Frequently Asked Questions

 

Question Answer
How many miles do you travel a day? The most we would travel on our planned routes is 350 miles in any one day. On average we usually plan our routes with approximately 250 miles between hotels. We design our longer tours as two or three centre holidays. This gives you the chance to unpack your clothes and relax. Please note that Italy is a long way away from the UK so trips to the Dolomites inevitably involve some motorway riding.
I want to extend my holiday. Can you arrange a later/earlier ferry for me? Yes, just give us a ring on 0161 941 7149 or send an email via our contact page.
I want to travel on a ferry from a port nearer to me. Can you organise this for me? As well as the Dover/Calais route we can also book you on the following: Eurotunnel - Folkestone - Calais; DFDS Seaways - Newcastle - Amsterdam; P&O Hull - Rotterdam/Zeebrugge; Stena - Harwich - Hook of Holland; Brittany Ferries - Portsmouth - Caen, Portsmouth/Plymouth - Santander; Portsmouth/Poole - Cherbourg; and meet us at the first hotel. Please advise us when booking if you require an alternative channel crossing.
Do you ride in convoy? Every tour is different - on shorter tours people do tend to stick together and we try to restrict our speed to a pace that everyone is comfortable with, consistent with making satisfactory progress. On longer tours the group usually breaks down to fours and fives travelling together at a similar pace. We provide detailed route plans and GPS co-ordinates for the hotels. On some tours the full Garmin routes are provided.
What type of bikes do you get.? Again, depends upon the nature of the tour. Short breaks can be anything although we recommend nothing less than 600cc. In reality you can tour on anything if you are sufficiently resourceful and provided that you don't mind making your own way using the Route Plans that we provide for you. Most of the bikes tend to be large capacity mile munchers (ZZR1400, Honda Pans and VFRs, BMWs of every description, FJR 1300s with quite a few sports bikes for solo riders in there too!)
Are the bikes secure? We always look for Hotels with secure parking arrangements and encourage you to bring heavy duty locks with you just in case.
Where can I hire a bike from? Take a look at the Ads in Motorcycle News. Do a Google search on either of the following to get up to date rates: Hunts (Honda dealer in Manchester) HGB Motorcycles (Honda dealer in London hires Hondas for Europe) or Raceways Rentals will hire a Yamaha Diversion at a very good rate.
What is the average age of your customers? Race Meetings 25 and up, other tours 35 and up. Average age is probably nearer 55 but everyone is welcome!
What standard of hotels do you use? Nothing less than two star with ensuite facilities. On longer tours often quite luxurious four star Hotels. Most often three star Hotels - see individual tour descriptions. Price of the tour is a good indicator - as with everything else, you get what you pay for!
Do the hotels have hairdryers? Yes
Are other meals included? See Tour details on the website - all included items are specified. We try to leave space in the itinerary for you to eat out if we are staying in a nice place with good restaurants nearby. Makes a nice change from group meals every night and you can decide the type of eating experience you want. We recognise that not everybody wants a three course meal every night.
But I am a vegetarian So are an increasing number of our clients that's why we make special provision for you on the Booking Form. All that we ask is that you let us know IN ADVANCE whether you eat fish or dairy products so that we can put in requests for you at the Hotels.
What clothes do I take? The usual Luis Vuitton designer labels hired locally if you are worried about creases. Joking apart, casual but smart dress for the evening meal especially in the four star hotels.
What do you do if it rains? Get wet.
What is the weather going to be like? Rainy, wet, foggy with an occasional dry spell. Or not as the case may be. As a rule of thumb, the further south you go, the warmer it gets.
Is there a luggage van? On just one tour in June 2012 yes - so if you have a sports bike and you fancy riding some fantastic roads in the Pyrenees on the way to Barcelona there really is no excuse! Let us carry your luggage for you!
Are you bonded? All our tours are fully bonded with a Travel Industry insurance bond. That means that you are fully protected against financial insolvency. It is worth checking. There is a legal requirement that your deposit monies are either paid into a trust fund or there has to be an insurance bond in place - if your operator does not comply, we strongly recommend that you take your business elsewhere.