GREAT VIC BIKE RIDE 2021 - ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE - AllTrails Bicycle Tours
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
GREAT VIC BIKE RIDE 2021 ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE The Spectacular Grampians The AllTrails Package Our accommodation and support package is purchased separately to your entry into the Great Vic Bike Ride. We have been working with Bicycle Network operating the accommodation package on the Great Vic Bike Ride since 2005. The ‘Great Vic’ is a legendary week-long cycling holiday where a few thousand riders camp in footy ovals and community parks as they discover a new part of Victoria every year. For those who love the event but enjoy being a part of a more intimate group and prefer not camp, we organise an accommodation package for 50-80 cyclists which becomes a ‘ride within a ride’, with all of the benefits of the amazing event, with the added comfort of the AllTrails package. We support your personal challenge with… • Accom & Breakfast: Quality accom to help you rest easy after your day’s ride. • Comfort: If you prefer not to camp with the crowds and hope for perfect weather. • Luggage Transfer: Carefully handled directly between motels each day. • Massage: Trained massage therapists included to work on those tired legs and bodies. • Private Bike Mechanic: Not just for repairs! Tune-ups, bike-fittings, hints and tips. • Small Group Intimacy: All the benefits of the big event, but part of a friendly group. • Good Old-Fashioned Service: The AllTrails crew really do look after you! • Satisfaction: Approximately 75% of places each year are taken by past clients. The Package at a Glance Dates: 27 Nov - 5 Dec 2021 (plus optional pre-ride night) Duration: Full ride: 7 nights plus optional pre-ride night (3 and 4 night options also available) Distance: 537 km (full ride) Average Daily: 76km Bike Type: Road Bike, Hybrid or E-bike Accommodation: 3 to 4 star hotels/motels Meals: Daily breakfasts and afternoon tea provided, lunch and dinner also included in event fee BOOK NOW
AllTrails Package Wake up every morning in your comfortable bed, enjoy breakfast in your motel before heading out on the day’s ride. The AllTrails crew will transfer your luggage directly to your next accommodation ready for your arrival. After you have completed your day’s challenge on the Great Vic Bike Ride, relax upon arrival at your motel, enjoy afternoon tea and perhaps have our bike mechanic look over your bike for a few tips or minor adjustments that you could make to improve your ride. Why not take up the services of our massage therapists a few times during the week to help your body out with recovery. All of these services are part of this support package, not to mention the social interaction and camaraderie that is always a highlight. In the evenings many cyclists go out in smaller groups for a meal at a local restaurant, at their accommodation, or jump in the AllTrails bus and head back to the event campsite for the nightly dinner and entertainment. On some nights AllTrails will arrange an optional group ‘camaraderie dinner’ where many of the AllTrails cyclists sit down for a pre-arranged meal at a local restaurant or hotel.
