Paris to Milan

We hope you are getting excited about your forthcoming Ride25 adventure.  Please read on for some essential information about your trip…

WHEN IS IT?

Tuesday 6th Sept 2016  – Friday 16th September 2016.  We will complete our ride on the Thursday 15th September and enjoy a celebratory dinner and overnight stay in Milan on the Thursday evening of the 15th September (everyone will then go their separate ways on the Friday 16th Sept).

PRE-START – PARIS: MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2016

Please make sure that you arrive in Paris on or before Monday the 5th September 2016 ahead of the ride.  There are plenty of places to stay in Paris, but our recommendation is the Novotel Centre Eiffel Tower (this is where our Grand Depart will be from on the following morning) or the Ibis Paris Eiffel Tower.

If you are not staying at the Novotel Centre Eiffel Tower, you will need to make your own way to the start point in the morning with your bike and bike box.  You can either get a taxi with your bike box and put it together at the start (leaving yourself plenty of time to do so!) or walk to the start point with your bike and bike box (we recommend that you take a rucksack for your belongings if you choose this option).

THINGS FOR YOU TO ORGANISE/THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Please make sure that you have made the necessary travel arrangements to get yourself and your bike back from Milan – the return journey is not included in the tour price.   Information on hiring a bike box is below.  Please also ensure that you have had your bike serviced before the ride so that it is in tip-top condition.

The route is not signposted and so you will need to use either a Garmin or Strava on your phone.  If you are using your phone as a navigation device, please ensure that you have somewhere to mount your device and that you carry a portable battery charger.  You can download the route from the links below under the section ‘The Route & Strava’ (the routes will be available to download 1 week before the event).

START POINT – 7AM TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016

We will all meet in the reception area at the Novotel Centre Eiffel Tower in the Paris.  You will then be guided through Paris by one of the Ride25 tour crew to the Eiffel Tower where we will stop for photos before setting off on our adventure!  Look out for the orange Ride25 flags and our tour crew in their Ride25 shirts in the reception area. (You won’t miss us!)

MAP OF START

START TIME:

7am – registration and bag/bike box drop

7.30am – rider briefing

7.45am – depart and start pedalling!

N.B. – please make sure you have had some food and coffee before arriving at the start and also had a pee!

FINISH:

We will all finish in the Piazza de Duomo (the main square in Milan with Cathedral) on Thursday 15th Sept 2016. Approximate time for arrival 5pm (NB: this is very approximate and depends on how fast you pedal!)  For guests coming to cheer you on at the end, please ask them to look out for some orange Ride25 flags so they can locate the tour crew.

After freshening up back at the hotel, we will all enjoy a celebratory meal and a restful night’s sleep.

HOW WILL I NAVIGATE?

The route is not signposted and so you will need to use a Garmin or Strava to navigate.  Ride25 will also provide cloth maps that you can use in an emergency – gadgets fail for all of us at all at some point. The routes have been carefully chosen to keep you on the best roads available.  Please see the section below on ‘The Route and Strava’)

WHAT ELSE CAN I EXPECT?

RIDE25 APP

Ahead of the ride, you will be able to access your route on the Ride25 app (available to download on the app store – just search on ‘Ride25’).  This will enable the crew to track your precise location (and allow you to also see where the crew are and other riders at any given time).  It will also count you down to your next coffee/lunch or finish stop! You can also use the app to navigate although we recommend that you carry a portable battery charger and somewhere to mount your phone if you are doing this.

REGULAR DESIGNATED STOPS

We will have designated stops mid morning and mid afternoon together with a lunch stop – no pressure to stop unless you want to but we have endeavoured to find the best places on the route to stop for coffee, cake and ice creams as well as a good lunch.  The mechanics will also set-up a service stop here for any tweaks you need.

SUPPORT VEHICLES

We will endeavour to make support vehicles fully accessible throughout the days so that you can always call to be picked up if you’re struggling.  The crew can be contacted (and tracked!) via the Ride25 app – or by calling them.  We will give you their phone numbers on the ride.

FAQs:

DO I NEED TO TRAIN?

Yes! This is a significant challenge for anyone but it is achievable. We do recommend you follow a training schedule such as the ones HERE.

WHERE DO I STAY IN Paris?

The package does not include accommodation in Paris on the night before the tour starts. Our recommendation is the Novotel Centre Eiffel Tower (this is where our Grand Depart will be from on the following morning) or the Ibis Paris Eiffel Tower.

HOW DO I GET FROM THE HOTEL IN MILAN TO THE AIRPORT WITH MY BIKE BOX?

We recommend that you either take a taxi from the hotel to the airport, or take the train (the hotel is a very short walk from the train station) straight to the airport.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?:

• Accommodation in a clean, comfortable hotel (in Sens, Semur-en-Auxois, Lons-le-Saunier, Geneva (3 nights), Sierre, Airolo, Como and Milan).  All rooms will have twin beds and we will allocate you a room partner unless you specified who you would like to share with in the booking process (or selected a single supplement).
• Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus stops for coffee/cake. (NB: Lunch and dinner is not included on your ‘rest days’ in Geneva.)
• Support vehicle to transport your luggage (clothes and supplies) from each stage to the next
• Back-up vehicles to provide you with medical help and any assistance should you need a rest
• A digital map in the format of a .gpx file for mobile navigation devices such as Garmin
• Customised, waterproof route maps including essential directions, pitstops and interesting information on the area.
• 4 new, bespoke high quality breathable cycling shirts for use on your trip. These will be fully personalised for you and adorned with badges showing the number of Ride25 legs you have completed so far.
• Daily fresh fruit and water in the support vehicles
• Celebratory dinner in Milan

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

• Flights and transfers (please organise your own transport to get you to Paris and then back home again from Milan)

• Accommodation the night before the tour commences

• A Bike

• A bike box

• Personal insurance

• Lunch and dinner on your ‘rest days’ in Geneva.

