Category: Tourism & Travel

1. Orange & Black Motorcycle Tours opens US base

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 14th Oct 2016

   H-C Travel, the UK’s longest established and leading motorcycle tour operator, is excited to announce today the launch of a new US subsidiary to take on key operational elements of its Orange & Black Harley-Davidson® authorised motorcycle tours and rentals programme. David Grist is President and Colorado-based Gary ‘Bear’ Fleshman is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of H-C Travel Inc.
    
   David Grist, owner of H-C Travel, says “Our company mantra has always been ‘only the best is good enough!’ I am continually looking at how we can improve our tour services to ensure that we offer a unique and unrivalled motorcycling experience for our customers. Setting up a US subsidiary makes total commercial and professional sense for us, and our customers. I am absolutely delighted that Gary has agreed to join us. Apart from being one the best tour guides on the planet, he brings unrivalled touring knowledge and incredible enthusiasm to the company.”
    
   This move will bring several immediate and longer term advantages:

   • Added flexibility in the design and running of Orange & Black guided and self-guided tours
   • Increased responsiveness to meet the wishes of a growing and loyal customer base
   • Improved financial control and enhanced protection from the vagaries of a volatile exchange rate
   • Access to the US motorcycle touring market and stronger US business relationships
   • New opportunities to work with travel trade partners and motorcycle clubs worldwide

   Customers will see immediate benefits:

   • No tour or rental price increases for all 2017 bookings made in 2016
   • Improved on-tour services
   • A new tour, guided by Gary – Legends of the West, in October 2017
   • A new self-guided tour – Tour 49, crossing from Calgary, Canada  into the USA and back
   • Guaranteed 2017 Harley-Davidson® authorised motorcycles for all customers (with the all new Milwaukee-Eight engine on all touring models).

   H-C Travel Inc. is a company incorporated in Delaware and registered in Colorado. H-C Travel Ltd was established in 1994 as a specialist motorcycle tour operator in the UK. Its Orange & Black brand offers Harley-Davidson authorised guided tours, self-guided tours and rentals in the USA. It is uniquely positioned in the UK motorcycle tour market with professional travel industry recognition, ATOL bonding and TTA membership to provide legal and financial peace of mind for our customers.

   www.orange-and-black.co.uk
   
   
   

2. Bikeshuttle bookings up more than 160% in 2016

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 14th Oct 2016

   In only its second year of trading, Bikeshuttle was delighted to end the 2016 season having relocated to larger premises and transported some 211 motorbikes between the UK and Geneva; 160% up on its inaugural year.

   “Riders are fast discovering we’re the only weekly scheduled service to carry your bike to central Europe now that train operators like Autoslaap have disappeared,” says Guy Buswell, co-founder of Bikeshuttle. Riders love that we save them not only the tedium of riding 1,500 miles of motorways through France, but that they also get to enjoy more quality time on decent alpine roads; up to three days more,” he suggests.

   Bikeshuttle started as a simple concept where riders headed to its Northants depot and had their bikes loaded onto a purpose-built lorry, which travelled overnight through France to Geneva. The riders, meantime, flew to Geneva arriving fresh to start their touring holidays.

   “Judging by the reviews we’ve had, people are amazed to find their bikes ready and waiting for them after breakfast the following morning. The level of repeat bookings shows how delighted they are with the value and professionalism of our service,” says Guy.

   Dates for 2017 departures/returns are now live on the website bikeshuttle.co.uk where prices start at £435 for returns. The service runs weekly from mid May to the end of September and provides the easiest, most cost-effective way to tour central Europe or visit race meetings like MotoGP.

   Bikeshuttle may add extra capacity in certain weeks if there is sufficient demand. It will also consider discounts to group bookings of more than 10.

   Overnight stays in Geneva can all be organised through Bikeshuttle as can bike storage at both ends of the journey, making weekend breaks to the Alps a real possibility. Bike leathers, helmets, boots and luggage are all transported in special cases on the lorry, leaving riders with just hand baggage for the flight.

   Enquiries about the Bikeshuttle service can be made at [email protected], or by calling 01327 831552.

   About Bikeshuttle

   Bikeshuttle is a weekly scheduled motorcycle transportation service between the UK and Geneva, operating from May to September. Riders fly from the UK to Geneva, or from Geneva to Luton at their own expense to be reunited with their bikes, ready to enjoy their touring holiday. More information at www.bikeshuttle.com

   

3. ACT: The Essence of Adventure

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 6th Oct 2016

   Job, money, family, commitments … As of now, there are no more excuses when it comes to making the dream of an adventurous time-out coming true.
   
