening service. If you do like in Canada and order individual items, in addition to being late, you're becoming more of a headache for the owners because the chef now has to make this dish separately. Order separately and there is a good chance that Madame Frosty will make another cool visit to your table to gently chide you for screwing up her perfectly-planned dinner menu.

Another cultural difference is that the French and their children eat pretty much everything whereas we're a more "cut the crust off my sandwich" culture. So in addition to our North Americans being late, and ordering something that Madame's husband will now have to defrost and cook for you, Madame now has to listen to the table's list of demands: one vegetarian; one person who can eat fish but only if there isn't a fish head; the kids just want freedom fries and won't sit at the table; and could I please have more ice for my diet coke. So you've given Madame the order which goes something like this: "I'll have the seafood salad but please no shrimp because I'm allergic to it. For the main course can I change the chicken for the steak from the other menu but I don't want vegetables. And no dessert, wait, yes a dessert, no, no dessert. Wait. Does anything want to have my dessert?" Whereas restaurants back home have no problem with changing everything, the disciplined French go ballistic. And it gets worse.

It's now going on 1 hour without food, you've finally ordered a mish-mash of menus, have annoyed Madame, and still have yet to eat anything. You waiter is scared of Madame and now avoids your table but you want something else to drink. Where the hell is he? Everyone is unhappy.

The food comes about 30 minutes later (total time in restaurant 1.5 hrs) and you finally start eating. You're hungry but after 2 baskets of bread, you leave a bit of food on your plate which in France is another no-no. Madame re-appears and disapprovingly looks at your half-finished fish before clearing. You consider this rude. The terrified waiter now wheels out the cheese cart and you decide to try a bit of everything but again leave a Dieppe-like mix of mangled half-finished cheese on your plate. Madame is now overtly hostile at this waste.

Dessert! After 2 to 3 hours, your marathon meal is finally ending. But you've ordered a souffle or melted chocolate cake which takes another 15-30 minutes. No you can't have coffee with your dessert because you're supposed to take your goddamned time, Madame thinks to herself. You half eat your dessert, slurp down coffee, pay and flee.

From a North American perspective, we could easily say that the French were rude but that's too easy. If you see it from the French perspective, the clients were late, demanding, and didn't finish their dinners (a real insult in France).

5. 10 Tips for Enjoying French Restaurants

Here are my tips for enjoying a French restaurant:

1. Show up on time. The French are very punctual for restaurant reservations. If you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, call the restaurant.

2. Learn at least 1-2 sentences in French. However broken, the staff will appreciate the effort (and a smile). "Good afternoon/evening"; "I would like..." and "Please/thank you" are the basics.


3. Show up hungry to avoid leaving food on your plate (an insult in France).

4. Expect to be there for at least 3-4 hours.

5. Understand that French servers are told to be discreet, rather than a "Hey Y'all"-type server. They're not being rude or avoiding you, they're just doing what they've been taught.

6. Order a fixed menu rather than ordering separately (a la carte).

7. Don't make outlandish meal requests, "Can I have the seafood salad but hold the seafood," for example.

8. If traveling with children, leave them at the hotel with a qualified babysitter, rather than have them tearing around the restaurant.

9. Expect to start eating about 30-40 minutes after you arrive. This is quite common in France because you are served a before dinner drink. Fixed menus are also quite detailed so that staff give you a lot of time to make your choices.

10. If you don't like long meals, try to choose a restaurant with a terrace. People-watching can fill up the hours.

Ryan King is President and owner of Spyns - an active travel company. For more information, please visit our websites http://www.tdf-tours.com/; http://www.spyns.com/; or call us toll-free 1.888.825.4720 or email info@spyns.com.

Spyns Tour de France: Breakfast & Dinner in Paris

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Like many Spyns former clients, I've come to know and love the city of lights. Paris is truly a must-see on any life's bucket list. It is a quite simply a jewel in the world's crown however that jewel loses its lustre somewhat because so many hotels and restaurants are priced for Middle Eastern Oil Sheiks or Russian Oligarchs. Oui, Paris hotels are ridiculously expensive. Not only do you get to pay upwards of $200/night for a standard room, you also get to enjoy a $20 croissant...on top of your pricey room.

1. Breakfast in America (http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/) : Finally a Real Breakfast in Paris

I've never quite understood why breakfast is never included in French room rates but paying $20 for a pastry and teeny coffee is a bit galling no matter what the country (or language). Imagine my surprise when I found, "Breakfast in America" (http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/). I have two rituals when I go Paris: first, visiting the Impressionist Museum; and second, eating "the grand slam" at Breakfast in America. This great little breakfast outfit has two Paris locations on the left and right bank. I used take groups of Spyns clients to their first location in the Latin Quarter (left bank) in Paris's east end but it was a bit far. They opened a new right bank location about 15 minutes from Notre Dame cathedral and I've been eating their flapjacks ever since. My advice to Spyns former clients is to skip your overpriced hotel breakfast and enjoy French toast, impossible-to-find-in-France bagels (with real cream cheese), or the omlette with ham & cheddar. Your bill will be about 15-17 euros (about $20-$25) but the English speaking help, fun atmosphere, and huge portions make the trip to either location well worth it. It's always crowded so do like I do and eat at the counter because the Parisians never do and there are usually 2-4 seats available. After breakfast, you should do some sightseeing and then plan dinner...

2. Medieval Times in Paris: Sergent Recruiter (http://www.lesergentrecruteur.com/)

Exhaustively reviewed and sometimes reviled, this Parisian bistro is one of my favourite restaurants. I have to start with a caveat that when Spyns former clients eat there with me, they love it. However, when they eat on their own, most hate it. Located on idyllic Ile-Saint-Louis (the small island just south of Notre Dame cathedral), this raucous Parisian bistro is the only "all you can eat" restaurant I've found in Paris. Some clients invited me there for dinner in 2005 and I've been going back ever since. The decor is heavy on the wood, to a point that you could take a fire axe and hack away at your table for 15-20 minutes with no appreciable damage. The service is a bit "what the hell do you want" but it's all part of the atmosphere. I really don't know the owner's name but he's answered to "Pierre" for the past 4 years without incident - perhaps because he could never lift one of the 150 pound chairs to throw it at me. The first thing you notice upon entering is the noise because 1/3 of the restaurant consists of stag/doe parties taking place in the back of the restaurant. Another 1/3 are the "Rick Steeves" guide people, most straight out of an LL Bean catalogue, scared absolutely sh*tless because "Pierre" seats them close to the stag/doe groups. The remaining clients are mix of locals and well-traveled tourists out on the town for an amusing meal. The first thing you get is a big basket of veggies to make your own salad. Former Spyns clients always love seeing the vegetables because after a week of gourmet meals, sometimes you just want some cukes and tomatoes. The main course is about a 7/10, normally boeuf bourgignon or some other bistro staple, but wine comes with dinner and it's usually a great Bordeaux. I can't comment on the prices but I'll be in Paris in about 10 days doing pre-trip work for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips and will provide an update. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic restaurant in Paris - steer clear. If you want a fun night on the town and the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream to make your own salad in France - Sergent Recruiter is the perfect choice.

