The usual Skedaddle round up of our latest offers and availability for our mountain bike holidays, cycling holidays and classic road cycling holidays. Plus the late spaces on our mountain biking weekends and road cycling weekends in the UK.  We’ve lots of holidays to choose from including self guided and bespoke options just call us with dates 

Cuban Revolutions – November and December - £1495
Two weeks of sun, salsa and cycling on the ever vibrant island of Cuba. This is an easy paced trip allowing you to fully absorb this unique and exciting destination - though the times are a changing!!

Chile Lakes – October, November, New Year - £1595
A blissful journey through Skedaddle’s spiritual homeland as we explore the volcano clad routes that take us through the Lake District of these picturesque countries. Suitable for the fit cyclist, with some mountain bike experience.

We also have a NEW trip to the Chilean Wine region in October, which offers not only great biking, but also wine tasting too!

Borneo – June, October and November - £1395
A holiday jam-packed with adventure that includes a hike up the famed Mount Kinabalu. This is a trip suitable for those looking for a low-level biking trip with an extra Skedaddleness added to the mix.

Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand - Sept. to November
Choose from four different easy paced cycling programs in South-East Asia as we explore these unique and intriging destinations.

Cévenne - July to September - Grade 3 - 4
This little known area of France is bursting with fun trails suitable for those after a week of cross-country biking, with some tricky sections thrown into the mix. Either hop on the Eurostar or fly into Lyon and get ready to be impressed!!

Derbyshire Beginners - 12 to 14 June - Grade 1
Blissful trails around Milldale and Chatsworth suitable for those new to mountain biking, guided by local lad Nick ‘diddly’ Hemstock.
 
Brecon Beacons - 17 to 19 July - Grade 4
Take on Talybont, ‘av a go at ‘the Gap’ and enjoy a date with Sarn Helen during this Welsh weekend of superb cross country riding.

Howgills - 31 July to 02 August - Grade 4 - 5
Top notch off road trails close to the Lake District as we explore Sedbergh and the sneaky stunning singletrack of Bowerdale

Cotswolds - 14 to 16 August - Grade 2
Rolling hills and gentle cross country biking suitable for most levels, with Rob and Rod in charge of all things Skedaddle

Last places now on Quantocks (05 to 07 June), Exmoor (19 to 21 June) White Peak (07 to 09 Aug.) & Lakes (21 to 23 Aug.).

For 2009 you’ll also be able to meet us at :

Northern Rock Cyclone - 12 to14 June, Newcastle
Slick n Knobbly  - 11 to 12 July - Crickhowell, Wales
Tyne Bike Ride - 26 July - Tynemouth
Great North Bike Ride - 29 August - Tynemouth
Kielder 100 - 05 Sept. - In a rite big forest called Kielder

Hope to see you soon.

Hope to see you soon.

                                

                                                  The Boss is Back!

2009 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in pro cycling history. Lance Armstrong’s comeback from retirement sees him returning to the peleton in both the Giro D’Italia and the Tour de France and has stimulated massive interest in the sport around the globe. With Basso also back in the fray and tensions apparently rising within Astana between Armstrong and Contador the 2009 Grand Tours are going to make spectacular entertainment.
 
Fancy a slice of the action? Skedaddle can provide it. We have an extended portfolio of exciting Classic Road Rides on offer this season with something to suit every taste. With trips ranging from Introductory Weekends in the UK,  to those which feature the classics of the Tour and the Giro, we have something to appeal to every level of rider.

We also have some wonderful trips outside Europe in Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica, Australia and New Zealand check out just some of the trips we have on offer below and if you’re interested don’t hang around, many of the trips listed are close to selling out already!!

Our first road trip of the season is always a popular one!  
Two days of super cycling, cream teas and daffodils in the quintessentially English villages of the Cotswolds, this weekend trip is a perfect introduction to Road Cycling. It’s also an excellent way for more experienced riders to ease themselves back into the saddle after a long and lazy winter!!

