Cycling holiday... On your own?

anto164

I'm wanting to go away on the bike somewhere hot, as i was injured all summer (and still am) meaning my riding holiday had to be cancelled (I'd be there now otherwise!)

So i'm thinking of going away somewhere in the spring, get away from the cold weather and get some sun somewhere, only issue is, is that i don't really have any mates that ride road.

Because of this, i'd probably be looking at going away on my own, and try to book onto an organised week.

Has anyone got any advice, experiences, or just general suggestions? Any preferred companies?

Many thanks.

Crapaud

I did the Tour du Canada on my own after my mate pulled out for family reasons. I say on my own, but there were 32 other riders. In hindsight this was a good thing as I didn't feel compelled to stay in any particular group of riders or do whatever touristy things that he would have wanted to do. Also, my mate was a lot slower than me, so I could ride at my own pace.

Suss out who the controll freaks and wankers are and stay away from them - they can ruin an otherwise great holiday.

CrackFox

anto164 wrote:

Has anyone got any advice, experiences, or just general suggestions? Any preferred companies?

http://www.skedaddle.co.uk/splash/home.rails

Look for a late deal. We did their Japan MTB tour a year or two ago (they do a road one too), and there were a couple of guys there who'd come on their own. It was a fantastic experience, and I really recommend them.

ColinJ

I've been on these Albir Garden early March training camps on the Costa Blanca near Benidorm 6 or 7 times. If you watched the recent Vuelta TTT and first road stage, you'll have seen the area on TV.

The weather was very good about 75% of the time (dry and 17 - 27 °C) and there was a nice selection of mountainous and flatter rides each week.

The holidays used to be run by Graham Baxter Sporting Tours but the company got bought up by Sports Tours International a few years back. I assume that the setup is similar to what it used to be.

There were cyclists of a wide range of abilities from near touring speed to super-fast so I always found a group that suited me (in my case, fairly slow!).

I used to share an apartment with a mate which saved me paying the single occupant surcharge but the company will set you up with one or two other cyclists if you don't mind sharing with strangers to save money.

priory

http://www.mastercoach.co.uk/training-camps

I have not been but this comes highly recommended by speedsters and slower companions.

elliotlipski

A friend of mine owns a cycling holiday and training camp. They are based along the Costa Blanca (a bit further north of Benidorm, and about an hours drive from Alicante airport). I went there this summer for the first time and was blown away by the area for cycling. He tells me that it is the hotspot for the pro-peloton's winter-training camps too. I do not know too much about the company itself but the website explains most of it.

http://www.citruscycling.co.uk

bobtbuilder

I'm going to Tenerife next Wednesday with these guys: http://www.cyclingtenerife.com/

I'm going on my own to do self-guided rides, but they also offer accompanied rides for a bit extra.

Obviously I can't comment on the experience yet, but Geoff has been supremely helpful with all my pre-holiday questions etc.

Best thing is that they are based about 10 miles from the start of the south side of the Mount Teide climb

timmyturbo

Lanzarote , is excellent this time of year for cycling lots of flats climbs and 50 MPH desents , i did it in 2001 , and the hotel rented me an £800 Kona road bike for £12 a week !!! , loads of cheap deals to the canaries all year rd and loads of hire shops to if your hotel does not rent them out .temp today would be about 29 degrees , constant breeze to cool you off , and loads of trippy volcano's with no trees or grass , its like your riding on Mars

i just looked going with LOWCOSTHOLIDAYS peurto del carmen ( a little chavy , but ok , and you could pull) 15th sept out for 1 week , self catering (restaurant meal is £6) 354 for a one bed apartment , you could definately get cheaper though .

cheers Tim . i would go cycling there again definitely

mrushton

Alps or Pyrenees? www.gpm10.com or www.pyractif.com or www.alpcycles.com

Spain? vamos cycling in Cadiar is good - weather is pretty consistent and Italy I would always recommend the Belvedere in Riccione www.belvederericcione.com

dag_on_a_bike

anto164 wrote:

...Because of this, i'd probably be looking at going away on my own, and try to book onto an organised week.
...
Many thanks.

Not been on organised trips away but have done time away on my own, as well as with a mate.

