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FAQs
Q: What inspires Vélocity Cycling Tours?
A: VCT has sprung out of a passion for cycling. The three founders of VCT are passionate cyclists living in the Houston area. We know Texas. For many years we have participated in various tours around the country and put together destination tours for our local cycling club. During these experiences, we realized that if we could do this every day nothing could be better. You can expect to meet one of us on your tour, as at least one of us will ride every tour. We believe in staying close to our customers, so we will be pedaling right there alongside you.
Q: How long has Vélocity Cycling Tours been in business?
A: We are a new company, but we are not inexperienced. We have participated in tours and planned many local club tours. Just read what our customers said about our inaugural Texas Hill Country Challenge Tour in May 2011. Our tours are focused on delivering an exceptional cycling experience tailored to your needs. We believe if you try us, you’ll be glad you did.
Q: What will the group be like?
A: Well, first they will all be keen cyclists. An outstanding, challenging cycling experience is first and foremost on their minds. However, this is not to the exclusion of all else. Expect an interesting, entertaining group anxious to interact with like-minded cyclists to share good food, good wine, good cheer and stories from the day or from previous cycling adventures. You may tire of the cycling on the last 5-miles of that century, but you won’t tire of the stimulating interactions with the other interesting cyclists in your group.
Q: What will the weather be like?
A: If only we could predict the weather! We choose our tour dates to coincide with the best weather conditions for cycling in that region, on average. So you can expect generally good conditions. You won’t see us schedule a Texas Hill Country Tour in the middle of August. We will provide you with expected weather conditions in your information packet prior to your tour, and suggest what inclement weather gear is recommended. Additionally, we follow the weather throughout your tour and make adjustments to the tour as needed. For example, if we calculate that an earlier or later start time in the morning will avoid rain showers, we’ll make that adjustment.
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Information
Arrival/Departure
On all of our tours it is possible to join us a day or two after we depart or leave a day or two before the tour ends. If your schedule doesn’t mesh with ours, contact us and we will see how to make it work for you. We will prorate your tour fee based on the time you’re actually on the tour, but only if this is worked out with us 45 days prior to the start of your tour.
Transportation
We either offer airport and hotel transfer service in our van from the nearest major airport and city to the lodge where the tour starts, or we’ll send you information on public shuttle buses that do. We will also send you our van schedule for pickup and return, plus driving directions to the tour meeting place. If you are driving to the tour, you may leave your locked car at or near the place where the tour originates, for the duration of the tour. We will deliver you back to your car when the tour is over.
Many people who travel by plane prefer to arrive at the gateway city the day before the tour starts and leave the day after the tour is over. Accordingly, we will furnish you with the name of the recommended hotel or motel that we pick people up from on the first day of the tour, and where we can drop you off at tour’s end.
Single Room
As an optional extra: you may reserve a room for your exclusive use, for an additional cost. This will guarantee you a private room and private bath every night. If you’re willing to share a room, there is no extra charge for coming solo. Leave it to us to pair you up.
What To Bring
After you sign up for a tour, we’ll send you a detailed list of suggested items to bring. Every participant is expected to bring their own bicycle and all personal cycling equipment and clothing. All guests are required to wear a helmet at all times when on a bicycle. Please bring your own helmet. If you have unique requirements we will make every attempt to accommodate them, however there may be an additional charge depending upon the request.
Payment/Cancellations
Payment of Balance
The balance, payable by check or Paypal, is due 90 days prior to the start of your tour. For reservations made less than 90 days prior to departure, final payment will be charged upon confirmation.
Cancellations By You
If you have to cancel a tour for any reason, the following refund schedule applies:
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Day’s Notice Prior to Tour
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Amount of Refund
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91 or more
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100%
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61 to 90
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50%
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60 to 31
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25%
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30 or less
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0% (no refund)
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Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, or personal, family and medical emergencies.
No refunds are made for meals, services, or lodging paid for but not used. All optional extras you order are considered part of the tour cost and are subject to our cancellation fees. Cancellation requests of confirmed reservations must be in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office
Cancellations by Us
Once you have received a confirmed reservation from us, we make every effort for that tour to go forward as planned. However, we must reserve the right to cancel any tour.
Should Vélocity Cycling Tours cancel a tour at any time, for any reason, on which you have a confirmed reservation, we will not only refund all monies paid by you, but we will also give you a $200 credit you can use to transfer to another tour for which space is available, departing anytime within two years from your original tour departure date.
Our Responsibility
The responsibility of Vélocity Cycling Tours and/or its agents is limited. Vélocity Cycling Tours hereby gives notice that it acts only in the capacity as an agent for the tour participant in all matters, including payment connected with lodging and meals, and other suppliers of service and transportation; furthermore, Vélocity Cycling Tours has no personal liability for payment therefore, either primarily or secondarily, other than as the agent for the tour participant.
In the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations shall be made. Vélocity Cycling Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. In case of such a cancellation, Vélocity Cycling Tours will refund all payments received, which shall release Vélocity Cycling Tours from any further liability. Vélocity Cycling Tours is specifically not liable for non-refundable airplane tickets and other personal expenses incurred in preparation for a tour that is canceled.
Vélocity Cycling Tours reserves the unilateral right not to accept or retain as a tour participant any person whose condition or general deportment, in Vélocity Cycling Tours’ sole judgment, impedes the operation of the tour or affects the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants. Should such a person be required to leave a tour, it will be treated as leaving a tour early per our cancellation policy. Should a traveler be removed from a tour, they will not be refunded any portion of their tour fee even if that portion is unused. They will also be responsible for arranging and paying for all expenses related to returning home and/or changing their travel arrangements. Vélocity Cycling Tours’ obligations with respect to any funds received shall be those of a debtor and not a trustee.
There are certain risks and dangers inherent in any form of adventure travel. Vélocity Cycling Tours assumes no responsibility or liability for any claims or damages, for any reason, arising from these risks. Guests are responsible for choosing a tour that suits their abilities, fitness level, and state of health.
A Release, Indemnity Agreement and Assumption of Risk form must be signed by each guest and returned to Vélocity Cycling Tours prior to the start of their tour. This form will be sent to you with your tour confirmation shortly after your tour registration and deposit is received. If the unaltered and signed Release, Indemnity Agreement and Assumption of Risk form is not received in the Vélocity Cycling Tours office when due, Vélocity Cycling Tours has the right to consider that reservation cancelled and may resell your space. Vélocity Cycling Tours reserves the right to cancel your tour and resell your space if your final payment has not been received by the due date. Terms and conditions of any tour may be amended only by an officer of Vélocity Cycling Tours.
Tour prices are per person, in United States dollars, and fixed regardless of the number of people on a tour. Prices include lodging; certain meals as indicated in the tour descriptions; drinks and snacks from the van; maps and written route directions; all support vans and trailers as required; taxes; baggage handling during the tour; leadership; level 1 mechanical support for your bicycle (exclusive of parts); and any special entrance fees where noted in the tour descriptions.
Excluded from the Tour Price are items of a personal nature; such as alcoholic beverages, any discretionary gratuities for your tour leaders, museum and tourist attraction entrance fees you purchase, food and beverages you purchase, room service charges, use of mini-bar, some meals where indicated in the tour descriptions, telephone calls you make, laundry, parts to repair your personal bicycle, and repairs to your personal bicycle done in a bicycle shop.
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