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Lauren Hefferon
CEO at Ciclismo Classico
Lauren Hefferon is a prominent figure in the adventure travel industry, known for her innovative contributions to bicycle tourism. She is the CEO and Founder of Travel Vision Journeys, a company that specializes in unique photo adventure tours, particularly in South America, including destinations like Argentina and Brazil.145
Background and Education
Hefferon graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Cornell University, where she also developed her passion for cycling. This interest began in her youth after a skiing injury led her to explore biking as a means of staying active and fulfilling her wanderlust.23 She furthered her education in fine arts and photography while living in Florence, Italy, which significantly influenced her career path.12
Career Achievements
In 1988, Hefferon founded Ciclismo Classico, a pioneering bicycle tour company that has become a leader in the adventure travel sector. Under her leadership, Ciclismo Classico has received numerous accolades, including recognition from Outside magazine and National Geographic Traveler for its exceptional travel experiences.23
Hefferon is recognized not only for her entrepreneurial spirit but also for her advocacy in cycling. She actively supports various cycling initiatives, such as Rails to Trails and Bikes Belong, and has been involved in educational programs promoting bike tourism.13 Additionally, she founded the Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival and has served on panels at significant industry events like the National Bike Summit.23
Philosophy and Impact
Lauren Hefferon's philosophy centers on the transformative power of bicycle travel. She believes it fosters engagement with local cultures and enhances personal well-being through active exploration. Her work continues to inspire others to embrace cycling as a lifestyle and means of travel.12
In summary, Lauren Hefferon is a visionary leader in the travel industry, combining her passions for cycling, education, and cultural immersion to create memorable experiences for travelers around the world.
Highlights
Another superb bike fundraiser, this time for the Franklin Land Trust, a non-profit in Western Massachusetts whose mission is to assist farmers and other landowners who want to protect their land from unwanted development. FLT has helped hundreds of families in Western Massachusetts craft conservation plans that address their financial goals, family needs, and conservation vision. to preserve the land of Western.
https://lnkd.in/eD2XasGj
Since 2005, the D2R2 (Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee) takes place in the lands that it helps preserve. It has been hailed as the "hardest, most beautiful, most fun, most traffic-free, most unique, and overall best ride that they have ever done."
I rode the classic 100K of dirt roads, climbing over 6,500 feet over the rough and rugged dirt roads of the D2R2 (Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee). As always, I saw lots of old cycling buddies and met new ones. Cheerful Companions kept moving at a solid pace. I enjoyed super delicious food and quiet routes through spectacular and lush Western MA and Southern VT landscapes. Local beer and ice cream are all I need as a reward.
"It's community, not a competition" Cyclists doing good is a 😀 good thing!
Drumroll! Ciclismo Classico is so excited to announce its new line of Gravel Bike Tours in Tuscany and the Dolomites. Gravel is the hottest new trend in bicycle travel. Why? Gravel riding is booming because of the huge variety of adventures (easy to challenging), the vast network of routes available, and finally, because our Ciclismo unpaved itineraries often have zero cars ( and tourists) on them. Italians have been cycling these strade bianche (white roads) for decades—their spectacular twist and turns are iconic and frame the Renaissance landscapes you will be diving into on each and every Ciclismo ride. We could not be more excited to unveil this new Ciclismo Chapter. Stay tuned for a growing number of itineraries all over La Bella Italia! Andiamo!
https://lnkd.in/e8GJjmsj
