FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Booking

  • Inquiries are most welcome from groups of 6-10 for advertised dates or other dates that work for your group. Groups with specific needs can also be catered for. As examples: a group of three couples organised a May 2021 Orange 6 day/night tour. With just three double rooms required it enabled a greater choice of boutique accommodation and meal options that the group utilized for a small additional cost. A larger group of young adults and parents organised with Bespoke a lower cost, 6 night tour staying in country pubs. Another group of 3 couples curated with Bespoke a 5 day self guided tour. Groups of course are most welcome to book the advertised fixed date departures subject to availability.

  • Yes for group tours we will happily craft with you itinerary variations, including for example, changes to the route, on-route experiences or more up or down-market accommodation.

  • Yes — we offer tailor-made tours for friends, family, clubs or corporate groups. Simply enquire via our website; custom departures and itineraries are available across all our cycle touring destinations.

  • BCT is an accredited member of the Council of Australian Tour Operators, and founder Colin Bransgrove is an accredited guide with Tour Guides Australia.

On Tour

  • Guided Tours are exclusively 1 day Sydney Bike Tours. A qualified local tour guide literally leads the way on the bike for the 2-4 clients over distances of either 17 or 34 kms.

    Supported Tours have a back up vehicle/trailer that follows or backs-up the tour group (without interfering with the serenity or enjoyment of cycling the ‘road less travelled’). As well as clients luggage; first aid, bike tools and any client on-route purchases; the vehicle/trailer may carry spare bikes, resting cyclists and even morning teas and lunches when in less populated areas. A suitably qualified driver manages supported tours with local knowledge; bike maintenance, first aid and good people skills. Supported tour prices include most meals including some morning teas. Entry fees to attractions and pre arranged farm and gallery visits are typically included. Clients are still issued pre tour with detailed Tour Notes including GPS Strava and Ride GPS touring route maps so they can self navigate as they choose during the tour. Note on some supported and co-hosted tours such as Japan and Italy guiding is also provided.

    Self Guided Tours do not have the vehicle/trailer/driver and associated support. Clients luggage is transferred between each night’s accommodation by local drivers on behalf of Bespoke Cycle Tours. Self Guided tour prices include accommodation, meals where they are only available with Bespoke Cycle Tours pre-arrangement and detailed Tour Notes including GPS Strava and Ride GPS touring route maps plus more detailed written route directions.

    Co-hosted Tours involve Bespoke Cycle Tours collaborating with food and cultural experts in the region of the specified co-hosted tour: ie Ciociaria region in Italy and Chuguko Prefecture in Japan. These two tours also provide support and guiding services.

  • Sydney Cycling Tours have a minimum group size of 2 and maximum of 4.

    Self-guided tours have a minimum group size of 2.

    Set departure supported tours have a minimum group size of 6 and a maximum of 10.

    Bespoke Cycle Tours believe small groups have more intimate and insightful encounters with the local people you meet during each journey. Up to 10 also makes for good conversation around the dinner table.

  • 1 day Sydney Cycling Tours are led by a qualified local guide. Clients ride quality Moustache e-bikes and enjoy a waterside restaurant lunch.

    3 to 7 day self-guided tours - the core inclusions for these tours are accommodation, baggage transfers and detailed trip notes/maps.

    6 to 9 day set departure supported tours - core inclusions are accommodation, most meals, visits to attractions including galleries, farms and wineries; back up vehicle (with knowledgeable driver) carrying luggage; spare bikes, on-route purchases and even clients wishing to have a break from cycling plus detail trip notes/maps. Electric bikes are popular with Bespoke clients. Australian tours utilise top of the range electric step-through Moustache hire bikes .

  • Accommodation on all tours has been very carefully selected and tested. In small towns/villages we may vary the accommodation depending on the group size. Sweden and Japan Hotels are all 4.5 - 4 star standard. N.E. Victorian Grand Tour has ensuite bathroom accommodation and ranges from a 3 star motel or similar to more up-market boutique accommodation. In Beechworth we use a selection of properties; for example Freemans on Ford. The Orange Discovery Tour includes a wider variety of accommodation and may not include ensuites. We generally have at least 1 night in a boutique B&B. The average standard is 3 star: see for example Cowra Services Club Accommodation for The Goldfields Discovery Tour ranges between 3 and 4 star including two nights at Hotel Frangos in Daylesford. Note that accommodation may vary subject to available supply and within the smaller properties rooms often vary in standard within the one property.

