Holiday Packages
Please see for more information below on our own Tour de France, Etape du Tour Reconnaissance weeks, Guided Mountain Bike Weeks, Raid Pyrenean & Classic Tour Cols week and what they include:-
LAST MINUTE ETAPE RECON WEEKENDS SEE PRICES PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND JUNE DATES.
This 2 days trip provides you the opportunity to ride and recon the route for the 2010 etape with our experienced guides and dedicated vehicle support from the pyreneescycling team bus. Our base for the 3 nights will be the excellent Les Sorbiers in Bareges. The ride schedule for the first day will cover the route from Pau and the climbs of the Marie Blanque and Soulor. Day two will be focused on the climb to the Col du Tourmalet.CALAIS TO THE PYRENEES RIDE YOUR OWN TOUR DE FRANCE:
French End to End is our version of ride your own Tour De France, from Calais to the Pyrenees and finish on the Col du Tourmalet for 9 memorable days in France. Divised by riders for riders away from main roads, that take in traditional French towns and villages this provicial Tour De France will encounter some of the best scenery in the world.Our group cycling holidays covers a range of different destinations however this is a route where the destination is different each day this is an undertaking for all cycling abilities. We take care of everything - we plan the route, book the accommodation and do all we can to make sure you have a great time.
There is a support vehicle to carry your bags, and look after the group. We also have a member of our team riding with the group will be able to speak both English and French to help with mechanicals or any other problems and to make sure that no-one is left behind.
This 9 Day tour of France always a classic route through France which is only for cyclists who have a very good fitness level and just like the Tour we change the route every year. Should you want to do your own Tour De France in 2010, then Calais to the Pyrenees will be one of your best rides of the year, our 1st trip starts on Saturday 1st May 2010.
All our holidays have been carefully researched to ensure the routes use quiet scenic roads and include places of interest along the way. You are also provided with detailed route instructions so you can ride at your own pace if you wanted to. Each day has a pre-arranged lunch stop where you can help yourself and have a little rest.
The holidays attract all sorts of different people, are usually a good mix of males and females, singles, couples, friends and families, and are always great fun. A summary of our trips for 2009 can be found in the Holidays packages.
French 'End to End' taking you all the way from the English Channel to the Pyrenees. Highlights of this years Tour de France in 2010 include the Cote d'opale, the d-day beaches, Loire Valley, Charms of the Medoc region of Bordeaux and the Landes forest. The Basque country, the pyrenees atlantique and the Hautes Pyrenees for another fanastic trip through France.
The holiday starts with a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais from where you will spend your 1st night before you start the journey south. Our route takes you through the pretty farming countryside of northern France through the Pas de Calais into the heart of Picardie, with its lush green countryside and distinctive red brick houses. The colourful houses of the Opale coastline and the seafood restaurants of Dieppe. The Normandy rolling country side is has tree lined roads that are synonymous with France. The Loire valley famous for the white wines of Muscadet, Sancerre and Pouilly Fume not to drink too much as another few days in the saddle beckons. Down in the Medoc where the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as we head into the Forest of the Landes around Bordeaux getting closer to the Pyrenees and places of undiscovered France which are very picturesque. The Basque Country and the high pyrenees are the last regions of excellent riding territory before the last day arrives and we are fully into the mountains of the Pyrenees. This superb ride that takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of France - it should not be missed. This is one of our favourite cycling holidays and we run it 5 times a year May, June, September and October some of the most delightful times of the year when there is no holiday traffic, unlike July and August in France and when the days are not too hot. The holiday offers similar challenges to the UK 'End to End', but the weather is better and the total distance is slightly less.
Start dates for this years 9 day Tour de France - Calais to the Pyrenees. Travel to the event must be carried out on the day before the ride starts all 2010 rides will start at 0930 on the dates shown below Saturday morning except for the September ride:-
Calais to the Pyrenees Dates 2010
-May 2010 1 - 9 May
Arrive Calais 30th April - start ride 1st May / finish ride 9th May return home 10th May.
