First a little something from the BBC...
In 1998 (yes that long ago) the famous BBC 'Holiday Programme' decided to try one of our cycle camping holidays in France and so sent Kate Humble over to Brittany to find out what it was all about. Below you'll see that recording from Youtube. Since 1998 there have been a few changes to our holidays - we no longer automatically book the ferry as there's far more choice now, the bikes and tents are better - but otherwise the holidays are unchanged - if it 'aint bust... The report only covers the camping side, but our hotel based holidays are just as good!
One of the people on this years led trip in June has just posted his blog of the trip:-) - see http://robertcyclefrance.blogspot.com/
This year one of our customers came and afterwards posted the following on the 'Trip Advisor' website (and no we didn't ask him to:-)
Forum posts... These are scary for any cycling holiday company because you can't control them! A quick trawl of the net had me finding the following...
The CTC is the biggest and oldest cycling organisation in the world. Their forum covers many topics but mostly cycletouring and so I did a quick search for Breton Bikes to see if we'd got a mention:-) We got three mentions...
"Hi, I toured Brittany with my son, who was 16 at the time, last year. We had a fabulous time and used a small travel company called Breton Bikes. I had never camped and cycled with a bike before so they were ideal. They provide the bike, all the equipment, routes and recommend campsites. They also provided backup for emergencies or mechanical problems and translation if needed!! The company is based at Gouarec which is adjacent to the canal. We did a small amount of cycling on the tow path but found the other cycling far more interesting. The routes were mainly on very quiet rural roads. An excellent holiday at a reasonable price and well woth considering. Taking that holiday gave me the confidence to cycle/camp on my own. Regards Millhouse."
"I and my family have done two holidays with Breton Bikes. Highly recommended. The web site is www.bretonbikes.com. And, not surprisingly, there is a picture of bikes on the Nantes-Brest towpath on their front page."
"We cut our cycletouring teeth, so to speak, on a Breton Bikes holiday, before we had our own suitable kit. Brittany is the tops. I want to retire there someday."
Other Forums
"For years I have wanted to do a long bike ride. I got on my old ten speed one day in high school and road 25 miles to another town, had a burger at McDonalds and then rode home. At that time my body would do anything that I asked of it without preparation. Things change a little as we age. When I lived in the D.C. area I commmuted to work on a bike and got in over 100 miles a week that way. I got in good shape and saved money. Two years ago part of my dream was met. My wife, Prudence, and my son, Nicholas, and I did a one week self-guided tour in Brittany through Breton Bikes. We had a great time and got hooked - I recommend their tours highly: www.bretonbikes.com."
"We did our first touring holiday with Breton Bikes 3 years ago. My children were 8 and 13 at the time. They thoroughly enjoyed it and we learnt a lot about touring and suitable equipment. we have done two more 2 week tours since in Brittany and Normandy and had a great time. Breton Bikes were friendly, experienced and had good kit."
Flexible, accommodating, a true pleasure! We booked a last-minute trip, had to fly across a continent so there was little room for error. Their easy flowing manner made it easy to calmly depart for the trip and arrive there feeling confident all was in order. The bikes were spectacular, their local knowledge impressive, all arrangements were taken care of without having to follow up or badger them. The accommodations were adequate equaling our expectations. We did set lower than normal expectations knowing we were on vacation in the country. In several cases we were pleasantly surprised to find a lovely setting. Great for kids! My 9 year old son travelled the whole trip with me and enjoyed the whole thing--from the history, to the challenge of biking, to the simple pleasures of the hotels and the outdoors. I'd do it again without skipping a beat!!!
Some lovely pics by an old customer here http://www.flickr.com/photos/7493003@N03/page10/
And
"We had a blast cycle-camping in Brittany, France with Breton Bikes. Geoff and Kate are a 30-something English couple who runs routes all over Brittany, either camping (supplies included) or, the more expensive and less spontaneous option, at bed and breakfasts. If you have any problems - illness, injury, needed repairs - Geoff drives out to meet you. We had all the kids with us so our routes weren't ambitious, but we had dinner the last night with a guy from Australia who had blown in from the coast doing some ridiculous number of kilometers a day, on his own. We traveled in a group for the most part with several English families, and every evening we bonded over sore muscles and cheap wine while the kids ran wild on the camp playground, but as I said, there are a lot more options available for those without munchkins. The web site is www.bretonbikes.com."
