Corporate Supporter Spotlight: WomanTours

April 15, 2011

This post is part of a series that spotlights Adventure Cycling's corporate supporters. These companies support our mission and programs and do some cool stuff of their own. We decided to ask them some questions and, as a result, have learned a few interesting things about our supporters that we'd like to share with you. The answers below are direct from the companies. We hope that this gives you the chance to get to know them a little better, too.

WomanTours is currently a gold-level corporate member. They came on as a supporter last year during our U.S. Bike Route System fundraiser (which is happening again this May). Our relationship with them, however, goes back several years, as they have used our maps for many of their tours. Jackie Marchand, the company's owner, took time to answer some of our questions and tell us more about their unique company.

Adventure Cycling: Tell us a little bit about your company.
Marchand: We are the only all women bicycle touring company in the world.

Adventure Cycling: Talk about what services or products you provide for bicycle tourists.
Marchand: We provide fully-supported inn-to-inn bike tours for women only. Our tours are 4-days to 2-months long, all around the USA and abroad. We conduct flat beginner tours and advanced cross-country trips. We love to introduce cycling to women and then see them come back to do our cross-country tour years later.

Adventure Cycling: Why do you support Adventure Cycling through corporate membership?
Marchand: We depend on your route research and wonderful maps to help us plan our tours.

Adventure Cycling: As your company grows, have you had mainly tailwinds, headwinds or crosswinds? Explain.
Marchand: We've had tailwinds all the way. We have grown every year since I purchased the company from the founder. We grow by listening to our women and working hard to provide them with the tours they want. The majority of the women on our tours are coming back to travel with us again, so we are constantly developing new tours to keep them coming back and bringing their friends.

Adventure Cycling: Have any of your staff ridden Adventure Cycling’s mapped routes? Which ones?
Marchand: Yes -- parts of: Pacific Coast, Adirondacks, Southern Tier, Northern Tier, Lewis & Clark, Mississippi River, so far.

Adventure Cycling:What cycling related benefits do you offer your staff?
Marchand: We offer free and reduced price bikes, bicycling accessories, and tours.

Adventure Cycling:Is there anything else about your company that you really want to share with our readers?
Marchand: The average age of the women on our trips is 54. It is the women on our tours that make us different from all the other touring companies out there. Something special happens when women who love to bike get together to enjoy their passion. It really is the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground and to be able to share that with other women is really special.

Thanks to Jackie for taking some time to share her company with us!   

WomanTours is offering a special for our readers.  If you sign up for one of their tours before May 15th and mention Adventure Cycling, they will send you a free pair of cycling socks.