We at BikeTours.com have the incredible job of talking about bike tours all day, every day. And we think you might be interested to know what we'd pick, if we're picking (and we do often get to!). Read the staff bucket list and profile below, and see if you have any of the same interests or bucket list tours! Read all the staff bike tour bucket lists.
Meet Richie
Before joining the BikeTours.com team in 2012, most of Richie's travel experiences revolved around baseball. He grew up playing ball in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia and had the opportunity to travel to and play in Cuba twice. His collegiate and professional baseball career allowed him to see much of the U.S. while traveling with various teams. When his sports career came to an end, Richie took up mountain biking, and it wasn't long before he was competing in mountain bike races. He moved to Chattanooga six years ago to enjoy the slower pace of life (compared to Atlanta!) and the quick access to many first-class mountain bike trail systems.
Being a tour advisor for BikeTours.com allows Richie to combine his interest in travel with his passion for cycling. He spends most of his free time on one of his three bikes -- his trusty mountain bike, a road bike, or a single speed mountain bike for getting to and from the BTD offices. A serious "outdooraholic," he spends many weekends camping and hiking with his best four-legged buddy, Buckley.
Richie's latest trip (August 2015) was a mountain bike a boat tour in the Dalmatian Islands (Croatia). The week before that, he enjoyed the Dolomites to Trieste tour.
Likes
Adventurous and "wild" travel destinations, high difficulty levels, off the beaten path. If it seems like a bad idea, I'm interested. I also like fresh local cuisine, culture and history.
Dislikes
Crowded places, big cities and sitting still for too long.
Adores
Meeting new friends, philosophy, being "off the grid," long mountain bike rides/races, good beverages and great conversation.
Cycling Style
Mountain biking and road biking with an emphasis on endurance. Long rides, with frequent extended climbs and enjoyable descents. I like to ride over mountains, not around them, even if it means I may have to hike-a-bike from time to time.
Traveler Type
MTB Junkie Bucket List
1. Nepal 
This tour had me at "world's tallest mountains, and a two and a half day descent into the deepest valley in the world". The Kali Gandaki Valley, nestled between two 5+ mile high peaks, is the deepest valley in the world. Riding amongst the biggest mountains in the world, staying in village teahouses at night and being immersed in the local culture. Watch the video
HERE. Be warned, if you are like me you will watch it over and over and over.
2. Slovenia Ok, so I have been here for a few days. But only long enough to realize I need to return and continue exploring this amazing country. Roughly 30% of this country is national forest and single track mountain biking trails are a plenty. From the Julian Alps, to Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, to Piran and the Adriatic sea, to the Soca Valley, virgin forest, ancient villages and the charming capital of Ljubljana, what more could you want?
3. Spain/Portugal Crossing 13 mountains, with over 100,00 ft of total elevation gain in 16 days time, this tour is likely the most difficult tour on
blog.biketours.com. So naturally, it has my attention, and is on the bucket list. Just completing this tour would be a herculean achievement. While this tour is a bit intimidating, it is also very appealing as it boasts some of the world's best mountain bike trails.
4. New Zealand 
The problem with going to New Zealand is that I may not come back. As a J.R.R Tolkien fan who has already seen the beauty of the Scottish Highlands, I think that seeing New Zealand where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, is a must. Rumor has it that New Zealand is well worth the long flight.
5. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Remote, untouched, wild, and off the grid. Snow capped 20,000+ ft mountains, check. Heli-biking, check. Descents over 4,000 ft, check. Waterfalls, grasslands, history, villages, check, check, check and check. And the only traffic around is horse traffic. Yup, this is a place I want to go.
Want to make your bucket list dreams come true? E-mail a tour advisor today to get started.
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