'Geoff and Kate Husband's highly personalised service takes the stress out of booking a family cycling holiday no matter how young your kids are, and their expert advice and backup service means you can be sure of a hitch-free holiday.'
Rhonda Carrier, author Frommer's Brittany With Your Family.
I just wanted to let you know, we just loved our trip with Breton Bikes...I think it was the most fun part of the summer vacation, and that is saying a lot, because we had a pretty great vacation on all our trips. We are still missing our tent and talking about the trip--something about the weather, the hills, the dramatic campgrounds and sleeping in a tent have made the biking part of the trip more vivid and indelible than the other legs of our vacation.
Dear Geoff and Kate , we are back in Belfast now after a great holiday in France .Thankyou very much for such an enjoyable holiday .The whole family loved the cycling ,we particularly liked the routes around the canal path and old railway track ,Bon Repos was a beautiful area with the old Abbey ,cafe and restaurant .We enjoyed the beautiful crepes and had a few lovely afternoons at Beau Rivage lakeside beach . The outdoor pool at St Nicolas was also very popular . We were delighted with the bikes and support we received from you and very pleased with the amount of Kms we managed over the week.This was a great way to see a beautiful part of France .I have no doubt we will make cycling part of our holidays again. We went on to spend the next part of our holiday camping at Royan on the South West coast . Again Many thanks and good luck for the future
Arrived home safely yesterday. Just a quick note to say thanks very much. It was a great holiday and lived up to all my expectations (which were quite high). The holiday was well organised, the routes were interesting and the detail was good. I would definately recommend to friends and I would also like to do again some time.
"We had a perfectly wonderful time. Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect: from the Gite itself to the rides to the town to the whole area. Best of all was your laid-back but tremendously efficient service and support. We will do our best to come back for another try and with any luck we'll be regular customers. Many, many thanks. If you ever need a reference, and especially for families, please feel free to have folks contact me."
"Thanks for a great holiday. Must say it was one of the best I have ever had."
Rob and Libby Adamson from Australia have just sent this article about their hotel tour this year.
Ralphe Troschke had a great time in 2006 and has just send this lovely letter to us - he's also happy for anyone to email him for advice.
"Well we are back in Johannesburg now and facing the chores of normal living again. What a come down after such a wonderful holiday on your bikes in Brittany!"
"We've enjoyed our stay very much. Many sites ancient and more recent close at hand and far afeild were visited in this most pleasant region. The Gite has been very comfortable an the bicycles functioned perfectly. Once again many thanks!"
"I just wanted to thank you for making our weeks cycling such an enjoyable, exhilarating and unforgettable experience. thanks to all your careful planning of routes, the excellent bikes and equipment, it made for a great week to tour around brittany and have a holiday that otherwise wouldnt have been possible. we both had a great time. one which we will always remember".
"many thanks again to you and your family. wishing you all the best and i will certainly recommend you to others, and who knows we might even do it again ourselves again!! "
"A little note to say a huge "Thank you!" for facilitating our wonderful holiday. We just had a fabulous time and now have so many happy memories to look back on. "
"Just a very quick message to say "Thank you very much" for a very happy holiday, which all members of our family really enjoyed. We were very comfortable on the campsite, very impressed with the bikes that you provided and thoroughly enjoyed the countryside around Gouarec. All in all, one of the best holidays ever. Best wishes,"
"Have finally got around to emailing you to say many thanks to you and family for arranging a very enjoyable and memorable holiday in Brittany for us. We enjoyed it so much and would love to do it again sometime."
"Just to emphasise some of the things we told you as we left, the whole "Breton Bikes experience" was great. The quality of the equipment, the location and the very well researched (evolved over many years?) routes gave us exactly the options we required. Both boys are very positive about how much they enjoyed the week and would definitely do it again. So a great success as far as we are concerned. Many thanks!"
"We had a great week... loved the countryside and the variation in rides... Thanks for making it possible."
It's been absolutely wonderful, beautiful villages and hamlets, great food, fantastic bikes and delightful gite - thanks for everything.
"again thanks to all (geoff kate and arthur) for a wonderful holiday"
Well we are back in Johannesburg now and facing the chores of normal living again. What a come down after such a wonderful holiday on your bikes in Brittany! Thank you for a well organised holiday and really good quality bikes.
