Georiders: a Tbilisi Based Tour Company for the Adventurous Cyclist
Founded in 2007 Georiders started as a Facebook page set up to galvanize the small community of mountain bikers in Tbilisi, giving them a forum to discuss bike issues and arrange various activities and rides.
The Facebook page was quickly followed by a website offering adventure mountain bike tours in the high Caucasus. Over the years it has developed into a professionally run tour company delivering over 70 plus tours leaving many international tourists with the adventure, flavor and cultural awareness of The Republic of Georgia.”We just wanted to say what a terrific time we had with Georiders on our recent trip to Georgia. It was great to see a part of Georgia we otherwise would have missed, and the countryside was beautiful.” - Dave and Heidi from the UK.
Visiting places such as Girevi, Parsma, Shenako, Old Diklo, Ushba, Ushguli and Adishi and staying in traditional, clean and comfortable guesthouses, tourists come away from a Georiders tour feeling they’ve seen Georgia as it would have been hundreds of years ago, unspoiled by mass tourism and luxury hotels. As Valerie from California puts it: “Tusheti is an amazing destination, very unspoiled, a piece of paradise tucked up in the high Caucasus.”
The riding and scenery in Tusheti, Kazbegi and Svaneti has to be ridden and seen to be believed. Stunning panoramas wait at the top of every pass, followed by a thrilling descent to keep guests craving more. Undulating double and single track trails hug the side of mountains or follow wild rivers crashing down valleys whilst waterfalls offer the occasional cooling shower along the way.
For years now the company has been offering package and bespoke tours to inbound tourists from as far away as the US, Europe, Australia and Asia, typically 18 plus in age, including some very adventurous guests in their mid 50’s. Parallel to this Georiders continues to run one day tours and weekend tours to Abastumani, the Abano Pass, Ananuri and locally around Tbilisi.
Still having a great influence in the biking community, Georiders helps to organize community rides, helps enthusiasts find out what’s going on in Tbilisi bike-related, and works with government agencies on bike routes and to organize charity events to give bikes to under privileged children.
For 2016 the tour offer will consist of three main mountain bike tours in Svaneti, Kazbegi and Tusheti plus a variety of new adventure tours, Jeep tours, hiking tours, and motor bike tours along with cultural city tours, architecture tours and historical tours. There’ll be new prices for existing tours and the bespoke tour service that has become increasingly popular will continue. If you’re interested in finding out more about Georiders or simply want to go for a ride with other riders, visit the website, or join the Facebook group Georiders - Mountain Biking Guiding in the Republic of Georgia.
James Dean