Casual cyclists who have been tempted to sign up for a Butterfield & Robinson tour in Europe or elsewhere but were deterred by either price or their own fitness level should be interested to hear that the outfitter has made some key tweaks to its offerings.
In New York City this week, George Butterfield explained that his company will add e-bikes (bicycles with a battery pack added) to its fleet on most European tours. Also, B&R is introducing “bistro” trips – less expensive versions of its signature luxury tours, including Burgundy, Catalonia, Normandy, Piedmonte, Provence, Puglia and Tuscany.
All the bistro tours are 6 days and 5 nights. “We are hoping to appeal to a slightly younger demographic and to be accessible to a larger audience,” he said. His catalog compares the two kinds of bike tours this way: "If B&R were a Michelin-star restaurant, these trips would be our spinoff bistro next door.”
An example would be its France Burgundy trip: prices on the classic luxury version in 2012 start at $5,495 from the U.S., with a $900 single supplement. Burgundy bistro biking is priced from $3,995 with a $500 single supplement.
Robinson notes that an electric-assist bike will be an optional choice that works when one partner in a couple might be “not as eager” a rider as the other. E-bikes are made to be pedaled and will be similar to B&R’s upright handlebar bicycles, but they offer a boost of power at the flick of a switch.
B&R offers bicycle and walking trips in many popular world destinations, as well as family biking and “multi-active” trips to such destinations as Costa Rica.
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