Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Who are we?

Where are we located?

Do you have Gift Certificates?

Rentals

What type of bikes should we rent?

What's included with rentals?

Should we reserve our rental bikes before we arrive? How?

What is your cancellation policy?

Can we ride right out of the touring center?

Will you provide us with maps and route suggestions?

Day Tours

I haven't ridden a bike in years, can I still take a Classic Wine Country Tour?

What happens if I can’t make it the whole way on one of the tours?

Do we have to pay for our rental/ tour if it rains and we decide to cancel?

How far in advance should we book our tour?

What is your cancellation policy?

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

Short Escape Tours

How do the meals work? Can we just order off the menu?

How far in advance should we book our tour (guided or self-guided)?

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

Self-guided Tours

How far in advance should we book our tour (guided or self-guided)?

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

Group Tours

We have a group of mixed riding abilities and fitness levels. Will everyone be able to enjoy the tour without feeling intimidated?

General Questions

Who are we?

We are officially known to the government as Bubba Q, Inc DBA Wine Country Bikes

Where are we located?

At 61 Front Street in the Historic Riverfront of Healdsburg, CA in the north end of Sonoma County at the corner of the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. For the best ways to get here, directions and drive times visit our Getting Here page.

Do you have Gift Certificates?

Yes. We will be happy to provide you with a gift certificate for any amount on our rentals or tours. Just give us a call (866-922-4537) and we will send you (or the recipient) a custom Certificate with information about the rental or tour purchased.

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Rentals

What type of bikes should we rent?

It just depends on what type of ride you would like to take. If you're planning on doing a casual ride to visit some of the wineries or see the sights then a hybrid is the best choice. They have comfortable upright riding position, are simple to use and good for rides up to about 30-35 miles in length. For longer rides or more adventurous trips into the mountains the Pilot road bikes are perfect. If you have a high end road bike at home that you are accustom to then you may want to rent one of our carbon fiber Trek 5200s.

What is included with rentals?

A helmet, lock, handlebar bag or rear rack, map and route suggestions. Road bike rentals include a pump, spare tubes, tire levers and folding tool.

Should we reserve our rental bikes before we arrive? How?

Yes! Please give us a call toll free to make your reservation. This enables us to get your bike set up and ready for your ride (with pedal preference, size and riding style) and ensures we’ll have the right bike for the ride you’re planning. We will ask for a credit card number to hold the reservation but you will not be charged until the time of the rental. You will receive an email confirmation of your rental which will include directions to our location.

What is your cancellation policy?

We request that you cancel any rentals at least 48 hrs prior. Groups of 10 or more or extended rentals over 1 week require 7 days cancellation. We never charge for cancellations due to weather.

Can we ride right out of the touring center?

Yes. We are at an ideal location for you to just ride out the door and into some of the wine country’s finest cycling.

Will you provide us with maps and route suggestions?

Yes. We will be happy to provide you with route suggestions and custom maps for whatever kind of ride you want to take. You can also see great routes and maps now on our Maps & Routes page.

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Day Tours

I haven't ridden a bike in years, can I still take a Classic Wine Country Tour?

Yes! In fact, we love to get people who have not ridden in years back on a bike! As long you are normally healthy and exercise on a regular basis you should have no problem. The total riding distance is under 25 miles. This may sound daunting at first, but you'll be surprised. The roads are rolling hills with no big climbs and the riding is spread out over the entire day. We use Trek hybrid style bikes which are designed to be easy rolling and very comfortable.

What happens if I can’t make it the whole way on one of the tours?

As you rest and take in the beautiful vineyards and country side, you or your guide can just give us a call and we will pick up you and your bike up with our support vehicle.

Do we have to pay for our rental/ tour if it rains and we decide to cancel?

No. We want you to have an enjoyable experience in the wine country and will not charge any penalties for rentals or Classic Tours cancelled because of rain.

How far in advance should we book our tour?

As soon as you know the dates. Lodging and tours often fill up during the high season and on holiday and festival weekends. Always check with us if you want to take a last minute tour- there is a great chance that we’ll be able to accommodate you!

What is your cancellation policy?

We request that you cancel any day tour at least 48 hrs prior. Groups of 8 or more or multi-day tours have longer cancellation requirements. We never charge for day tours cancelled due to weather.

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

For convenience and peace of mind for both you and us, we highly recommend using one of our great Trek rental bikes. Rentals are included in all tour prices and we generally do not discount if you insist on riding your own bike on a single day tour.

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Short Escape Tours

What is the difference in the lodging between Value Packages, Elegant B&B, and Luxury Packages?

Value lodging packages are designed for people who like to be active on vacation and will be spending limited amounts of time at their lodging. The rooms are always clean and nice and they are in good locations, but are not what we would consider destinations in themselves.

Examples of some of the value lodging we use for our tours are:

Occidental Hotel: (www.occidentalhotel.com) Just a classic old motel sitting right on the Bohemian in the Town of Occidental. Walk to the shops & restaurants and smell the ocean breeze fighting its why out of Coleman Valley from the coast.

L&M Motel: (www.landmmotel.com) Go a couple blocks north of the Healdsburg Plaza and you can spend $1000 a night at Hotel Les Mars; go a few blocks and you'll find this nice old style motel. It's family owned, clean and also just a few blocks from our Bike Touring Center!

