Self-Guided Bike Tours
Self-Guided Bike Tours: Basic Overview
Want to get out on a fantastic bike tour but have a limited budget? Lizard Head Cycling Guides now offers a new service on select bike tours where we will move your gear from one point to another while you enjoy riding on a semi self-guided bike tour between those points. This is a basic bike tour service where you make all the arrangements for your daily lodging (or camping) and meals while we haul your gear plus provide other basic services as outlined below.
Self-Guided Bike Tours: What’s Included
Lizard Head Cycling’s self supported touring options are comprised of the tours in our backyard that we are most familiar with. As a result, we know what advice and limited support clients need on each stage of these tours.
What is a Self-Guided/Self-Supported tour?
On these tours guests ride self-supported between the hotels on their own.
- Lizard Head Cycling does include an in-tour shuttle of Day 4 of its Boulder, Bryce & Zion tour (between Bryce & Zion) and on Day 3 of its Moab & The Back of Beyond self-supported tours.
- Although Lizard Head Cycling does not ride along with guests on its self-supported/guided tours, when we see clients on the road between hotels, we do check in with them – we are out there for our guests. 🙂
What is Included on Self-Guided/Supported Tours?
The shuttle from the meeting hotel to the tour start location, the shuttle at the end of the tour back to the meeting hotel, daily luggage movement between hotels, basic mechanical support at the hotels (floor pump, basic tools, mechanical advice). GPX files of the routes and a list of self-supported water and food locations for each stage.
What should the self-guided client carry?
Full rain gear, pump, tubes, tire irons, multi-tool, food, water, snacks, & sunscreen.
Is there food and water along the way?
The answer is Yes and No… it depends on the stage. We provide clients with a list of self-supported options for each stage.
What about road bike rental?
Road bike rental is $250 per person and includes a water bottle plus a pack with a tube, tire irons, mechanical support and multi-tool. Minimum private group size is 6 riders or paid equivalent. If your group is smaller than 6 riders, we can work to have other riders join your chosen week. Deposit amount is $500 per person.
Self-Guided Bike Tours: Tours Offered
We offer this service on the following bike tours. Please click to each individual tour page for more detailed descriptions on the itineraries so that you can plan your tour with us.
- SELF-GUIDED Boulder, Bryce & Zion Road Tour
- SELF-GUIDED Moab & The Back of Beyond Road Tour
- SELF-GUIDED Northern New Mexico Road Tour
- SELF-GUIDED Redrock Canyons Road Tour
SELF-GUIDED Boulder, Bryce & Zion Road Tour
The mountains and high desert of southwest Utah are a cycling and hiking mecca. The Boulder, Bryce and Zion bike tour delivers a combination of nearly car free roads, jaw-dropping scenery and plenty of time to stop and explore.
☛ More info on the Boulder, Bryce & Zion bike tour.
2024 Self-Guided Tour Dates: 5-Day Tour @ $1,450 per person.
Please note that tour discounts do not apply to self-guided tours.
This tour runs from Monday to Saturday unless noted otherwise.
If you have a small group, you can open the date.Â
Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.
Why Should you Sign-Up Now and OPEN a Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so that we can commit to that date.
For starters, when you OPEN a date you get to pick your preferred departure date, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets its 6 rider minimum.
BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.
In conclusion, if you want a tour to run, we need you to sign up and not wait for others to do the same! Waiting for others may mean that a tour date takes longer or does not confirm. Just Do It! Once a few riders jump into the proverbial waters, others will follow!
Lodging Options: (subject to availability)
Self-guided guests are on-their-own to secure accommodations in the nightly ending towns. Below are places we stay during our tours to use as a guide and there may be other nearby options available. Please make sure to secure your reservations well in advance as some establishments typically sell out early.