Day 1 1st May Calais - Dieppe 155kms
Day 2 2nd May Dieppe - Caen 150kms
Day 3 3rd May Caen - Mortain 150kms
Day 4 4th May Mortain - Beaupreau/Cholet 150kms
Day 5 5th May Beaupreau/Cholet - La Rochelle 140kms
Day 6 6th May La Rochelle - Bordeaux 150kms
Day 7 7th May Bordeaux - Peyrehorade 160kms
Day 8 8th May Peyrehorade - Oloron Ste Marie 125kms
Day 9 9th May Oloron Ste Marie - Bareges 110kms
-May - June 2010 / 24th May 2nd June
Arrive Calais 24th May - start riding 25th May / finish ride 2nd June return home 3rd June.
Day 1 25th May Calais - Dieppe 155kms
Day 2 26th May Dieppe - Caen 150kms
Day 3 27th May Caen - Mortain 150kms
Day 4 28th May Mortain - Beaupreau/Cholet 150kms
Day 5 29th May Beaupreau/Cholet - La Rochelle 140kms
Day 6 30th May La Rochelle - Bordeaux 150kms
Day 7 31st May Bordeaux - Peyrehorade 160kms
Day 8 1st June Peyrehorade - Oloron Ste Marie 125kms
Day 9 2nd June Oloron Ste Marie - Bareges 110kms
- September - August 2010 / 31 August - 8 September 2010
Arrive Calais 30th August - start riding 31st August / finish ride 8th September - return home 9th September.
Day 1 31st August Calais - Dieppe 155kms
Day 2 1st September Dieppe - Caen 150kms
Day 3 2nd September Caen - Mortain 150kms
Day 4 3rd September Mortain - Beaupreau/Cholet 150kms
Day 5 4th September Beaupreau/Cholet - La Rochelle 140kms
Day 6 5th September La Rochelle - Bordeaux 150kms
Day 7 6th September Bordeaux - Peyrehorade 160kms
Day 8 7th September Peyrehorade - Oloron Ste Marie 125kms
Day 9 8th September Oloron Ste Marie - Bareges 110kms
- September - October 2010 / 23 September - 1 October 2010
Arrive Calais 22nd September - start riding 23rd September / finish ride 1st October - return home 2nd October.
Day 1 23rd September Calais - Dieppe 155kms
Day 2 24th September Dieppe - Caen 150kms
Day 3 25th September Caen - Mortain 150kms
Day 4 26th September Mortain - Beaupreau/Cholet 150kms
Day 5 27th September Beaupreau/Cholet - La Rochelle 140kms
Day 6 28th September La Rochelle - Bordeaux 150kms
Day 7 29th September Bordeaux - Peyrehorade 160kms
Day 8 30th September Peyrehorade - Oloron Ste Marie 125kms
Day 9 1st October Oloron Ste Marie - Bareges 110kms
- October 2010 / 14 - 22 October
Arrive Calais 13th October - start riding 14th October / finish ride 22nd October - return home 23rd October.
Day 1 14th October Calais - Dieppe 155kms
Day 2 15th October Dieppe - Caen 150kms
Day 3 16th October Caen - Mortain 150kms
Day 4 17th October Mortain - Beaupreau/Cholet 150kms
Day 5 18th October Beaupreau/Cholet - La Rochelle 140kms
Day 6 19th October La Rochelle - Bordeaux 150kms
Day 7 20th October Bordeaux - Peyrehorade 160kms
Day 8 21st October Peyrehorade - Oloron Ste Marie 125kms
Day 9 22nd October Oloron Ste Marie - Bareges 110kms
This year more of the Pyrenees, a westerly route through some of the most picturesque, thought provoking places in France. Without any further ado here is the route below and a short description of the stages, we hope that some of you who where with us last year will return. We look forward to seeing you in 2010 stay fit see you in Calais.
[b]How do you get to the start of the holiday?
For most people from Dover on the ferry to Calais as a foot passenger. This can be booked in advance or just turn up at the port and book a single foot passenger roughly about £10.00.
Flying offers the quickest and easiest way to return home from your holiday with Ryanair, although for most destinations travelling by train (or coach-BIKE EXPRESS) is also an option. We will provide transport from the nearest airport Pau (or station Lourdes) to the start & finish of the holiday.
The support vehicle?
