| Cycling holidays come in all shapes and sizes, literally! | | | | client ratio - you ideally want no more than 6 people |
| Some are long and exceptionally challenging, for | | | | per guide. |
| instance, a three week trip across Himalayan | | | | - Rest days? Most cycling holidays have a rest day or |
| mountain passes in Nepal. Others are short and | | | | two included. These are sometimes optional but most |
| leisurely, for example, a week long trip cycling along | | | | people normally need a rest day. |
| quiet roads in the French Dordogne. | | | | - Centre based or point to point? Centre based trips |
| Most people who have never been on a cycling | | | | give the option to take additional rest days and mean |
| holiday before find it very difficult to choose an | | | | you don't have to pack your luggage every morning. |
| appropriate trip, not least because there is such a | | | | Point to point trips mean you have to cycle between |
| vast choice of location, experience level and number | | | | locations - check there is a support vehicle to carry |
| of companies now offering cycling and mountain bike | | | | you if you get tired! |
| holidays, all over the world. | | | | - How fit do you need to be? It depends on the |
| So what should you look for when considering a | | | | difficulty grade of the cycling holiday you are |
| cycling holiday? | | | | considering. If you take some form of regular |
| - Experience level? Check what previous experience | | | | exercise, for example, swimming, running, cycling or a |
| (if any) you need for the trip. Most trips are graded | | | | gym workout a couple of times per week, you |
| from Easy through to Challenging. Read the small print | | | | should be able to enjoy a cycling holiday. It is always |
| carefully and if you are not sure, just give the cycling | | | | advisable, however, to actually do some cycling |
| holiday company a call. | | | | training over several weeks before you go on the |
| - Off road or tarmac? Off road trips will be classed | | | | trip. Otherwise, you may find cycling uphill a little |
| as mountain bike holidays. Consider the type of | | | | difficult. |
| terrain and gradients involved. It is MUCH harder to | | | | If you are concerned about how fit you need to be, |
| cycle 10km on steep rocky terrain than 30km on | | | | you could always try a beginner level trip. These are |
| tarmac! | | | | aimed at people with little experience of cycling but |
| - Group size? Most cycling trips are run in small | | | | you will find that after a few days in the saddle, both |
| groups no greater than 12-14. Check the guide to | | | | your confidence AND your fitness will be much higher. |