"Just to say many thanks for a great week - seems ages ago now back here in soggy England! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and felt you got a good balance of exertions from day to day. You also have clearly built up a great deal of good will in all the places we stayed - we were invariably greeted warmly and taken very good care of. It was a special pleasure to meet and spend time with M.& Mme. Le Roux at the end of the week. We have lots of lovely memories and photos. Thanks again, and well done on running a great organisation! All the best for the rest of the season, "
Dear Kate and Geoff 5/4/08
Everything about our cycling vacation was wonderful! We had just the right combination of bikes for all our family - we used all 6 bikes! The two tandems allowed us to go all the way to the beach at Mael-Carhaix. The kids and the parents loved the longer rides. We rode all 5 days straight.
The gite is so comfortable and well supplied we truly felt at home there.
I know now why you chose to center your business on Gouarec. This is such a warm and relaxing place to spend a week. The people were so kind to us, and we had everything we needed right here. And I have never found a town in the US with so many good bike paths passing nearby. Wow!
So, thank you very much! Please stay in touch, we would love to hear about the tours you offer in the future and your own cycling adventures.
Best Regards
Sara, Paul, Marisa and Allegia.
In 2001 we also had a group who came and had a wonderful time and then wrote about their cycling holiday. If you want to see a 'diary' of the travails of a Breton Bikes holiday then hereit is
I've just descovered that Wendy and Paul Beard produced a website on their holiday in 1999, it's not finished but fun nevertheless and the fact that they've been back three times since says it all - have a look at Tandem adventure
2 years ago George Bailey brought his family and emailed to say "If you need American references anytime, we can unqualifiedly praise the gite, its location, its neighborhood and its facilities and its owners." So for anyone worrying about sending vacation money to some crook with a website; let me know and I'll pass on the address.
Tailor Made Tours
,"Geoff Husband our ever friendly, ever cheerful guide cum machanic cum general motivator (not to mention talented singer of Cornish songs) skilfully shepherded us around the virtually empty lanes of rural Brittany - through rolling farmland, forests of dappled sunlight and along rocky coasts and inlets. We enjoyed a really carefree holiday - friendly company, gentle cycling (never more than 40 miles a day, often less), swimming in the sea, cooking over a camp fire or sampling the local fare, crepes and cidre being a particular favorite, our only taxing burden was choosing between the cheap wine, the really cheap wine and the ludicrously cheap wine at the supermarket. By the end of the fortnight most people are hooked enough to book another holiday with Breton Bikes or buy their own equipment. Be warned! Cyclecamping can get into your blood!"
'Sue Darlow in 'Cycling World'
George Bailey brought his family and emailed to say "If you need American references anytime, we can unqualifiedly praise the gite, its location, its neighborhood and its facilities and its owners." So for anyone worrying about sending money to some crook with a website; let me know and I'll pass on the address."Definitely the most stress free two weeks with two small children I’ve ever had on holiday."
The lost Customer..."I came on a Breton Bikes holiday last year (cycling down to Carnac and back) and thoroughly enjoyed it - in fact, you did such a good job that you've done yourself out of a booking this year - instead I've bought my own touring bike, tent and panniers and I'm planning an island hopping trip to the Hebrides. So although I won't be coming back last year I'd like to thank you for showing me how great cycle camping is."
"Thanks so much to you all for a great holiday - we really enjoyed staying in Daisy and cycling along the canal. We have happy memories of Gouarec and hope to return another year"
"again thanks to all (geoff kate arthur and rachel) for a wonderful holiday - and don't let arthur denigrate your wonderful custom pannier design! "
"Hi Kate and Geoff, Well we are back in Johannesburg now and facing the chores of normal living again. What a come down after such a wonderful holiday on your bikes in Brittany! Thank you for a well organised holiday and really good quality bikes."
"Thanks for the great service! We all had a wonderful time."
"Just to say many thanks for a great week - seems ages ago now back here in soggy England! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and felt you got a good balance of exertions from day to day. You also have clearly built up a great deal of good will in all the places we stayed - we were invariably greeted warmly and taken very good care of. It was a special pleasure to meet and spend time with M.& Mme. Le Roux at the end of the week. We have lots of lovely memories and photos. Thanks again, and well done on running a great organisation! All the best for the rest of the season."
"Quite the best time I’ve had for years."
"Yet another fantastic week of biking."
"For the second time, another fabulous holiday - great bikes, excellent weather and company."
"Your enthusiasm and organization is amazing, thank you for making everything so much fun."