For more information about our company or tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/, http://www.spyns.com/, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 or via email info@spyns.com.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Cheap Paris Hotels

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Former Spyns clients have often asked me where they should stay in Paris - both before and after their Tour de France trips. Paris hotels have always been expensive and the current euro/dollar exchange rate has only compounded the problem. What passes for a bargain in Paris these days often starts at $150-$200/night. Paris hotel rooms also tend to be very small by North American standards. Although in my experience Parisian service has improved incredibly since I first started doing tours in 2003.

Here are two cheap Paris hotels that I often recommend:

1. Hotel Argenson (http://www.hotel-argenson.com/) 15 Rue Argenson 75008 Paris, France+33 1 42 65 16 87. I've sent a lot of former Spyns clients to the Argenson for three reasons: location; price; and service. The hotel is located about 4 blocks north of the Champs Elysees in a chic Paris neighborhood. For cyclists, it's just a block away from a "Velib" station where you can pick up a bike and drop it anywhere in the city. Price: Rooms run about $150-$175/night - very reasonable for pricey Paris. Caveat: the rooms don't have air conditioning so for those of you who like your summer room temperature in the "meat locker" zone, you should probably stay at a larger chain hotel. The owner is a very charming Parisienne whom I've always found to be friendly and helpful.

2. Hotel Londres Tour Eiffel (http://www.hotel-paris-londres-eiffel.com/) 1 rue Augereau 75007 Paris. Again another hit with former Spyns clients. Located just 2 blocks from the Eiffel Tower, it's ideal for couples looking for a romantic getaway. The owner/manager speaks excellent English which always helps in Paris. Rooms on the upper floors are a bit more expensive because they have views of the (upper) Eiffel Tower. The rooms are clean but small and cost between $150-$200/night.

These are just two suggestions for reasonable Paris hotels that aren't hostels. If you have any questions about this post or about Spyns 2010 Tour de France tours, please visit our website: http://www.tdf-tours.com/, call us toll-free 1.888.825.4720, or email info@tdf-tours.com.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Helicopters?

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We're now in the final stages of putting together a deluxe Tour de France trip...with helicopters!!! Last year we did "one-size-fits-all" tours with similar pricing, itinerary, and service with mixed results. No matter how well prepared the tour, some rooms will be better than others and restaurants always have better tables, menus etc. so I found that by promising everyone the same thing, I ended up disappointing people rather than exceeding their expectations. Lesson learned.

For the first time we introduced separate tours with different pricing for our 2010 Tour de France trips. In speaking with a number of Spyns former clients, they unanimously wanted more options and this led to our offering the "Classic" and "Luxury" tours. The main difference between tours was that Luxury clients have larger rooms and guaranteed views of the Paris finish course. Both trips sold remarkably well although I wasn't sure what level of interest we'd have this year. Rumours abound that this is Lance's last tour so demand has been overwhelming. We'll likely sell out our latest trip (currently on http://www.tdf-tours.com/) in the next few weeks and that will lead to our newest deluxe tour. Tah-dah!

I've taken a number of calls from potential clients requesting all-out decadence, "Price is no option," is an oft-mentioned phrase. I've always been reluctant to venture into deluxe territory largely because it attracts impossible to please clients. Never one to back away from things that scare the bejesus out of me, I've decided to offer the mac-daddy of Tour de France trips. The deluxe tour will stay in 3 incredible hotels, with helicopter transfers to see the finish on the Col du Tourmalet, and VIP grandstand seating to watch the Paris finish. We haven't yet set the price for this trip but it should be about US$8000/person. Without giving everything away, the group will end their trip at Hotel Crillon (Lance's favorite hotel in Paris) with dinner at the Eiffel Tower's "Restaurant Jules Verne." Swank, oh yes.

I'll post again once the deluxe trip is online but please feel free to call or email with your questions: http://www.tdf-tours.com/ 1.888.825.4270 or info@tdf-tours.com.

To Bring or Not to Bring (Bike): Spyns Tour de France Trip 2010

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Client Question: "Should I bring my bike?"

I hear this question almost every day. Now that we've opened up another 2010 Tour de France trip for sale, and particularly a trip with a great deal of riding, many clients are debating whether they should bring their own bikes.

After contacting several former Spyns clients who opted to bring their own bikes, this post is an objective analsys of the "pros" and "cons", including a cost analysis based on information provided by our former Tour de France clients.

Pros
Comfort is by far the biggest benefit to bringing your own bike. I remember a former Spyns client on our 2009 Tour de France trip with an obsession for handlebars. He swore that by riding one of our rental bikes (a Scott Carbon) that his neck muscles were seizing up. "Do you ride a custom bike?", I eventually asked. The answer was yes. Not surprising. If you ride over 100 miles a week and own a bike worth as much as a used car, bring it (but read the "cons" section).

Cons
Unfortunately the list of negatives is rather long. For starters, you will have to get your bike to our Tour de France starting point in Pau. This will mean lugging a bike box to the Paris airport, claiming it there from "Special Baggage", cramming it into a taxi, paying extra to the cab driver for oversized luggage (not a racket but actually a legal requirement under French transport regulations), and storing it in your tiny Paris hotel room. You'll likely repeat the process back to the train station or airport for the trip down to Pau. I should also add that French transportation personnel will take every opportunity to apply a surcharge or simply yell at you for being complicated. Once on tour, it's never smooth sailing because you'll constantly worry about your bike. Our guides will eventually have to move the bike so there is a risk of scratches or light damage. I remember a former Spyns client (TDF 2009) tearfully cradling his beloved Trek because of a light scratch to the underbelly.

Shipping: the solution?
If you do plan to bring your bike, ship it. It will cost you between $200-$300 one-way. Return shipping from France is normally too expensive as you pay in Euros so I'd recommend bringing your bike back post-tour to save some money. By shipping, you avoid the many hassles discussed above but there are some risks as we learned last year. Four former Spyns clients had their bikes held by French Customs. Apparently their paperwork gave the impression the bikes were going to be sold in France. Their bikes were eventually sent home but not after a few sleepless nights. There were also a few bikes that arrived late. In both cases we scrambled to find bikes while desperately trying to locate the lost or delayed velos. For clients planning to ship their bikes this year, we have a "pre-shipping checklist" explaining the above.

In closing, you'll enjoy your Spyns Tour de France trip with our without your own bike. Using one of our rental bikes is a stress-free way to enjoy our 2010 tours. Although the fit may not be custom-perfect, you won't lose sleep over the inevitable wear & tear that comes from moving bikes to 3 different regions.

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For additional information about Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips, please call 1.888.825.4720, email info@tdf-tours.com, or visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/.

New Tour Dates: Spyns Tour de France 2010!

We just updated http://www.tdf-tours.com/ to include a brand new Tour de France 2010 tour. I hinted that we'd be adding some new dates during my pre-trip in France last week, but I didn't want to announce anything official until we'd received final confirmation from our partner hotels. Mission accomplished.

