Approx 225 miles over 4 countries; England, France, Belgium & Holland
3/5 - While days 1 & 2 are pretty much pan flat, the wind can cause havoc for the unsuspecting rider.
1 night in the Ibis hotel, 1 night on the night ferry with cabin between Hook of Holland & Harwich. Breakfast buffet included.
A road bike packing trip led by qualified coach & ride leaders with hotel/ferry stays.
Looking for a challenge, or adventure, or just fancy an introduction to bikepacking!? Then you are at the right place!
Ride Across Europe takes in 4 countries in 3 days. This fantastic trip will see you catch the ferry from Dover to Dunkirk, before heading east towards the picturesque city of Bruges in Belgium along some of the finest cycling infrastructure the continent has to offer. The next morning riding across the islands of Zeeland passing some of Holland's finest beaches and engineering marvels. In the evening you sleep on the ferry, while waking up in Harwich, England.
The ride is led by qualified cycling coaches & ride leaders. Note, this is not a charity ride and no fundraising is required. However, we are keen to support anyone who wishes to raise for a cause.
The hotel is located just a short walk from the historical centre of the city where there are plenty of historical sights and options to dine!
Day 2 ends with a night ferry between Hook of Holland and Harwich, England. Each rider will have a cabin for the night.
There will be a buffet breakfast paid for and available at both the hotel on Day 2, and the ferry as we arrive back in the UK.
The trip will include the short ferry trip from Dover to Dunkirk on Day 1.
The ride will be lead by qualified coaches and ride leaders who will be on hand to share insightful tips & tricks as you ride!
Routes have been carefully curated by our ride leaders, and created to ensure a smooth ride with plenty to take in!
We will be riding accompanied with our belongings. A large saddle bag & frame/handlebar bag is recommended. We advise against the use of panniers or backpacks.
Chances are we will have lunch on the road at a nice café on each day. We will aim to have at least one cafe stop each day, if not two! Dinner will be in town once we freshen up after the ride!
We will be traveling from London to Dover via train on the morning of the ride; we can organise for you to join us!
There are several small islands we pass on Day 2, some require a short ferry crossing. The crossings are usually a few Euros.
We encourage our riders to apply for a GHIC Card (Free) which allows free treatment in the EU in the case of an accident
Full refunds can be given up to 60 days before the trip, after which refunds are unavailable unfortunately.
For many, the day will begin with a quick train journey from Stratford International to Dover. A quick stop at Morrisons grabbing some lunch, before boarding the ferry to Dunkirk. Once we enter France, we head East into Belgium and then along the pristine canal towards the historical city of Bruges, a flat ride of approximately 55 miles. A quick catch up of salaah(s) and a freshen up before heading into the city centre for some grub!
The queen stage as some may call it! This day has the potential to be very fast and flowing, or a grind depending on the wind direction. Much of the route is exposed along the coast, passing reclaimed islands and giant causeways. Be sure to stock up during the morning buffet! There are two short ferry stops during this day, an opportunity to catch much needed respite! We end the ride at a small town, where we catch the night ferry. Each rider will have a cabin for the night and a buffet breakfast in the morning.
The ferry arrives early morning back in the UK's east coast and breakfast is served at approximately 6am. We start the ride soon after, passing through immigration. There is a fantastic café in Maldon we stop at, before continuing into London via Essex. While the hills are shallow on Day 3, they can surprise the system a little after 2 days of beautiful riding on flatlands!
Gapped has teamed up with Wizard Works to create custom bike-packing equipment to be used on cycling adventures! We'll be releasing them soon and they will be available to purchase in time for this ride!
Please reach us below if you cannot find an answer to your question.
This ride is catered for exactly that. An introduction to bikepacking; we will support you before the trip to help get the relevant kit together.
The trip in principle is very similar. They both take in the same countries, but different towns and cities. The four day tour allows a similar journey with less emphasis on miles per day, allowing for more time to take in the sights.
Yes
We ask anyone applying to be able to ride a century comfortably at 12mph or more. If you are not quite there yet, we can support you in getting there.
Apply to the trip above, thereafter if your application is successful, we will send you an invoice on how to pay.
We don't offer a support vehicle for the ride. We expect riders to be self-sufficient when traveling on these trips. Ride leaders will be around to support in case of any mishaps. In extreme situations, it may be necessary to take a train or taxi to the destination.
While there are regular trains from Harwich to London, we would encourage everyone to ride the final leg back to the capital!
As travelers, Jummah is not incumbant upon us, however, there should be enough of us to do so if we wish.
Have you joined our mailing list to be the first to hear about our adventures!?