Yvonne, who works as an RN when not leading tours, is responsible for all non-cycling logistics. Yvonne's motto is 'ride to eat'.  Her culinary skills and her ability to select those "off the beaten path" extraordinary European restaurants make gourmet dining an unforgettable part of each tour. 

Yvonne has a very thorough knowledge of the region and has logged over 30,000 km on the roads of the Black Forest , Vosges and Alps.  Aside from being a very strong rider, Yvonne is also a triathlete, has instructed kayaking, and is an accomplished musician. 

The idea to create a bicycle tour in the Black Forest /Vosges region began in 1987 when Merle was teaching at an International School in the Black Forest.  With over 70,000  km of riding experience in these mountains he has developed an intimate knowledge of the roads which traverse the Black Forest and Vosges and Swiss alps.  Favourite saying:  "except for a short climb it's all down hill from here!"

In the "off-season" Merle is a high school history and geography teacher.  Merle is the logistical planner for all events.  He is also highly accomplished in his role as errand boy for Yvonne.