Prepare for GLAUDAX!

What to bring:

• your bike (we do not offer cycle hire). We advise a lightweight road, touring or audax or gravel bike with a good range of gears for the climbing and sturdy wheels and tyres for the remote, quiet lanes with occasional sketchy road surfaces and unsurfaced sections. Please ensure it is thoroughly serviced: new tyres, brake blocks/pads and cables are strongly recommended.

• one overnight bag for us to carry in the van, ideally an airline style bag or holdall measuring no more than 60 x 40 x 30 cm

• one small day bag which we'll also take in the van (you will have access to this bag when we meet you occasionally on the road)

and for overseas tours:

• your passport which must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. More info here

• get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. The GHIC or EHIC entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become necessary during your trip.

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What to carry on the bike...

• GPS device – please ensure your device has a long battery life or bring a power pack / cache battery so you can recharge on the move

• two spare inner tubes

• puncture kit & tyre levers

• multi-tool

• pump and/or CO2

• lightweight cafe lock

• replacement rear mech hanger

• two water bottles

• sun cream

• front and back lights (in case of low visibility in poor weather)

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...and in your back pockets

• snacks – gels, bananas, flapjack etc.

• cash & credit/debit cards

• gilet & lightweight waterproof; arm & leg warmers – be prepared for the possibility of poor weather, especially in the more remote/hilly/mountainous sections of the route where the weather may deteriorate rapidly and unexpectedly

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Don't forget to bring...

• base layers – short & long sleeve (see note above)

• cycling shoes and/or sandals

• helmet and/or cycling cap

• cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses

• cycling gloves & mitts

• neck snood/buff

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What to pack in your overnight bag

• clothes and shoes for evening wear

• some changes of cycling kit

• more spare inner tubes

• bottle of chain lube

• USB cables, electrical adaptors etc. to recharge phone/GPX/lights...

 

How to prepare

• get the bike thoroughly serviced – ensure it has sturdy new tyres suitable for touring, with plenty of wear left on brake pads/blocks, drive-train, wheel rims, and all cables in good condition

• load onto your GPS device the daily routes that we will send you

• ensure your GPS device has adequate battery life (up to 10 hours) or bring a cache battery so you can recharge as you go

• download the ridewithgps app onto your phone and pin or copy across the daily routes (this will be your back-up on the road)

• if you are a belt & braces old-school type, you might like to highlight the route in a large scale motoring atlas and bring the relevant pages with you on tour

• we will provide a road-book with pdf copies of the daily route maps

• please ensure that you have adequate insurance cover. We are affiliated to Yellow Jersey Bicycle Insurance, with a 10% discount to Glaudax riders. For further information see our insurance FAQ

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How to train

• Ride, ride, ride...

• then ride some more!

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Fitness level

You need a good level of cycle fitness to enjoy Glaudax. Some of our tours are more demanding than others, with longer and hillier days for example. Please look at the individual tour pages for further detailed information. Our tours are challenging and fun... as long as you are fit enough!

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We suggest that you train two or three times a week on a mix of flat and hilly routes. If you have never ridden long-distance two days running, give it a go, and if you wake up on the third day wanting more you'll know that Glaudax is for you!

 

If you have any doubts about your fitness for Glaudax, please contact us to discuss.