What is the Dress Code?

Please don’t over pack as we will just have to carry all the overweight bags in our vans for the whole trip.

As well as plenty of lycra, you only need a few t-shirts/tops and some jeans – and your pjs!  You will also have to carry all your own bags home.

What is the Kit List?

You will be given 4 x personalised cycling shirts when you check-in

Things you should consider buying and bringing on your Ride25 adventure….

(For a more comprehensive list, please check out our really useful blog on the essential kit for a Ride25 holiday which also gives advice on nutrition)

• Overshoes
• Chamois Cream – lots
• Base Layers to wear under your cycling shirts
• Arm and Leg warmers – to carry with you in case it gets cold and or wet
• Gloves
• Helmet
• Sunglasses / clear lenses for glasses (if it’s not sunny)
• Large saddle bag with –  2 x spare inner tubes, puncture repair kit and tyre leavers
• Cycle pump or gas canisters
• 2 x large water bottles for hydration drinks and water – we sell hydration table if you need to re-stock supplies
• Energy gels – we will have some onboard our support vehicles but we recommend that you also bring your own favourites
• Washing powder to wash the lycra in the shower at night
• Sun cream
• Top bar bag for phone, wallet and energy stuff
• Phone mount if you are using Strava as a navigation tool
• Portable battery charger for mobile
• Garmin (or similar GPS navigation device) or Strava App for phone
• Don’t forget to check out our really useful Ride25 blog on the Essential Tour Kit List

Itinerary and hotels:

The nature of the Ride25 adventure means that the routes and accommodation is dictated to by what the inventory of hotels looks like along our journey.   The hotels that we will be staying in are as follows (please note, this is subject to change).

Tues 6^th Sept 2016: Paris to Sens (Hotel: Hotel de Paris et de la Poste)

Weds 7^th Sept 2016: Sens to Semur-en-Auxois (Hotel: Hôtel de la Côte-d’Or)

Thurs 8^th Sept 2016: Semur-en-Auxois to Lons Le Saunier (Hotel:Inter Hotel du Beryl))

Fri 9^th Sept 2016: Lons le Saunier to Geneva (Hotel: Hotel Novotel Genève Centre)

Sat 10^th Sept 2016: Rest day in Geneva (Hotel: Hotel Novotel Genève Centre)

Sunday 11^th Sept 2016: Rest day in Geneva (Hotel: Hotel Novotel Genève Centre)

Monday 12^th Sept 2016: Geneva to Sierre (Hotel: Atlantic Hotel)

Tues 13^th Sept 2016: Sierre to Airolo (Hotel: Hotel Forni )

Weds 14^th Sept: Airolo to Como (Hotel: Hotel Plinius )

Thurs 15^th Sept 2016: Como to Milan (Hotel: Euro Hotel Milano)

Fri 16^th Sept 2016: Everyone departs for home (please organise your own transfers and return travel)

BAGS AND TAGS

We will carry all your bags, bike boxes and kit for you in the vans and will provide you with luggage tags when you check in on the first morning.  You may also want to have a small day bag/rucksack that you leave in the van which you will have access to at coffee stops and lunch time etc – we will provide a separate tag for this bag and you will check this bag into a different van to the overnight luggage as this will go straight to the end hotel.  Things to put in day bag could be – leg/arm warmers, extra layers, waterproof jacket, additional energy etc.

BRINGING YOUR BIKE BACK HOME – BIKE BOXES

It is your responsibility to get your bike (and yourself!) back home after the trip.

You can check it in on your flight in a bike box (you will have to arrange this when you book your flight).  Check out our blog here for advice on travelling overseas with your bike:  ‘Flying With A Bike: The Ultimate Guide’

If you need to hire a bike box, we recommend using BikeBox Online.

To check out the prices, click on the banner below to choose your delivery.  They will deliver your case to your door and arrange collection upon your return.

THE ROUTE & STRAVA:

Please note that the route is not signposted and you will need to use either a Garmin or a phone downloaded with the Strava app to self-navigate.  Please make sure that you have somewhere to mount your device and that you carry a portable battery charger.  (You will also receive a waterproof cloth map of the route to keep in your back pocket in case of emergency.)

STRAVA ROUTES – PLEASE DOWNLOAD 1 week before the ride:

NB: THE STRAVA ROUTES will be confirmed and available 1 week before the event

***THE ROUTES ARE NOT SIGN-POSTED AND IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NAVIGATE YOURSELF TO THE AGREED BREAKS, LUNCH AND FINISH POINTS, USING THE PRINTED MAPS WE SUPPLY, A GARMIN OR A MOBILE PHONE WITH THE STRAVA APP.***

We recommend that you always cycle in groups and never cycle alone.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NAVIGATING FOR ANDROID USERS:  DUPLICATING THE ROUTE TO YOUR STRAVA ACCOUNT – ESSENTIAL FOR ANDROID USERS.

STEP 1

Open up the routes on a desktop/laptop computer (please see above for the routes).

You will see a page like this:

STEP 2

Click on the duplicate button above the map, give the route a logical name so you can find it later.  It will now save the route to the map/routes section on your phone app – this works for both Apple and Android but is essential for some Android users.

STEP 3

Log into the app and check the route is there – click on the MAP tab, then the SELECT A ROUTE tab.

 STEP 4

On the day you want to use the route click the USE ROUTE button, also remember to click record (if you want to track your ride) and then go back to the maps to use the navigation of the route.