If you’re planning to join us for an inGamba trip, but you’d like to bring your partner or a friend who doesn’t ride, you may be wondering what the options are for that person. The good news is that we are happy to accommodate the non-cyclist in your life! However, the activities available to them will change from trip to trip, so connecting with our concierge to plan your (and their) trip is highly recommended. Here, we chatted with a few past inGamba non-cyclists to hear about their experiences, and our trip concierge Hugo is sharing a few of his tips for picking the right trip for you both.
Non-riders still get the full inGamba experience, says Hugo. Just… without the bike. So you won’t get an inGamba Q36.5 kit, but you will join the group for a fabulous breakfast, lunch and dinner, come with them on tours to local vineyards, and even enjoy an afternoon massage every day. You’ll be part of the group—just be prepared for a lot of bike talk!
No non-rider experience is exactly the same, says Hugo. “For non-riders, we talk well before the trip and I ask about their hobbies, their tastes, their expectations about the destination—and then I see what I can recommend. For example, non-riders can take a day and go visit local historical landmarks. We can connect with other local guides and organize a guided hike. In Portugal, for example, in the past, we’ve organized boat trips and day trips to historical monuments or museums.” (It’s important to note that these added excursions do add to the price tag!)
Want to sneak off for a romantic dinner? You’ll miss some great conversations with the group, but Hugo can arrange it. Want to watch your rider in action? You can actually join the soigneurs in the van for a day of riding—and your partner will likely appreciate the fact that you’re able to cheer and snap a few photos!
Being a non-rider on the trip tends to work best for non-riders who are just as happy spending a day relaxing in a beautiful hotel or exploring a small village on foot on their own. If you’re someone who prefers a packed itinerary, you may want to consider a private trip that will allow for that. Similarly, if you want to plan a customized trip for you and your friends that will include some off-bike days for everyone, consider a private trip. “We’ve done several great customized trips where we include other activities that aren’t on the bike,” Hugo says. “So if that’s of interest, we can work to plan that.”
You can also check out the hotels to see what the options are in terms of activities, spa and amenities (or just ask Hugo!). “On our Dolomites trip, for example, the hotels are on amazing properties with world-class spas, swimming pools, scenery, hiking trails—they’re amazing,” he says. “Depending on how you like to spend your day, we have different destinations that may work better for you than others.” (By comparison, the B&B at Lecchi is incredibly relaxing and scenic, with a growing network of hiking and walking trails, but there isn’t a spa or a pool.)
“We’ve been to the Dolomites, we’ve been to Switzerland, and we’ve been to Tuscany,” says Tammy, a non-cyclist who loves to join her husband on inGamba trips. “It’s a lot of fun. I’ve had days where I’ve gone off and done adventures, gone to a ski area, ridden a gondola and explored the top of the mountain. At the hotels, I try to take advantage of the spa and the workout facilities. There’s lots to do as a non-rider! The meals are fun as well: You still feel like a part of the group, and you’re made to feel very welcome by the whole staff.”
For non-riders, Hugo does want to add a few small caveats before you book the trip. Cycling is inGamba’s entire point, our reason for being. And ensuring that our riders have the best experience is what we do—which can mean that a non-rider is left to their own devices for the day. “For example, on a trip with 10 guests, we have two mechanics in the van for support. They are completely busy all day, preparing the bikes, preparing the meals, doing the massage in the afternoon, washing the bikes, and of course, driving the follow van on the rides. There is always work, because we prioritize having small groups to optimize the experience, but that means we also have a small staff. So for things like driving a non-riding guest to a nearby town to shop or for another activity, it’s not always possible.”
To get a sense of what it’s like for the staff, non-riders can opt to join the mechanics in the follow van for a day. The best tip for joining the staff in the van? Expect a long day, and know what you’re in for! “I’ve been very careful to respect the work that they’re doing, because when we’re in the van, I know that their job is not to show me a good time. Their job is to be looking after the riders,” Tammy says. “They’re great people and very kind, but they don’t wait for me. They’re busy working.”
(“We have one couple who are amazing,” says Hugo. “They do three trips a year. And the non-rider loves to go in the van and take pictures. Everyone loves that couple!”)
Hugo also highly recommends coming to the destination or a city close by a few days early or staying a few days after the trip, since the riding portion of the day can be long and the cyclist can be tired—which means less time together as a couple. “It’s nice to have time to explore the destination together doing different things that are not related to cycling,” he says. “That’s my advice, especially if there’s something you enjoy doing together, like hiking.”
“For the trip we did in Tuscany, we had a few days in Florence before the inGamba trip began, so by the time I got to Borgolechi, I was ready to slow down a little bit,” Tammy said. “In other areas, I’ve always found my own activities. I know I can ask and they’ll make recommendations and help me, but I feel that as a non-rider, it’s my responsibility to find what I want to do with my time.”
“We just like doing these trips together. And I do feel like there’s enough that keeps me busy and content and happy, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out in any way. I’m never bored,” Tammy says. “There hasn’t been anything disappointing on any of the trips that we’ve gone on! It’s always a new adventure.”
”I was not a bike rider. My experience with Manuel was excellent. He did everything to make me feel fully included and taken care of. I thought he was a wonderful host for the trip, even as a non-rider.
Rowena D
Locations we recommend for couples with one non-rider:
Azores, Provence, Dolomites, Stelvio: These locations are all highly recommended for non-riders since we’re staying in fabulous hotels with luxury amenities like spas and guided activities outside of inGamba’s offerings.
Tuscany: Our B&B at Borgolecchi is world-class when it comes to relaxation. The town of Lecchi is small, but if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing trip with plenty of beautiful scenery, this one is hard to beat. And because this is our B&B, your non-rider will feel right at home and there will always be a staff member around to help find a snack or offer tips on where to head out on a long walk.
Trips to Skip
While we can accommodate a non-rider on any tour, we don’t recommend choosing one of our trips that includes multiple hotel transfers, one that is designed around experiencing a race like Flanders, or one that has ultra-long days. These trips are often timed down to the minute, so for a non-rider, they can feel more like a school day with the bell ringing constantly rather than a relaxing holiday.
Hugo notes that days with hotel transfers make it nearly impossible to coordinate a spa day or a non-inGamba activity like a guided hike due to the tight timing and turnarounds. Trips with ultra-long cycling days can also end up feeling hectic as riders return late and there’s a lot happening at once.
The exception to this rule: If a non-rider is interested in watching a race like Paris-Roubaix or Flanders with us and exploring that local area, that’s great and you are more than welcome to join us for these once in a lifetime experiences! Just be aware that the trip will be very focused on the specific race event and may feel more hectic than one of our normal trips since those areas will be packed with spectators and other cycling fans.
The most pleasant trips for non-riders tend to be ones where the hotel is the same for the entire trip, and where days are fairly straightforward: eat, ride, recover, eat, enjoy!