"It’s been like coming back to visit old friends in a heavenly country."
"Thanks a million Geoff and Kate - you do a great job."
"Sixty-nine next week and still I made it..... A wonderful week, beautiful countryside and so well organised...Thankyou."
"Brilliant...what else can we say, can’t wait for the next one."
"The most relaxing holiday we can remember, we’ll be back..."
"Excellent family holiday, even for an 18 month old. 7 year old can cycle up hills."
"Superb coastal scenery, and magnificent food."
"The tandem + adult bike + child’s bike was a super combination for a family of four,...Tres agreeable et merci beaucoup!"
"Thanks for the experience - we’d never have never got round to doing it otherwise!"
"Congratulations on your supreme organization - worth every penny."
"I was really worried before I came but it was brilliant....the bikes were fantastic."
"A lovely way to "escape" & get back to nature. I really enjoyed meeting friendly people & sitting down to delicious meals - many thanks?"
"A great experience. Excellent equipment with good advice and reliable information... a wonderful holiday."
"Our first reacqaintance with travel on two wheels in 30 years - a great experience...Vive les Breton Bikes."
"A brilliant holiday - we’d be slim and fit if it weren’t for all the cheese + Breton gateaux we’ve eaten, not to mention the gallons of vin rouge! ... To be recommended."
"A very enjoyable week! Beautiful weather, magnificent scenery, very friendly people and top food. I’m definitely hooked."
" Thanks for organizing us a wonderful holiday! It was a beautiful route + the Breton food was delicious! - plenty of new things to try whilst relaxing at the countryside! - see you again soon!"
"Cracking week. The trailerbike was a great success for a 4 1/2 year old. Our bikes were superb... Know I know how John Wayne got his walk! A holiday set for an encore."
"Absolutely the best holiday we’ve had with the children."
"Wonderful week. Carhaix campsite the best. Thanks to Geoff and Kate - especially for the wine at the end of the week."
"Great scenery, easy rides, good equipment, great food - brilliant."
“Your welcoming hospitality, superb organisation, endless patience, sense of humour, extreme tolerance and fantastic imagination, as well as the Brook's saddle all made the week unforgettable.”
“Thank you both very much for a holiday none of us will ever forget. We are all still talking about it and intend to do another one next year.”
“Three years ago I did the hotel tour 'carnac or bust' with you - you supplied me with equipment, written directions, a map and my hotel reservations and I was off to discover Brittany at my own pace- it was a wonderful experience.”
“just a note to say how much we enjoyed our week . we will be booking again next year.”
“Just a quick mail to say thank you very much! Domenyk and I had a fantastic holiday last week. We had never done a cycling holiday before and loved every minute. The bikes were great throughout, the accomodation clean and comfortable and the food was superb! Best of luck for the rest of the season and I'm sure that we will be booking again next year.”
“Many thanks for our week on wheels. It was almost fun! Please say a big thank you to David when you next see him.”
“we had a fantastic holiday and I am busy recommending to all and sundry!”
“The bikes were great and David (the campsite owner at Gouarec) made it a very special holiday for us - please send him our love.”
“I can't think of any recommendations I could suggest to make it better (other than less hills!) - it was the most magical holiday I can remember. “
“Just a wee note to say how much we enjoyed our holiday with you in France. We had such a fab time and met some lovely people (yourselves included of course!), and the children had such a blast! Erin is totally lost this week without her new friends. You have given us a wee taster of France and we will definitely explore more of it in the future, hopefully with yourselves. The cycling was amazing and we are hoping to keep it up in Wales (ha ha ha!).”
“Harriet got home, jumped on her bike and cycled down the road.”
“I pumped up the tyres on our bikes which have been unused for 8 years and Roger cycled off to Tesco's.”
“We had an absolutely fabulous time and will have great memories from our first holiday in France. It was lovely to have such a well organised holiday, (even down to the water bottles on our bikes!) and we have both of you to thank for it.”
“Great backup.”
“Like to let you know that we had a very enjoyable week. Just the right amount of biking daily for our beginners legs.”
“Thank you very much. Hope to try it again other time.”
"Towards the end of the week Angus is wandering up to the toilet block with me and announces that "this is the best holiday he's ever had", a propos of nothing. You know what it's like getting information out of kids that age, so this is high praise indeed. Later the same day Douglas announces unprompted that "this holiday rocks". I think that's good...."
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