Hopefully, I'm off to the south of France on my own in 3 weeks time for almost a fortnight this time. Should still be 25c+ at that time.

I usually drive down and rent a Gite or apartment, using that as a base from which to get out and ride.

I enjoy the time away 'in isolation', leaving the family behind because I only have to please myself, riding as much or as little as I want without worrying about neglecting them. Total unwind from day-to-day issues.

MountainMonster

If most of your friends ride MTB, you could always do a MTB trip, saw a really nice group in the mountains in France, which was decent price and the riding looked lovely. Only saying...

anto164

MountainMonster wrote:

If most of your friends ride MTB, you could always do a MTB trip, saw a really nice group in the mountains in France, which was decent price and the riding looked lovely. Only saying...

Doing the MTB thing in the alps with mates in August next year. Wanted to get away early in the year on the road bike. They're not in the position to afford two trips away unfortunately.

Redhog14

Try www.sierracycling.com I did a week there on my own 2 years ago, guided were good company and the place is only 200m from the beach. Mtb mainly but I think he does roads too, if try the club la santa stuff on tenerife.

pedylan

If you fancy Italy, try this venue.

I did a sportive with them last year (on my own) and the hotel, tour, organisation was brilliant. There is a mix of degrees of ride difficulty to choose from; you'll be based in a fantastic hotel in great cycling countryside and there will probably be solos and groups there to get to know.

http://www.belvederericcione.com/en/abo ... dere-bike/

Ron Stuart

I shall be in the Algarve mid February training as well as taking in the Tour of the Algarve. Fantastic four bed Villa (not ours) available at just over 300 euro for a week with very cheap food/drink restaurants or self catering. The fantastic Monchique Mountain roads just a 45min bike ride away and also the stunning west coast to explore.
The Algarve has the best winter weather in Europe you can sit on the beach and have xmas lunch some years.
Here's a couple of links to photos taken during winter, spring and autumn and also a link to the Villa site.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... ed0e427dcb

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3 ... 08e17e5b70

http://burgauvilla.com/

There is also a luxury penthouse apartment available in Lagos also with two twin bedrooms.

8)

Ron Stuart

pedylan wrote:

If you fancy Italy, try this venue.

I did a sportive with them last year (on my own) and the hotel, tour, organisation was brilliant. There is a mix of degrees of ride difficulty to choose from; you'll be based in a fantastic hotel in great cycling countryside and there will probably be solos and groups there to get to know.

http://www.belvederericcione.com/en/abo ... dere-bike/

+1
Been there 10 times both in May and Sept and will be staying with some friends near there next week. However I wouldn't recommend going in the spring before Mid May or after late September, weather not necessarily warm enough. There is a ski station on top of Monte Carpegna (cippo) biggest hill you can get to on a day ride from the hotel. Giro went over it a few years ago when I was at the hotel, I didn't go up there some others did from the hotel and froze to death on the way back (just about).
Weather is much kinder earlier in the year in the Algarve.
.

ps. There not sportives in Italy there Grand Fondos (Nove Colli?) done it 4 times with the Belvedere..... excellent 8)

thecrofter

Damn, I thought this might be a thread with suggestions on how to dump the wife and kids for a fortnight.

jonginge

CrackFox wrote:

anto164 wrote:

Has anyone got any advice, experiences, or just general suggestions? Any preferred companies?

http://www.skedaddle.co.uk/splash/home.rails

Look for a late deal. We did their Japan MTB tour a year or two ago (they do a road one too), and there were a couple of guys there who'd come on their own. It was a fantastic experience, and I really recommend them.

These guys are great. I did the alpine classic road trip back in 2008. It's guided with vehicle support. The hotels are pretty decent, too. Great holiday.

Kieran_Burns

You bunch of babies:

http://www.tibet-travel-experience.com/ ... layas.html

Nairnster

Redhog14 wrote:

Try www.sierracycling.com I did a week there on my own 2 years ago, guided were good company and the place is only 200m from the beach. Mtb mainly but I think he does roads too, if try the club la santa stuff on tenerife.

I did a week with them back in 2005. There were a couple who did road cycling when we were off mountain biking. very reasonably priced and you could always use it as s base and do your own thing.