BRAG International
24 Hours in Paris: A Cyclist’s Early Arrival Guide
At a Glance BRAG International’s Loire Valley bike tour begins in Tours, not Paris. You fly into Charles de Gaulle (CDG), then make your own way to Tours for Day 1 check-in, bike fittings, and the welcome dinner. Spending 24 hours in Paris the day before gives you time to beat jet lag and see…
Read MoreOne Conversation, One Plane Ticket: Jeff Havermann’s Path to BRAG Ambassador
Some career changes come from years of careful planning. Jeff Havermann’s came from a carnival game he hadn’t thought about since the mid-1970s. During 2025 Spring Tune-Up, Franklin was welcoming riders and mentioned that the town of Madison was fundraising to beautify its town square by selling tickets for a game called “Rooster Roulette.” Franklin…
Read MoreWhy Island Hopping in Croatia by Bike and Boat Is the Trip Riders Keep Coming Back For
Island Hopping in Croatia by Bike and Boat There’s a particular kind of morning that only exists on a Croatian bike and boat tour. You step out of your cabin, coffee in hand, and the boat is already tied up in a stone harbor that hasn’t changed much in five hundred years. Someone is unloading…
Read MoreWhere to Eat in Antwerp: A Cyclist’s Guide to Your Free Night
Wondering where to eat in Antwerp on your free evening during the BRAG International Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Boat tour? Your boat docks at Kattendijkdok, in the Eilandje district, and nearly every option below is an easy walk from the gangplank. Here’s exactly where to go, how far it is, what it costs, and…
Read More24 Hours in Bruges
Your BRAG Bruges to Amsterdam adventure starts in one of Europe’s most magical cities. Give yourself a full day to fall in love with it before the boat sets sail. Flying into Amsterdam Schiphol and heading straight to Bruges is one of the smartest moves a BRAG traveler can make. Rather than arriving bleary-eyed on…
Read MoreTravel Hacks for Long Flights
Pack Smart for Your European Bike Adventure The anticipation of cycling through Europe’s most stunning landscapes—pedaling past a Loire Valley châteaux, cruising along Amsterdam‘s picturesque canals, or island-hopping through Croatia’s crystal-clear Adriatic waters—is exhilarating. But first, there’s that long transatlantic flight to conquer! Whether you’re heading to BRAG International’s Loire Valley tour through France’s château…
Read MoreGuest Blog: A Cyclist’s Reflection on Bruges to Amsterdam Tour
One of the things that makes BRAG International cycling tours so special is not just the miles we ride or the places we visit, but the people we share them with. Every now and then, someone captures the essence of a trip in words so well that it becomes more than a memory—it becomes a…
Read MoreWhy Are Cross State Rides Dying?
For decades, cross-state bicycle tours were a bucket-list adventure for American cyclists. Yet today, many riders ask: Why are Cross State Bicycle Rides Dying? Once-thriving events like Bike Florida, Cycle Oregon, Ride the Rockies, and others have either downsized, paused, or disappeared. Understanding why helps reveal why the Big BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) is…
Read MoreBoat and Bike Tour vs Hotel Cycling Tour
Boat vs. Hotel: Choosing the Right Cycling Tour Experience in Europe After leading cycling tours across Europe and North America, I get asked the same question constantly: “Should I book a boat and bike tour or a hotel based cycling tour?” It’s a great question, and honestly, there’s no wrong answer. Both experiences offer incredible…
Read MoreWhat to Eat While Bicycling in Croatia
A Culinary Adventure Through the South Dalmatian Islands When planning your Croatian cycling adventure, one question inevitably comes up… And that is, “What to eat in Croatia”? The answer becomes deliciously clear when you explore the South Dalmatian Islands by bike. That’s where every pedal stroke leads to another extraordinary culinary discovery. The stunning archipelago…
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