Please describe your tours?
At the start of each tour, the guide will provide information on the days’ program and itinerary. Updates are provided along the route during occasional stops at tapas bars, the village fountain, or panoramic look-out points. The routes are always made flexible according to participants’ cycling capabilities.
On most tours, you can stop cycling as and when you feel like it. The minibus is always following the tour, or parked at some convenient point close to the route, and ready to take you on board. Lunches are always arranged at pleasant, typical restaurants, alternatively a picnic lunch will be provided. Afternoons generally are free for you to pursue your own activities, and dinners are usually served at the hotel providing accommodation. Friday evenings are often reserved for dinner at a special restaurant with a floor show.
How many participants are there on your tours?
The maximum number of people we can accommodate on our guided tours is 14. Our objective is to create a friendly, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere amongst a manageable group of participants.
What typically is the proficiency of the cyclists who join your tours?
Generally our groups are made up of 20-25% skilled cyclists with the same proportion of casual cyclists. The remainder fall into the intermediate category. Mostly we cater for cycling couples, but also welcome singles from time to time.
Do I have to be an athlete to do a Bravo Bike trip?
Not at all. Bravo Bike trips are not athletic events. If you're a casual cyclist or walk to stay fit, or if you like to swim, play golf or take an aerobics class, you won't have any trouble doing our trips. We're not champion cyclists challenging your limits. We bike simply because we believe this is the best way to get a real taste of a region. Our biking trips span a whole range of activity levels. You choose the level that fits you, and we will keep the rhythm or look for the necessary track suitable for you and the group. Remember, whatever level you choose, you always have options - add an extra ride or walk, take a shorter loop back, or spend a day by the pool reading a book. And wherever you are on route, you can always get a lift from the Bravo Bike minibus if you need it or simply want it.
Where will be staying?
We use luxury hotels or those offering a high level of comfort, ranging from 3 or 4 stars. We insist on comfort, but our prime concerns are also the location and charm. In the regions around Madrid, we use only the best hotels like those offered by the renowned chain of “Paradores” (these are luxury hotels usually established in converted castles, palaces, monasteries or mansions in various strategic locations throughout the country). In the city of Madrid we have selected only the most comfortable establishments, paying close attention to their proximity to the most important landmarks and places of cultural and historic interest.
What are the lunch/dining arrangement?
On cycling days, dinner will usually be served at the hotels providing accommodation and is included in the price of the tour. We pay close attention to quality and quantity. On the Madrid tours, Friday night dinners are optional. Clients wishing to dine at a restaurant with a floor show should advise us in advance. Lunches during the tour are also included in the price. You will enjoy the best cuisine and fine local wines.
What kind of bike will I be riding?
Our tour prices includes the use of a quality 27-speed mountain-bike style with wheels customized to terrain (paths or road) no rental fee required! All of our bicycles are either custom built for us and are checked by our mechanics as often as necessary. Each one includes a handle-bar bag, a spare tube and a lock for your use during the tour. You may ask for any kind of accessory or extra, like SPD pedals, and we will have it prepared when you arrive.
Describe the cycling roads?
Our tours follow quiet country lanes and cycling paths wherever these are available. Our main concern is for your safety and enjoyment.
What if my travel companion is less (or more) into active vacations than I am?
We know that many people travel in pairs but don't necessarily have identical tastes and interests, so we design Bravo Bike trips to accommodate a wide range of abilities. Although we normally bike all together - the pace is entirely up to you. Some travellers stop at every museum along the way, while others prefer to stop at a café or a bar. We've spent years discovering interesting amusements in our routes, but we leave it to you to decide which ones you would like to visit and which you'll ride past. We spend at least two nights at the same hotel so less gung-ho travellers can always skip a day of biking or walking and just do whatever they feel like doing.
How do I keep in touch with friends, family, and office during the tour?
We will facilitate the most efficient means of communication for you: by phone with pre-paid telephone cards, also our portable PC is available for your use to send emails. We can also arrange for faxes to be sent from our Bravo Bike office.
Can I carry a video or a camera?
Of course. However we recommend that you bring only the most essential equipment, taking into consideration bulk and weight. It is our usual practice to record the entire tour with many photos taken with our digital camera, and have these burned on to a CD which we give to you at the end of the tour.