I hope that my previous blogs have given readers an insight into how we plan our Tour de France tours. Before working in travel/tourism, I thought that trip planning was easy. Family travel is usually handled by mom, and all mothers know that choosing hotels, restaurants, and daily activities for a family is very difficult. Men don't normally take on such responsibilities and what we don't know, we wrongly assume is easy. It's a bit like a barbecue. Usually Mrs. X invites everyone over, shops, sets the table, marinates the meat, and makes everything from the salad to dessert. Mr. X barbecues a few slabs of meat for 20-30 minutes and yet he receives a standing ovation upon presenting the charred flesh. My mom always planned our trips so I had no idea how much work it took.

Tour de France cycling trips are particularly complex because you have to balance riders, non-riders, road closures, transfers, luggage, bikes, and often trains. Normally it takes me between 7-10 days to initially pre-trip a tour and another 2-3 months finalize everything before sale. With that in mind, I am thrilled to present our latest addition to the Spyns Tour de France roster: trip #3. The tour is similar to our sold out luxury and classic trips. It will include the final four stages (16; 17; 19; and 20). The trip will start in the Pyrenees, swing through Bordeaux and finish in Paris. The start/finish are the similar to our previous tours but I decided to shake things up a bit for the Bordeaux portion of our trip.

In the past, I've assiduously avoided staying in large cities before heading to Paris for the finish. But Bordeaux beckoned simply because it will host both a finish (July 23) and time trial (July 24). I've run a number of trips through Bordeaux but always outside of the city. I started hunting around for a nice hotel and found the Hotel Regent Grand. I wasn't that excited about staying there until I saw it. The hotel is truly spectacular. In fact, its rooms, decor, and even the flowers resemble the Four Seasons George V in Paris - probably the best (and most expensive) hotel on the planet. I visit on average 50 to 60 hotels a year and the Regent was my best recent find for several reasons. First the staff were young, fun, and accommodating. French service can be a little, ahem, cold, so it was nice touring a hotel where everyone seemed to enjoy working there. Second, the rooms were spectacular. And third, the group reservations staff were beyond accommodating. When I asked whether they had an English satellite TV station (I suggested Eurosport), they immediately checked, confirmed they didn't and called their company right in front of me to ensure we'd have it. That's service. I immediately booked our rooms.

I've also added a little more adventure to the non-riding activities. For example, when in the Pyrenees, the non-riders will go canyoning. For those unfamiliar with the sport, it includes wearing a weatsuit, rappelling down (like a SWAT team scaling a building from top-down) a valley into a river, and slip sliding through rocks, waterfalls etc. This adventurous yet safe activity will hopefully keep our non-riders both happy and wet.

In closing, I love trying new things so hopefully this new trip will prove popular. For more information about our company or tours, please call 1.888.825.4720 visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or email info@tdf-tours.com.

Bye Bye Bordeaux: Tour de France Trip 2010

It was with a very heavy heart that I departed Bordeaux wine country yesterday. Although I've been running trips in France since 2003, I never cease to be awed by the jaw-dropping beauty, delectable food, and fine wines of my second home. I obtained my French passport in 2001, now speak the language fluently (and even without an accent someone told me yesterday!), but I still feel like the same 18-year-old kid from Canada the first time I came to France way back in 1989. This is why I love running tours both in France and throughout Europe. The reason is simple: I absolutely love what I do.

Before breaking into song, I first wanted to re-cap my busy schedule yesterday. I started the day in Saint Emilion re-working the rides there. I had originally planned some ambitious swings looping east with a wine tasting lunch at a friend's winery but that was too complicated. Taking advice from Spyns former clients, they have often told me that I overplan and overcomplicate their daily rides so my motto this year will be "simple simple simple". Moderate riders will likely want to do some riding so I re-jigged the ride to include a number of trips radiating out from the chateau similar to a clover pattern with the hotel at its centre. This will give clients the opportunity to do as little or as much riding as possible while remaining a maximum 10 km (6 miles) from their hotels. I finally had a chance to pop in for lunch to see my friend Pascal's wine bar in Saint Emilion (see photo). For about $25, I enjoyed homemade soup, broiled quail, and chocolate mousse washed down with an excellent red that Pascal recommended. We'll probably bring one of our Spyns groups to Pascale's restaurant for lunch and dinner because the food, service and price are all excellent.

After lunch, I mapped out the rides for the Bordeaux time trial. On day 5 of the trip, clients will bike from their chateaux along a beautiful greenway right into the heart of Bordeaux. We'll watch the time trial from our top-secret viewing area (details on that to follow next year). Bordeaux is truly a spectacular city. Parts of it are as beautiful as Paris but with fewer than 1 million "Bordelais" the city is friendlier than larger cities like Lyon, Marseille or Paris. The people also have a singsong southern French accent which is a mixture of the Spanish and Italian intonations. The place is truly intoxicating.

After Bordeaux, I mapped out the time trial route northwest through the Medoc wine country. If you've never been to the region, the Medoc is home to the grandest Chateaux (Rothschild, Palmer, Margaux to name a few). I did the entire route from Bordeaux northwest to Pauillac and the chateaux were spectacular (see photo).

It was difficult leaving the region but there is still much to do in preparation for Spyns Tour de France 2010. More posts and photos to follow.

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For more information about our company or tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

TDF Tours: Saint Emilion is Spyns Spectacular!

I spent the day working on our 2010 Spyns Tour de France trips and the weather could not have been better. After a steady stream of pouring rain in Pyrenees, I'd almost forgotten how nice the sun was. I spent the night at Chateau Camiac - my good friend Jean Marc's castle hotel near Saint Emilion. I was feeling decidedly grizzled after the previous night's 2 bottles of red wine complete with 4-hour bacchanalia of red meat, cheese, and chocolate. Oy vey.

After saying goodbye to Jean Marc at his stunning Château (see photo), I headed northeast to Saint Emilion. The village is a UNESCO world heritage site and I always enjoy driving there although the roads are ridiculously narrow as my battle-scarred van can confirm. On the roster was a day of ride planning and some other mundane details such as paying deposits for our guides' hotels, and confirming some final non-riding activities such as the cooking class and a walking tour. Most tourists are so interested in shopping above ground in Saint Emilion that they completely miss the endless underground caverns carved by generations of monks. Former Spyns clients gaped at the underground cathedral and I can only imagine how long it took the poor, half-starved, medieval monks to create it. Spyns Tour de France clients will discover the secrets next July. The sun peeked out so I couldn't help but take a few snaps of things Spyns clients will see while exploring this great little town.

After that, I was off to Bordeaux (about 13 miles due west of Saint Emilion) to prepare a little surprise for our clients when they see the Stage 19 time trial. I also met with our bike mechanics, almost tore the roof of the van because of a botched underground parking attempt, and drank a freshly-squeezed orange juice while wolfing down homemade cookies at the Hotel Regent tearoom across from Bordeaux's Opera House. All in all an excellent day.

