Interview with Chuck and Judy Silberstein, ALA Alumni

In October of 2009, the Silbersteins will travel on their 50th European biking adventure.

How did you first hear of Euro-Bike (now Austin-Lehman)?

We first heard about Euro-Bike 20 years ago through a friend. Interestingly enough, we didn’t really like our first trip. We chose Denmark, and it was windy and rainy the entire week. But we really liked the people, and the concept of a biking vacation. It’s much less expensive than trying to do it all on your own, and you really get what you pay for…so we gave it another shot. Our second trip was to Italy along the Roman Road, which we’ve now done three times.

What keeps you coming back to Euro-Bike?

The guides, and the personalized treatment. Our guides are always going out of their way – like the time on one of our trips after leaving Bordeaux, when a guest discovered they’d left some belongings back at the hotel…one of the guides drove all the way back to retrieve it. It’s that extra effort with everything they do that we appreciate the most. It’s the van that approaches just as you approach a big hill, asking if you need a lift. It’s the fresh water, fruit and snacks at every rest stop. It’s the fact that we know that at any time if we have a problem, all we have to do is call. Even before cell phones, guides would pop up just when you needed them.

EB guides also speak all of the local languages, which makes us feel safe, at ease. When you sit down at a café, there’s someone there to translate the menu. Our friends would always try to convince us to change outfitters, but we’ve stuck with Euro-Bike. Why change what’s not broken? We get catalogs from other companies and every year there are new faces throughout…but not for Euro-Bike. The same guides keep coming back, year after year. They do these trips over and over and over and know the hidden treasures, the good restaurants, the little nuances of every region. Some guides have been with Euro-Bike for 20 years!

Finally, Euro-Bike wouldn’t be what it is without Ron (owner/founder). He is so capable. We have become very close over the past 20 years. He reminds us of our older son who’s a pediatric neurosurgeon. Did you know he was born on the exact same day and year we were married? December 14, 1957. The stars were obviously aligned for all of us!

Why do you choose Euro-Bike over another outfitter, or traveling on your own?

We travel a lot on our own…but doing something like a bike trip…how could you possibly strike out on a path – even from point A to B – on a bike in a foreign country and not take into account what happens if you get into trouble? Where do you turn, who’s there to help you? What if you hit a detour? You need guidance when it comes to cycling. There’s a sense of comfort and professionalism that comes with traveling with Euro-Bike. These folks really know what they’re doing.

We love getting to know the other guests, as well. It’s so nice at the end of the day to sit down with other travelers and compare notes. Once we all got caught in a huge thunderstorm – at the end of they day we all sat around with a beer and talked about where we were when we got caught. Us? We were rescued by two Czech lumberjacks in a VW truck. Others were welcomed by a farmer who gave them coffee, cake and shelter in his home. Sharing experiences broadens your whole social outlook.

We love the flexibility of the trips, too. The mornings start with a briefing, highlighting which sites to see. We always have options: long, short, hilly, flat. Guides review where the pickup points are, and recommend places for lunch. There’s always the option to picnic with the group, or eat on your own. When you get to your next hotel, you check in. If you get there early, you sit by the pool, have a drink, get a massage. Everybody’s at their own pace. And we always have fun at the group dinners.

Finally, one word: luggage! Each morning, you simply leave your bags by the front door of hotel. It’s delivered for you, waiting for you in your room when you get to your next destination. Doesn’t get any better than that!

What was your favorite Euro-Bike trip?

Gosh that’s a tough question. Probably Provence, for the spectacular scenery and the great wine and food. We also loved Normandy, hiking in Switzerland…oh, and we can’t forget the trip to Spain when one of the guides by the name of Loek (Luke) hopped over a barrier in Pamplona at the San Fermin Festival, and actually ran with the bulls! It was a scene to be remembered, to say the least.

Anything else you’d like to add re: your experience traveling with Euro-Bike?

We should mention how wonderful the bikes are. They’re all 27-speed with lots of bells and whistles…odometers, bells, rear-view mirrors, cushy seats, front/rear bags/racks, so you can bring whatever you need. They’re very lightweight and the guides (all expert mechanics) at the beginning of the trip will fit/customize all of the bikes for each guest, to make sure we’re comfortable.