Bike China Adventures

General Information and Fine Print

Important Information– Please Read Carefully

Reservations
You may reserve a space on a tour by completing the Reservation form and submitting a deposit payable by credit card (via PayPal), a U.S. personal check, a U.S. cashier's check or International money order. You will receive an email confirming your reservation. If the tour you have chosen is full, we will contact you to determine if you would like to be placed on a waiting list, chose another tour, or receive a complete refund. Reservations made less than 60 days prior to trip start date require an immediate deposit. The balance is due at the start of the tour.

Group Trip Discounts
Discounts are available to those groups or organizations of 10 or more that register jointly for the same trip. Please contact us for details.

Register Early
We recommend that you register at least sixty days prior to the start of the trip, because travel arrangements, passport issues, obtaining visas, physical checkups, all take time. However, if a tour has space available, we accept reservations up to the beginning of the tour.

Tour Price Information
Tour prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy rooms (unless noted in the description), includes land costs starting on the start date at the start location and the listed support services.  Prices do not include airfare to the start location, alcoholic beverages, lunches on rest days and personal expenses. Prices quoted within this document are based on the current rates of exchange and are subject to change. The tour price is guaranteed once you have submitted your reservation and deposit.

Payments
A deposit of $500 per person is due with the completed reservation form. The final balance is due at the start of the tour. If you are registering within 60 days of the start of the tour, the deposit must be submitted with the reservation form. Payments may be made by check or money order in US dollars.

Cancellations and Refunds
A cancellation of your reservation will result in a fee based on the following schedule:

 No exceptions can be made including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving at a tour late or leaving early.

Cancellation Waiver
Occasionally, unfortunate things come up and you can’t go. To protect against this we highly recommend purchasing a medical and/or job emergency cancellation waiver. It is available at a nominal cost through Bike China Adventures. See Please ask for details.

Eligibility
All tour participants must be 18 years of age or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Physical disabilities or conditions, medical conditions or allergies, and dietary restrictions must be disclosed when the reservation is made. Bike China Adventures reserves the right to refuse anyone whose condition may be a danger to themselves or anyone else.

Visa and Passport Information
A valid passport and visa for China is required. Tourist visas for individuals are routinely issued at Chinese embassies or consulates abroad. Expedited processing is often available for an increased fee or by working through a travel agent. Apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., or at a Chinese consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco. Addresses are listed in the US Department of State web page. Also see the FAQ page.

Getting from Here to There and Back Again
Bike China will begin and end its tours in major cities that offer air connections to Hong Kong, or other major gateways within China such as Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. Typically you will need to arrive the day before the tour is scheduled to begin, since the first day is generally a ride day. On those tours that fly somewhere the first day it is possible to arrive at the gateway city and then transfer to the local flight. Lodging for the night before is included in your tour price, provided you stay in the designated hotel. You will be provided information, both in English and Chinese, on the where to stay and how to get there from the airport, along with typical taxi fares. As with almost everything in China, negotiate the price BEFORE you get in the vehicle. At the end of the tour, the last night’s lodging is also included in the tour price.

Accommodations Including Single Room and Attached Baths
Prices are based on double occupancy rooms (unless noted in the tour details).  Guests travelling solo are not assigned a permanent roommate, but rather rotate with other solo guests of the same gender.   Single  rooms are available with the payment of the private room supplement fee. Every effort will be made to honor single room requests. Some locations in remote areas it is not possible to guarantee a single room or an  attached bath every night for every guest.  On those occasions when a single room was requested, but it was not possible to provide, Bike China will provide a pro-rated refund for the nights accommodations were shared.  Attached baths will be provided whenever possible.

Meals
The tours include three meals a day, except on rest days where we spend two nights in one place. Vegetarians are welcome. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know with your reservation.

Bicycling in China and Physical Condition
The tours offered by Bike China Adventures are for both experienced cyclists who have previous touring experience and novices on their first tour. Some trips are more challenging than others are. See specific tour descriptions for details. You should be doing some regular aerobic training prior to going on the tour.

Bicycle
We recommend a hybrid or mountain bike with 26" wheels for most rides. A standard touring bike can be used, but there may be sections of road where narrow tires are not well suited. If you choose to bring a bike with 700c sized wheels, please to bring spare tires and tubes as this size is not available in China. See FAQ - What kind of bicycle should I bring? and BYOB (Bring Your Own Bicycle) .

Clothing and Gear
Check the weather information provided for the ride you are interested in and bring appropriate clothing and gear.

Optional Support Vehicle
An optional support vehicle can be supplied to assist as needed with mechanical support, supplying water and fresh fruit at scheduled stops and transportation to sagging cyclists. Contact us for details. Some tours are designed to include the support vehicle at no extra cost. Check tour details, or ask us.

Luggage Transport
Bike China offers optional luggage transportation service to those cyclists who would prefer to ride unencumbered. This is limited to one suitcase weighing no more than 45 lbs. (20 kg.). The costs are listed in the ride descriptions.  The luggage must be ready to be placed in the van by 9 a.m. on each cycling day. Some tours are designed to include luggage transport at no extra cost. Check tour details, or ask us.