Pricing and Payment information Booking AUD Until 22 Jun 2021 Until 21 Sep 2021 After 21 Sep 2021 Rainbow to Great Western 7 night pkg (+ optional pre-ride night) Twin share $2790 pp $2840 pp $2890 pp Single room $3560 $3610 $3660 Rainbow to Halls Gap (4 night pkg) (+ optional pre-ride night) Twin share $1600 pp $1650 pp $1700 pp Single room $2000 $2050 $2100 Halls Gap to Great Western (3 night pkg) Twin share $1350 pp $1400 pp $1450 pp Single room $1720 $1770 $1820 Pre ride accommodation Sat 27 Nov (incl breakfast): Package Options $220 - one person in a room | $250 - two people in a room 7 Night Package Note that the night before the ride begins is not included in the package price although Our full package gives you accommodation most cyclists book it. It is sold separately. from Sunday to Saturday night inclusive. It IMPORTANT - This year’s pre ride accommodation is not in Rainbow as there is no suitable does not include pre-ride accom on Sat 27 Nov accommodation for us in such a tiny town. We are staying in Horsham - see daily itinerary but you may book that as an optional extra if section for more details. you wish (most do). First 4 Nights Package Travelling on your own For those cycling from Rainbow to Halls Gap Early bookers can book a twin share package and we will partner you up with only. It does not include pre-ride accom on Sat somebody else of the same gender travelling on their own (pending COVID restrictions 27 Nov but you may book that as an optional at the time of the ride). This offer closes on 21 Sep – after this date contact us to see if we extra if you wish (most do). can match you, if not the single room price will apply. This package does include 1 night in Halls Gap which can be swapped for the pre-ride night if you don’t need a night in Halls Gap. Included: Last 3 Nights Package Our package includes: The ‘Last 3 Nights’ package is for those cycling • All accommodation • Massage therapists (10 min each, every 2-3 days) Halls Gap to Great Western. Includes 1 night in • Afternoon teas • Daily breakfasts Halls Gap before the ride. • Daily luggage transfer • Private bike mechanic • AllTrails cycling jersey • Transfers between accom and event campsite Note that your Great Vic Bike Ride event entry fee is NOT included and must be purchased separately. You must book in with both AllTrails and Bicycle Network. Optional Extras: Pre ride accommodation Sat 27 Nov (incl breakfast): $220 - one person in a room | $250 - two people in a room AllTrails Coach Transfer, Melbourne to ride start (Horsham accom): Cyclist, luggage & bike. Sat 27 Nov only. $129 AllTrails Coach Transfer, Great Western Long Term Car Park to ride start (Horsham accom): Cyclist, luggage & bike. Sat 27 Nov only. $50 AllTrails Coach Transfer, ride finish (Great Western) to Melbourne: Cyclist, luggage & bike. Sun 5 Dec only. $79 Group Camaraderie Dinner #1 Horsham: Sat 27 Nov $50 (pre-ride / arrival night) Complimentary Group Dinner Horsham: Sun 28 Nov $0 (included in package price) Group Camaraderie Dinner #2 Halls Gap: Thu 2 Dec $55 (rest day evening) Soft, FOLDABLE bike bag carriage $3/day: $21 Hard case or un-foldable bike bag carriage: $35 Premium Package Option: Upgraded accom where possible (per person cost) $500 Payment Schedule: • Deposit upon booking ($400) • Progress Payment 30 days after deposit (40% of package cost less deposit paid) • Balance 21 Sep 2021 (2 months before the ride begins) Terms and Conditions. Full terms and conditions for each ride are available via our booking system. These terms and conditions will also be sent to you with your confirmation email after booking.
Great Vic Bike Ride Route Meals and Accommodation inclusions. Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D, Accommodation = A Location Distance Date B L D A Arrival Day (Horsham/Rainbow) NA Sat 27 Nov 2021 - - - - Rainbow to Brim 58km Sun 28 Nov 2021 - - Y Y Brim to Horsham 109km Mon 29 Nov 2021 Y - - Y Horsham Loop 83km Tue 30 Nov 2021 Y - - Y Horsham to Halls Gap 78km Wed 1 Dec 2021 Y - - Y Halls Gap Rest Day NA Thu 2 Dec 2021 Y - - Y Halls Gap to Dunkeld 72km Fri 3 Dec 2021 Y - - Y Dunkeld to Pomonal 97km Sat 4 Dec 2021 Y - - Y Pomonal to Great Western 40km Sun 5 Dec 2021 Y - - - Total Distance Cycled 537km 7 - 1 7 Average Daily Distance 76km IMPORTANT NOTE FOR 2021: It is always a treat visiting small towns on the Great Vic - they make a big effort to welcome the event into town and there is always a buzz around as you cycle into a little place whose normally quiet