Lake District Long Weekend  - May 1st - 4th May

A brand new road trip for 2009 based around the route of the Fred Whitton Challenge, one of Britain’s toughest cycle sportive events. Enjoy a challenge? Then join us in the Lakes and test yourself on some of England’s most notorious passes. Not for softies!

North Wales Long Weekend - May 22nd-25th Our longest running, most challenging and most successful Road Weekend. Running over the Bank Holiday we bring you three days of outstanding cycling on some of the most dramatic roads in the UK. Don’t delay, the trip always sells out & space is VERY limited.Our longest running, most challenging and most successful Road Weekend. Running over the Bank Holiday we bring you three days of outstanding cycling on some of the most dramatic roads in the UK. Don’t delay, the trip always sells out & space is limited.Our longest running, most challenging and most successful Road Weekend. Running over the Bank Holiday we bring you three days of outstanding cycling on some of the most dramatic roads in the UK. Don’t delay, the trip always sells out & space is limited.Our longest running, most challenging and most successful Road Weekend. Running over the Bank Holiday we bring you three days of outstanding cycling on some of the most dramatic roads in the UK. Don’t delay, the trip always sells out & space is limited.

Our longest running, most challenging and most successful Road Weekend. Running over the Bank Holiday we bring you three days of outstanding cycling on some of the most dramatic roads in the UK. Don’t delay, the trip always sells out & space is limited.

Famed as Italy’s most exotic Island and our Coastal Explorer tour will help you understand exactly why. Beginning in Alghero in the north, our Coastal Explorer does “exactly what is says on the tin” and follows the stunningly beautiful coastline all the way to the Southern point of the island. A moderately graded tour, manageable and yet challenging enough to keep everybody interested

Corsica
10th - 16th May (Guarenteed Departure) : 25th - 31st August

Over the years we’ve taken more Skedaddlers to Corsica than any other Classic Road destination and some just keep coming back for more. Now is your chance to come and see what all the fuss is about. Stunningly beautiful scenery, rugged mountains, quiet roads and a superb but thouroughly rideable route makes this a perfect early season break, especially if you’re in need of a little sunshine! 

Sicily
April 5th - 12th ; May 24th - 31st ; 20th - 27 September

A warm and sunny climate, vivid colours, an abundance of mouthwatering fresh produce and beautiful countryside make this moderately-paced tour through the rolling hills of western Sicily a perfect holiday destination. Sicilian terrain is less challenging than that of its neighbours Sardinia and Corsica, making this a great choice for riders who don’t want to push too hard.

With its roots in Africa, but charged with eastern exoticism, Morocco represents the closest truly different destination to Britain. Morocco is a vast wilderness of towering mountains and desolate desert where rural life has hardly changed in hundreds of years. With an ever-expanding network of quiet tarmac roads throughout the Atlas Mountains & convenient flights into Marrakech from numerous UK regional airports, there’s never been a better time for road cyclists to visit this amazing country.

It’s the ultimate Great British cycling challenge and one that features on many a cyclist’s “to do” list. If cycling the 1000 miles from the very toe to the very tip of the British Isles is one your ambitions why not make 2010 the year to fulfill it? Our carefully chosen route takes us well off the beaten track, avoiding heavy traffic as much as possible and features some of the best riding in the UK. Always popular we expect this trip to sell out in the very near future.

Three Week Option : 04 - 25 September also available

David Explores Costa Rica on his new road bike
Resident roadie David Hall our chief road guide and coffee expert explores the delights of Costa Rica

Dolomites - The Mighty Quinn explores the Dolomites
 
The Grand Tour - Dean tells the story of his recent trip

Hope to see you soon.

For those after a guided trip than check out the Saddle Skedaddle Introductory weekend of Mountain Biking over the weekend of 21 August - last places for this and Derbyshire from 24 July.