I'll be sad to leave this beautiful region, especially with the vines all turning golden yellow. But it will be nice to see my wife and kids again - especially little baby Spencer who just celebrated 10 months. Before heading home though, there is more work to be done and I have a busy day planned tomorrow including wine tasting confirmations, some riding if the weather is good, and interviewing a potential guide who lives in the area.

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For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France 2010: Bonjour From Bordeaux

It's late but I just wanted to leave a brief post for all of our 2010 Tour de France clients. I was poking around Basque Country today in the southwest corner of France. The Basques are a distinct ethnic group with communities straddling the border regions between France and Spain. Although I love a good GPS, today things went horribly wrong and my "fastest" route between our hotels near Pau and a new hotel I wanted to inspect took me through some terrifying terrain (see photo). As a Canadian, I'm used to driving on slick roads but snowy conditions combined with a 1000 ft drop were a bit much. There was a treat however because I saw a rare Pyreneen Vulture. These majestic birds were almost extinct in the 1970s but through conservation now number in the 100s. I tried to take a snap but the vulture flew away. Its wingspan had to be at least 6ft across and I hadn't seen such a large bird since the bald eagles in northern British Columbia.

After the hotel inspection, I headed north to Bordeaux wine country. I'm here to do final chateaux inspections and also to test our rides for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips. While driving I had a call from Jean Marc (owner/manager) at Chateau Camiac where our classic tour clients will be spending a few days before the Bordeaux time trial (see photo). He graciously offered to put me up for the night and on top of that cooked me an incredible dinner. We drank too much wine and traded stories about working in the service industry. Jean Marc has owned the Chateau Camiac since 1989 and has had a very interesting life working in high-tech, the medical services industry, and lately tourism. I was planning to do some work but we ended up talking for 3 hours while enjoying some excellent red wine from the local vineyards (even a 2003 Figeac which was excellent). He's a great guy and I can't wait for Spyns clients to meet him.

Tomorrow I'll be in the village of Saint Emilion (a UNESCO world heritage site) to confirm our walking tours there. The town has incredible underground caverns, including an underground cathedral if you can believe it. I'll also be stopping by a friend's wine bar for a chat over lunch. More updates to follow over the next few days.

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For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Tour de France Prep - Bonjour from the Pyrenees!

Just off to bed but wanted to leave a message for all the Spyns clients following the blog. It was raining hard today in the Pyrenees so I didn't make it to the top of Tourmalet. Guess I'll have to wait until my next swing through the region next April. I was caught in not one but two herd-jams, a common occurence here, and decided to finally snap a picture. The farmer was driving the steer...on a bike! I guess the region is really TDF crazy.

Here is a brief synopsis of my day:

- Administrative work on the computer from about 7:30 to 9:00
- Excellent breakfast expertly prepared by Corinne, the hotel's charming owner, complete with warm croissants, roaring fire, and their Jack Russel terrier Purdy
- Trip up to see the village of Artouste near the Spanish border as our 2010 Tour de France clients will be taking the high-altitude train to hike around beautiful Lac Artouste
- Reviewed the rides again from Escot to Col d'Aubisque to get the exact altitude gain and distance over the Col de Marie Blanque (a beautiful ride by the way and parts of the terrain look like the Scottish highlands)
- Bought more postcards to send to Spyns former clients (everyone knows my addiction to postcard sending)
- More admin work from about 8 to 11

I may spend another night at the Chateau d'Escot depending on how much I get done tomorrow otherwise I'll be blogging from Bordeaux wine country. Until then, keep training for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips.

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For more information about our company or tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email info@spyns.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: An Update from the Pyrenees

Incredible day today and I can't wait to blog about it. I started the day in Pau (the regional capital), then mapped out a morning ride for stage 17 (more on that later), and then found an incredible day 1 ride for the Spyns Classic Tour clients. But first, some thoughts...

I just knew the day would be perfect because there were eggs at breakfast. If you've never traveled to France, there are two commodities as precious here as gold and diamonds. They are respectively eggs and ice. One of my former co-guides named Doug (or "Doooooog" as he pronounced it so that the French could say it) was nicknamed "the iceman" because of his ability to procure ice in France. While most North Americans demand an ice/drink ratio of 5:1, the French are content to sip room-temperature Coke sans ice. When former Spyns clients ask for a Diet Coke with ice in France it's always the same result: the nattily-dressed server sets down your glass, expertly opens the soda, pours, pauses and (get ready) serves one anemic ice cube from a ceramic bowl. Maddeningly the bowl has other ice cubes but before you can count them it's quickly returned to the restaurant's "ice vault." Eggs at breakfast are also a rarity, but good eggs at breakfast like the serving I had this morning are unheard of. The French prefer a lighter breakfast but often eat omlettes at lunch or dinner. Today's eggs were fresh and served with perfectly-cooked bacon - two miracles on one plate. Nothing could go wrong.

I first explored Pau's chateau royal (see picture) and arranged for Spyns 2010 Tour de France clients to have guided private tours either before the stage 16 finish or later depending on their specific itinerary. This gothic masterpiece dominates the small city of Pau and I can't wait for Spyns clients to see it next July. I was then off to meet with some city officials at the Tourist Office to confirm the finish line's exact location for stage 16. I read and write French fluently so there isn't a language barrier but there can be a cultural barrier when asking for information. In Canada and perhaps in the US, we usually just walk up to someone and ask a question as I very gauchely did today. As former Spyns clients know, the French find this a bit insulting because you always have to politely say "bonjour" and then patiently wait to be acknowledged before saying, "I'm terribly sorry to bother you but I wanted to ask X." Anyhow, after the hard stare for breaking with etiquette, the woman was kind enough to let me know where exactly the Tour de France will finish this year so that we could plan our viewing spot.

After that I was back in my Spyns van to map out the spectacular ride for stage 17. The final Pyreneen ride will cover the first third of that day's stage with a viewing area on the Col de Marie Blanque. While the stage finishes on the Col du Tourmalet, having viewed previous stages there I'd prefer to actually see the riders on the first peak rather than waiting 10-deep on Aubisque or Tourmalet and then looking forward to six hours of gridlock as half of Belgium tries to navigate their RVs down the one mountain road and back to Pau for the trip north to Bordeaux. I had a hellish experience of watching the stage on Aubisque in 2007 only to be jammed in traffic for 3.5 hours before the four-hour drive to Saint Emilion (near Bordeaux) to collapse in bed at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. Not this year! We'll watch the riders go by, have a BBQ lunch, and then take comfortable motor coaches north to Bordeaux wine country.

I then moved on to magical Chateau d'Escot near Sarrance about 45 minutes from Pau. I was really lucky this year to book a hotel less than a mile from the stage 17 route. I was impressed with the hotel when I first visited it but seeing it bathed in fall colours, spectacular sunshine, and surrounded by endless green fields was truly a wonderful way to end the day. There were so many herds of animals that I finally got out of the car to snap a picture. Hopefully there will be fewer animals for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trip. As day faded to night, I quickly mapped out the Classic Tour's day 1 ride and both new and former Spyns clients won't be disappointed!