The support vehicle will transport your luggage to the daily destination, and also provides any additional assistance required. It doesn't follow the group closely but will meet up with you once or twice a day, so you can top up your water bottles, have some lunch, cup of tea or coffee or jump on board if you are feeling tired.
Accommodation
The accommodation is on half board basis, breakfast and evening meals are included in the price of this holiday. The hotels we use are mostly small family run accommodation, providing a friendly relaxed atmosphere. These are usually classed as 2* or similar. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot be guaranteed due to the variety and number of establishments used. Some basic lunch items are provided and the tour leader will have a pre-arranged lunch stop about half way through the days ride (but you are welcome to stop wherever you want). Hotels are chosen to ensure that there is a restaurant in the hotel or close by, so that you do not have far to go for an evening meal.
All hotel based holidays if you are travelling alone you can either pay the "Single supplement - price for the holiday and have a room to yourself or pay the regular price and we will book you into a twin bedded room with another single member of the group of the same sex. However please note that on most holidays the number of single rooms available is limited and they do tend to go quickly.
Do I have to ride with the group all the time?
Every member of the group is provided with our detailed route instructions, so you can ride at your own pace and stop whenever you want, without the worry of getting lost. During breakfast the tour leader will go over the day's route and point out the scheduled lunch stop suggest a few places you may like to stop, but you are free to do what you want. In practice most people find they team up with other group members of a similar ability really quickly, and so ride together with a small group most of the time.
Tour Price includes:-
Experienced / knowledgeable leaders that guide you daily on the road no other Tours do this not for the price shown!!!!!
* Accommodation family run Hotels 9 days based on 2 sharing.
* Basic lunch items, bread, ham, cheese, cakes + tea and coffee
* Breakfasts for 9 days
* Evening Meals for 9 days
* Route guide should you wish to ride on your own
* Guiding for 9 stages
* Support vehicle & driver.
* Hotel luggage transfers
* Energy drinks bars and gels etc.
* Transfers to Lourdes or Pau airports or Lourdes Train Station
Tour Price does not include:
Travel to Calais or return flights home from the Pyrenees any additional snacks or drinks required during the day or hotel drinks or extra services (eg washing).
So now all you have to do is look at which week suits your requirements above, check with us for availability, then check travel arrangements for how to get to Calais search for P&O ferries or Seafrance. Then Ryanair or Air France for your return Flight back to the UK or Paris, for connecting flights worldwide or coach-BIKE EXPRESS search for this in google. We can book these for you using the credit card details you have supplied to us for the booking of your holiday. We will check all dates with you first before confirming any other travel arrangements. We look forward to spending time with you on the roads of France.
The cost for 9 nights is 1495.00€ - $1950.00 US - 2950.00$AUS per person. Please enquire for Single suppl.
CLASSIC TOUR COLS WEEKS:
inlcudes return transfers from/to Pau airport(1hr 15min Transfer) or Lourdes airport(40 min Transfer) or train station(30 min Transfer)-Half board including breakfast, afternoon tea and fantastic home-cooked 3 course meals every night. Wine included(Wed is our night off).
-Cereal bars and energy drink to keep you fuelled-up.
-Secure storage for your bikes we know how much you love them!!
-Back up on call just in case for major break downs...
-You will be staying for 7 days/6 nights at Les Sorbiers our fine Napoleonic hotel in the heart of the Pyrenees.
Day 1 Sunday -
Easy day to start gentle roll down to the valley bottom ride will take us round to Argeles Gazost along Voie Vert - The Green Way, an old railway line with Tarmac surface and an excellent place away from any traffic, to grips with our 1st the ski station of Hautacam then a return ride to Bareges part way up the Tourmalet.
Day 2 Monday -
Warm up for those this is one long climb and start from the Town of Luz St Sauveur we head up the valley past the Pic du Bergons as we ride close to the edge of the Gave du Gavarnie towards the village of Gedre this is the easy part once into Gavarnie village we swing a right and head up the Port du Boucharo and the Spanish border a total of 32kms. Our return sees us ride past the Pont Napoleon for all those with an extra Col in their legs Luz Ardiden is just waiting to be ridden.