  • On booking a tour you are provided with detailed trip notes/maps. These include a thorough outline of each day’s itinerary, what to bring and how best to prepare for the tour; joining instructions and other information to help make your participation as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. Should a tour be cancelled or postponed due to insufficient numbers you will receive a full refund or you can transfer the funds to another departure date. Please read the BCT Terms and Conditions carefully before booking a tour.

  • All Australian tours use hire options of high-quality Moustache step-through electric bikes or of course clients can bring their own bikes.  For tours in all other countries we provide road, touring or e-bikes, depending on terrain, the itinerary and availability.

  • Yes bike hire is available for collection at the start of most our our tours. We offer a choice of high quality e-bikes and suitable touring bikes. Please just let us know when booking or inquiring and we will liaise with you about your specific needs and hire costs. If for some reason we cannot meet your needs, we’ll not process your booking. (Note the tour cost of the Sydney day tours includes e-bike and helmet hire).

    For more information on bikes available, see our Bike Hire page.

Fitness

  • Yes certainly if your partner is happy to accept that the average group pace may be comparatively slow. Each day offers plenty of scope for fitter cyclists to have a good work out with the party re-grouping at an agreed time or location. Those wanting to do a little or no cycling are easily catered for. You have the option of putting the bike on the rack as much as you like and travelling in the support vehicle; or deciding one or more days will be non-cycling days. Our Sweden itinerary offers convenient train travel between each nights destination. Some partners of very fit cyclists find hiring an electric bike is the answer to sharing the riding experience and some even delight in overtaking their partners on the steeper hills!. Note also that as our daily tour itineraries include much more than just cycling; there is plenty of stimulus outside the cycling.

  • Cycle distances for 6 or 7 day tours are mostly around 40-60kms per day allowing for a relaxed pace and lots of time for off-bike activities and rest. Good aerobic fitness will ensure your cycling enjoyment combined with specific ‘cycling fitness’. Cycle regularly before the tour and get ‘saddle conditioned’ to be on a bike seat for up to 6 hours over the duration of the day.

    Confidence to ride on roads shared with two-way car and truck traffic is needed. While approximately 80% of each tour is on quiet back roads, rail trails or dirt roads; there are times when relatively busier main roads are used.

  • A moderate fitness base is required.  We recommend “saddle-conditioning” by cycling before your trip — especially for multi-day tours where you may ride for up to 6 or 7 hours.

Safety & Support

  • Safety is our top priority on every Bespoke Cycle Tour. Each guided and/or supported tour has at least one first-aid qualified person. Self-guided tour clients are provided with extensive Tour Notes that cover pre and on-tour safety related information. All cycling activities are carried out in line with our comprehensive Risk Management Plan. Group sizes are kept small which reduces the potential for conflict with vehicles and ensures close support and a quick response to any needs.

    We carefully design our routes to use quiet roads, cycle paths, and low-traffic areas wherever possible. The road less travelled is central to shaping our itineraries. Our bikes are high quality, well-maintained and regularly serviced, and many tours include a support vehicle for backup, equipment, or rest if needed. When locally sourced bikes are used, we pre-test them to ensure their suitability and safety for clients.     

    All participants must hold personal travel insurance that specifically covers cycling as an activity. This combination of professional preparation and guest responsibility ensures your safety and peace of mind throughout the journey.

  • Self-guided tours include baggage transfer, extensive tour notes, maps and GPS and written route directions. In supported holidays, a vehicle support driver/guide and spare bikes are available for assistance. Some tours enable clients to travel in the support vehicle and even by train on the Sweden tour.

  • At Orange and Wangaratta cars can be parked within the recommended hotel car parks. For the Gippsland and Goldfields & Spa tours on-street parking is available and is regularly used by clients.