Start Your Ultimate Cycling Adventure: ACT Cycling Tours Ltd FAQs

ACT Cycling Tours Ltd is here to help you undertake your passion or your dream. We have taken people who have hardly cycled before, guided them through a period of training and built up their confidence and cycling ability. Then they have surprised themselves, and managed to complete their challenge giving themselves a feeling of real accomplishment. YOU CAN DO IT TOO ! Don’t let your doubts get the better of you. Let us help you achieve your dreams.

You don’t have to be super fit to take part and it’s not a race. Although all of our challenges are designed to suit people who have trained to take part – the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the adventure, you can take the ride at your own pace. However, the rides are not suitable for those who have never cycled before, so you should be of average fitness and enjoy reasonable health. We advise that you do regular training in the weeks leading up to the event. If you are over 65 – 70 (varies by charity) or suffer from a medical condition that is affected by exercise you must obtain a letter from your doctor. It is essential that Act Cycling Tours are aware of any medical conditions that may be affected by participating in the event.

Everyone who signs up for our rides has two things in common – a sense of adventure and a love of cycling. There are people from all walks of life which makes for an interesting and diverse group of fellow participants. Often people who sign up don’t know anyone else beforehand but we quite often get friends, couples and groups taking part.

Daily distances will average 70 – 75 miles, but we will have one main stop during each day, where food will be plentiful. Extra food will be given to you for your own stops extra to this, but you take it at your own pace. The main party will often divide into smaller groups, and you find one that cycles at your pace, and you can stop for coffees, drinks etc., as often as you wish. Its not a race, it’s an exciting tour, and a personal challenge!

It is recognised that LEJOG in particular is a challenging event. This is why it is such a good fundraiser. Expect steep hills, especially in Cornwall and Devon. However, with regular cycling before the event, most people can undertake and complete LEJOG. Before booking a cycling tour, you should consider your fitness level and how far you are able to cycle in a day. It should also be taken into account that should you lose your way you may end up cycling further than the daily total.

The leader of the tour will be a first aider, and be mechanically able to help in most circumstances. Knowledge of local hospitals and doctors clinics will be available. All local bike shops will be known, and used when on the road repairs are not possible. There will also be a support vehicle available to ride in, in case, for any reason you are unable to continue, or a back up bike if yours fails.

The food will be wholesome, tasty and plentiful. It is essential to be fuelling up your body continually. Cycling 75 miles in a day can use up around 4000 calories or more, so good quality food will be readily available. If you have a special dietary request please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate it.

We use different types of accommodation (hotels, guest houses, hostels and B&B’s), depending on what’s available in the area which is suitable for groups. Rooming is usually twin share although occasionally we use dormitories.

We recommend you bring sunglasses, cycling gloves; waterproof clothing; two pairs of shoes; cycle helmet; and casual clothes/accessories that you would normally wear in the evenings. Please also bring your own water/drink bottle as we are unable to supply these for hygiene reasons. Cycling accessories, such as puncture repair outfits, rear lights and small saddle bags are recommended. PADDED CYCLE SHORTS ARE ESSENTIAL!

No, all luggage will be transported in support vehicles unless otherwise stated. Small bags are useful for carrying personal items with you as you ride.

Yes, we recommend you bring your own bike, as comfort is paramount in these challenging tours. We recommend a proper touring bicycles is preferable on all tours, as some parts of the tour use cycle routes rather than roads.

Yes, cycle hire can be arranged, please ask for details.

We aim to take 14 to 16 riders on each tour, but these quantities may vary slightly. We would not normally all ride together. Normally groups break down naturally into smaller groups of 3 to 4, who will cycle at similar speeds to each other.

Our tours are not suitable for children under the age of 16. There is no upper age limit but a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Yes, plus you should have individual third party liability insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately insured.