DEADLINE FOR DEPOSITS 1st MARCH 2020

Please note, there will be no Pink Level Tour at this stage, due to lack of demand.

MAGENTA AND PURPLE TOUR – OCT 2020
Imagine riding with your best bike buddies on an adventure through forests, island hopping over amazing bridges, experiencing the best of the ‘art islands’ and joining an event ride like no other you have ever experienced before – the Cycling Shimanami 2020 event. That’s what we have in store for the Oct Tour 2020…the itinerary is now set with and will provide a range of very cool ‘off the tourist path’ experiences.

We’ll explore the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido and surrounding islands, eat amazing food, climb a few hills, see temples that are accessible by bike and probably ride with a few Japanese friends.

Though it will still be pretty cruisey, the distances vary daily and we’ll be taking a few hills (support car provided) – but we’ll still stop, look, experience as we always do.

After the Seto area we catch a bullet train to Kyoto for some fun exploration of temples by ebike (hire) or maybe an out of town experience (weather pending). There can be more riding here too if everyone wants an adventure out to an area Tina knows…it’s fun and a sensational cycling area.

WHY ARE THE TOURS SPECIAL?
The Wheel Women Japan Tours are not your regular cycling tour run by a tour company – they are intimate small tours. It’s like travelling with your best bike buddies on a WW weekend…only longer! I love showing you what I believe is ‘the real Japan’ and I work out the itineraries to show you the best experiences of the tourist trails. After over 10 visit to Japan, I have a pretty good idea where to go!

WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Both tours will consist of 12 days of fun, laughter and the magic of Japan. There will be riding on paths, some quiet roads with magnificent scenery and the chance to do some walking and exploring. We’ll ensure the distances are manageable, the amount of days riding do-able and the speed at a pace YOU can do. Though the distances may sound short at times, past tours have shown us this is a sensory overload for everyone and it is actually very tiring.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
We are asking those who are interested to add their name to the Expressions of Interest form.

We will still consider EACH rider on a case by case basis to make sure you are ready for the adventure (regardless of level) and will find it enjoyable…not all will be suited to the tour, but we want to make it as accessible to as many of you as we can.

If you’d like to be considered for a place, please fill in the Expressions of Interest Form. This does not guarantee a place, nor does it mean you are committed…it means we know to go ahead with planning!

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FORM https://tinyurl.com/y3uxobba

FAQ
1. Do I need to take my bike?
- No you don’t need to take your own bike. We organise hire bikes form a local supplier. That means flat bars, road bikes and even e-bikes are available. Bike hire is an added cost on top of the tour and varies depending on your bike of choice. Pink Level Tour we recommend hiring, Magenta Level Tour we will most likely recommend bringing your own bike.

2. Can I have a single share room?
- Yes, we can arrange for single share rooms, but they are more expensive. Not all places offer single share, such as ryokans, but we do our best.

3. Can I bring my partner, best friend who is not a WW Member?
- Yes, if you’d like to bring your partner (male or female) that’s okay. However, partners must respect that these are Wheel Women Tours and we won’t tolerate anyone making expectations that are unrealistic. If your bestie isn’t a WW Member, then that’s okay too – but we will always give preference to WW Members first.

4. Do I need to speak Japanese?
- No, you don’t need to have any Japanese language skills. Japan is very easy to get around and plenty of people survive with no language skills at all. Prior to departure we provide a list of useful sayings and words. But leave it to Tina…I’m no expert but I have enough Japanese to get by…watashi o shinjite! (trust me!)

5. Will I need to train?
- Yes. For your enjoyment of the tour some training is recommended and we will organise some training rides and provide a plan. However, we will advise all riders on what they individually need to work on to be capable of being a part of the tour. The more you train, the more you enjoy!

6. How far will it be each day?
- At this stage we can say roughly 40km – 80km a day. Distances can depend on where we can access accommodation. We will be in an area not frequented by thousands of tourists. We have some awesome accomodation experiences lined up for you.

7. I’m a bit nervous about being on the road, will I be okay on these tours?
- We do ride on the road! However, most roads with the exception of Kyoto are very quiet and safe in my opinion. Much of the cycling is on path, but we can’t help but be on roads, usually ones that are cycling routes…locals are used to cyclists and drive very respectfully. If you are worried about the road, you can do some skills sessions, train up and build confidence…if we don’t think you’re ready, we will tell you. Magenta Level riders and up will be on the road often.

8. What happens if I can’t cycle on any one day?
- If you are unable to ride due to illness or injury we will do our best to find transport to get you to the designated accommodation location. We have an emergency support vehicle lined up which is user pays, except on the hills days where the cost is included.

9. Do I have to eat Japanese food?
- Well, it’s part of the fun…if you aren’t a fan of Japanese food this may be a tricky tour for you. We eat Japanese food every day, get treated to some amazing banquets and get a little adventurous trying new and strange things. It is rare to have a bad meal in Japan in my opinion…all the food is brilliant!

10. How much will it cost each day?
- That’s up to you! Meals cost generally around $10-$20, depending on your choice, shopping can be pretty cheap for food and other daily items – we sometimes buy lunch at 7/11 where great sushi and onigiri can be found. Fruit can be expensive, but beer super cheap…it’s your choice. As far as omiyage (souvenirs), you can find all kinds of cool things that are inexpensive. But as I always say, memories and experience are the best souvenirs and priceless.

11. How much does the tour cost?
You need to get the itinerary for that, but we include: airfares, accommodation, some dinners, all breakfasts, bullet train pass and a jersey/cap for the tour plus a bunch of other stuff like an adventure to a special island planned with my buddies in Japan. There are many variables to the individual cost per person, such as airfare upgrades, single share accom, flying in from different locations etc