Hear about our Road Cycling Holiday The Grand Tour from Regular Skedaddler Dean Deltrame. You might notice that our pint-sized pocket rocket & Skedaddle resident road cycling guru, David “l’il Dave” Hall, bangs on about the Grand Tour of the Med holiday at every given possibility. What is about that tour that always gets him going? Why is it that he’s always so keen to get out there? Skedaddle addict Dean Beltrame was asking the same questions and signed up to see what all the fuss was about…………………………

After my previous Skedaddle road cycling holidays in Morocco, the French Alps and Pyrenees and Corsica, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do Skedaddle’s Grand Tour.  The Grand Tour Itinerary takes you through 3 different regions in Italy, Corsica and the mountains behind Nice in France. It was a slightly longer tour than previous ones I had done but you needed everyday of it to take it all in.Arriving in Nice on the Thursday I met up with the group of 7 other riders and our 2 guides for the week, David and Anthony. David had explained to us prior to departure that tour was going to be taken in reverse on this occasion. It seems that some minor events, namely the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Giro D’Italia, were also scheduled during the same 2 weeks and logistically it would have been almost impossible to take the tour in the usual direction. It had meant that some minor adjustments to the route had been necesary and it was obvious that the Skedaddle team were as excited as we were to be trying something a little different.

We transferred to Gavi in Italy in the 2 support vehicles and arrived after compulsory authentic Italian pizza along the way. With David and Anthony’s help bikes were assembled Friday morning before we set out on a hand chosen route through the Italian countryside. With an impressive picnic lunch supplied on route we finished off the afternoon by transferring out to the infamous Cinque Terre on the Italian coastline.

We stayed in the Eastern most of the 5 fishing villages, Riomaggiore which was buzzing with tourists. Easy to see why when you see the villages timeless architecture and the location at the base of the coastal cliff.  As it turned out the Giro d’Italia had just finished a Time Trial stage the day before we arrived so we were reminded with all the signage on the roads that this really was a special place and where the pro’s race.

Our Saturday was given to us as optional to ride each of the remaining 4 villages or simply ride 1 or 2 and transfer back by train to Riomaggiore. Optional because cycling out of these villages was no small feat, with gradients reaching up to 22%!  But there is never any better way to motivate a group though than by telling them “…no other group has ever managed to do all 5 villages…” and the rest of the day was history with all 8 of us seeing each of those villages by bike.

The return cycling journey along the coast brought us along the exact same route that the Giro D’Italia had taken a couple of days before and it was a real thrill to be cycling on roads bearing the freshly painted names of some of cyclings biggest heros. Some sore legs ensued on Sunday from a little too much enthusuiasm and err……. testosterone the day before but with another ride taking in the mountainous ridge behind the Cinque Terre everyone was keen and made short work of the ride. Sunday afternoon and we transferred out to Vinci in Tuscany dining in an Italian (of course!) Restaurant getting our carbs for the next days ride.

Ahh the rolling hills of Tuscany!  Staying in Vinci, à la Leonardi da Vinci, we rolled out on Monday morning to find ourselves in 40 degree temperatures. It was going to be a hot one alright but with plenty of fluids we set off keen to see the sights of Tuscany. This is a region where the pro cyclists live and we saw a few out doing loops with their team cars in pursuit. Even had the chance to catch up with a local Italian cyclist (walking with bike on shoulder) who was very grateful when we stopped to give him a tube and a pump, apparently other Italians wouldn’t stop, just us foreigners!  We covered a couple of loops in the area allowing us some elevation to see the expanse of vineyards and agriculture that makes this region so special. With some time to spare some of the group ventured off take in the Leonardi museum while the rest of us took in some cold beers before going out for a great dinner to local cuisine. 

Tuesday and the temperatures remained high but the spirits of the group were equally high and we set out again to get another look at the area this time taking in a different circuit and being spoilt with a hot lunch along the way.  But all good things had to come to an end and we transferred out to Casciana Terme at the end of the day. I have no idea how our guides found this little town close to Livorno (where our transfer to Corsica would depart from) but between the hotel, pool and the restaurant with wine cellar to die for this was a dream for anyone looking for a treat!  After much wine and more food than you can imagine, (they just get bringing it out to us!), we rolled out of the restaurant and had ourselves some great genuine gelati’s. 

After the Wednesday morning ferry transfer we arrived in Bastia, Corsica and were soon out on the road and heading up over the top of the mountain ridge that separates Bastia to St Florent where we would stay for the night. Corsica is an extension of the Alps, where the Alps finish at Nice they start again on Corsica but with water surrounding Corsica you get the best of both worlds, mountains with ocean views, breathtaking. Thursday took us from St Florent inland through a dessert landscape before winding our way back to the coastal town of Calvi and straight to the restaurant strip on the local marina for a well deserved drink.  Pietra (chestnut) beer is the local drink and well appreciated after a good days ride!  Friday morning we rode out from Calvi in a loop along the coastal ridge via an inland climb.  

After a great picnic lunch overlooking the ocean (and some jumping in for quick swim) we set off again and headed back to Calvi via different route.  David did his best to catch up with a couple of us who made a break for it after lunch  (to be fair we broke away before the picnic kit had been loaded back into the support vehicle!)  but he had to settle for the cold beer we had waiting for him at Calvi, much to our amusement.  We had our last night at Calvi at a great beach restaurant on the other side of the bay, overlooking the port, marina and citadelle.  The wine and food flowed well and we toasted goodbye to Corsica as we were to transfer out by ferry to Nice.