streets are swelling with activity. The aromas of coffee and fresh bread spill from the bakeries and cafés, the taps at the local pub are flowing and there are bicycles and lycra every way you turn. In the case of the 2021 Great Vic Bike Ride, the first 2 towns (Rainbow and Brim) are all very small towns with no acceptable accommodation for us - this has provided the unprecedented opportunity to spend four nights in a 4-star, luxury Horsham hotel. That’s right - the best of small-town Victoria and regional-centre Victoria. With no daily bag-packing or check-in and check-outs, modern rooms, restaurant, bar, WiFi and just a short walk to the town centre, we are sure that you will enjoy your stay here in this great hotel. More details as follows: GVBR ROUTE MORNING AFTERNOON DINNER Rainbow Arrival Day, 27 Nov AllTrails to transfer cyclists to Horsham Stay overnight in Horsham Optional group dinner (extra) Rainbow to Brim, 28 Nov Morning coach transfer to Rainbow Afternoon transfers to Horsham Group dinner included Brim to Horsham, 29 Nov Morning coach transfer to Brim Ride to Horsham Bus available to camp dinner Horsham Loop, 30 Nov Ride directly from accommodation Ride back to Horsham Bus available to camp dinner Horsham to Halls Gap, 1 Dec Ride directly from accommodation Ride to Halls Gap accom Bus available to camp dinner Halls Gap rest day, 2 Dec Optional group dinner (extra) Halls Gap to Dunkeld, 3 Dec Ride directly from accommodation * Ride to Dunkeld accom (most) Bus available to camp dinner * Transport to Hamilton (last bookings) Dunkeld to Pomonal, 4 Dec * Ride directly from accom (most) Afternoon transfers to Halls Gap Bus available to camp dinner * Morning transfer Hamilton to Dunkeld (last bookings) Pomonal to Grt Western, 5 Dec Morning coach transfer to Pomonal Ride to event end NA Day-to-Day Itinerary Rainbow (Horsham) Arrival Day NA Sat 27 Nov 2021 Day 1. We suggest interstate and international travellers arrive in Melbourne on Fri 26 Nov. For those who have booked Horsham pre-ride accommodation with AllTrails, we will depart Melbourne approx 8am bound for Horsham (time TBC). Your bikes will be transported direct to the ride start in Rainbow to be securely stored overnight in the AllTrails Bike Compound. For those leaving their vehicle in the Great Western Long-Term Car Park, we can pick you up on the way through to Horsham. For those travelling to the Rainbow ride start, we will arrange your collection from the Rainbow campsite to Horsham for our registration and briefing. Please make sure today that your bike is prepared for cycling as we will not have time in the morning for assembly. Given our distance to camp we will not be taking a bus transfer back for dinner tonight and we will hold the first of our optional Group Camaraderie Dinners - a great way to start the week, meeting up with old friends and gaining a few new ones. If you would prefer to get your own dinner, there are plenty of great dinner options in Horsham - our accommodation is just a 5 minute walk to the town centre where you will find Indian, Noodles, RSL Club, Chinese, Pizza, Mexican, Burgers, Thai and fast-food chain restaurants. You may meet other AllTrails cyclists also heading out for dinner - they are always a friendly bunch. Rainbow to Brim (Horsham) 58km Sun 28 Nov 2021 Day 2. After breakfast it will be a morning transfer to Rainbow to start your ride. You’ll ease into the first day on the bike with 58km of riding over flat terrain – it’s the perfect opportunity to warm up the legs for the days ahead. Make sure you roll past the Brim Silo on the way into camp. Covered in an iconic mural by Guido van Helten, the Brim art silo was the first of its kind to appear in Victoria and quickly gained widespread local and international attention, inspiring the establishment of the Silo Art Trail. The men depicted in the artwork remain anonymous, paying homage to the whole Wimmera Region. Once the day’s riding is done, we will have our bike mechanic at the AllTrails bike compound helping out with any mechanical issues before cyclists jump on one of the scheduled transfers from Brim to Horsham during the afternoon. Upon arrival in Horsham your afternoon tea will be waiting as well as our massage therapist for a rub- down on any aching bones and muscles. Given that we are some distance from camp tonight, a complimentary group dinner is included for all AllTrails cyclists in Horsham where you can meet a few more AllTrails cyclists and spend some time with new friends.