After the day's work, I had a wonderful dinner with Corinne and Roberto, the hotel owners. Now I'm off to bed but will have trouble sleeping because I'm too excited to share all of this with Spyns clients next July.

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For more information about our company or tours, please visit www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France: Greetings from the Pyrenees!

I'm currently in France putting the final touches on Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips. Yesterday I had dinner with my good friends Alan and Celia at their beautiful estate near Auch. Alan is the former director of the a British cycling association (called the CTC) and I wanted to review in detail our planned rides for 2010 because he knows the region like the back of his hand. They were kind enough to put me up for the night and Celia had made an incredible dinner topped off with an excellent red wine from a vineyard not too far from their house. There is nothing better than dinner with friends.

Both retired, they are part of an association called the Affordable Travel Club. I had never heard of the Association but it promotes exchanges between families around the world whereby they host a family or families for a minimal fee of $10/night. Anyhow, through this association Alan has become quite an expert at driving people around the challenging roads of the Pyrenees and he pointed out some things about our planned rides that I didn't know. I've taken his advice very seriously and re-organized the rides accordingly.

In fact, I decided to test our Day 2 rides for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips by tackling 3 famous peaks today : the Col Aubisque; Soulor; and finally the Col du Tourmalet. I couldn't get to the top of Tourmalet because there was just too much snow but I'm planning to head back tomorrow as the weather is supposed to clear and get a bit warmer. If clients decide to do the complete ride, they'll cover a whopping 120 km and complete the 2nd half of 2010's stage 17 from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet.

Tomorrow morning, I have a meeting with 2 of our guides to review the non-riding activities for our clients in Pau. I also wanted to take the guided tour of Pau's Château. I've taken clients there too many many times but strangely I've never had the time to see it myself. Tomorrow afternoon I'll be back on the road retesting the rides. I was so busy for Spyns 2009 Tour de France trip that I never once touched my bike and it felt great to be back in the saddle in the Pyrenees. The last time I brought a group here was in 2007 and I'd forgotten how beautiful (and wild) the terrain is. I can't wait for everyone to see it.

What a tough life I have! More photos to follow. My best to everyone in cyberland and I look forward to seeing both former Spyns clients and a lot of new faces next July.

Ryan

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For more information about our company and Spyns Tour de France tours, please visit our website: http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Former Spyns Clients: Anne Winner & Family

Background: Anne and family joined our 2009 Pamplona trip to Run with the Bulls. We don't just offer Spyns Tour de France trips but also offer cycling tours to Spain for via our dedicated website www.pamplona-spain.com. Anyhow, Anne was kind enough to send us the following note yesterday:

Word for Word: "How nice to hear from you! I'm attaching a few photos Lang took during our brief stay in Pamplona which you're welcome to use if you like any of them. We can't stop talking about our trip and Sam and Lang are still so exhilarated by the experience that they want to return to Pamplona and bring Sam's dad with them. All of us wish you good fortune and happiness, and hope we meet again. Until then, vaya con Dios."

Anne's testimonial: "We could not have done it without you. It was great having you tailor something for our specific and limited needs for a wonderful three days in Pamplona. Your guides were kind, interesting and obviously love what they do. You provided awesome service and were worth every penny."

Having a former Spyns client like Anne made my day so I immediately posted her comments. Thanks Anne and I hope to see the boys next year in Pamplona!

Spyns Tour de France Road-Trip: Bon Voyage!

www.tdf-tours.com

Happy Halloween! I'm back in France and while I'll miss trick-or-treating in Canada, I'm here for a reason. Tomorrow (Sunday) I hit the road heading to the Pyrenees and Bordeaux to put the final touches on our 2010 Tour de France trips. Many former Spyns clients have called and emailed asking about how we put a TDF trip together so I'll be providing updates through this blog to give them an inside view.

Here are just a few things that are on the menu:

1. Meeting with our new regional manager (e-introduction to follow) in Pau.
2. While in the Pyrenees, reviewing our cycling routes in detail with Alan Leng, former director of the British Cycling Association. Alan lives in the Pyrenees, is an avid cyclist, and takes tour groups there year-round so I want his expert input concerning our rides and viewing areas for the stages. Alan's wife will be making her world-famous roast!
3. Riding the routes with our lead guides for the trips (e-intros to follow).
4. Setting the final menus for our dinners.
5. Confirming and double-checking all of our non-riding activities so that people will have as much fun without even touching their bikes.
6. Meeting with city officials in Pau and Bordeaux to determine the Tour de France routes so that we can finalize our viewing areas.
7. Giving our hotel partners the final rooming lists and double-checking the room allocations, beds, special needs etc.

Phillipa J. is one of our lead guides for the area and she very astutely suggested having some French cyclists from her cycling club act as "shepherds" for the longer rides. I think it's an excellent idea because last year we had a group of riders turn right when they should have gone left while cycling the Col de Croix de Fer in the Alps. It would also be a lot of fun to mix the cultures and perhaps get everyone together for a nice lunch on the mountain.

More updates to follow via the blog and please send me your questions or comments.

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For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Can Contador Win in 2010 With Astana? A Poll for Former Spyns Tour de France Clients

Tour de France champ Contador to stay with Astana

By PETER LEONARD (AP) – October 29, 2009

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will remain with the Astana team at least until his contract expires at the end of next year, an official with the Kazakh Cycling Federation said Thursday.

The Spaniard's future with Astana has been unclear for months amid persistent doubts about the Kazakh team's financial viability. "We have absolutely no problems with Alberto Contador, and he will compete with Astana next season," Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin said.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) had warned that Astana's financial troubles could endanger its chances of securing a new four-year license, prompting speculation that Contador — the world's top-ranked rider — could be released by the team.

"Certain people, it is unclear who, have completely dreamed this up, but there has been no occasion on which he has made an official statement on this issue," Proskurin said.
Contador won the Tour de France for the second time in July with former teammate and seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong finishing third. Armstrong announced during the race that he was leaving Astana to form his own team for 2010 with Radio Shack as the sponsor.
Last week, Contador secured the top spot in the annual UCI individual world ranking, ahead of compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez.

Astana's current license with UCI is due to expire at the end of 2010, but recurring delays in paying salaries to riders have prompted the body to demand guarantees on the team's financial stability. Proskurin shrugged off the resulting holdups in renewing its license as a technical matter, and said documentation attesting to Astana's financial health has been submitted.
"The issue is simply that we need to provide additional documents because we have changed our sponsors," he said.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has taken a personal interest in the fate of the team, which is seen as a prestige project for the Central Asian nation. A state holding that encompasses some of the energy-rich nation's largest companies — including oil and gas company Kazmunaigas and national airline Air Astana — this month became the team's exclusive sponsor. The contract between Samruk-Kazyna and Astana runs through 2012.

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For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

SOLD OUT!

