April 2, 2005 (Toronto, ON) — The company that brought the world Tour d’Afrique, the world’s longest and toughest bicycle race, www.tourdafrique.com, now introduces the Orient Express Bicycle Tour — the first bicycle journey from Paris to Istanbul.

It was in 1883 that the Orient Express first made its way from Paris to Istanbul. The train revolutionized transportation and brought adventure and delight to tens of thousands.

But adventure, discovery and daring are still there for the taking. Over eight magical weeks, on a trip designed to capture the spirit of the original Orient Express route, the Tour will cover 3,690 km, biking from Paris to Istanbul. The journey combines genuine physical challenge “” Europe has a couple of hills that could be regarded as steep “” with exciting cultural and memorable culinary experiences, to stimulate all of the senses.

The Orient Express Bicycle Tour will start on Sunday, July 31st, 2005 at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and head east through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, applying the brakes for the last time 56 days later, on September 24th in magical Istanbul, Turkey.

The tour is divided into 41 biking days and 15 rest days. The latter will allow the participants to enjoy such places and activities as the vineyards of Alsace, a Mozart concert in Vienna, a luxury spa in Budapest, a 10th century castle in Bratislava, a National Art Museum in Bucharest, the glorious beaches of the Black Sea, and a vast range of culinary treats from the best restaurants in Europe.

Like the Tour d’Afrique, this is a supported tour. Our trucks will collect the participants’ luggage each day and deliver it to the next destination. On biking days, breakfast and dinner will be served and a lunch will be provided at the day’s halfway point. On days off, there is time to explore and partake in adventures of one’s choice: culinary, athletic, sensual or touristy. And again like the Tour d’Afrique, one can bike the entire route or any section (or sections) of it. The most convenient sectional legs will be Paris to Vienna, Vienna to Bucharest, and Bucharest to Istanbul. But participants can join us — and leave us — at any spot suitable to them.

Canadian Henry Gold created the Orient Express Bicycle Tour as part of his quest to create new, innovative adventures on bicycles and to foster a more bicycle and people-oriented society.

“Although I am well aware that many European countries are much more bike friendly, and that many more people use bicycles for commuting and recreation, I was surprised to find out that there are no organized supported long-distance bicycle trips across Europe,” Mr. Gold said. “So we decided to create one. I think this will appeal to all sorts of people.”