Friends for life.
Have
you ever wanted to ride along with the Tour de France and be amongst the amazing
action? Kim McIlhenney, owner of Dude Girl, is the one you want to hook your
wheel to.
The tour in action.
Dude
Girl originally began as a travel company with road trips to the Tour de France,
mountain biking trips to Bulgaria and running trips in Yosemite. She would also
create custom cycling/running kits for all of her travelers and subsequently
changed her focus to cycling/athletic apparel (more on this in a later blog
post). Over the past few years she has had an overwhelming demand for her to
resurrect the France trip and thus began instigating small group tours during
the month of July. This is an “in the know” tour and one that is not to be
missed!
The beautiful blonde cows of the Pyrenees with their cow bells.
Kim
has an incredible eye for detail and it shines through from the very moment
that you receive your welcome packet, continues though out the entire trip and
culminates with an incredible final night. Kim has spent a great deal of time in France,
speaks fluent French, has been informally adopted by a lovely and very generous
French family and is able to share unique and beautiful places that only locals
know about.
French crepes - not to be missed!
Dude
Girl caps their trips at 12 people, thus providing each client excellent
personal attention. Trips are anywhere
between 10-13 days and consist of daily distance options – anywhere from 31 miles
(expect some big cols, ie. mountains) up to 75 miles. If you want to ride
further (or shorter) you will be accommodated. Bikes are not provided, but they
have excellent mechanics that will assist you in putting your bike together and
breaking it back down and packing it. Wonderful
lodging, breakfasts and dinners are included in the cost.
Dude
Girl was my first introduction to the live Tour de France and my first road
bike trip abroad. It has long been the bike trip with the most cherished
memories (even after all these years). The friendships that I made on that trip
continue to this day and that I attribute that to Kim herself. She is just one
of those warm and caring individuals that makes a mark on everyone she meets.
The French Alps.
So,
if you are looking for a small group trip with great attention to detail,
intimate knowledge of the area, your every request (within reason) being
accommodated and making friends for life, Dude Girl should be your bike trip of
choice. Oh, by the way, did I mention that the trip only costs (I don’t like
using the word “only”) $4500 (shared room) for 13 DAYS!!
Feel
free to contact me (wheelparadise@gmail.com) for more details or more personal insights or visit the
website at www.dudegirl.com.
Viva le France!
Cheers,
Jocelyn
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