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9 TOP BIKING CHALLENGES by grade

Posted by Rachel Beard on 31-May-2017 15:20:36

National Bike Week will soon be upon us, so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to pick out a few of our cycle AMR_London_to_Paris_Cycle.jpgchallenges which we think will take your fancy. We have included a selection for all abilities.. so what are you waiting for? You might just find your trip of a lifetime!

 


Grade 1-2 (Challenging, Demanding)

LONDON TO PARIS CYCLELondon_to_Paris_Eiffel_Tower_Cyclists.jpg

To cycle from London to Paris is one of the greatest cycle experiences in Europe, and, an amazing achievement to complete!

Cycle through the stunning countryside of Kent, cross the English channel and continue through the small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France. You will finish your trip at the famous Eiffel Tower and have the chance to celebrate your achievements in Paris, as well as the chance to explore the amazing, majestic city. You can even fundraising for your chosen charity to give your achievement of completing this 300 mile ride even more of an impact.

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HO CHI MINH TO ANGKOR WAT CYCLE

V2CMAY-885892-edited.jpgCycle through the beautiful rural landscapes dotted with ruins of ancient civilisations and small towns where Buddhist temples nestle amongst French colonial buildings and ramshackle houses.Cycle from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, through rice paddy fields and waterways of the beautiful Mekong Delta, before reaching the breath-taking sights of the Royal Temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia. You will have the chance to explore Cambodia's markets before celebrating your fundraising and cycling achievements with your fellow challengers.

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Related: Now is the best time to get cycling. Here's why:

 

LONDON TO AMSTERDAM CYCLE

1478612326-1478612243-cyclist_on_london_to_amsterdam_challengejpg-1.jpgCycling from London to Amsterdam, the bike capital of the world, is one of Europe's classic cycles and an incredible experience to achieve in just two days. 

Pass through the picturesque countryside of rural England, crossing the channel and carrying on across the flat landscape of Dutch Zeeland. You will also have the chance to celebrate your great achievements with a night in Amsterdam before relaxing on the journey home by train.

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Grade 3 (Tough)

CARCASSONNE TO BARCELONA CYCLE

Hairpin_bends_Carcassonne_to_Barcelona-1.gifOur cycle takes us through the mountainous country of Andorra, where the main part of the challenge lies - the twisting climb of the Port d'Envalira (2408 m). This climb has featured in the famous Tour de France and Tour of Spain a number of times. Once we have completed this tough climb we cross into Spain, riding south through the stunning Catalan Pyrenees before reaching your end goal of Barcelona where you get to relax on the beach and celebrate your incredible achievements!

 

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VENICE TO ROME CYCLE

Cycle south through Italy, from the unique city of Venice on the Adriatic Venice_to_Rome_Cycle.jpgcoast, to Rome, the capital, renowned for its ancient history. This is a wonderful cycling country, although tough, so training is essential!

Cycle in the beautiful countryside, past terracotta-roofed towns and small traditional villages hidden among the fields of corn, fruit and olives, ending on a flat run to Rome, finishing just a short distance from a number of the main sights. Here you will be able to celebrate your wonderful achievements over an Italian meal.

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LAND'S END TO JOHN O'GROATS CYCLE

 

Cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats, the furthest possible distance LEJOG.jpgin the British Isles, is a classic challenge that many dream of. Covering 1,000 miles in 13 days is a tough challenge, but a great way to see the country, as well as being very rewarding!

You start the cycle on the south-westerly tip of England, Land's End, passing through Cornwall, over Dartmoor and north along the Welsh border. You then cycle past the edge of the Lake District into Scotland, via stunning lochs and the Highlands to the North Coast, before reaching your final destination of John O'Groats. You are able to celebrate your cycling prowess (and rest your legs!) in Inverness, over a well earned meal.

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Grade 4-5 (Intense, Extreme)

PYRENEES COAST TO COAST CYCLE

This prestigious and extremely tough challenge sees us riding the length Bike at Col d'Aubisque.jpgof the Pyrenees from Coast to Coast, the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. This definitely is one for the keen road cyclists and gives you an incredible sense of achievement, taking in at least two mountain climbs a day, so training is essential!

The adventure begins in a small town, Hendaye, overlooking the seafront before heading inland, and up a number of climbs giving us good practice before moving onto the massive climbs of the Pyrenees. This includes the legendary climbs of the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet, both of which have featured in the almighty Tour de France. You will then be able to relax and celebrate your huge achievements in the small town of Collioure.

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CLASSIC COLS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE

Classic_Cols-805335-edited-914916-edited.jpgThis is a short, intense cycle challenge through the heart of the French Alps, tackling a number of classic Tour de France mountain climbs, including the two most renowned ascents in the region: the Col du Galibier and the Alpe d'Huez.

The challenge includes spectacular views of mountain peaks, alpine valleys and hanging glaciers, all making the long, tough climbs worthwhile! Overcoming these mountains will give you an unrivalled sense of achievement, giving you something in common with the most elite cyclists in the past 100 years!

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STELVIO AND CLASSIC ITALIAN CLIMBS CYCLE

This is a challenging, stunning Italian adventure through the spectacular Stelvio_Pass_Classic_Italian_Climb-860323-edited.jpgmountains and lakes of Northern Italy. It's classic, it's hard, but it will be one of the top cycling experiences you can have, as well as it being one of the first to complete this route with us!

We tackle a number of climbs featured in the Giro d'Italia - the Passo di Gavia, tha Madonna del Ghisallo, and the almighty Passo dello Stelvio (the second highest paved mountain pass in Europe), to name a few. It's fair to say this is not an easy challenge, but reaching the finish and celebrating your incredible success overlooking the beautiful Lake Como is quite spectacular.

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Related: Ultimate road cycling: A guide to 5 famous climbs of the Giro d'Italia


We hope this leaves you excited and ready to sign up to an incredible adventure! If you want to achieve something out of the ordinary, make new friends and literally go the extra mile for a charity of your choice, then don't miss your chance to join our group challenges!

Want to find out more? Check out our website or get in touch.

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