Right then... the guys who run the end to end ireland are up for a bespoke Paris - Nice next year just for CCA. And at really good value. Maybe a six day tour. Watch this space... But show interest. We need 8 riders.
ACT cycling have got back to me with a few details to pass on.
Paris to Nice
Riding the same route as the pros taking on 1000km (680M) Arrive Paris 5th Sept. Start Cycling Sunday 6th, arriving Nice Friday 11th and flying out of there on the 12th.
100 miles a day, so taking 6 days cycling through villages and mountain passes. That would be a nights accommodation in Paris at the start of the tour, then 6 more nights accommodation, making 7 nights in total, with CCA riders returning the day after the ride ends.
Bikes would be picked up from Ashwell and taken to Paris in the ACT van. Then brought back from Nice. We'll also be able to drop our large bags off as well saving money on flights etc.
Each day will be a classic route of around 100M. The support van would be there to for food and drink every 35M plus be our mechanical support throughout.
This is a bespoke tour for CCA riders. To make it happen we need a minimum of 8 riders and a maximum of 12. I will update on costs ASAP but can assure that this will be as low cost as possible with the best support.
Pending on the number of riders, the cost would be as follows :-
12 to 14 riders - £ 675 10 or 11 riders - £ 700 8 or 9 riders - £ 750 6 or 7 riders - £785
Maximum number of riders would be 14, so that we could carry a spare bike as well. ACT would carry all bikes, with riders finding their own way to Paris, and back from Nice. GPX files would be available, as would maps. Evening meals, to be bought by riders.
So all in... Race to the sun including flights and evening meals less than grand. Once in a lifetime eh!
Hope Ireland went well for you Robbie. I'd love to come, but I'm already doing two things next year (alps (the love of my life) and riding across norway / doing photography for 2 weeks with friends) , and can't really commit to any more things. You've come up with an amazing package though, people would be mad not to jump on that. These trips are literally unforgettable. have a good one!
Please add me to the list it's something I have wanted to do for years since a friend did it a while back.
Also looks like Marmotte entry could be a problem. Going to speak to a friend who did it this year and find out how he got in. You can usually buy entry only from the tour company's but they aren't cheap! Btw last time I looked La Fuga were charging £1,500 for their Marmotte tour plus flights and spending money
We have until the end of September to finalise numbers then we have to pay a 10% deposit to make it happen. At most that will be around £75 each. This secures the date in the ACT calendar and booking of accommodation can begin.
permission granted Robbie so count me in please. Will drop deposit in to you next week. I'll be training for this on the hills here from April. I plan to up my continuous days here both in distance and climbs to get some hard conditioning in. If anyone is interested I would welcome cycling friends here to share. Accomodation free. How about 2 weeks before we go, organising a group ride here for 4-5 days consecutive hard rides. That would give you all a week to recover before going out there to do the ride to the sun. I've got all the miles and hills you could wish for and if the weather is as kind as it has been this year you are in for a treat. I was robbed of LEJoG by injury so can't miss this one.
Robbie Adam H MC James D Skelders Shaun Martin H John L James Mc Mick G Geoff Martin L (S - Nice)
Deposit by Friday 26 Sept to ACT secures the tour and your place. Will give ACT transfer details. Looking like £675 each now with maximum riders so the deposit will be £67.50.
Have I missed anyone? Maximum 14... don't miss out !!!
Hi Robbie, MC did such a good sales job on me on the way to Wells on Friday, I'd love to do it- can you put me down for 15th rider in case anyone drops out please? (Not Jenny this time, maybe the following year...).Thanks!
I now have the booking forms from ACT. Please email me to receive one and please then pay by 27 September- the first come first served reserves will kick in on the 28 sept.
Comments
ACT are a great firm!!
Good luck with Ireland.
John
Paris to Nice
Riding the same route as the pros taking on 1000km (680M)
Arrive Paris 5th Sept. Start Cycling Sunday 6th, arriving Nice Friday 11th and flying out of there on the 12th.
