"I very much enjoyed riding with Mark and Jim. The support and encouragement from both were great. They quickly helped to establish a great social environment in which everyone had a great time. The route was outstanding. The scenery was great. The difficulty of the daily rides progressed nicely over the course of the tour. Of the many cycling tours in which I have participated, the Black Hills tour was exceptional in every aspect and, overall, the best. I have no doubt that I will be part of another Dakota Bike Tour."
"Jim and Mark are excellent guides. I felt very well cared for - even pampered! There was nothing you couldn't do for us, you encouraged us and were very accepting when I decided to take a ride in the van. The scenery was fantastic! I believe I said that I had been on rail trails before but never anything like the Mickelson! I think this was one of the best tours we have been on and one of the most enjoyable."
"You haven't lived until you've had Bison Tenderloin at Sylvan Lake Resort Lodge! The Tour Guides are the best I've experienced from Washington State to Maine, and became great friends as well! The sag support was so wonderful and SHAME-FREE!!!!!! Jim & Randy never complain or roll their eyes when you need a break up a hill, and kept encouraging you to get right back out when you felt ready to ride. Jim & his guides will accommodate anyone and everyone and meet their needs and desires to have a truly enjoyable vacation."
"I loved this tour and am so glad Dakota Bike Tours was my first one. I loved the sights and the challenge. I'm so proud of myself for doing it. Thanks for a great tour!"
"We have already recommended Dakota Bike Tours to our friends - we loved it. The personality of the participants, the experience and expertise of the guides, the friendliness of everyone we met during the trip, the food, the experience, the Social Hours. We would definitely return for another trip. This was our first bike tour and will not be our last. You've set the bar!"
"Both Jim and Randy provided excellent support throughout the trip. The cue sheets with directions and elevation was extremely helpful. The food was amazing and plentiful, even with all the cycling; I think I still gained a few pounds! I appreciate how responsive Jim was to the adjustments needed for my rental bike as well as other special accommodations made throughout the trip. The rides were amazing and beautiful. This is the first bike tour I have done, and based upon the outstanding experience DBT provided, I definitely would love to do more tours! Thanks for a wonderful experience."
"Highlight of the meals was the meal prepared by Glenna (co-owner of DBT) and crew. Wonderful food, better because it was homemade and served family style. Much extra effort, but warmly appreciated."
"Organization and Pride of Entrepreneurial spirit sets Dakota Bike tours a big cut above most companies and I thought Joe and I had traveled with the very best (Backroads and Butterfield & Robinson), but they have nothing on you. I can tell you spent a great deal of time thinking through the route."
"I am already talking your company up with my riding friends. Your Tour was an excellent value for the price, well organized, beautiful scenery, and I could go on! You will see me again for your Bad Devil Tour."
"I think the tour guides were awesome! The tour route and scenery were the most beautiful I have ever seen in my life. I am still talking about how much I enjoyed this trip!"
"Jim and Glenna, Thanks for a great week. We will try to get back for the Badlands tour. We were so impressed with beauty of South Dakota. I think the greatest thing for me was the fact that time was not an issue. I hardly looked at my watch."
"The guides were great....very informative about the history and geography of the various towns and monuments. The meals were really good…. especially the salmon and buffalo. This tour was a wonderful way to see Western South Dakota and meet some really fun people who enjoy biking."
"The ride from Sylvan Lake, Needles Hwy. to Custer State Park was one of the most scenic and outstanding bike rides in North America. I will recommend this tour to my friends because it is a very scenic tour and a great way to see all the monuments. Also, my friends would like the climbing and the spectacular down hills."
"Amazing!!! I had never been to the Black Hills, and I am so so impressed. I loved every bit of it. Each day seemed so different, and even more beautiful than the day before. I would love for my kids to see the area! Excellent job in keeping each day such a different and amazing experience."
"The routes were all fantastic. I enjoyed each for different reasons and felt they did a great job in showcasing the very diverse landscape of the Black Hills."
"The Black Hills Classic Tour was Fantastic. Wonderful mix and evolution through the week. My husband was blown away by the Black Hills beauty and it brought back lots of very fond childhood memories for me."
"Tour was great. Riding was awesome. Some of the climbing and descents rivaled our European riding. The mix of riding was great--on the Mickelson Trail and on the roads. Some climbing/descents were sharp and others were gradual. Great to have the option for additional miles."
"Your guides treated us very well. They were very informative about history of the land and residents. They were very willing to help with bikes if needed. We had a wide variety of riders and they took care of all. They were very good discussing the directions for the day and asking if everyone understood."
"I appreciate the way you made me feel so welcome and really appreciate that you let me use your bike that one day. Randy added some great local color. Van support was exceptional. Always seemed to be handy when I needed it. One thing you might try is to add a unique sound when the van is passing to help the riders identify it."
This tour explores the "Classics" of the Black Hills of South Dakota including Spearfish Canyon, the Mickelson Trail, Mt. Rushmore, Needles Highway, Custer State Park and Crazy Horse Memorial as well as historical mining towns such as Deadwood, Rochford, Hill City, Keystone and Custer. With its rich history, beauty, and friendly accommodations, this tour has it all.
Sunday, Arrival - Our parking place for the week is at Dakota Bike Tours, International Headquarters in Rapid City where we will meet by 11:30 a.m. to load up luggage and bikes. You will then be taken to lunch (at your own expense) while one of our staff meets those guests who fly into the Rapid City Airport. Following lunch we will drive one hour for a very scenic bike ride in the Northern Hills. Our ride is approximately 15 miles and we finish at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge where we stay the first two nights.The location of the lodge is spectacular and close to where the winter scene of Dances with Wolves was filmed. After being served appetizers and beverages, we will dine at the Latchstring Inn while gazing at the towering canyon walls.
Monday, Spearfish Canyon Tour - Standard route is 31 miles (mostly downhill and easily lengthened by 14 miles.)
Tuesday, Tour Mickelson Trail - Standard route is 32 miles on this "Hall of Fame" rails to trail corridor through the northern to central Black Hills (Tires 32c or larger recommended)
Wednesday, Mt. Rushmore Loop and Iron Mountain Loop - Standard route is 38 miles or easily shorten by 5-11 miles
Thursday, Crazy Horse Memorial Loop - Standard route is 24 miles plus a choice of easy to moderate hikes. We have modified this day because of numerous suggestions from our guests to allow time for hiking around beautiful Sylvan Lake.
Friday, Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop Tour - The full route is 42 miles which all riders will cover in its entirety by bike or by riding in the van several times (for about 10 miles) to avoid several challenging hills and ridge climbs. We designed the route this way because the Wildlife Loop is a must do to see buffalo and other wildlife regardless if one is on a bike or is in the van. It is typically a finale to the tour.
BLACK HILLS CLASSIC TOUR LEVEL - Moderate to Challenging
For more information, contact Dakota Bike Tours today!
NOTE: Fee includes pick-up at RC Airport or Dakota Bike Tours, return to Dakota Bike Tours, Rapid City Motel or airport, 5 dinners, 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, lodging, van support, 2 guides, park entrance fees and Mickelson Trail Pass. Fees do not include admission fees to attractions, single supplement, bike rentals, alcoholic beverages at meals, guide gratuities and additional request for transportation pickup or delivery in addition to our scheduled service. See Services for details.
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