What we have learnt from 3 long distance multi stage cycling challenges
- Most frequently asked question from the cyclists is “how far to… lunch, the next stop, the overnight stop, the next climb…”
- Estimating the distance from a highlighted line on a road atlas with your finger isn’t very accurate, and there might not be a stopping point where you said you would meet. It is not much better estimating the distance using the car’s satnav either.
- Our cyclists like eggs and beans – they wanted them everyday!!! And French baked beans are rubbish according to Craig.
- You can cook a fish finger sandwich on a camping stove on the side of the road if you are Coral.
- Laybys in France are much nicer than laybys in the UK – laybys in Italy are another story!!!
- How you can set up camp/sun shade/cold drinks/healthy meal/cold foot bath(Jason) with a smile in less than 15 mins!!!
- Don’t ask the cyclists to throw the water bottle through the car window while driving, it hurts.
- Make sure you know where the bike shops are and when they open!!! You will probably have to visit one. Unless its Sunday or Monday in France then good luck.
- Everyone seems to like their bananas a different ripeness.
- Never underestimate how many flapjacks the cyclists will eat.
- Mitch is powered by Skittles.
- Sometimes you have to take away their chairs to keep the stops short so you can make it to camp before sunset.
- Cowbells – love them or hate them.
- Make sure you have toilet roll – you never know when you might need it!!!
~ Eloise, Hannah, Craig & Coral
- The Ultimate Escape – August 2019
- Stage 3 – Val Cenis to La Grave (Col du Télégraphe)
- Stage 2 – Sainte-Foy to Val Cenis (Col du Glandon)
- Stage 1 – Albertville to Sainte-Foy
- Alps challenge summary
- All the climbs
- Onward & upward
- It’s all down to the preparation
- The whole thing hinges on this!
- Advice from the support crew