Our FAQ page is designed to provide quick and easily accessible answers to all your questions about our tours. Visit our FAQ page now to find the information you need.
Category: Guide for Guests
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Self-Guided Tours: What to Expect
Preparing for the Ride
We highly advise downloading your tour itinerary head of your trip and reading through each day. Your Road Book contains links ot the routes, ride descriptions and details for the best café stops and lunch stops. It also includes the addresses of your hotels and your Emergency Contact number.
Starting the Ride
An Eat Sleep Cycle host will welcome you at the meeting time & location for your tour. They’ll give you your welcome pack, talk you through the itinerary and make sure you are comfortable navigating. They will also give you luggage tags to identify your bags. They will also spend time with you making sure you’re comfortable on your bike and go through a safety check with you.
Fuelling Your Ride
It’s really important that you carry two full bottles of water and snacks for the day. There’s nothing worse than running out of energy with km’s left to pedal. Check the weather foreacast every day (your itinerary links to a good local forecast) and make sure you’re prepared for the conditions with suncream or rain jackets!
We recommend using a small handlebar bag to carry your daily essentials. Best to have extra snacks just in case than run out!
Getting Lost
If you find yourself off-track and can’t find your way back to route, we advise you call your Emergency Contact – they will ask you to share your location via WhatsApp. Subject to where you are, they’ll either give you directions to re-join your route, or, if required arrange for a taxi to collect you and take you to your accommodation.
In the case a taxi is sent be aware that there is a fee. Be aware it may take several hours for a taxi to arrive if you are in a remote spot. Our goal is to do everything we can to get you back on track as quickly as we can.
Dealing with Mechanicals
It’s important that during a self-guided tour there is at least one member of the group who is comfortable fixing punctures and repairing basic mechanicals like a slipped chain.
We provide an emergency contact number in case you require unexpected support during the ride. Depending on your location and the situation we will find the best solution for you.
Please note any unexpected transfers are not included in self-guided trips and you will be charged a fee if you require one.
Luggage Transfers
Every morning we ask you to leave your bags at reception by 11:00am. These will be delivered to your next accomodation by 15:00. Please ensure your luggage tags are attached to every bag that needs transporting.
Any more questions? Contact us at reservations@eatsleepcycle.com
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Supported Tours: What To Expect
If you’re joining an Eat Sleep Cycle tour for the first time, you’re probably wondering what level of ride support we offer.
Professional Cycling Guides
Our guide team are ready to welcome you and deliver a truly memorable cycling expereinces. United by a love of cycling, our guides are hospitality professionals and will take care of every aspect of the trip. All you have to do is sit back, relax & pedal!
We pride ourselves on a high guide to rider ratio – this means that our ride groups on the road are small, with up to 6 riders per guide on a typical trip.
Our guides are skilled at managing different abilities within a group. When group size allows we split into pace groups. Guides set a comfortable pace on flats and encourage everyone to ride their own pace on climbs with regroup points at the top. Our guides are dedicated to making sure everyone has a fun day on the bike and achieve any personal goals for the day.
We also ask guests to complete a Rider Questionnaire and share details about their ride experience. We use this information to ensure we have the right support for the group on each tour.
Our guides are all First Aid Qualified and graduates of the Eat Sleep Cycle guide training program.
Professional Support Vehicle
On supported tours there is always a support vehicle close by. The support vehicle carries mineral water, ride nutrition and snacks to keep you fuelled all day. The support vehicle carries tools to provide mechanical support and seats for riders who need to take a break! Riders are also invited to put a small rucksack in the van with essentials you might need during the ride.
Take a look at our ride nutrition guide for details of what we provide on a supported tour.
A Typical Day on an Eat Sleep Cycle Tour
Most of our tours follow a similar format – you’ll wake up, enjoy a delicious breakfast and join the group for your daily ride briefing. Your guides will let you know what to expect during the ride and let you know about coffee stops, lunch stops and key re-group points.
The majority of the day will be spent is the best way – riding a bike! Guests are invited to enjoy their own pace, with regular re-group points and photo opportunities along the way.
After the ride there will be snacks provided by the support team (or available at the hotel). Sometimes there might be an afternoon activity, or free time to enjoy the hotel facitilies or explore the local town.
In the evenings we’ll come together for an evening meal, with your guides as hosts.
All that remains is a good night of sleep before the fun begins again! It’s as simple as Eat… Sleep… Cycle!
Still have some questions? Contact us at reservations@eatsleepcycle.com
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Packing List for a Cycling Tour
Get ready to ride! The following list provides the essentials to bring on your cycling trip. Remember to check the forecast before you travel and adapt accordingly.
For guests travelling point to point please limit your luggage to one large case and one small bag (equivalent to airline carry-on size).
Essential Accessories for your Bike
- Waterproof phone case – we advise you carry your phone at all times, bring something to keep it dry.
- Front and rear lights
- GPS device (or let us know if you need to rent!)
- Saddle bag, spare tube, multi-tool, pump (all provided with rental bikes)
Personal Items
- Personal first aid kit (optional)
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Aftersun
- Favourite bars & gels (optional on supported tours, we provide lots of food)
- Personal medication
- Electronic devices & chargers
- Passport, travel insurance & health documents
Cycling Kit
We recommend packing layers! Regardless of where you are riding the weather can do unexpected things.
- Helmet (or let us know if you need to rent!)
- Sunglasses
- Long & short sleeve cycling jerseys
- Cycling shorts
- Cycling socks
- Cycling shoes
- Waterproof shoe covers
- Cycling gloves /Long Fingered gloves
- Arm & leg warmers
- Base layers
- Long sleeve soft shell layer
- Windproof jacket or gilet
- Waterproof jacket
Off-Bike Essentials
- Jacket
- Casual, comfortable clothing, warmer layers for the evenings
- Shoes for off the bike
- Swimwear – just incase!
GPS Device
If you are bringing your GPS remember to download European Maps before you travel. You can also navigate directly from the itinerary app on your phone – select your ride for the day and hit navigate. Let us know if you require a waterproof phone cover & mount.
The above has you covered on all of our usual European Tours, however please take note of the following extras for specific trips.
Extras for our tours with Camp nights!
If you’re booked on our Morocco Atlas Mountains Gravel Adventure or Patagonia: The Great Divide or Uganda tour we highly recommend travelling with the following additional gear:
- Warm coat
- Woolly hat
- Shoes for outdoor living (hiking boots or similar)
- Toiletries (soap, toothpaste etc)
- Microfiber towel
- Head torch
- Flip flops
- Thermal long sleeve t-shirt (for sleeping)
- Thermal long pants (for sleeping)
- Sleeping bag (we can supply these on request)
Any questions? Email us at reservations@eatsleepcycle.com and we’ll get back to you.