Day 3 Tuesday-
The Tour - This is the Tourmalet from Bagneres de Bigorre side after descending the valley again takes us past the bottom of Hautacam onto a small unknown climb of the Croix Blanche first takes through the picturesque valley of Castelloubon to Juncalas where we start the climb of the Croix Blanche sometimes used in the Tour de France well used by cyclists not by cars. We descend to Trebons where we start climbing all the way to the top of the Tourmalet see you at the top.
Day 4 Wednesday -
Is our day off it can be yours too, but we can guide you to other Cols in the area or you can have a relaxing day in the village at the thermal spa the highest in France for a massage or a Bain Hydroxeur ask us you will not be disappointed!!!
Day 5 Thursday -
Another big day see us tackle the Col d'Aubisque through the valley d'Ossau on to Eaux Bonnes and after Gourette the hard side of the Col makes today's ride a long one and the support vehicle will be in attendance for all those who would prefer not to ride back up the gorge.
Day 6 Friday -
Our last day take us where ever you want to go a short ride round Luz then back up the Tourmalet to summit the side we have not yet done, or up and over to the Col du Aspin, another possibility is Cauterets and up Valley de Jeret and up the steep climb to Pont d'Espagne or alternatively to the Station du Lys. The possibilities are endless for your last day and if you wanted to do 2 weeks then we have more than enough climbs to see you do a different one each day. We look forward to riding the Classic Cols of the Pyrenees with you.
Price per person 465.00€ - 545.00€ based on 2 sharing.
Single suppl 60.00€.
Etape du Tour Reconnaissance weeks Itenery:
Arrival Saturday -Some flights have changed to a Sun or a Fri we will take booking from these dates if there are no alternatives transfers from either Lourdes or Pau.
Sunday (a riding in day) -
We will cover some of the decent of the Soulor and will be riding back up the way we will be doing the Etape, back to Argeles and the return back up the Tourmalet all the way to the top just to get a feel. Approx 110kms includes Tourmalet summit.
Monday -
We will again ride part of the route from Ferrieres a small village at the bottom of the Soulor which you will ride though on the Etape. This will be achieved by climbing another Col before the Soulor and the return back up the Tourmalet you need to be able to pace yourself on this climb and this will give you a good mark on where your fitness level is at. This is a 3 Col day and 120kms.
Tuesday -
We will be taken to the Col du Marie Blanque to reccy this Climb we will then return via a flatter route to finish with the Col du Tourmalet die hards can ride to the top!!! Approx 130kms
Wednesday -
A well earned day off before the Full etape day on the Thursday it is our night off. Early to bed and early to rise for the start the next day not as early as etape day however.
Thursday -
The Full Etape route Marie-Blanque / Soulor and the Tourmalet supported with food and drinks stops. Full route 174kms
Friday -
A recovery day out across the flatlands to spin the legs, well as flat as you can get in the Pyrenees!!!! 60 - 100kms
Saturday -
Back to the airport, saying goodbye, but with us knowing you are going home having done more than enough, to see you get through the Etape.
This is the kind of week you need the shorter hills of the UK do not suffice as training, to do a good or comfortable etape you need to ride the mountains! We have ridden the etape several times and have finished in the top 100 and the team here have always ridden well. We will make sure we give you all the advice, tips, help and hints we can, not only to make sure you finish the etape but finish it well. In 2008 Etape in the Pyrenees out of the 9500 starters, over 2000 did not finish due to the bad weather, out of the none finishers 25% of those where British. We want you to succeed and our weeks are planned as such to give you a fighting chance of doing so.
The price of the week includes
- Fully guided on the road - we ride with you.
- Help and advice of previous Pyrenees Etapists.
- Supported with minibus backup driver/mechanic.
- Half board accommodation.
- Airport and local transfers.
- Etape Reconnaissance day food stops.
Price on the above 495.00€ based on 2 sharing. single suppl 60.00€
GUIDED MOUNTAIN BIKE WEEKS:
-7 days/6 nights at Les Sorbiers our fine Napoleonic hotel in the heart of the Pyrenees.-Half board including breakfast, afternoon tea and fantastic home-cooked 3 course meals every night.
Wine included(Wed is our night off)
-Cereal bars and energy drink to keep you fuelled-up.
-Secure storage for your bikes we know how much you love them!!
