London 2 Vannes Picture 1
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Best Time of Year: April - October
London to Vannes Cycle Challenge
Bike Adventure
Departing from central London this ride takes us west across the UK to Portmouth before taking a ferry to St Malo. Here we cycle across Brittany visiting Mont St Michel on route to Vannes.
Meet your Adventure Cafe team in Clapham, London for an early departure. Our route takes us past epsom Race Course before heading out of London before crossing the Surrey Hills and heading into Portsmouth. Here we shall grab an evening meal before boarding the ferry for our overnight journey to St Malo
Day 2 sees us leave pretty St Malo behind as we make our way along the coast for coffee, and a short explore around Mont St Michel. Once refreshed we begin our way south across splendid and rolling Brittany Countryside to our overnight location in the Capital of Brittany, Rennes.
Our third day has us leaving Rennes behind as we pass through yet more picturesque villages on our way south towards Vannes. On arrival we will have a celebratory meal, before getting a well earned nights rest and a lie in? The following morning your Adventure Cafe team will return your bike to London. You will need to make your own return travel arrangements. Please note your bikes will arrive in the late evening.
Itinerary
Day 1 (120km) :
07:00 - Meet your Adventure Cafe team at Clapham Common - safety briefing, bike checks
07:30 - Grand Depart bound for the South Coast
12:30 - 14:30 - Lunch
18:30 - Expected arrival Portsmouth evening meal
22:00 ferry departs
Day 2 - 118km
08:30 ferry arrival into St Malo
10:30 - Coffee Mont St Michel
12:30 - 14:30 - Lunch
17:30 - Arrive Rennes
Day 4 (112km)
08:00 - Depart Rennes
12:30 - 14:30 - Lunch
17:00 - arrive Vannes Celebratory meal and drinks
Day 4
07:00 - Adventure Cafe team depart for London
19:00 - estimated return of bikes to London
Participants are free to return either by train via Paris or by plane from nearby airports.
Accommodation
We will be accommodated in simple but comfortable hotels in shared twin and triple rooms. Our first night on the ferry we will be accommodated in 4 berth Cabins
What is a Level 3.5 Cycling Challenge Like?
These challenge rides are either longer, with more ascent, or span several days. In the case of single day events, you can expect up to 10 hours cycling. In the case of a multi day ride, you can expect lower daily durations - but of course - the effort is sustained over a longer period. You need to be a keen cyclist for these events, and to enjoy training, and to ride regularly. If the ride is outside the EU, it is likely to be easier in terms of the physical riding, however, you will need to be more resilient - due to more basic living conditions (in the case of Asia / Africa especially)
How Fit Do I need to be to join a Level 3.5 ‘Bike Ride’?
You need to have good endurance for these events. You must be used to doing long rides in the countryside - 6 hours + . You should be doing regular exercise - with some serious cycle training. Your typical comfortable cycling speed will be at least 22-24 km/hr, and you should be able to cycle at high speed for up to 1 hour or 25 km. You may also be concentrating on other types of exercise - but for longer periods of time (ie sessions in excess of 1.5 hrs.) - however cycling is the best preparation (obviously!)
Included In Trip
Cycle Leader
Support driver - mechanically & first aid trained
3 x Picnic Lunches
Breakfasts at hotel accomodation
Ferry crossing accommodated in cabins
2 nights hotel accommodation (Rennes, Vannes)
Baggage transfers during ride
Return bike transport to London
Excluded From Trip
Evening Meals
Return transport to London
Equipment Required
Kit lists specific to your trip dates and location will be issued upon enquiry...below is our guide advice to give an idea of what you should bring on a multi--day ride in Europe
Bike Items
Road Bike / Hybrid Bike (with puncture resistant tyres) - please call us for guidance on type of bike on a trip by trip basis
2 X Water Bottles (bladder system/cycle water bottles)
Cycling Gloves, Bike Lock, Neck Scarf, Inner Tubes*, Multi-Tool (with allen keys)*
Day Bag for support vehicle, Small Holdall (for overnight gear)
Bike Lights (front and rear, head torch can be worn)
Saddle Bag (recommended - can be used to carry asterisk* items)
Puncture Repair Kit*, Spare parts for your bike (specialist parts and spokes), Pump (suitable for your valve type)
Helmet (compulsory)
Personal Medikit Suncream, Plasters, Vaseline, Painkillers, Sunbloc, Insect Repellant
Washkit
Warm Clothing Medium Weight Softshell, Long sleeve Jersey / insulating layer Lightweight Gloves.
Cycle Clothing
Padded Lycra Cycling Shorts, Cotton Shorts, or Long Cycling Trousers (Tights/Tracksuit Bottoms)
Short Sleeve Cycling T-Shirts (wicking type material) or Cycle Top with rear pockets
Cycling Shoes (approach shoes or sturdy traners suitable),
Spare Shoes/Sandals for after ride
Casual Evening Wear - tracksuits, jeans, T shirts, fleece ...
Waterproof Clothing
1 Outer Fully Waterproof Jacket (gore-tex, e-vent) - comfortable to cycle in
Other
Travel Documents, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Credit Cards, Cash, Local Currency, Mobile Phone, chargers, EU plug adaptor, Sunglasses
Snacks for Cycling Days (dried fruits, nuts, flapjacks, cereal bars etc)
Travel insurance (not included), Passport
Important
Make sure you do not ‘over pack’ - bring only what is essential for the trip. It is advisable to check that your travel insurance covers the value of any expensive items of kit that you chose to bring along with you.
A final kit list will be provided in your ‘Final Joining Instructions’ pre-departure
Weather
The weather is obviously dependent upon the time of year - but typically from April to September when we run these rides, you can expect reasonable weather. If we prepare for all conditions then we may be pleasantly surprised! You should prepare for both the possibility of hot and cold weather - as it can be fairly unpredictable.
Notes on Cycling Events
This is our standard range of Cycling Challenges in the UK, Europe and further afield. However, we offer completely tailormade itineraries to your specification. Call us to discuss!
Please note that for overseas point to point cycling challenges we can transport soft cases for bike transport - but not hard cases, due to space limitations on board our support vehicles.
On all our cycling events, please pack sensibly and bring a reasonably sized soft holdall type bag.
To participate in an overseas Adventure Cafe challenge - you must carry Travel Insurance (to be for the activity you are participating in, and to include repatriation to the UK).
Please also note that you should have a good level of cycling experience and be competent to handle your bike. We ride on roads shared with other vehicles - and you need to be able to deal with this safely.
Adventure Cafe Booking Terms and Conditions
By booking an event with Adventure Cafe, you agree to these standard terms of booking. Please ensure that you read the appropriate document for your type of event carefully.
Adventure Cafe Terms & Conditions - For all types of event
To Reserve Your Space on this Challenge
You should fill in the Google Form - linked here below, and then please call us on 01823 444 246 to advise of your payment method. We can accept card payments over the phone, or Bank Transfer.
Please note that your space is not confirmed until you have received your booking receipt.
CLICK HERE:
Adventure Cafe Challenge Booking Form - For Challenge Events