Do I need previous cycling experience for tours on open roads?

Some of our tours ride on streets open to normal traffic, not just protected bike lanes, so they call for a genuine level of balance and confidence on a bike. If you haven't ridden much recently, or you're not fully comfortable around cars, look for a tour rated "Easy" on quieter, more protected routes instead. The physical rating and road type are always listed on the tour page — it's worth a look before you book.