Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't find an answer to your question here, please contact us.

So you will deliver our bike there and back? How much does it cost?

Any experienced cyclist knows what a hassle (and expense) it is to package up your bike to take on the plane. To make things as easy as possible for you, we therefore offer free bike transfers (a) on all bikes that are delivered to and collected from our Sheffield office or (b) we are able to collect / drop off without too much of a detour en route. Any other arrangements will be for an agreed fee. Please note that, as we are no longer part of the EU customs union, any bike we transport to Europe requires an ATA Carnet which incurs a fee of £40 per bike. This cost will be added to your invoice. While we will take all reasonable care while handling your bikes, using padded covers and making sure they are securely stored, we are not liable for any loss or damage during transportation or storage. We recommend you have appropriate insurance.

What does a ‘fully supported’ tour involve?

You will be accompanied by two guides, who will alternate between driving a support van and riding with you. The support van will transport your luggage, and provide lunch and snack breaks, and the guides will check you into your hotels at the end of the day. You will be provided with GPX files of the route to follow should you ride at a different pace than others. Nobody will ever be left alone out on the road at the end of the day! Each tour begins with a briefing from the guides, and each day you will receive a more detailed oral and text briefing to make things as easy and clear as possible.

How fit do I need to be?

Completing a multi-day cycle tour does require some endurance, and there is no question the fitter you are the more you will cope with and enjoy your holiday. Our holidays are aimed at people who are already riding fairly regularly, but at a wide range of levels. You should prepare for your trip by gradually building up your mileage until you can comfortably cycle the daily mileage of your chosen tour. We grade our trips 1-6 and the trip descriptions indicate the level of fitness and experience required.

Can you advise me on pre-tour training?

Yes we can. We will send you a suggested training schedule and some notes on nutrition, or else why not come along on our Peak District training weekend at the start of the season or one of our shorter UK tours first?

What sort of cyclists come on your tours?

We have a mixture, from the keen club cyclist through to those who are fairly new to riding looking for a challenge with support on hand. Ages range from older teens to 70+. Sometimes our groups ride together, but equally as often everyone rides at their own pace which enables us to keep different kinds of rider happy on one trip, while still enabling you to regroup socially for snacks and meals.

How fast will we travel?

An average touring cyclist will travel at around 12 miles per hour. So if a day’s ride is 60 miles you can expect to be cycling for a round 5 hrs plus food and rest stops. But we make sure to support all speeds. The guides will make sure you are never left behind or left out on the road on your own at the end of the day, while we will also do what we can to support those riders who want to ride faster. Our small groups make this easier to achieve.

Do I need an expensive bike?

Absolutely not. A well maintained tourer or commuter bike will be just as suitable on most of our trips as a top of the range road bike (and we have even welcomed Bromptons and tandems too!) However for the trips with a lot of climbing a lightweight roadie with a good range of gears will make it easier! Because our tours are designed to take in some of the best scenery we can find (and avoid traffic wherever possible) we use cycle paths wherever we can. This sometimes means a forest trail or gravelly path so bear this in mind on these trips in terms of choice of tyre size etc.

What about clothing?

We are also totally relaxed about clothing for cycling. We don’t believe that you need the full lycra kit to enjoy a day on the bike. Although we do like a bit of Rapha we reckon you’ll be fine in a T-shirt, shorts, trainers and a good waterproof jacket. Just make sure that you avoid cotton where possible, bring layers for the colder climes, and wear a cycling helmet and shorts which ensure your day-to-day comfort as well as possible!!

We will transport your luggage in the support van during the day so you don’t need to transport your belongings in panniers or similar. Just bring enough on-bike storage for a waterproof, and extra layers…

Do you take newcomers to cycling on your tours?

We would recommend anyone coming on our tours to have some cycling experience (and / or equivalent fitness), and to have prepared for the necessary mileage in advance. But we do like to be as inclusive as possible, which is why we have a wide range of levels of tour, with those at Grade 1 and 2 especially suitable to those newer to cycling or returning to it. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to ask for advice, and choose your tour appropriately.

How does food and eating work?

Nobody ever goes hungry on a Pedal Nation tour, and it has even been known for some friendly rivalry to produce the best sandwich to occur between guides over the course of a tour! Breakfasts are included at the hotel in the morning; lunch takes the form of a picnic with sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks; the cost of the evening meal which we usually eat communally is your own responsibility. On longer days there will also be morning and / or afternoon van or café stops to refuel.

What sort of accommodation do you use?

Where possible we like to use locally run hotels, however we also stay in chain hotels such as Premier Inns. We endeavour to provide both quality and character at all times, albeit sometimes our hands are tied by the remoteness of overnight locations and a lack of options. If you come on some trips to warmer places then a hotel pool hasn’t been unheard of either!

How much luggage should I bring?

Please bring no more than 15kg of luggage preferably in a soft, trek or duffel type bag, rather than a hard suitcase as this makes it easier to stow in our vehicle. We can accept no responsibility for damage to laptops, cameras or other valuable items while they are being transported. If you are bringing valuable items please make sure they are adequately protected. Also check with your insurer that these items are covered for accidental damage/theft while on holiday.

What happens if something goes wrong with my bike?

We request that all bikes are taken for a service before coming on a Pedal Nation tour to ensure roadworthiness and avoid problems. If you do suffer a mechanical breakdown which can’t be repaired roadside, we will take your bike to the nearest cycle shop for repair (at your expense). It is worth bringing the appropriately sized speedlink for your chain as well as three or four spare inner tubes. If you ride with plastic cleats then a spare set will come in handy. Please ensure that you can repair a puncture and replace an inner tube before joining our tours. Our guides have varying mechanical ability, and the upkeep of your bike is primarily your own responsibility, albeit they will help where they can.

Can I cycle at my own pace?

Of course, it’s your holiday and you can cycle as quickly or as slowly as you wish. Some groups ride together, while others separate into smaller groups of similar riders or ride alone. The only proviso on this is that if it is looking like you won’t reach the accommodation before dark (or dinner!) and you wish to continue rather than being picked up in the van, we will ask you to sign a disclaimer making you responsible for completing the day independently. This is important for the wellbeing of our guides.

How do I know which way to go?

Obviously, on trips where different people might ride at different paces, the cycle guide can’t reliably show everybody the way! For this reason, we provide GPX files to all our routes in advance which can be downloaded onto an appropriate navigation device (Garmin, Wahoo etc) or your mobile phone (in which case you will need a mapping app like Komoot and a handlebar holder for your phone).

These are offered as a navigational aid only, the exact route for the holiday will be determined by your cycling guide and may alter from that planned due to changed circumstances. You will be kept informed about this at all times.

Why not check out our excellent range of walking and tailor made holidays at High Places?