Yesterday we sold our last room on the "Classic" Tour de France trip. We're in the process of changing the flashing number on our homepage (http://www.tdf-tours.com/) to "0". We're now fully booked for 2010! We even have a waiting list - a first for Spyns tours. Rumours abound that this is Lance Armstrong's final Tour de France. This certainly seems to be the sentiment whenever I speak to 2010 clients. This is the fastest we've ever sold our TDF trips; clearly a combination of a strong reputation, solid tours, and the Lance factor.

Speaking of Armstrong, post-2010 my feeling is that Lance will remain part of the TDF in some capacity (perhaps as a spokesman or international ambassador) simply because he is such a huge draw. Lance was the first cyclist who had international star power and, most importantly, star power in the huge American market. Granted Merckx had a huge European following but the woman on the street in Pittsburg probably wouldn't recognize his name. Lance and the Europeans (particularly the French) will continue to struggle with Lance's star-power. Most professional riders in Europe are humble and poorly-paid whereas Armstrong is very publicly making millions of dollars in endorsements so there must be jealousy.

The power of Lance's draw was confirmed when Tour de France organizers went to extreme pains to let him race in 2009. Race director Christian Prudhomme has often feigned indifference about Armstrong, however the ASO (parent company and owners of the Tour) were obviously interested in the hundreds of millions in advertising revenues when Lance races. He is too ambitious to simply retire and quietly build bikes as Merckx did. The next chapter should be interesting.

To everyone who chose to travel with us in 2010, thank you. To all of our former clients, I can't thank you enough for helping with this blog and for your kind words. Knowing that we were part of some incredible memories is a great feeling. It hasn't always been easy taking Spyns from an idea to an actual business and there have been many missteps along the way, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. And for all of those who couldn't travel with us this year, I hope to see you in 2011!

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Former Client Interview: Lorne & Carol from Toronto

Background: Lorne & Carol M. are a 40-something couple from Toronto. I referred to Lorne in a previous post about former Spyns clients and he was kind enough to provide a quick review of Spyns (see below). They're also planning to return for Spyns 2010 Tour de France trip. It's always a pleasure having former Canadians on tour with us...we're so polite! Here is a copy of Lorne's email:

Lorne: Back in 2007 I did a lot research on a lot of tour operators and what they offered. Spyns seemed to offer the closest to what I was looking for, five to seven day tours, not complete physical biking, very nice accommodation in smaller, more neighbourhood locations and moderate tour prices. The actual tour exceeded our expectations; biking as we wanted (sort of) and very nice accommodations and restaurants (still remember Auberge du Paradis) and excellent guiding and being looked after. The personal touch and service of the owner means a lot. Even as we were finishing the tour in 2008, we were talking about the next trip with Ryan. When I decided that the TDF is what I wanted to do in 2010, Spyns was the first choice and I didn’t look very far to other operators.

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Former Client Interview: Elizabeth H. and Family Give a Spyns Review

Background: I took a reservation and a request for info today from two families planning Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips. I asked them what we should add to the website or blog for families and they requested a testimonial from former Spyns family clients. I immediately thought about Elizabeth and her family from Washington DC. Elizabeth has now done 2 tours with me: Burgundy (as a couple) & Provence (as a family). She's smart, meticulous, and is a chocoholic (like me). In fact, I now have a tradition of sending her a pack of Lion bars - the best chocolate bars in France - every year. Here was her recent email response to my questions.

1. Why did you select a Spyns tour?

When traveling through Burgundy on a bike trip with another tour company we had Ryan (Current Owner of SPYNS) as our guide. We were so impressed with him as a guide that we wanted to have that experience again. When we discovered that he had started his own company we readily selected SPYNS for our next trip. The quality of the guides is such a key component to the success of the trip. Knowing we were going to be in such good hands again and at such a great price made our selection of SPYNS an easy choice.

2. How would you rate the reservation process?

Planning a trip through SPYNS is great because everything is taken care of for you. Once you decide which tour you want to try they handle all of the arrangements (except your international travel to the location). From your airport transfers to additional hotel stays to in-country train rides, etc they will make all of the reservations for you. Because it is a small company there is a great deal of personalized service and attention to your individual needs. Additionally they are very responsive which makes planning and scheduling easy.

3. Tell me about your tour.

My family of 4 (two teenage daughters) and another family of 6 (4 teenagers) did [a] Provence trip in early June and it was spectacular. There was a nice mix of activities and the accommodations were beautiful. What is so nice about a tour with SPYNS is that you get such personalized attention. The guides make sure that everyone's needs are met and they take into consideration the interests and abilities of each person in the group. Some days we were eager for more intensity and the guides added an optional afternoon challenge. On other days we simply needed to take things a little easier and they gave alternatives to the route or provided van assistance. You can decide from day to day what you want to try and they support you. (Our guide made sure to have plenty of chocolate at each rest stop for this chocoholic family!--Now, THAT is service!) With a SPYNS tour the accommodations are first class and the food is wonderful. We had a lovely buffet picnic lunch prepared by the guides in a scenic location one afternoon and we had dinner at a Michelin rated restaurant one of the evenings. All of our meals were wonderful and because we were in France we also had fabulous wines selected by the guides to enhance our meals.

4. What would you say to someone considering a Spyns tour?

You can't go wrong! Every detail will be taken care of, individual needs will be met, there is flexibility due to the small size of the groups and the personal attention is great. You can't beat the price for the quality of the trip. The guides are top of the line and because the company really knows the areas they frequent they offer a lot of interesting and unique cultural opportunities to their clients. Whether it is dinner at a small farm house or a wine tasting at a local family vineyard, you will get a real taste of the people and culture. For a fun, healthy, interesting and care-free holiday, a SPYNS bike trip is the way to go!

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Tour de France Former Client Testimonials and Reviews: Continued

Ed & Catie Rood
"Our trip was perfect! The back up plan was always better than the original itinerary. Truly remarkable."



Ryan's Comments: Ed & Catie are truly remarkable people. These newlyweds are a testament that love isn't just for 20-somethings. If I remember correctly, these former Spyns clients are both divorced, became close friends, and then fell deeply in love. On the trip there were like a couple of love-struck teenagers. It's always a pleasure to be around people who generally love eachother. I remember something Ed said over a gourmet dinner in Provence while on tour. It was something along the lines of, "The most important time of each day for me is 3:30." Everybody asked why of course and, grinning ear to ear, he said, "That's when I pick up my stepson from gradeschool." A recently-retired Ed was more than happy to be Mr. Mom for the family. Wonderful people.



Glenn & Kathryn Gray
"A truly memorable trip. The food, hotels, and service were outstanding. We're still laughing about dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Can't wait to do another trip."

Ryan's Comments: Glenn & Kathryn represent the very best of California. They're athletic, attractive, and exude that endless West Coast optimism. Having them on a trip is like having a little bit of Californian sunshine. They've now done 3 trips with us and I always look forward to seeing them on tour again...regardless of the destination.

