Around the holidays it's hard not to go into vacation mode. It becomes something to look forward too especially since the time has changed and here in Minnesota we saw our first snowfall, although it only lasted for 15 minutes. Most of us are excited about time off to relax, visit with friends and family and for some of us traveling is part of the vacation. Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Café, recently had the opportunity to go on a dream vacation. For her nothing beats "good real food" and biking across beautiful terrain. So Tracy joined a group of five female riders on a Mello Velo bike tour of Tuscany, Italy.

Joe Christian, a Minneapolis-based road cyclist and gourmet chef runs Mello Velo. Joe and his wife Cindy are no strangers to Peace Coffee. Usually we see Cindy once a week when she comes to get coffee for the Mello Velo office and for Joyce pre-school that sells our coffee as a fundraiser. Cindy has only driven to Peace Coffee once or twice in the entire three years she has been buying our coffee. Cindy carries a pack back or a burley trailer with her to transport the coffee. Joe, on the other hand, is notorious for packing the coffee he picks up inside his bike jacket or in the back of his spandex pants waistline (don't worry he is the only one that drinks the stuff he picks up!), zooming off on his bike like a renegade Peace Coffee bike deliverer.

Tracy has only great things to say about Joe. She says, "My Mello Velo trip to Italy was the (cycling) trip of a lifetime. Joe is the ultimate "host with the MOST", from the morning's first cappuccino (while still in our pajamas!), to getting the bike ready to ride, to planning the route (complete with bakery/espresso stops!), to post-ride wine and cheese happy hour, to delicious gourmet dinners. Joe took care of everything! The only time I lifted a finger was to signal I needed more wine! Riding in Tuscany is spectacular - challenging to be sure - but Joe is super supportive and encouraging in such a way, that the riding was exhilarating and rewarding too. It was the perfect vacation!"

Next time you're planning a vacation with friends, family or a group of cycling buddies consider Mello Velo. They can craft cycling tours for folks of all different abilities and are open to hosting the tours in countries besides Italy and France. For example maybe you prefer travel to Ireland or England, although the wine isn't as good there.

To contact Mello Velo Bike Tours email Joe@mellovelotours.com or call 612-987-7663.

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