Our Guides
Our tour guides are perhaps the most important part of our operation. They thoughtfully cater to your needs, help you to discover all the wonderful gems of the area you visit, maintain the bikes, and support the daily itinerary with a big smile.
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Benton Hart |
| Our director of tour development and guiding, Benton has worked for Classic Adventures since 1985. His general responsibilities include our annual catalog development, accounting and database management. He also oversees all aspects of our France & Quebec tours. Fluent in French, Benton lived for several years in Tours, France. His formal education includes a B.A. in English & French from the University of Dayton, and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Rochester Institute of Technology. |
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Sarah Hart |
| Full time mother of three, part-time figure painter, Sarah oversees the coordination of photography in our tour catalog. Sarah currently teaches figurative drawing and portraiture through the University of Rochester. Sarah frequently serves as a guide/assistant on our North American departures, including Quebec, Mississippi, NY Finger Lakes, and The Erie Canal. With a formal education in Classical Art from Meredith College (Raleigh, NC) Sarah enjoys sharing her knowledge of art history. Having lived in Florence, Italy, for four years, she has traveled and cycled most of Italy. |
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Dianne Hart |
| Dianne has worked full time for Classic Adventures since 1997 after 25 years of teaching high school English. Her strong organizational skills, coupled with her fluency in French and Greek make her a great asset both on tour and in the office. Dianne undertakes trip development and writing of the annual catalog. Dianne’s zest for travel began in 1964 when she and Dale traveled to the Ivory Coast of French West Africa for a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps. |
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Dale Hart |
| Dale Hart, founder of Classic Adventures originally served as a full-time professor and lacrosse coach at the State University of New York at Brockport. In 1973, Dale began guiding student trips to Greece, in conjunction with their academic courses. In 1979 Dale decided to share his knowledge of history, sport and adventure travel by offering his first Greek trip to the public. Ironically, he called it “Bicycle Greece!” He brings more than 30 years of personal experience to our operation. Dale has a passion for hiking, as well as biking. He has led hikes in Crete, in the Pindus Mountains of Northern Greece, and in Ireland along the Kerry Way. Hobbies include kayaking, enjoying the four grandchildren, and working on his lawn and garden. |
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Steve & Lisa Burt |
| Our resident Vermont experts, they were first introduced to Classic Adventures in 2007 when they participated on the NY Finger Lakes tour…as dream guests. Vermont natives, young, fit, computer literate, organized, great parents and great bikers Steve and Lisa are a perfect match for the Vermont programs. We think you'll agree, we're lucky to have them on board. |
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Mike Prohaska |
| Mike, an accomplished racer, has assisted on several of our New York departures. When not guiding, Mike is one of the head mechanics at a Rochester bike shop. His in depth knowledge of the ever changing world of bicycle technology has proven to be a valuable asset. Mike is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in international business at State University of New York at Brockport. |
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Peter Martin |
| A professional guide since the mid 80’s, Peter works as a photojournalist for the Montreal Gazette. Peter and his wife Maria share their time between Annapolis, MD and Montreal QC. Principally responsible for our Austria and Germany programs, Peter also leads wine tasting tours through the Burgundy region of France. His fluency in German and French, attention to detail and fun loving nature make him a perfect fit to these departures. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our staff. |
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Michael Anderson |
| Originally from Brockport, NY (situated along the Erie Canal), Michael now resides in Chicago, IL. He brings a unique blend of skills to Classic Adventures; fluent in German and French, an avid cyclist, and a love of travel, Michael has been a great addition to our guide team. Michael’s formal education includes a B.A. from Amherst College and a Master’s degree in Art History from the University of Virginia. His hobbies include competitive sailing along with eating & drinking well. (Be sure to test his wine knowledge.) |
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Ron Illian |
| Recently retired from the business world, Ron was first introduced to Classic Adventures in 2000 as a guest on The Dordogne Valley tour in France. Ron’s hobbies include growing orchids and cooking. He claims to speak five foreign languages poorly. His forte is having fun, and relaxing with guests. He is also excellent at teaching the nervous traveler how to consume raki, a Cretan specialty. When not on tour with Classic, Ron assists his wife in managing a large animal veterinary clinic. He currently holds the two man record for schlepping luggage for 37 people. (Both with and without elevators!!) |
