INSPO Fitness Journal May 2017

Escape with
an adventure
What is it: Cycle tours in destinations like
Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, China and
Tibet.
Who can do it: Anyone who is reasonably
bike fit and healthy. The fitter and more
capable you are, the more you will enjoy
the tour.
Family adventurers; John, Mandy and Kier
depends on the terrain, road surface, climate
and what else there is to do on that day. The
key factor is that you can ride at your own
pace and have your own unique experience.
“All of our tours are vehicle supported
so that also gives the option to ride as much
as you like each day. Some of our tours are
camping, on others we use home-stays, yurts
or locally owned hotels.”
John met Mandy in 2004 after she spotted
an advertisement for a bike guide for Africa.
A personal trainer and with a degree in Physical
Education (Otago Uni), Mandy already
had extensive tour guide experience having
worked guiding on the Milford and Hollyford
tracks for many years.
The couple are now partners both in life
and in business. After requests from customers
for more tours in different destinations,
Escape Adventures now offers bike tours in
Kenya and Tanzania, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan,
Cambodia, Fiji, China and Tibet, with a
new tour being developed in Colombia.
“We generally lead a couple of tours in
each destination each year and up to five or
six in some destinations, so overall between
12 and 14 tours each year.
“Our tours have a max of 12 bikers per
tour, plus two of our own Escape leaders and
local crew (drivers and interpreter where
required).”
For John and Mandy the thrill of exploring
these countries never pales – there is
always a ‘wow’ factor.
“For us, sharing it is the greatest personal
satisfaction; taking people outside their
comfort zone and seeing them light up with
new experiences. It’s a pretty amazing job
to be able to show people some of the most
awesome places in the world and introduce
them to the wonderful variety of people and
cultures on the planet.”
John says one of the most important
aspects is the fact all the tours are their own
tours.
“A lot of companies re-market someone
else’s tour or contract tours out to a local
operator.
“However, we research the destinations,
then go there personally to develop the tour.
Mandy and I lead the tours or our own New
Zealand-based leaders do it. This way we can
make sure of the quality and qualifications
of our leaders, and make sure we deliver the
best tour possible for our bikers.”
He says developing a new tour can take
between one and two years, from inception
of an idea to taking the first group, depending
on seasonal limitations.
“Once a tour is up and running, things
constantly change so we need to be on the
pulse in each destination.”
Bikes for the tours usually originate from
New Zealand, are shipped to the destination
and replaced every few years.
“That way we know we have quality bikes
and they are always up-to-date and in excellent
condition,” he says.
“As most of our destinations are in developing
countries, sourcing decent bikes locally
is not an option. Even spares, tyres, tubes etc
need to be taken there from New Zealand.”
John is currently on the road again
leading a cycle tour in Madagascar, before
returning home for a few weeks to prepare
for a trip to Kenya and Tanzania.
What age groups usually go: Mainly two
age groups; pre-kids (18-40ish) and postkids
(late 40’s upwards). Some of Escape
Adventures regulars are well into their
70’s and still going strong. Family tours
are also available for families with children
aged 10 plus.
To sum up: No one experiences the
landscape and essence of a country as a
cyclist can. As well as truly knowing when
the terrain is flat, climbing, pot-holed or
bumpy; cyclists smell the smells, feel the
breeze, see the wildlife and often have
impromptu meetings with the local people
along the way.
www.escapeadventuresnz.com
INSPO – FITNESS JOURNAL MAY 2017
17