   The Adventure Country Tracks (ACT) by Touratech combine the most interesting motorcycle routes, breathtaking landscapes, and the pure joy of riding. They are perfectly worked out and can be done within the timeframe of a normal holiday
   
   The project introduced by Touratech at the INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany allows individual adventure trips even with a short time budget. It starts with a five-day adventure tour across Portugal, which is also available on DVD.

   Carefully worked-out routes lead through the most beautiful regions of Europe. 

   It starts with a five-day adventure tour across Portugal: 1,200 kilometres with 65 percent off-road tracks, suitable for big adventure bikes and for all kinds of riding skills. The route leads from Bragança in the North down to the Southern coast near the town of Tavira and follows curvy tracks connecting the most interesting places with regard to landscapes, culture and history. That way, riders can experience the country and its people not only individually, but also most intensively.
   
   This has also been the intention of Filipe Elias (Touratech Portugal), who contributed his whole insider knowledge to the planning of the first ACT tour. “I believe that ACT Portugal will enthrall many motorbike riders”, says Martin Wickert, Touratech’s marketing and sales executive, being justifiably proud of his new project.

   The Adventure Country Tracks have been inspired by the Backcountry Discovery Routes, a pioneer project by Touratech USA. However, it wasn’t possible to copy the entire concept as it had to be adapted to European conditions; the planning goes on for more than twelve months now. In the future, there’s going to be a new ACT tour every year in another European country.
   
   At www.adventurecountrytracks.com, everyone interested can download the GPS data for ACT for free from this specially set-up website. The data simply needs to be transferred to a navigation device with suitable map software, that’s all you need to explore the route on your own. “Discovery is an important element of adventure riding, to find things on your own, to open your eyes to the world”, Martin Wickert describes his philosophy. “With ACT tours, you can do all this. Only the route is fixed; what you do with it is your own choice.”

   A nice attunement to ACT Portugal is the DVD about this project (article number 01-202-2300-0), available at shop.touratech.com. There, you can also purchase a tour map with all stages and selected highlights.

4. Henry Cole rides Route 66 in its 90th Anniversary year

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 25th Sep 2016

   Orange & Black motorcycle tours is pleased to announce that Henry Cole is riding Route 66 with them in celebration of the 90^th year of its opening. 

   The 15 day guided tour from Chicago to Los Angeles starts on 30^th September. Henry is riding with a small group of riders and passengers including the winner of the 2015 Motorcycle Live competition.

   Henry Cole, TV presenter, commented “Route 66 was a road that changed my life. There is no ribbon of road like it and every mile is steeped in automotive history. The 90th Anniversary seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate the World’s most iconic road especially in the company of Bear, Orange & Black's walking talking all-American Route 66 encyclopaedia. Bear’s travelled it nearly 150 times and if you speak to anyone he’s been on tour with they’ll tell you just how much of a unique experience it is.”

   Orange & Black director David Grist explained “a chance encounter between Henry Cole and our US tour guide, Gary ‘Bear’ Fleshman, at the NEC 2 years ago planted a touring seed. This has crystallised into a special guided tour for customers and we’re delighted that Henry was able to make time to join us.”

   Orange & Black offers Harley-Davidson® authorised guided tours, self-guided tours and rentals in the USA. It is an H-C Travel brand, uniquely positioned in the motorcycle tours market with professional travel industry accreditation, ATOL bonding & TTA membership to provide legal and financial peace of mind for our customers.

   www.orange-and-black.co.uk

5. Last Call September USA Motorcycle Tours‏

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 24th Jul 2016

   Still not booked a summer getaway yet? It's NOT too late! But hurry as this is the last call on our last USA guided tours of 2016:

   • Route 66 The Long Way Down - 9-25th Sept. Led by the US' most experienced Route 66 guide, our tour of the Mother Road includes a fab extra loop to Las Vegas and also a private tour of the Harley-Davidson® Museum
     
     
   • Wild Wild West -  15-30th Sept. Our National Park scenic extravaganza includes Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Mammoth and more in this 100th Anniversary Year of the US National Park Service

   And finally, if guided tours aren't for you, check out our wide choice of self-guided tours and Authorised Harley-Davidson Rentals.