100 miles a day, so taking 6 days cycling through villages and mountain passes.
That would be a nights accommodation in Paris at the start of the tour, then 6 more nights accommodation, making 7 nights in total, with CCA riders returning the day after the ride ends.
Bikes would be picked up from Ashwell and taken to Paris in the ACT van. Then brought back from Nice. We'll also be able to drop our large bags off as well saving money on flights etc.
Each day will be a classic route of around 100M. The support van would be there to for food and drink every 35M plus be our mechanical support throughout.
This is a bespoke tour for CCA riders.
To make it happen we need a minimum of 8 riders and a maximum of 12.
I will update on costs ASAP but can assure that this will be as low cost as possible with the best support.
Pending on the number of riders, the cost would be as follows :-
12 to 14 riders - £ 675
10 or 11 riders - £ 700
8 or 9 riders - £ 750
6 or 7 riders - £785
Maximum number of riders would be 14, so that we could carry a spare bike as well.
ACT would carry all bikes, with riders finding their own way to Paris, and back from Nice.
GPX files would be available, as would maps.
Evening meals, to be bought by riders.
So all in... Race to the sun including flights and evening meals less than grand.
Once in a lifetime eh!
ACT will keep the date pencilled for a while.
btw
Polocini cycling tours quote £1,500 for the above and don't pick up your bike and bag from Ashwell.
Also looks like Marmotte entry could be a problem. Going to speak to a friend who did it this year and find out how he got in. You can usually buy entry only from the tour company's but they aren't cheap! Btw last time I looked La Fuga were charging £1,500 for their Marmotte tour plus flights and spending money
Davis & Skelding Tours will b c20% of that fee including flights (plus spending money)
we just applied direct last time didn't we? I will warn Huw of this potential show stopper!
put me down for the above.... gulp
We have until the end of September to finalise numbers then we have to pay a 10% deposit to make it happen.
At most that will be around £75 each. This secures the date in the ACT calendar and booking of accommodation can begin.
Then we'll be racing to the sun!
I'll be training for this on the hills here from April. I plan to up my continuous days here both in distance and climbs to get some hard conditioning in. If anyone is interested I would welcome cycling friends here to share. Accomodation free.
How about 2 weeks before we go, organising a group ride here for 4-5 days consecutive hard rides.
That would give you all a week to recover before going out there to do the ride to the sun. I've got all the miles and hills you could wish for and if the weather is as kind as it has been this year you are in for a treat.
I was robbed of LEJoG by injury so can't miss this one.
Robbie
Adam H
MC
James D
Skelders
Shaun
Martin H
John L
James Mc
Mick G
Geoff
Martin L (S - Nice)
Deposit by Friday 26 Sept to ACT secures the tour and your place. Will give ACT transfer details. Looking like £675 each now with maximum riders so the deposit will be £67.50.
Have I missed anyone?
Maximum 14... don't miss out !!!
Robbie
Adam H
MC
James D
Skelders
Shaun
Martin H
John L
James Mc
Mick G
Geoff
Martin L (S - Nice)
Phil K
pending on all the above being definites...
One place left!
Robbie
Adam H
MC
James D
Skelders
Shaun
Martin H
John L
James Mc
Mick G
Geoff
Martin L (S - Nice)
Phil K
Jeremy P
Now we're 14 CCA riders...
please keep adding names as reserves.
First come first served etc
Deposits paid by Friday 26 Sept. Reserves be ready...
Robbie
Adam H
MC
James D
Skelders
Shaun
Martin H
John L
James Mc
Mick G
Geoff
Martin L (S - Nice)
Phil K
Jeremy P
First reserve : Dave W
Now we're 14 CCA riders...
please keep adding names as reserves.
First come first served etc
Deposits paid by Friday 26 Sept. Reserves be ready...
Ventoux is on the route.
It would be rude not to don't you think?
Please email me to receive one and please then pay by 27 September- the first come first served reserves will kick in on the 28 sept.
Robbie's email : robbie.laughton@callingbrands.com
Ventoux is being considered in the route!