-Back up on call just in case for major break downs
Day 1 - Arrival:
Depending on how you travel to France we will either see you at Les Sorbiers or we will arrange to meet you at the train station or airport. Although you will not be able to get access to your room until mid day you will be able to unpack your bike, familiarise yourself with the village and maybe even go for a quick ride on some local trails.
After you have had a chance to freshen up, we will serve a delicious 3 course dinner using fresh produce bought from our local markets, with selected wine to complement the meal. During the course of the first day we will find out from you exactly what kind of riding you would like to do over the next few days, to get the most out of your valuable holiday time.
Day 2, 3 & 4 - Guided Riding:
Your first 2 full days of biking will enable you to explore a wide variety of tracks and trails where we can offer guided rides in small groups for a wide range of abilities. During breakfast we will discuss the riding for the day ahead. After your feedback and with over 20 different day rides to choose from we will then select a route best suited to your riding ability, weather and mood on that particular day.
Day 5 - Explore or Relax:
The guides have one/two days off during the week. It's maybe a good idea for you to take a break too. Maybe try one of the different adventure sports available in the area, or just sit back in a comfortable chair and have a lovely relaxing day in the hotel or take in a trip to the thermal spa and get a massage to soothe those aching legs.
Day 5&6 - Guided Riding:
There is still plenty to explore in the 3 valleys of Bareges and with over 600km of trails to ride in a week you will just about scratch the service of this wonderful ride area. By now us and the guides will have a good idea of the kind of riding you enjoy and will be able to tailor the route more than ever to suit your needs.
Day 7 - Homeward Bound:
Your final day in Bareges is usually a time to relax, clean your bike, enjoy the sunshine, have one last look over the mountains and reflect on what has been your home over the last week.
Price per person 465.00€ - 545.00€ based on 2 sharing.
Single suppl 60.00€.
The Official Raid Pyrenean
Scheduled dates: 2010 and Itenery- June 2010 / arrive Biarritz 11th, start 12th, - finish the ride 17th, return home 18th, via Carcassonne or Perpignan.
Day 1 arrival day 11th June Biarritz
Day 2 12th June Hendaye - Oloron
Day 3 13th June Oloron - Argeles Gazost
Day 4 14th June Argeles Gazost - Bagneres du Luchon
Day 5 15th June Bagneres du Luchon - St Girons
Day 6 16th June St Girons - Bourg Madam/Mont Louis
Day 7 17th June Bourg Madam/Mont Louis - Cerbere
Departure Day 18th June Cerbere
- August 2010 / arrive Biarritz 8th, start 9th, finish the ride 14th, return home 15th, via Carcassonne or Perpignan.
Day 1 - arrival day 8th August Biarritz
Day 2 9th August Hendaye - Oloron
Day 3 10th August Oloron - Argeles Gazost
Day 4 11th August Argeles Gazost - Bagneres du Luchon
Day 5 12th August Bagneres du Luchon - St Girons
Day 6 13th August St Girons - Bourg Madam/Mont Louis
Day 7 14th August Bourg Madam/Mont Louis - Cerbere
Departure Day 15th August Cerbere
-September 2010 / arrive Biarritz 10th, start 11th, finish the ride 16th, and return home 17th via Carcassonne or Perpignan.
Day 1 - arrival day 10th September Biarritz
Day 2 11th September Hendaye - Oloron
Day 3 12th September Oloron - Argeles Gazost
Day 4 13th September Argeles Gazost - Bagneres du Luchon
Day 5 14th September Bagneres du Luchon - St Girons
Day 6 15th September St Girons - Bourg Madam/Mont Louis
Day 7 16th September Bourg Madam/Mont Louis - Cerbere
Departure Day 17th September Cerbere
What is the Raid Pyrenees?
The route of the Raid crosses the Pyrenees and can start from the town of Hendaye on the Atlantic Coast crossing the Pyrenees to Cerbere on the Mediterranean. The route takes you over many of the cols including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Portet d'Aspet and Peyresourde with around 11000metres of climbing the route. Crossing the Pyrenees in the Raid as part of an official organised cycling event is a difficult undertaking, however it also gives you the opportunity to ride most of the famous cols of the Tour de France. These Cols are steeped in history as the route passes through Pyrenees Atlantique, Aquitaine, Hautes Garonne, Hautes Pyrenees, and Ariege to the finish in the Pyrenees Orientale.