"You Should Create a Slideshow of Former Clients on your Testimonials Page"

Just took a call from Lisa M. in Alabama who suggested we place a slideshow of former Spyns clients on the website along with their comments. I thought it was a great idea so we'll have it up this week. Until then, I'm more than happy to post a few former Spyns client client shots with their bons mots.

Bill & Jayne DuVall
"Awesome trip dude! Loved the mekkno music [this refers to an inside joke during the tour about the music in Paris' famous Buddha bar.] But seriously, we had a fab time. Loved the variety of the regions, First cycling day was the BEST. Everything very picturesque. Also enjoyed your company; you've got it all..brains, beauty, and personality. Until next time..."

Ryan's comment: Bill & Jayne are wonderful people and I can't wait for them to return. I love to joke around on tour although some clients don't always understand my sense of humour. Jayne was so in love with her iPhone that I started calling her iJayne. She loved it and now routinely refers to herself as iJayne when we email back in forth. If Jayne spoke French, I'd hire her in a second as a guide.



Ankur & Cindy Talwar
"Dear Ryan, How to best say thanks and tell you what this trip has meant? Words usually fail, but please know that will truly treasure memories of our tour with you and our group. Your light-hearted, crazy, funny way hides a maestro's touch. We thank you for the absolutely wonderful places to stay ("real" touches of France), the food & wine (which we will long remember) and the rare opportunities to see "one in a lifetime" sights."


Ryan's comment: Ankur and Cindy make me proud to be Canadian. I cannot top what Cindy wrote, in fact it almost brought me to tears, but I can write that she helped me understand what our tours are like for light riders or non-riders. We spent some long hours together in the van and she was so helpful in making suggestions as to what activities we should offer for our light riders or non-riders. Ankur was no slouch either. Nursing an injured wrist, he couldn't help but ride Mt Ventoux but paid the price for perhaps riding too soon after surgery. But he never complained even once. A wonderful couple and I hope they travel with us again.

Astana struggling to keep hold of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador

From Richard Moore of the Guardian UK:

The protracted saga of which team Alberto Contador will ride for next season took another twist yesterday when it emerged that the Tour de France winner's Astana team has not yet met the International Cycling Union (UCI)'s criteria for a ProTour licence. If the Kazakhstan-backed team is not awarded the licence, which ensures entry to cycling's top races, then Contador will be granted his wish to break the final year of his contract and move to another team.

That is a scenario that could have implications for Team Sky, the new British squad, which is attempting to coax Bradley Wiggins from Garmin-Slipstream, to whom the British rider is under contract for 2010. Garmin is one of three teams interested in Contador and, if the Spaniard becomes a free agent, they will swoop, along with the Belgian Quickstep team and Spain's Caisse d'Epargne. If Contador goes to Garmin, then it seems likely that Wiggins would be allowed to complete the move to Sky.

The biggest "if" for the moment, however, concerns the future of the Astana team, which came into existence in mid-2006, with a multimillion pound budget and backed by a consortium of Kazakh companies. But this year, despite the fact that Lance Armstrong made his comeback with the squad, riding for no salary, the team has suffered financial problems, casting its future into doubt.

Yesterday the UCI confirmed that the deadline for the submission of the documents for ProTour licence renewal has passed, which could mean that Contador is already, in effect, a free agent. "The rider may terminate the present contract, without notice nor liability for damages if, on 20 October of the year preceding a year of registration covered by the present contract, the UCI ProTeam has not submitted a registration file containing the essential documents," said the UCI.
Contador's brother and manager, Fran, issued a statement saying that the two-time Tour de France winner's "lawyers are studying all the details of the UCI rules to take the [appropriate] decision in the coming days. They have to clarify if the newly introduced article [a clause allowing Contador to leave if Astana loses its ProTour status] is applicable. According to the specialists, the application of the law can be confusing, which is why we need to be certain before taking any action."

Meanwhile, another Garmin rider, Chris Sutton, yesterday confirmed himself as the 17th rider to sign for Team Sky. Sutton is the nephew of British coach Shane Sutton, and his recruitment is little surprise, though there is no question of the Australian not being signed on merit. As he put it: "If I was a crappy bike rider, I wouldn't be going there."

Sutton, a 25-year old who won the opening stage of the Tour of Britain, told Cyclingnews: "I've had a lot of second placings this year, and they've looked at that fact. But with the stage win at the Tour of Britain, the second on general classification there, and then what I did at the Herald Sun Tour [where he won three stages and placed second overall to Wiggins], I've stepped it up this year. They believe in me, they believe I can take the next two steps."

Spyns Tour de France: Sold Out!!!

We've experienced overwhelming demand for the 2010 Tour de France trips and I'm happy to report that a number of former clients are coming back. Our luxury tours recently sold out and we have just a few rooms left on our classic trips. I'll be heading to the Pyrenees next week to check out an incredible hotel we've optioned for another luxury tour (bringing our total to 3) and will keep you posted via this blog and the website.


More Trips in 2010

We're working hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly in 2010. With Lance's return in 2009, demand was so high we had difficulty finding hotels, restaurants and even buses. My 2009 trip was the first time that I didn't know everyone's names on the trips and it was a strange experience! This year we were very lucky to book hotels so close to the action although, learning from past experiences, I started looking in early September.



Top 5 Things We Plan to do Differently in 2010


1. Smaller Groups: Last year we sometimes had groups of 40+ people (although broken into subgroups of 15-20) but this was too much. We couldn't maintain our service quality and won't make the same mistake for the 2010 Tour de France trip.


2. Run Tours Independently: Last year we tried to centralize the logistics (bike transport, rides etc) with mixed results. We also gathered the groups together for a BBQ for the Annecy time trial. Former Spyns clients told me that they would have preferred we kept the groups smaller rather than run a "town meeting" barbecue.

3. Fewer Logistics: We overdid it in 2009 with too many rides and activities. Eventually our former clients said they were simply burned out. This year, we've lightened our load with fewer activities. We also chose hotels that are closer to the stages so that clients can often walk/ride to see a stage rather than by taking a bus as in previous tours.

4. More Booze: Just kidding. As our former clients know, there is never a shortage of beer, wine, and occasionally the odd bottle of gin (for my fellow Canadians of course).

5. Listen: I suffer from a bad case of "I'm always right" but have learned to listen to clients. I know routinely ask people how they found out about us and what we can do to improve our website and communication in general. We're also going to be launching a membership/rewards program for our former clients. We've been so busy the last few years that we haven't spent enought time keeping in touch with former clients. That's changing now that we've added more staff.

If this year's numbers are any indicator, we're certainly doing something right because we've already sold out one of our tour (thanks to quite a number of former clients), and are poised to sell out again in 2010. I wanted to extend my profound thanks to all of our former clients because without you, Spyns never would have succeeded.

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Former Clients Coming Back for 2010 TDF

I'm pleased to report that almost 30% of our Spyns 2010 Tour de France clients will be former Spyns alums. Thanks everyone! Rumours abound that this will be Lance's last Tour de France and given Spyns Tour de France reservations, interest is higher this year than during Armstrong's last podium-topping tour (in 2005).