We explore the quiet country lanes linking these villages, with accommodation in carefully selected B&Bs and evenings spent in great local inns and restaurants.

Easy mountain bike weekends here in August and Sept. too

Fly, drive or take a ferry or train to the start point and you’ll soon be Skedaddlin’ in style.

Lush cuisine, well appointed accommodation and superb sights along the way combine with routes on quiet country lanes past sleepy villages.

Choose either the easy paced mountain biking of Idyllic Istria (guided option too) or plump for cycling along the Backroads of Istria if you are looking for more gentle

The ever popular Coast to Coast may be done as an off road or road only option; Island Flavours explores the southern coastline and may be done as an easier option on our Gentle Flavours, Costa Verde is there for the mountain bikers and the Explorer is spot on for the road riders out there.

With our Skedaddle Italia base close to the beautiful Chia beach, we can easily adapt things for you if what we are offering just isn’t quite right and we also offer a range of fully guided trips here.

Both trips are available until the end of June, after which we head up to ride in the Picos de Europa (MTB and Road Options) and then from October to December, we’re back in the south once again and even have a Christmas / New Year MTB trip too

The trip is perfect for those who fancy getting a few miles under their belt and who are of a reasonable fitness level.

Guided road riding option available too. Next date 25 August

There really is no better place in Italy than Garda during the summertime and to keep Skedaddle Italia busy we’ve also lots of here in July and August  

Skedaddle Shropshire Mountain Biking Weekend - oooh it was lovely Weekend
Check out these shots from a recent Mountain Bike  Weekend in sunny Shropshire

Next stop is the Great North Bike Ride over the August Bank Holiday…only a tenner to enter and a really worthy cause to support and then next stop is the Kielder 100 in September and of course there are all the Test Valley events over the next few months too.

Lots of Skedaddle goodies plus free prize draws up for grabs too.

Hope to see you for a chat, a burnt sausage & a cuppa.

Hope to see you soon.

France - Alps Passes - 8th to 15th Aug. - LIMITED SPACE
A week of genuinely classic riding over some of the most famous Tour de France mountains. We’ll be taking in the likes of the Forclaz, Colombiere, Galibier and of course, Alpe d’Huez, all of which are guaranteed to challenge and exhilarate. The August departure is confirmed with very limited remaining availability. These tours are extremely popular, we advise you not to hang around!!

Dolomites & Alps - Aug. 29th to Sept. 5th - LAST PLACES
Our Dolomites and Italian Alps tour is our most challenging and serious road trip to date. Beginning close to the tranquil shores of Lake Como, our journey will take us over some of the more feared passes of the Giro d’Italia, including the Gavia, the 48 hairpins of the Stelvio and the Mortirolo - the mountain once described by Lance Armstrong as the toughest in the world. A very satisfying tour for riders looking for a challenge.

Raid Alpine - September 5th - 13th - GOOD AVAILABILITY
The French Alps are home to the most famous Tour de France climbs and our Raid Alpine tour is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what it’s like to ride a ‘real’ mountain. Beginning in the Alpine town of Thonnon Les Bains beside the border of Switzerland, we’ll take in 43 climbs, over 740 kms before we end our adventure by the warm waters of the Med in Antibes. Along the way we’ll pop over the border to Italy and we’ll encounter the highest mountain road in Europe. Be amongst the first to join us on this new tour, destined to be a Skedaddle favourite!

Corsica - August 30th - September 5th (rescheduled) 
GOOD AVAILABILITY
Over the years we have taken more Skedaddlers to Corsica than any other classic road destination and some just keep coming back for more. Now is your chance to come and see what all the fuss is about. Stunning beautiful scenery, rugged mountains, quiet roads and a superb but thoroughly rideable route makes this a perfect road cycling holiday destination.