The idea of a crossing of the Pyrenees was first thought up by a French cyclist Maurice Bugard in 1912 a young cyclist from the Cyclo Club Bearnaise and the dream was to cross the Pyrenees from the Ocean to the Sea. The first inception of the Raid was first called Randonnee Pyreneenne, it was based around a set itenery of different mountainous terrain and gradients of mountain roads and so the set figures of, 18 cols 710 km, for 11000 metres. The proposal was deemed too audacious at the time and then shelved for years until the end of the 2 wars that had waged throughout France and Europe. In 1949, Paul Mathis resurrected the project of Maurice Bugard, and designed the Routier Pyreneen a pre-cursor to the Raid. He looked to do the premier traverse through the mountains from Hendaye-Cerbere in the month of June that year. The route was difficult and he never got beyond the Col du Marie Blanque due to snow still blocking the route he returned home to the Bearnaise countryside to plan for another attempt. In 1950, Mathis, accompanied by Miss Betbeder was to cross from the East of the Pyrenees to west the opposite way he had tried in 1949. Again in June they departed as it says in their diary with tenacity, guile and the patience of the Bearnaise they would arrive victorious in the town of Hendaye. Mathis again passed back across the Mountains in 1951 from west to east him being the first person to traverse the route from both directions. In the winter of 51-52 Paul Mathis decided the official route through the Pyrenees should have certain points to stop for confirmation on the route to verify every individuals crossing and in the spring of 1952 the official organisation was formed the Raid Pyreneen. All persons wanting to cross would be given the 18 cols to climb in any order via the shortest route of 710kms. This is still carried on today and the official documentation has to be ordered a month in advance of the raid. In the words of the Raid Pyrenees. After the solitude of the Soulor through the circle of death the cols of the Ariegeois, the valleys and the Gaves will give you memories that will always have a certain place within your heart, the Cerdagne and, Mont-Louis, the son of the area, will open the doors into the Catalan region. The long days of riding, your team and their spirit everyday will not disguise the pain, suffering, effort and action you put in to achieve your mission but will give you some fantastic memories that will stay with you forever.
About us and the Raid:-
We live in the Pyrenees on the Col du Tourmalet all year round and speak French. We know the Raid Pyrenees route from the Atlantic to the Med very well and so you can be sure that the information we give you on the route is up do date and accurate, as well as easy to follow. As cyclists ourselves, who have cycled ALL of the cols en route, we know what it is you are going through on the climbs, and when you are most likely to need support. We follow the exact route of the original Raid, to keep the ride official all of the Cols we climb where on the original route.
Les Sorbiers and Pyrenees Cycling has been running road cycling holidays since its conception over 18 years ago. Rob has been in the cycling industry for even longer and so you can be sure that we will not overlook any aspect of your trip, from the riding, to the logistics of the travel arrangements and the accommodation.
Who can take Part?
The environment of cycling through the Pyrenees is a tough undertaking and the riders that take part are regularly training for 8-10 hours per week. Most of our clients ride on a regular basis with the CTC or cycling club some will have done cyclosportives or long distance Audax cycling events. However if you have never cycled you can find a coach here who can transform you from a non cyclist into a rider that can undertake the Raid within 6-8 months.
The aim of the Raid is to complete it our daily routes are set down in the official Carnet de Route / Route guide, you will also be accompanied by a guide to help you navigate and encourage you to get across the mountains in the set times. The guide is there to pace the group and ensure no-one is left behind we do not need to cycle fast in order to manage the daily routes and time limits. With our service vehicle for support, we are happy for you to take as long as it takes to do each days route, and we will give you all the support and back-up that you need. All you need to do is eat, drink, cycle and sleep - we will do the rest!
Contact us by phone or email with any questions we can advise you on fitness levels on clothing gear ratios and other equipment. All the hotels we use cater for various dietary requirements. We use small friendly and family run hotels that we know and have previously used and understand our needs regarding cyclists.
