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