- Nights 1 & 2: Boulder Mountain Lodge, Boulder, Utah
- Night 3: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon or Of Land (a Glamp Camp in Escalante) or Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
- Nights 4 or 5: Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens, Springdale, Utah
SELF-GUIDED Moab & The Back of Beyond Road Tour
The Moab & The Back of Beyond Tour delves into the heart of redrock canyon country of Southeastern Utah and Southwestern Colorado. Ride through the supernatural landscapes of Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, climb the scenic La Sal Mountain Loop and pedal beneath 800-ft redrock sandstone walls along the Colorado River.
☛ More info on the Moab & The Back of Beyond bike tour.
2025 Self-Guided Tour Dates: 6-Day Tour @ $1,250 per person. Please note that tour discounts do not apply to self-guided tours.
- May 11 to 16, 2025 (Book Now!)
Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.
Why Should you Sign-Up Now and OPEN a Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so that we can commit to that date.
For starters, when you OPEN a date you get to pick your preferred departure date, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets its 6 rider minimum.
BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.
In conclusion, if you want a tour to run, we need you to sign up and not wait for others to do the same! Waiting for others may mean that a tour date takes longer or does not confirm. Just Do It! Once a few riders jump into the proverbial waters, others will follow!
Lodging Options: (subject to availability)
Self-guided guests are on-their-own to secure accommodations in the nightly ending towns. Below are places we stay during our tours to use as a guide and there may be other nearby options available. Please make sure to secure your reservations well in advance as some establishments typically sell out early.
- Nights 1 & 2:Â Gateway Canyons Resort, Gateway, Colorado
- Nights 3 & 4:Â Hotel Moab Downtown, Moab, Utah
- Nights 5: Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab, Utah
SELF-GUIDED Northern New Mexico Road Tour
Our “Norte de Nuevo México” (Northern New Mexico) self-guided bike tour is designed for cyclists who seek the Land of Enchantment’s best climbs, enjoy bike-friendly routes, savor the local Chile Verde, and relish luxurious hot springs. This self-guided Northern New Mexico tour runs similar to our standard fully-supported Norte de Nuevo México Bike Tour, but with a few changes to make for a more relaxed overall itinerary.
- Day 1 Gallina to Abiquiu (37 miles/+1750 ft)
- Day 2 Abiquiu to Ojo Caliente (30 miles/+1910 ft)
- Day 3 Ojo Caliente to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (29 miles/+1635 ft)
- Day 4 Shuttle to Questa and then ride to Angel Fire (41 miles/+2615 ft)
- Day 5 Angel Fire to Taos (24 miles/+750 ft)
- Day 6 Taos to El Santuario de Chimayo (45 miles/+4050 ft). Shuttle to Santa Fe to end tour.
☛ More info on the Northern New Mexico bike tour.
2025 Self-Guided Tour Dates: 7-Day Tour @ $1,335 per person. Please note that tour discounts do not apply to self-guided tours.
- May 18 to 23, 2025 (Book Now!)
- September 7 to 12, 2025 (Book Now!)
- September 14 to 19, 2025 (Book Now!)
- September 21 to 26, 2025 (Book Now!)
Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.
Why Should you Sign-Up Now and OPEN a Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so that we can commit to that date.
For starters, when you OPEN a date you get to pick your preferred departure date, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets its 6 rider minimum.
BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.
In conclusion, if you want a tour to run, we need you to sign up and not wait for others to do the same! Waiting for others may mean that a tour date takes longer or does not confirm. Just Do It! Once a few riders jump into the proverbial waters, others will follow!
Lodging Options: (subject to availability)
Self-guided guests are on-their-own to secure accommodations in the nightly ending towns. Below are places we stay during our tours to use as a guide and there may be other nearby options available. Please make sure to secure your reservations well in advance as some establishments typically sell out early.
- Night 1: Albiquiu Inn, Abiquiu, NM
- Night 2: Ojo Caliente or Taos Trail Inn, Ojo Caliente, NM
- Night 3: The Historic Taos Inn or The Inn on La Loma, Taos, NM
- Night 4: Eagle Nest Fly Shack & Lodge, Eagle Nest, NM
- Night 5: The Historic Taos Inn or The Inn on La Loma, Taos, NM