We limit our group sizes to minimum of 6 and a maximum of 16 so you get the benefits of being with enough other cyclists to find others of the same abilities who cycle at your pace. But we also pride ourselves on our individuality and get to know anyone else in the group; your leaders will know where and when you will need that extra bit of encouragement. We expect the group to be of mixed abilities but still offer everyone the same, high level of support. It also means that in the case of any emergencies or mechanicals, our van is placed at various points where we know you will be in need of a refill of water or an energy bar.
Food and Fuel
The evenings meals will be taken together either at the hotel or a suitable restaurant in town. A 3 course evening meal is included. We know that the hotels and restaurants offer only best local produce. Vegetarian options are offered daily and other dietary requirements are not a problem to us. Local dishes are sometimes on the menu but then the Hotels work to the seasons and what is available to them, Pasta nearly always features on the Menu. Along the way you can sample some fine Pyrenean cuisine, Garbure is one of those hearty vegetable soups made with Tarbais beans and fortified with ham hock. Toulouse cassoulet with pork, sausage and goose a very rich meaty stew. Four different types of cheeses Ossau, Iraty, Val D'Aran & Bigorre. Desserts include egg batter, open fire, spit cooked gateau Brioche rum and orange sponge. Local wines include Madiran, St Mont, Jurancon and Pacherenc.Vegetarians are welcome and will be looked after very well. Cereal/energy bars, cakes, bananas and other snacks for during the day are included and will be distributed by the support van. We have our own TORQ energy powders/gels/bars to keep you supplied en route although we do have our own. Breakfast is based around a continental style but designed to give you enough energy to undertake each days ride.
Transport to the Pyrenees?
The trip starts at Biarritz or Pau airports and ends at Carcassonne or Perpignan airports. Ryanair provide a reasonably priced flight service between London Stansted and both these airports. If booked in advance flights should be relatively inexpensive. Minibus transfers (30 minutes and 80 minutes respectively) are arranged to tie in with the recommended flights.
Currently the flight timetables for June to September 2010 are not yet out - we will update our website with the recommended flights as soon as the times are available.
Ryan Air currently charges £15.00 each way for the carriage of a bike and do have a limited number of spaces for bikes on each flight (see www.ryanair.com. for more information).
Flights:-
Flights are not included. But the information on getting here as follows.
From London Stansted, Manchester, Belgium Charleroi to Pau or Lourdes with Ryanair or BMIbaby.com we can transfer from here to Biarritz. Other international airports to Biarritz are Paris CDG, Paris Orly and Frankfurt-Hahn.
Stansted, Birmingham, and Luton from the South to Biarritz. Ryanair Alternatives from north of the UK are Birmingham and Manchester or from Ireland, Shannon and Dublin. We are able to give lots of help and advice in sorting out which travel arrangements might suit you best, so please don't hesitate to contact us for some advice and other information we have on how to get here.
Please see the prices section for more information on airlines, airport transfers, driving to the start or taking the train from the UK. Or you may even want to try Bike Express.
Our package includes:-
Experienced / knowledgeable leaders that guide you daily on the road no other Tours do this not for the price shown!!!!!
* Accommodation 2** Hotels 7 days Half-board based on 2 sharing
* Breakfasts for 7 days
* Evening Meals for 7 days
* Pyrenees Cycling Jersey
* Carnet de Route
* Guiding for 6 stages
* Support vehicle & driver.
* Hotel luggage transfers
* Airport Transfers to Biarritz and Carcassonne or Perpignan
The cost for 7 nights is 1100.00€ euros per person. Please enquire for Single suppl.
CYCLOSPORTIVES 2010
Please check the Cycling Diary for more information.EARLY SEASON TRAINING CAMPS:
All our 2009 Preparation & Training camps are based in the French Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees has always been an attractive area to go and explore on the bike. It's classic Tour de France territory and offers the opportunity to ride the roads and emulate the Tour stars who have done battle here.
The Pyrenees are probably the best place in Europe to base your pre season training. It's not the first place you would think of for taking a bike for a bit of training over the colder months. Though, if you combine it with a bit of skiing, as a team building training camp there couldn't be anywhere better. It's not a new concept as it was something that was done regularly by pro teams of the '80s and early '90s. A perfect way to introduce and integrate into a new team over the closed season before the serious business of training and racing gets underway.
