This is an article by our very own Phil Cree that recently appeared in the magazine, French Entree :
“I have set up many cycling holidays in France, as head of Freewheel Holidays, so I’m able to pass on the things I look for when deciding whether a region or a set of cycle rides will appeal to our customers.
A cycling holiday may sound like a fairly straightforward idea but a good deal of planning and logistical effort needs to take place before a successful product is born. By listening to our customers and assessing their comments after their holiday, I would say these are the main factors which influence their holiday choice:
‘Interest factor’ Is this region interesting for me? What’s the scenery like? Are there places to visit en route? It’s impossible to say what each person will find interesting, but the more usual elements are historical and cultural or an interest in a specific subject like wine (usually well catered for in France!).
Accommodation What sort of places am I staying in? Hotel star ratings can indicate this, but, as any frequent visitor to France will know, there are some wonderful 2 star hotels and sensational chambres d’hôtes (French version B&B’s) which defy categorisation. Clients like to see where they’ll be staying by and large. Oh, and swimming pools are understandably important to many people, especially in the warmer months.
‘Difficulty factor’ Tough one this. Freewheel like to talk to clients about their cycling experience and capability so that we steer them towards the right holidays. ‘Difficulty’ is a function of how far am I cycling each day, am I cycling every day, and is the terrain flat, ‘undulating’ or hilly? Make sure you make an honest assessment of your own capability and then get the answers to these questions.
Will I be looked after well? Before you book your holiday a good cycling tour operator will have made you aware of all the points above, via information in their brochure or on their website, or through conversation with their reservations staff. Beyond that, good customer care will ensure your bike is well-maintained and suited to your size, that your luggage is moved efficiently between the hotels you’re staying at, and that you have good quality tour material (maps, holiday guides) to allow you to get the best from your holiday.
Suitability for children Cycling holidays are a brilliant way of spending time with your kids. The shared activity keeps you in a group for lengthy amounts of time – something which isn’t always easy to achieve with the multiple distractions around these days! Children as young as seven can tackle surprisingly long distances if they are used to cycling and if you break the day up with other activities. Again, not every holiday is suitable for children so careful assessment is essential.There’s no doubt that cycling is now considered ‘cool’. When I grew up in the 1970’s few people associated cycling with environmental concerns. If you cycled everywhere you were either too poor to afford a car or there was something wrong with you! Today there is a wonderful new enthusiasm for cycling. Cycling issues are rarely away from the news and provision for cyclists is improving everywhere.
France is a country where cycling is revered. ‘La petite reine’ (the little queen) is the affectionate French nickname for the bicycle. Why not take a look at the prospect of a cycling holiday in one of France’s wonderful regions? It could be your best holiday ever and certainly different from anything you’ve tried before.
If you would like advice on a one-to-one basis on any aspect of cycling holidays in France I would be delighted to speak to you.”
Phil Cree, General Manager, Freewheel Holidays Tel +44 (0)116 255 8417 http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/
You can view the full article online at FrenchEntree.com













