Tandem Bicycle Tours, Inc.
Bikes, Bourbon & Bluegrass of Kentucky
Visit Churchill Downs
Bluegrass
Bourbon Barrels
Some Highlights of this Tour:
- Tandem through rolling hills on quiet country roads past world reknowned horse farms and distilleries.
- Learn about the craft of bourbon distilling and enjoy a sample or two!
- Explore Lexington, referred to as "The Horse Capital of the World."
- Take a tour of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
- Visit Shaker Village, at one time one of the largest Shaker communities in the U.S.
- Listen to some authentic bluegrass music.
Here's a day-by-day tour description:
Wednesday (Arrival Day): Meet in Louisville, Shuttle to Frankfort
Arrive at your leisure into Louisville (airport code: SDF). We will meet at a central location at 11:00 am then shuttle 1 hour to Frankfort, to arrive in time for lunch. After bike assembly and check-in take some time to explore Kentucky's capital city, before we meet for dinner together.
Lodging: Capital Plaza Hotel
Thursday: Frankfort to Lexington (43 miles – 2,700 ft gain & 2,300 ft loss)
Today's route begins along the Kentucky River before turning Eastward along tranquil
country roads dotted by big-label distilleries and equine centers that make this region famous. We’ll
enjoy a group dinner this evening in Lexington and raise a glass to the week ahead.
Lodging: The Sire Hotel
Friday: Lexington to Versailles (40-48 miles – 2,800 ft gain & 2,800 ft loss)
Today we’ll begin our journey through the heart of bourbon country. Miles of quiet rolling pasture
call you toward the town of Versailles. You may choose to take a tour of a thoroughbred nursery,
where you might just meet a future Derby champion. We’ll enjoy another group dinner this evening.
Lodging: Best Western Lawrenceburg Inn
Saturday: Versailles to Shakertown (30 miles – 1,800 ft gain & 1,700 ft loss)
No rush this morning as we embark on a meandering 30-mile ride following along the Kentucky River.
Take in some historic sites of the American Revolution on the way to Shaker Village, a 19th century
settlement rich with history and preserved architecture. We’ll settle here for the remainder of the day,
but plenty of hiking and exploration opportunities await you in this historic village. Tonight’s dinner will
be at the village’s famed farm-to-table restaurant.
Lodging: Shaker Village Inn
Sunday: Lebanon to Bardstown (31 miles – 1,900 ft gain & 2,000 ft loss)
Today we’ll begin with a 1 hour transfer to the start of another scenic ride. From here we’ll make our
way to Bardstown, the heartbeat of the bourbon industry, Kentucky's "Napa Valley for Bourbon"! You may choose to visit a number of world-class
distilleries (Bardstown, Heaven Hill, Preservation, Lux Row Distillers), or wander into a cooperage where you will see new oak barrels being handassembled
and charred.
Lodging: Talbott Inn
Monday: Bardstown to Churchill Downs (up to 60 miles – 1,900 ft gain & 2,100 ft loss)
After two shorter-mile days, today you can choose to ride all the way into Louisville, or stop short for a
visit to the Jim Beam Distillery, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch and bourbon pairing. Todays
ride officially stops at Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby, where you may
choose to take a tour of the Derby grounds, stable and museum. We’ll transfer you through town to
our hotel for the next two nights.
Lodging: The Brown Hotel
Tuesday: Tour de Louisville (37 miles – 1,000 ft gain & 1,000 ft loss)
For our last ride, we’ll do a loop around Louisville. Among the many points of interest are
Germantown, a stroll along the Ohio River and even the gravesite of Colonel Sanders himself. Tonight we’ll gather for a final dinner together and share memories of the week we’ve had.
Lodging: The Brown Hotel
Wednesday (Departure Day):
This morning you are free to depart when you like, either by car or by plane from Louisville (SDF). We
hope to see you again on the next Tandem Bicycle Tours adventure!
We are now taking bookings for this tour. If you are interested in this tour and would like us to send you a booking form, please Contact Us for more information or check out our info page to see what's included on a Tandem Bicycle Tour.
Tandem Bicycle Tours strives to find quiet, paved secondary roads/bike paths for cycling and to avoid busy roads as much as possible. The description listed here is a very good approximation of our trips, but hotels and routes may change marginally to improve the trip experience.
Kentucky Countryside
Route Planning
Kentucky BBQ
