HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area: This spectacular mountain region forms the backbone of Europe running through Austria and Switzerland,
before turning south along the French and Italian border to the Mediterranean Sea. The area has some of Europe's tallest
peaks, many of which remain snow capped throughout the year. During the winter the area is covered with snow and is popular
with skiers, with resorts like Val d'Isere famous around the world. However during the summer it is completely transformed
into a beautiful region of flower filled meadows, forests, bubbling streams and pretty villages, linked by some wonderfully
scenic roads. Overall the area offers some of the best cycling to be found anywhere in Europe.
The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Holiday with a tour leader and vehicle support to carry all the luggage and
provide additional assistance if necessary. The route mostly follows the established Route des Grandes Alpes, starting on
the shore of Lac Leman and finishing on the French Riviera. Obviously this is a fairly strenuous holiday. The area is
mountainous and few of the roads are level. Most days you will be cycling between 60 - 70 miles, and climbing over at least
one major pass, on some days two or more. If you have not ridden a bicycle in mountainous areas before then you should be
aware that cycling over this sort of terrain is fairly strenuous and doing so day after day can be very tiring. Some of
the climbs are long, 10 or 12 miles is not uncommon, and there are some that are even longer. The ride up to the Col de
l'Iseran for example, is nearly 25 miles of uphill. However most of the roads are fairly well graded with plenty of
switchbacks, they are nowhere near as steep as some roads in the UK. Gradients are usually around 6 or 7% (that’s about 1 in
16 or 1 in 14), with short sections that are about 10 - 12% (that’s about 1 in 10 – 1 in 8). However there are also some
fabulous descents.
Note that in some parts of the Alps there are not many roads and we do have to use main roads where there is no alternative
and one or two of these can be moderately busy. On the roads over the high passes there can be quite a lot of tourist
traffic, but it is generally slow moving and less of a problem. You can also expect to meet a lot of other riders on the road, particularly over the more famous cols as they are very popular with cyclists.
Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small family run hotels, generally graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another person of the same sex – unless the additional single supplement has been paid. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation, most hotels also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or there is at least one other restaurant nearby.
Start: The holiday starts at Geneva, from where you will be transferred to the first nights accommodation on the shore of Lake Leman. Flights are available to Geneva from many regional airports in the UK or there are high speed trains from Paris (with Eurostar connections from London).
Finish: The holiday ends at Menton on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The next day transport will be
provided to Nice airport or railway station for the journey home. Flights are available from Nice to several regional airports in the UK, or there are high speed trains to Paris (with onward connections to London on Eurostar). Note: The cost of travel to Geneva and the return from Nice are not included in the cost of the holiday. You may book flights or trains yourself or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable). A separate form will be sent to you.
Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to take your bicycle from your home in the UK
to the start of the holiday, and return it to your home at the end of the trip (additional fee payable).
Documents: You require a passport to visit France. Nationals of some other countries also require a visa. Non
EU passport holders should check with the nearest French Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the
duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable
alternative policy.
Bikes: The type of bicycle that you bring on these holidays is entirely up to you. If you have a choice we
would recommend a 'road' or ‘touring’ bike as being the most suitable for most people, as they are generally lighter and
easier to ride. However the most important thing is that your bike functions properly and you are comfortable riding it.
Whatever type of cycle you are taking you should make sure that it has suitable gears for this sort of trip. If you haven't
ridden in this type of terrain before you'll probably find that you'll be most comfortable with a bottom gear of about
25-30 inches, which will usually mean having a triple chainring. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it
with narrow 'slick' tyres.
You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. The route does cross
some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services, and you can get very cold descending some of the
passes even if the weather is sunny.
Weather: The weather at the end of August is usually hot and sunny, with temperatures in the valleys in the high 20's.
However at the top of the high passes it is considerably cooler - the temperature drops by one degree for every 100 metres
of elevation gained. You should also be aware that mountain weather can be particularly unpredictable and the weather
at the top of the high passes can be very poor, and snow is not uncommon, even in summer. |