Fern Grove Cottages: (www.ferngrove.com) Very cool restored 1920's vacation cottages sitting among the Redwoods at the edge of Guerneville.

Elegant B&B Package are design for people who like their lodging to be a unique and special Wine Country experience in itself. All the B&B's we use have private baths and serve wonderful breakfasts. Typically B&B's in Sonoma & Napa are Victorian in style and many are also considered luxury lodging. We choose B&B's in excellent locations that we know have something special to offer.

Examples of B&B's we typically use are:

Camellia Inn: (www.camelliainn.com) One of our favorites for years! The Inn is located just steps from the historic Plaza in Healdsburg, allowing you to easily explore on foot the many specialty shops, antique stores and wonderful restaurants clustered around it.

Haydon Street Inn: (www.haydon.com) Just around the corner from our Bike Touring Center and a short walk from the Plaza.

Luxury Lodging is for those who see their lodging as an integral part of their vacation experience and and are looking for something truly special. Luxury can mean a resort lodge on the coast, an exceptional Wine Country Inn or a very special B&B.

Examples of Luxury Lodging we typically use are:

Grape Leaf Inn: (www.grapeleafinn.com)

Inn at Occidental: (www.inatoccidental.com) This wonderful inn always makes the trip to Occidental special!

Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa: (www.bodegabaylodge.com)

Camellia Inn: (www.camelliainn.com) One of our favorites for years! The Inn is located just steps from the historic Plaza in Healdsburg, allowing you to easily explore on foot the many specialty shops, antique stores and wonderful restaurants clustered around it.

How do the meals work? Can we just order off the menu?

Your dinners will generally be in the form of a house credit or certificate which you may use to order from the regular menu. The amount is set based on the cost of appetizer, main course and desert. It is not meant to cover alcoholic beverages, taxes or gratuities.

How far in advance should we book our tour (guided or self-guided)?

As soon as you know the dates. Lodging often fills up during the high season and on holiday and festival weekends. Always check with us if you want to take a last minute tour- there is a great chance that we’ll be able to accommodate you!

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

For your convenience and peace of mind on your part, we highly recommend using one of our great Trek rental bikes. Rentals are included in all tour prices and take the hassle (not to mention wear and tear) out of packing, shipping, assembling the bike and then packing and reshipping your bike again after the tour. That being said, if you simply can’t imagine trying out a new bike, of course bring it! We love bikes too and will understand.

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Self-guided Tours

What is the difference in the lodging between Value Packages, Elegant B&B, and Luxury Packages?

Value lodging packages are designed for people who like to be active on vacation and will be spending limited amounts of time at their lodging. The rooms are always clean and nice and they are in good locations, but are not what we would consider destinations in themselves.

Examples of some of the value lodging we use for our tours are:

Occidental Hotel: (www.occidentalhotel.com) Just a classic old motel sitting right on the Bohemian in the Town of Occidental. Walk to the shops & restaurants and smell the ocean breeze fighting its why out of Coleman Valley from the coast.

L&M Motel: (www.landmmotel.com) Go couple blocks north of the Healdsburg Plaza and you can spend $1000 a night at Hotel Les Mars; go a few blocks and you'll find this nice old style motel. It's family owned, clean and also just a few blocks from our Bike Touring Center!

Fern Grove Cottages: (www.ferngrove.com) Very cool restored 1920's vacation cottages sitting among the Redwoods at the edge of Guerneville.

Luxury Lodging is for those who see their lodging as an integral part of there vacation experience and and are looking for something truly special. Luxury can mean a resort lodge on the coast, an exceptional Wine Country Inn or a very special B&B.

Examples of Luxury Lodging we typically use are:

Inn at Occidental: (innatoccidental.com) This wonderful inn always makes the trip to Occidental special!

Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa: (bodegabaylodge.com)

Camellia Inn: (www.camelliainn.com) One of our favorites for years! The Inn is located just steps from the historic Plaza in Healdsburg, allowing you to easily explore on foot the many specialty shops, antique stores and wonderful restaurants clustered around it.

How do the meals work? Can we just order off the menu?

Your dinners will generally be in the form of a house credit or certificate which you may use to order from the menu. The amount is set based on the cost of nice appetizers, main course and desert. It is not meant to cover alcoholic beverages.

How far in advance should we book our tour (guided or self-guided)?

As soon as you know the dates. Lodging often fills up during the high season and on holiday and festival weekends. Always check with us if you want to take a last minute tour- there is a great chance that we’ll be able to accommodate you!

Can I bring my own bike on the tour?

For your convenience and peace of mind on your part, we highly recommend using one of our great Trek rental bikes. Rentals are included in all tour prices and take the hassle (not to mention wear and tear) out of packing, shipping, assembling the bike and then packing and reshipping your bike again after the tour. That being said, if you simply can’t imagine trying out a new bike, of course bring it! We love bikes too and will understand.

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Group Tours

We have a group of mixed riding abilities and fitness levels. Will everyone be able to enjoy the tour without feeling intimidated?

Yes! We see cycling as simply a great way to experience the beauty of our area; it brings us closer to nature and our surroundings. There is no pressure to ride a certain pace and we are never in a hurry. Occasionally faster riders may want to ride ahead, and they are welcome to do so, but there is no competition. The roads in the valley are generally flat or gently rolling hills and there is not a great deal of traffic.

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Please check back we will be adding more questions and additional riding tips to this page.