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It’s Pretty Keene: The Southern Heart of New Hampshire (Women’s Weekend!)

Exploring the Historic Villages, Lovely Lakes and Bucolic Byways of Southern New Hampshire

Whether you are new to cycling or love to hit all the hills, this women's retreat is perfect for women of all ages and abilities.
Destination
New Hampshire
Activity
Biking
Level
Intermediate
Level

Perfect for the cycling newbies who already enjoy being active, or anyone who just wants to take it easy.

Pedal at a meandering pace, stopping to take pictures, savor a leisurely lunch and explore the surroundings. Enjoy quiet roads along flat and rolling terrain zigzagging through vineyards, olive groves and farmland.

  • Average daily distance: 35-45 miles
  • Terrain: flat and rolling

Our Athletic Beginner tours are perfect for those who aren’t avid cyclists, but are fit and love to exercise regularly.

On these trips, you’ll enjoy a flowing pace with plenty of time throughout the day to indulge in the local specialties, take in the local culture and enjoy the magnificent views. There will be an occasional hill, more rolling terrain and higher mileage than an Easy tour.

  • Average daily distance: 35-45 miles
  • Terrain: flat and rolling
  • Our guides will offer cycling clinics and one-on-one coaching in cadence, positioning and the art of shifting efficiently on rolling hills.

You love being active and cycling is your preferred way. You are in good physical condition and ride whenever you can.

Intermediate tours maintain a steady pace with opportunities to push yourself by tackling challenging climbs with great descents over stunning terrain. You’ll still have time to explore and enjoy the landscape and towns you’ll visit.

  • Average daily distance: 40-50 miles
  • Terrain: rolling with some hills

You are an avid cyclist who trains regularly, participates in bicycling events and is eager to plan their next bicycling vacation. You enjoy a vigorous ride, challenging climbs and thrilling descents.

These “Epic” and “follow the race” tours are spectacular and have plenty of classic climbs and are perfect for cyclists who covet long mileage with lots of hills and varying terrain.

  • Average daily distance: 45+ miles
  • Terrain: hilly with long climbs
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Duration
5 days/4 nights
From $1,850 PP
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation has added Keene to its list of “America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations,” calling it a “Currier & Ives landscape come to life.” Join Director Lauren Hefferon in her hometown and discover the rich history, pristine landscapes, and gorgeous backroads that inspired her passion for bicycle travel.  This special women’s only weekend that coincides with Women’s Cycling Day on October 10th is the perfect opportunity for women of all ages and abilities to meet other like-minded women and receive one-on-one instruction, coaching, and performance tips from our expert women athletes.

In every direction, the roads and hamlets along the way connect and lead us to stories of an era and people that formed the foundation of a highly independent and hardy culture determined to rebel from England and establish themselves as among the most self-reliant in America, thus the state’s motto, Live Free or Die. New Hampshirites take their role in protecting their land seriously maintaining some of the most intense conservation programs in the country. 

Keene is the heart of the picture-perfect Monadnock region, known as NH’s cultural corner that is a perfect cycling base offering a variety of gorgeous loops for all cycling abilities. Lauren has selected her favorite cycling loops from Keene that include a dive into the colonial and Native American past of North America. Each day you’ll experience mile after mile of gorgeous scenery and a glimpse into the connective tissue of our nation’s past.

Pedal past and learn about the fascinating historic architecture, art galleries, covered bridges, abundant lakes, cool forests, zigzagging rivers, farmland galore and daily views of the region’s crowned granite jewel, Mt Monadnock, (Mountain That Stands Alone) the second most climbed mountain in the world. Known for its presence in the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, it is the most prominent mountain peak between the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Massachusetts Berkshires.

We are based for four nights in downtown Keene,  a charming and eclectic mix of old-time shops, modern retailers, restaurants, and cool coffee shops. Recently Keene has added 15 stunning historical “Walldog” murals to its downtown landscape that beautifully depict the region’s historic resources and rich cultural heritage. 

Keene is framed by one of the most beautiful Main Streets in the world with the picturesque (and much-photographed) United Church of Christ at the top of Keene’s Central Square.  For photography fans, Lauren will be stopping to show you all of the most photogenic hot spots and for the gravel hungry we have dedicated one day to recreate a mini Eroica experience.

Tour Essence

  • Visits to the historic hamlets and mill towns of Harrisville, Dublin, Gilsum, Surry, Westmorland and West Chesterfield
  • One-on-one coaching by Lauren Hefferon and fitness professional and outdoor enthusiast, Anja Genia Meichsner
  • One day dedicated to Women’s Cycling Day clinics, talks and rides– all revolving around the female cyclist
  • Historical walking tour of downtown Keene including the 13 historic murals
  • Rides along Lake Nubanusit, Silver Lake, Swanzey, Lake Spofford, and the winding Ashuelot and Connecticut rivers
  • Pedal over and through the region’s abundant covered bridges and stone bridges
  • Visit to the Poocham Family Winery and the Walpole Mountain View Winery
  • Visits to art galleries and craft shops
  • Visit to Burdicks (famous) Chocolate Factory in Walpole, NH
  • Daily tastings at gelato and farm stands
  • A deep and fascinating dive into America’s colonial and Native American past
  • The only Southern NH bike tour of its kind
  • Led by Anja Genia Meischsner and Lauren Hefferon and a native of Keene and director of Ciclismo Classico

What to Expect

Terrain
Rolling and hilly
Start Location
Keene, New Hampshire
End Location
Keene, New Hampshire
Mileage
Average Daily: 29-60 Total: 115-200
Elevation
Average Daily: 1500 Total: 5000-8000 feet
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What's Included

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

BYOB (Bring your own bike) Bicycles are not included.

  • All accommodations (4 nights at Fairfield Inn and Suites)
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
  • Van support
  • 2 experienced guides

Please contact us if you require a rental bicycle.

 

  • All accommodations
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

 

 

Dates

2020

Sep 17-21
Available
Oct 1-5
Available
Oct 8-12
Women's Only Trip!
From $1,850 PP
$440 Optional Single Supplement
Book Now
Schedule A Call
Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.
Go Private
Guaranteed

Confirmed tours are dates that have been selected by us that have a very high probability of reaching the minimum group size for us to run the tour and for you to receive the best Ciclismo Classico experience. These tours are confirmed as much as a year in advance, compared to our regularly scheduled tours which are confirmed around 90 days prior to departure.  When you place your deposit for a confirmed tour, you have the green light to make your pre and post travel plans and even book your flight with our personal guarantee that your tour will run!

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Optional Single Supplement

If you are traveling alone, this optional single supplement will guarantee you a room to yourself at each hotel. The cost of a single room is often more than half the price of a shared room, so this additional supplement reflects that increased cost for each night over the course of the trip.

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Meet Our Guides

Lauren Hefferon

Guide Since 1988

From the Blog

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