One of the most common things we hear from guests on cycling holidays is: “I’m not an elite cyclist!” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many guests wonder how challenging the rides will be and what the structure of each day looks like. Here’s the key: You’re on a cycling holiday, not a training camp. The rides can be challenging, especially if you’re cycling in the French Alps or Italian Dolomites. The good news is that you’ll enjoy every aspect of your cycling tour with the proper preparation.
Prepare for the Adventure
It’s important to be ready for the technical and physical demands of the trip. While you don’t need to train like a professional cyclist, having good bike handling skills and a solid fitness level will go a long way in ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride.
Technical Skills for Your Cycling Holiday When it comes to technical skills, we can break them down into two key categories:
- Group riding skills
- General bike handling skills
Group Riding
Since you’ll be joining a group tour, there will be sections where everyone rides together, especially on flat portions. While climbing, riders often take things at their own pace. If you’re already comfortable riding in a group, that’s great. But if this is new for you, familiarising yourself with some basic rules is essential to ensure safety and good communication with your fellow riders.
Group riding is often a highlight of cycling tours. For some, it’s a familiar setup, but riding in a bunch might be a new experience for others. No matter your background, it’s crucial to follow a standard set of rules and expectations to maintain safety for the group. This ensures we can communicate effectively and enjoy the ride to the fullest.
Stay focused | Keep an eye on the road ahead and other riders around you. Be attentive of audible and hand signals by riders warning others of pedestrians, potholes, parked cars or other roadside obstacles. Anticipate sudden moves by other riders as they swerve or brake hard to avoid an obstacle.
Follow traffic laws | Obey stop signs and traffic signals. Running red lights and stop signs is a recipe for disaster. Be alert for pedestrians, especially for children, who might suddenly run onto the street or cycle way.
Ride predictably | Make it easy for other riders, as well as vehicular traffic to anticipate your next move. Do this by riding in a straight line, keeping a consistent pace and by not slamming on your brakes. If you need to slow down a bit, adjust your speed by feathering your brakes.
Use hand signals |Give clear indication when you turn or slow down. Also, use hand signals to point out road hazards such as potholes, glass, parked cars alongside the road and other obstacles you might encounter during a group ride.
Be respectful of traffic | Avoid vehicular traffic by riding as far over on the correct side of the road. Be careful not to ride too deep into the road shoulder, as there tends to be debris like broken glass, rocks and other road hazards there. Since most roads can barely accommodate cyclists alongside motorised vehicles, never ride more than double file. In some cases it will be necessary to ride single file on busier roads.
No overlapping wheels | As you ride in a pace-line, avoid overlapping wheels i.e. riding with your front wheel next to the rear wheel of the bicycle in front of you. This way, if the rider in front of you suddenly swerves in your direction, he or she doesn’t cause you to crash as their rear wheel hits your front wheel.
General bike handling skills
During your cycling holiday, you’ll be riding in foreign environments where road conditions might change unexpectedly. Challenges may pop up, from loose gravel to dark tunnels or even cars on the wrong side of the road. Take it easy during the first few rides, especially if you’re riding on the side of the road opposite to the one you’re used to.
Descending
One of the phrases that always catches our attention is: “I’m a great descender—I can’t wait for the first descent!” While confidence is good, riding within your limits is essential for safety. Most accidents happen during descents or on the first day of riding. The Alpine regions, for example, have long and technical descents, so it’s best to approach them cautiously—better to take things slower than you would on familiar roads back home. Accidents not only ruin holidays, but they also make you miss out on breathtaking rides.
Physical Demands - Ride Options
We understand that everyones idea of a cycling holiday may differ. On each tour, there are usually several ride options available every day. We provide as much detail as possible to help you choose the ride best suited to your ability.
With these details, you can opt for a more challenging ride or take it easy on days when you need a lighter route. Our elevation profiles give you further insights into what to expect on each ride, helping you find the perfect match for your energy levels and skills.
Our rating system factors in:
Ride Distance |
SHORT: less than 30km
MEDIUM: between 30km and 80km
LONG: more than 80km
Vertical Ascent |
Total climbing (ascending) for the day rides are classed as either FLAT or HILLY.
Ride Intensity |
An estimate for how long you may be on the bike, this will vary for each rider. Certain rides may require high intensity riding in order to meet the time constraints of the day.
We mark rides as: EASY, MODERATE or HARD.
Ready, Set, Ride!
Cycling holidays are a great way to enjoy spectacular scenery, connect with fellow riders, and challenge yourself, even if you’re not a pro cyclist. By preparing with the right skills, riding within your limits, and selecting routes that fit your ability, you can have a memorable and safe experience. Remember, cycling holidays are meant to be fun, and with some preparation, you’ll be ready to take on whatever challenges come your way!
Safe travels and happy riding.
The Bikestyle Tours Team
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