This year we are offering both luxury and classic tours and believe me it was a difficult decision. Spyns Tour de France trips have traditionally been a 'one-price-for-all' but given the current financial crisis, we thought it best to give potential clients more options and this included a less expensive trip with all of our world-class service but at reasonably-priced hotels. This doesn't mean you'll be sleeping at Ho Jo's as you'll still get 2 chateaux and Hotel Regina in Paris overlooking the finish course. But it does give clients the choice to choose a standard room rather than suite to spend a bit less on their Tour de France tour. I also wanted to ask a former Spyns client about his decision to travel with us again.

Lorne MacLean and his wife traveled with us to Beaujolais in 2008 and gave us a quick blurb as to why he wanted to join us again in 2010:

"Spyns made our first trip to France so memorable. We were always looking at the photos and movie the guides put together for us and were itching for another reason to go back. Ryan (Spyns President) often sent us postcards while he was on tour and we sort of fell in love with Spyns Tour de France trip and decided to take the plunge in 2010! We're not super-strong riders and just wanted a relaxed, fun, trip so that we didn't have to deal with the chaos of trying to follow the tour. We can't wait to come back."

I was lucky enough to lead the MacLean's Spyns trip in 2008. It's always a pleasure having fellow Canadians on tour because they never, ever, complain about the weather. In fact, only Russians complain less about the weather in my experience but that's another blog. Despite some rather rainy days, the MacLeans were wonderful clients and I can't wait to have them back on the Spyns Tour de France trip.

It's funny that I've spent the last five years of my life building Spyns into a viable business and recently I've had to place caps on some of our tours simply because we cannot meet the demand. We are giving former clients first choice of the tours they want to join simply because they deserve it but I'm thrilled so many former clients want to join Spyns Tour de France trip.

If you have any questions about Spyns 2010 Tour de France trips, please feel free to call me at 1.888.825.4720 or email me at info@spyns.com.

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns Trip Review: Interview with a former TDF client

A (very) brief review from former client Bruce Galloway who traveled with us in 2009. Bruce and his partner Barb are a 50-something couple from Toronto, Canada. Both are very strong riders but join mixed group with both riders and non-riders. Here is our short but sweet e-interview with Bruce:

1. How did you find out about Spyns? A friend.

2. Why did you select a Spyns tour? The web site described exactly the type of trip I wanted.

3. How would you rate the reservation process? Excellent.

4. Tell me about your tour. It was magical - the trip of a lifetime. It even exceeded my expectations and I'd traveled with several other bike tour companies.

5. What would you say to someone considering a Spyns tour? Have a look at the web site descriptions. If this is what you want, this is the one for you.

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Lance's Response to Doping Probe

From the NY Daily News:

Lance Armstrong uses Twitter to dismiss Tour de France doping probe
BY Nathaniel Vinton DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Updated Tuesday, October 13th 2009, 1:25 PM

Lennon/GettyFor Lance Armstrong, reports of new doping investigation are 'SSDD.'

Lance Armstrong used his Twitter account Tuesday to dismiss published reports that French authorities are investigating syringes and other medical equipment handled by several Tour de France teams, including his own.

"SSDD," Armstrong wrote, presumably an acronym standing for "same stuff, different day" - or something a little less mild.

The tweet echoed another one that Armstrong issued last month in response to Danish scientists who argued that characteristics of Armstrong's recorded blood profile could indicate blood doping. In that case, Armstrong addressed his followers on the social networking site "How do I say 'ssdd' in Danish?"

According to a report by Paris daily Le Monde, a preliminary investigation being carried out by the Center for the Prevention of Damage to the Environment and Public Health (OCLAESP) involves the examination of "hundreds of syringes" and other medical waste. The newspaper says the results of the preliminary investigation should be final later this month.
Another daily paper, L'Equipe, reported on its Web site that prosecutors opened the case after discovering "several suspicious syringes in a container given by organizers to all the teams in order to collect the medical waste."

The current controversy comes as Armstrong travels to Paris for the unveiling of next summer's Tour de France route. According to reports, the material in question was collected during this year's Tour from several teams, including Astana, whose roster included the race winner, Alberto Contador, as well as Armstrong, who finished third.

Armstrong has more than two million followers on Twitter. He has used the feed to counter his critics.

At the conclusion of the most recent Tour de France, the 38-year-old Armstrong announced he was departing the Astana team to form his own squad, RadioShack.

"The Astana Cycling Team has nothing to hide," he said in a statement issued by the team. "The riders use no forbidden substances. The team is confident in the result of analysis performed or to be performed by a Parisian laboratory and is prepared to cooperate."

The L'Equipe report suggested the material will be examined in a forensics laboratory, where investigators could search for traces of DNA and drugs - providing a French parallel to the American government's investigation into another controversial Texas athlete, Roger Clemens. Last year, Clemens' chief accuser, Brian McNamee, gave federal investigators blood-stained syringes and medical waste that he claimed would prove Clemens used steroids, and the FBI has since collected DNA samples from Clemens, McNamee and McNamee's attorneys.

Spyns Trip Review: Interview with a former TDF client

Potential clients have often asked for reviews about Spyns and our tours. As a relatively young company, people considering our tours often as for Spyns references but would prefer to find information independently of our website. This interview is hopefully a way for clients to find out the thought process that went into a former client's decision to join Spyns' Tour de France trip.

Background: Ross and Jan McBride are a 60+ couple from Wyoming and joined our 2009 Tour de France trip (through the Alps, Provence and ending in Paris). Ross is a competitive rider and Jan a confirmed non-rider. What follows is a copy of our e-interview with Jan:

Spyns: How did you find out about Spyns?

Jan: I googled "Tour de France" and saw your ad. The website was great by the way.

Spyns: Why did you ultimately decide to travel with Spyns?

After looking through the website, I had a look at some other companies but kept coming back to your site. Spyns provided the only tour that catered to hard-core riders like Ross but had options for me. We'd done cycling tours in the past and didn't want another trip where I sat in a van all day.

Spyns: Describe your tour.

Chaotic but so much fun. We're both tour fans and saw mountain stages and the Paris finish. Our hotel room in Paris overlooked the race course - a blessing because the crowds streetside were overwhelming. I was happy to have some non-riding activities while Ross was tearing up the Alps. The other people in our group were fun and interesting. In fact, we've kept in touch with one of the couples from California and are planning to visit them around Thanksgiving.

Spyns: What would you say to someone considering one of our tours?

Take your time and choose the right trip for you. Spyns worked for us because Ross rides and I don't. You should also be aware that the tour involves a lot of traveling, something I didn't expect. For example, our bus transfer from the Alps to Provence took a good 6 hours. We tend to wrongly assume that France is a small country. The bullet train to Paris near the end of the trip was fun - all the champagne you could drink! I highly recommend Spyns. They did an incredible job for some very demanding clients.

For more information about Spyns Tour de France tours, or to request references from Spyns former Tour de France clients, please visit our website www.tdf-tours.com or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.