It is a known fact that the weather is can be much dryer over the winter months, and is the reason why many of the top professional teams use the area for their pre season training. The roads are of good quality and there is a choice of either flat valley roads hilly and mountainous rides, with most roads going up to and over 2000m even in March.
We offer Preparation & Training camps to suit all abilities and budgets see prices page for 2009 holiday dates these include the below.
- Half board including breakfast, afternoon tea and fantastic home-cooked 3 course
meals every night. Wine included (Wed is our night off).
- Qualified sports masseur / physio massages available at reduced prices
- Cereal bars and energy drink to keep you fuelled-up.
- Secure storage for your bikes we know how much you love them!!
- Airport Transfers from Pau only - Toulouse surcharge of 30.00 euros per person
- Back up on call just in case for major break downs...
Price per person 465.00€ - 545.00€ based on 2 sharing.
Single suppl 60.00€.
-You will be staying for 7 days/6 nights at Les Sorbiers our fine Napoleonic hotel in the heart of the Pyrenees.
Flights from most UK airports to Pau or Toulouse these can either be booked by yourself using low fare airlines Ryanair or Easyjet or can be booked through ourselves a for an extra booking fee of £20.00 per person.
RIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS
Other guides and companies offer an incredibly complex weeks'. We keep it simple rather than stopping at a different place everyday we offer a fixed base other than the Raid of course. All offer conflicting advice on food gear ratios even how to ride. Our approach is less scientific, however still as professional, but more rooted in the indivdual persons abilities. No-one can ride the mountains for you and the best you can do is to train and prepare as much as you can for your holiday, as we who ride the mountains everyday will also encourage you to ride them. Our philosophy starts and lies in the love of riding the mountains this provides the heart and soul of pyrenees cycling.
How to assess your ability....
Our ability grading system used for our tours has been developed out of client feedback and guide feedback over many years. It is a bit more detailed than most people use, but we've found that it is much more useful.
We give grades for two different things:
- Fitness level required.
- Mountain bike handling skills level required.
Why separate the two?
If you look at a starting out mountain biking weekend you have to be reasonably fit, because we are riding in the mountains, but can have little or no previous mountain biking experience. To mountain bike in here in the Pyrenees, however, you could get away with less fitness and just use cable cars for all the uphill, but the rides demand a good skill level. How would this work with one grade? Badly, we think!
Do remember that grades are still just an indicator, and if you want to talk about your suitability for a certain trip please give us a call.
Skills Mountain biking we use levels A-D:
A No experience of mountain biking or limited experience, mainly on gravel tracks or smooth trails, but can already cycle.
B Can ride with confidence on gravel tracks and trails, over loose stones and some rough ground. May have some experience of man-made singletrack trails and feel happy on blue and red routes (in the UK).
C Can ride over most normal terrain including steep, rough, narrow tracks with tree roots and other small obstacles forming part of the normal ride. Confident on all man-made singletrack trails and will be able to ride most small drops/step-downs or other technical trail features.
D Can ride over any terrain including very rocky, severe descents, 2+ foot high drop-offs and other more challenging trail features.
Fitness road and off road
We use levels 1 to 4:
1 Basic fitness from exercise once or twice per week. Can ride on flat or gently rolling terrain at a steady pace. Usually have the stamina to spend 2-4 hours out on a ride.
2 Moderate fitness from two or three sessions of riding each week. Can ride hilly terrain at a steady pace, or more demanding terrain but only for shorter rides.
3 Good fitness from regular riding and training sessions and time spent actively involved in cycling. Can ride full days in any terrain at a steady pace.
4 Excellent fitness from regular training and a significant amount of time spent riding or racing. Can ride in any terrain at a demanding pace.
Gearing
MTB All gearing is compatible with climbing here in the Pyrenees
Road
Compact or Triple Chainsets
Sprockets
27 good
26 Makes it hard
25 Even harder
24 One for the Pro's
For dates and further pricing on our holidays see our prices page for single supplement add 60.00€.
So if you are looking for cycling in the high pyrenees guided or self guided, accommodation in a magnificent mountain setting, the best thing to do is look at our prices page and contact us with dates in mind and with an idea as to which holiday week will match your requirements.
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