Consider the options, your patience, and your drive before booking. Do you want a trip that always moves forward — point A to point B — so that you pack up every morning and unpack every night? How about a series of loops reaching out from a single (and hopefully satisfactory) hotel? Or a combination of the above?

Bike the Big Island

What kind of terrain do you want to tackle — alpine or flatland, forests or plains? What kinds of climates intrigue you — coastal versus interior, rainy versus dry? Remember, if you're riding in arid North Africa, you can't complain about the heat; if the published itinerary takes you over hills, you can't grumble about the climb.

How long does a trip last? Is it a one-week spin covering a single region, a two-week multi-region endeavor, or a three- to five-week cross-continental undertaking? What is the total distance you will cover? What is the average daily mileage? What is the longest/shortest day? Be realistic about what you think you can and want to do. That said, desire is more important than perceived reality. People can and always do surprise themselves.

Finally, how are the trips structured? Is there a rigid daily program or is individualism allowed/encouraged? In other words, does everyone have to be up for breakfast and on the road together by 9 a.m., or can late-nighters sleep in and yawn onto two wheels at their leisure? If go-your-own-pace is the pattern, each client should be provided with the necessary details for a full day's enjoyment: a route sheet with instructions, destination hotel information, route highlights and history, schedules, and information numbers for alternative means of transport (if there is no support vehicle). Speaking of which, never be afraid to ask what the backup/bail-out options are. Is there a support van? Does the guide"sweep" behind the last of the clients? Are there buses and trains and taxis along the route? Bailing out is a life-saving maneuver that keeps a boat afloat — not necessarily an abandon-ship.