Saturday morning and we were up, packed and ready to go across to Nice.  We arrived fairly late in the afternoon and rode our bikes back to our hotel at Beaulieu sur Mer. We headed out for dinner as we needed our energy because Sundays ride was going to be 130km of mountains behind Nice. David explained that he doesn’t usually take Grand Tour riders around this entire route but because of our previous impressive performance he thought we could take it! Just as it had been in the Cinque Terre, the thought that this party would be the first to complete the route was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey and before long everyone was puffing themselves up and ready to go.

This final ride was the longest cycling day of our trip  but certainly one to remember as we climbed out of Nice  via  the Grand Corniche and up to La Turbie over the Col D’Eze. Later we took in further cols including some typical French switchbacks making an idyllic back drop to our picnic lunch high on the mountain.  From lunch we climbed a little higher and then dropped down through to the coast and traversed Monaco taking in the sights of the beaches this expensive strip of French Riviera.  It was the right way to finish of the day and we celebrated well that night by heading out on the town.  Certainly was a Grand Tour!

When we got an email from Robert Ellis about a cycling luggage system for touring bikes, so you get the most from your holidays, we were happy to assist. Lot’s of sleepless nights and notepads of scribblings later (from Robert!!) the project was complete and it’s a cracker!! So, if anyone out there is looking for a budding designer, then he’s you man.

Contact him on : rob-ellis@hotmail.co.uk

Check out the pictures below and also a few words of wisdom as to how it all began.

In the true spirit of the ‘Skedaddler’ I love cycling and I love exploring, but sometimes this combination can be problematic to say the least. My past cycling holiday explorations have largely been limited to a thread of weekend camping trips in the Peak district with my trusty tent and panniers strapped to my MTB.  However I recently took the plunge and decided to stray away from home to that there France and Spain.  Herein the problems began. 

Have you ever tried dismantling a bike and cramming it into a tatty cardboard bike box, in the short stay car park outside terminal five, in the pouring rain, only to be rewarded with a £40 carriage fee and a snapped derailleur thanks to your trusty baggage handler?  This is all before you’ve laid down a single pedal stroke.  On the bike, things only seem to get worse.  The humble bicycle and 25 kg of luggage and tent are not a healthy mix, as I soon found out on the twisty mountain roads of the Pyrenees.  Carrying everything you need for independent touring, including the kitchen sink, makes for a top heavy and unpredictable bike at the best of times and leaves you tottering about like a chimp on a unicycle. 

My other big moan of the trip was detachable luggage, which usually I would view as a good thing.  However it seemed that, in an attempt to save money I had accidentally bought the spontaneously detachable variety, which is impossible to remove when its dark and raining and you need to set up camp, yet pops off no problem (without any assistance in fact) when you’re on a French dual carriageway doing 30mph.
I know, moan moan moan, but it’s not just me.  I’ve spoken to over a hundred touring cyclists over the past year, all of which had shared the same or similar issues.  

After my ordeal, sorry, ‘adventure’, I couldn’t help thinking that there must be an easier and more enjoyable way to tour and explore by bike, and this is where Saddle Skedaddle came in.  The problem conveniently (too conveniently…) provided an ideal design opportunity to work on for my final year Product Design degree project, and who better to associate with the ultimate touring and adventure cycle than Saddle Skedaddle!
I’ve spent the past year working on an improved bicycle luggage carrying solution for adventure touring and came up with the following solution. 

The characteristic wobble and unpredictable handling of a loaded touring bicycle is challenged through the use of an innovative hubless wheel luggage storage system.  The luggage and two man tent is held securely in the centre of the wheel (without rotating) and low down to lower the bikes centre of gravity and provide safer and more predictable riding.  I’ve used a simple quick release strap system to hold the luggage in place, making it really easy to fit and remove.

The bike provides 60 litres of luggage space divided between two main waterproof bags which double as a ruck sack and hold all for ease of carrying, and within compartments inside the frame area itself (holding tools, first aid and personal items).  The bike is designed for minimum maintenance with a sealed belt drive and hub gearing, leaving the rider to focus on the fun and adventure of touring cycling.   
 
The business model would be for Saddle Skedaddle to offer the bike (loaded with tent, equipment, maps and routes) as a rental system to be collected at the destination airport for group or solo touring. The best bit is that the bike luggage bags will be posted to the Skedaddler’s home address before departure to fill with their belongings and to act as both airport luggage and to be fitted straight onto the bike upon arrival.  No need for double handling!

Sadly the model is made out of foam, so it won’t be taking me on any Alpine expeditions just yet.  Maybe next year…….  For now I’ll be sticking to my trusty (but a little rusty) bike.

This superb desert biking adventure focuses on the deep south of Morocco, a land of big skies and stark mountain ranges where mud-brick kasbahs appear to rise up out of the desert, sitting in tranquil palm oases and framed by dramatic backdrops of snowcapped mountains. We ride along Morocco’s dirt roads, taking us from Marrakech to the Tichka Pass, the highest in the High Atlas, and then southward, descending along the Draa Valley to the fringes of the Sahara Desert.