On all our other trips once you leave our base you are free of us unless you need help. On the led trips I get to come too! Apart from my sparkling company you also get the benefit of my nose for restaurants, unique knowledge of sub-2 Euro bottles of wine, scintillating camp-stove recipes and of course the unique camaraderie of other cyclists trying to out-eat each other... On these trips you’ll find men and women, couples and singles, of all ages and from wildly different backgrounds. Yet, without exception, the group soon gels and becomes a group of like-minded friends ‘lost in France’. Because of the nature of these groups the ‘route’ is very flexible, often a poster advertising a fete, or the prospect of another stunning day at the beach, will make us change our plans. For us these trips are the high point of the season, and are the ones that bring people back year after year, so if you want to join this select band don’t leave it too late. To give you some idea of the priorities of the group go and have a look at the Breton Bikes Gourmet Guide...
CAMPING SEPTEMBER LED TRIP FOR 2013 - Sunday 15th to Friday 27th September - MOUNT VENTOUX!
So for 2013...
The route for 2013 is still in a slight state of flux as I await details of flights etc, however what I can say is that it will be in Haute Provence and the target will be to get to, climb up, and camp on Mont Ventoux one of the most famous mountains in the cyclists panthion.
I think it's obvious that this will not be a beginners tour - we will start and finish at Lyon thanks to the Esyjet links which will mean a round trip of something like 700 kms in 11 full cycling days - so an average of around 64 kms or 40 miles. The snag is that the days will not be even because of the problems of campsites (they are obviously not exactly 64 kms apart) and varying terrain etc will dictate the distances. For example coming off the Ventoux we might well cover 100 kms in a day - going up rather less, so everything has to balance out... This means that anyone coming must be happy doing a 50 mile, hilly day without giving me grief:-) In the situation where one member of the group cannot manage they will be left behind to cycle solo back to base (and when this has happened people still seem to have a great time!) or organise their own transport for both themseves and all equipment. the same applies in case of illness/accident. This said the group is very much of the 'pottering' rather than 'racing' pace and that 40 miles isn't a lot when spread out over a day.
BUT my word! it'll be worth the effort:-) Some gorgeous countryside, fabulous food, quiet roads and an iconic climb - nothing could be better...
The most important thing is to remember that this is not one of those tours with lots of muscly men with shaved and oiled legs (sorry ladies) though Ian is working on it... It is very much a ride for people who are moderately fit, and do a bit of cycling, the group is always populated by a mix of experienced 'Breton Bikers', newbees, all ages and with generally a 50/50 male/female mix. This trip has a strict limit of 14 people and will book solid for sure so please don't leave it too late to book...
Conditions... Unlike any other tour, where we rush out to solve any problems, this will make more serious physical demands on you, and we are 500 miles from our base in Brittany, and there is no back-up vehicle. It means that in the event of illness/injury you will be essentially on-your-own. It is therefore ESSENTIAL that you have holiday insurance that will cover you for any medical attention (Europeans will be covered by the European Health Card), travel expenses, accommodation and of course compensate you for any lost holiday time.
So be there or be square...
Cost - Because this is a 'special' the price is only 400 pounds/500 Euro
Only you can judge how fit you are. Please don’t assume a level of fitness when you haven’t taken any exercise for years - try a few rides at the maximum distance before you come. Remember that if in doubt choose an easy route. Please note the distances, don’t book a 30+ mile per day route if you don’t normally ride a bike, or an easy route if you’ll get bored... As a guide most beginners average around 8 mph and more experienced up to 12 mph. Thus a 25 mile ride will take around 3 hours. It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you choose a route at the limit of your ability you’ll have nothing in reserve if you get lost! On the other hand regular cyclists, even only a few miles a day, should have no problem with any of the routes. If you want harder cycling then by combining routes we can give you up to 80 miles a day.