Bike Box or After-Tour Luggage Transport
Bike China offers optional bike box or after-tour luggage transfer to the destination city for those who wish to use a bike box for air transport or have a suitcase meet them after the tour.  The cost listed in the tour descriptions is per piece, up to 45 lbs. (20 kg).

Medical and Health
There are no required shots or immunizations for visiting China. However, we recommend that you visit a doctor six weeks before the trip for an opinion on your physical condition, and to get any recommended shots or immunizations. The water from the tap is not potable in China. We will provide drinking water on the tour. See also FAQ - Should I get special shots or bring medical supplies?

Personal Safety
The US Government reports that China has a low crime rate; however crime has increased in the past few years, principally in the major cities. U.S. citizens and other foreigners have seldom been victims of violent crime.

Tour Support Services
Bike China Adventures provides the following pre-trip and tour services:

Pre-trip Services
Bike China provides you with an informational email with detailed information concerning your preparations for coming to China containing:

1. Trip itinerary with a description of the route with distances for each day.
2. Typical daily schedule
3. Clothing and equipment checklist
4. Suggested training guide and schedule
5. Rider Orientation Information will include basic riding information as to how riding in China differs from Western countries.
6. General tour Information

Tour Services
Bike China provides you with the following tour support services:

1. Hotel accommodations will be provided for each night in double occupancy rooms, unless a single room supplement is specified on the reservation form. The hotels will be simple but clean.
2. Meals are provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, except for lunches on rest days where we spend two days in one place.
3. There will be scheduled stops in the morning and afternoon on ride days where you can refill water bottles, and have snacks of fresh fruit.
4. There will be bicycle mechanical assistance available from the cycling staff.
5. Optional luggage transport service is available for a modest additional fee (unless explicitly included). See tour descriptions for costs.
6. Optional after-tour luggage or bike box transport to destination city is available for a modest additional fee.  See tour descriptions for costs.

Itinerary Changes
Occasional changes in the itinerary may be necessary due to changes in government policy or whenever such changes are advisable for any reason. If, in the unlikely event a tour is cancelled, you will receive a full refund of all money paid to Bike China Adventures which constitutes full settlement. Bike China Adventures is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trips such as airfare.

Release of Liability
In consideration for Bike China Adventures allowing my participation in the bicycle tour event for which I am registering, I freely agree to and make the following contractual statements and agreements:

Risks of Bicycling
I understand that participating in the bicycling tours offered by Bike China Adventures for which I am registering is a potentially hazardous activity. I fully realize and appreciate the dangers of riding a bicycle on open public roads and fully assume the risks associated with this activity. I fully accept and assume all risks including, by way of example but without limitation, physical injury, mental injury, the dangers of collision with pedestrians, vehicles, other bicyclists, and fixed or moving objects; the dangers arising from surface hazards, equipment failure, inadequate safety equipment, the effect of weather, including extreme temperature or conditions, traffic, the condition of the road and participating in event along the route. I understand that potentially dangerous situations may arise during the bicycle tour, which are beyond the control of Bike China Adventures, I assume the risks of all dangerous conditions during the Bike China Adventures event and waive any and all specific notice of the existence of such conditions. Knowing the risks involved, I agree to assume those risks, and to release Bike China Adventures and its employees, agents, and officers for any property damages, illness, injury or death that may occur in travel to and from these tours. I agree to have adequate medical insurance coverage for the duration of the Bike China Adventures event. I will assume and pay all medical and emergency expenses incurred by me in the event of illness, accident, or other incapacity regardless of whether I have authorized such expenses.

Participant’s Responsibility
I understand that I will be bicycling at my own risk and I will not participate unless I have been properly trained, physically and mentally able to do so. I assume responsibility for the adequacy, safety and condition of my bicycle, bicycle riding gear and any other equipment I choose to bring. I affirm that I will be bicycling at my own risk and release Bike China Adventures and all its employees from liabilities for any damages, injury, or death which may occur to me or anyone else. I agree to abide by all rules established by Bike China Adventures, to conduct myself in a safe and respectful manner at all times and respect the rights and privacy of other trip members. I understand that if I leave prior to the daily starting time or ride on a different route than described, that I will not be able to receive all the services described in advertisements or other literature. I further agree to obey the laws and customs of China. Bike China Adventures reserves the right to refuse service to anyone at any time prior to or during the trip, if in Bike China Adventures sole opinion, an individual’s physical condition or behavior are incompatible with the enjoyment of the group as a whole.

Bike China Adventures is not responsible for refunding airline fees due to change in itinerary or tour cancellation or theft of any personal gear including the bicycle. I also give my permission for use of my name, photograph, motion picture, recordings and evaluations by Bike China Adventures for promotional materials. All information provided by Bike China Adventures including but not limited to route maps, instructions, directions is privileged information and all contents are copyrighted © 1998-2004. Reproduction by permission only.

Release
I have read and accepted the terms contained in this document entitled "Fine Print". I hereby waive release and discharge, for myself, my heirs, my executor, successors, assigns, and administrators any rights or claims which I have or may hereafter accrue to me against the officers, employees, owners, volunteers and staff of Bike China Adventures.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read the information contained within "General Information and Fine Print" and agree to the terms.

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Date                                                              Date

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Signature of Participant                                   Parent or Guardian if participant is a minor

You will be required to sign this document prior to starting the tour.