Sicily - September 20th - 27th GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
A warm and sunny climate, vivid colors and an abundance of mouth watering fresh produce and beautiful countryside make this moderately paced tour through the rolling hills of western Sicily the perfect holiday destination. Sicilian terrain is less challenging than its neighbours Sardinia and Corsica, making this a great choice for riders who don’t want to push too hard. 

Spain - Picos de Europa - Aug. 16th - 22nd - GOOD AVAILABILITY
A delightful and challenging tour set in the temperate climate of Green Spain. Based around the market town of Potes and scenic Cangas de Onis, we’ll spend a week divided by two centres enjoying some superb riding in what is to a large extent an undiscovered road cycling paradise. Expect to climb some serious mountains and see some serious scenery too.

For 2009 you’ll also be able to meet us at :

Slick n Knobbly  - 12 July - Crickhowell, Wales
Tyne Bike Ride - 26 July - Tynemouth
Great North Bike Ride - 29 August - Tynemouth
Kielder Montane 100 - 05 Sept. - For those up for a big northern challenge in Kielder and the 7 stanes.

Hope to see you soon.

Join us on this journey to the smallest country in the Andean highland; with its vibrant cultures and dramatic volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it’s not just about the great biking here!With mass tourism very much ‘on the horizon’ there has never been a more apt time to visit this most unique of islands. During the trip that includes time in Havana, Santiago and Trinidad you’ll stay in small hotels as well as casa particulars (to get a real flavour of Cuban life) and salsa the night away after a day in the saddle. Following the chain of volcanoes in the north of the country our trails take in the foothills of Miravalle and Rincon del Viejo Volcanoes before we head to the coast and Samara and Montezuma. Suitable for those of mid-level fitness this is a great chance to visit a place teeming with wildlife. We also have a over Christmas/New Year. See our blog about this trip - 

Spain - Sierras Singletrack - 25 to 31 October
Join Dan and the gang as we ride some of the most exciting trails southern Spain has to offer. This is a fun packed week of top mountain biking, spectacualar Andalucian scenery and gorgeous traditional food, suiting the rider who enjoys a technical singletrack test. Looking for something easier then why not check out our guided Sierras to the Sea (11 to17 October) or opt for the Self Guided Sierras if you prefer.

Morocco - Atlas to Desert - 08 to 17 Oct + 23 Oct to 01 Nov.
A superb trip that takes in the Atlas Mountains and finishes at the fringes of the Sahara Desert. This is a land of big skies and stark mountain ranges. En route we pass through traditional villages, stay in kasbahs and end the trip with desert camping which for many is the highlight of a trip offering great off road riding mountin biking, suitable for most riders.

Or check us out on Skedaddle Facebook where you can keep up to date with the latest photos, trip feedback and catch up with other Skedaddlers

Hope to see you soon.

Cuba - 07 to 21 Nov. + 28 Nov. to 12 Dec. and January to April 2010
Salsa the night away after a day in the saddle, during your visit  to this vibrant island. During the trip that includes time in Havana, Santiago and Trinidad you’ll stay in small hotels as well as casa particulars (to get a real flavour of Cuban life) as Skedaddle’s Simon and Raul show you the way around the island and all by bike.

Croatia Self Guided
No need to worry about the Euro as you won’t need it for our trips to Croatia, as you’ll be spending Kuna during your time in this delightful country We’ve a mountain biking option as well as a gentle cycling holiday, so just let us have your dates and we’ll soon have you enjoying the peace and quiet of the Croatian countyside.

Istria Mountain Biking OptionBackroads of Istria - Cycling Holiday Option      

Skedaddle / Montane Kielder 100 Enduro  

Coast to Coast - C2C Cycling Holiday story 

Road Cycling in Costa Rica - David checks it out!

Those nice folks at the Gorricks are also now doing skills and training days in Swinley Forest, if you are starting out or wish to hone your biking skills.

Or check us out on Skedaddle Facebook where you can keep up to date with the latest photos, trip feedback and catch up with other Skedaddlers

Hope to see you soon.