Day-to-Day Itinerary cont… Brim to Horsham 109km Mon 29 Nov 2021 Day 3. Another hearty breakfast at our accommodation and we are on the way again! We transport you to Brim where you will collect your bike and get on the road to Horsham. Today will see you crack the ton with 100kms of riding! But don’t worry, with just 162m of elevation, the road is flat and perfect for you to find a consistent rhythm to tick along throughout the day. Lunch is located at the second Art Silo of the trip, Sheep Hills silo, painted by Melbourne-based artist Adnate. Her piece tells the stories of Indigenous people and their native lands. Enjoy the rest of the day’s riding on quiet country roads before rolling into Horsham where you can ride direct to your accommodation and enjoy afternoon tea and the services of the mechanic and massage therapist right at the hotel or continue exploring the town. Need some ideas? Try the Horsham Botanic Gardens, Horsham Aquatic Centre and Horsham Regional Art Gallery. Tonight we will run bus transfers back to the event campsite for dinner for those keen to head down. Otherwise, explore further into the Horsham cuisine - there is plenty to discover. Horsham Loop 83km Tue 30 Nov 2021 Day 4. Breakfast is again laid on this morning before taking on today’s ride. With 79km to cover you’ll be rolling along some quiet country roads and will have plenty of time to explore quaint towns along the way such as Natimuk. The riding will follow the course of the Wimmera River before turning back towards Horsham for a chance to tick off any highlights you have not yet got to in Horsham. Have you had a massage yet? If not, make sure you put your name down this afternoon after you arrive. Tonight we will be running a bus back to camp for dinner for those keen to go check out the atmosphere around the event campsite. Horsham to Halls Gap 78km Wed 1 Dec 2021 Day 5. After breakfast pack up your bags and jump on your bike – it’s time to leave Horsham and enter the Grampians National Park – a haven for scenic views, beautiful waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. But with these views comes our 2021 riding challenge day! The real climbing begins after lunch, where you’ll wind through a lush canopy of trees along Mt Victory Road. However, this isn’t a time to worry about claiming the KOM or QOM – popular attractions such as Fish Falls and MacKenzie Falls along the way are the perfect opportunities to cool off and catch your breath. The breath-taking views from Reed Lookout mark the end of the climb and the start of a beautiful descent into Halls Gap. While you are cycling, we will transfer your luggage to your next accommodation where it will be waiting for you upon arrival along with your daily afternoon tea. Why not relax around the hotel pool with a well-deserved beverage as the sun goes down. The event campsite is a short stroll for those who wish to have dinner there, or you may wish to source your own dinner at a local restaurant with some of the other AllTrails group. Halls Gap Rest Day Thu 2 Dec 2021 Day 6. For those on the ‘First 4 Nights’ package, unfortunately your time has come to an end. We also welcome the ‘Last 3 Nights’ cyclists to our package today. For our 7-nighters, the rest day is your chance to see everything that Halls Gap has to offer or just relax and revitalise your body ready for the rest of the week. We will have massages available for a few hours in the morning at our accommodation and there are lots of activities and things to do around town and at the event campsite to fill in your day. While there’s no official riding scheduled for today, if you’re keen to hop on the bike you won’t have to pedal far to uncover a handful of lakes, waterfalls or stunning views (albeit after a tiny bit more climbing). Back in Halls Gap there are cafe’s, breweries and wineries. Check out our top spots: Local brewery Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co, Coola’s Ice Creamery and Spirit of Punjab offers delightful Indian cuisine. Plus, the ever-popular Halls Gap Zoo, a country-style 53-acre zoo, is only 7 kilometres from the town centre. Tonight, we will welcome the newcomers to the package with our second optional group camaraderie dinner (optional extra). A great way to meet some new people and reflect on the first half of the ride. Halls Gap to Dunkeld 72km Fri 3 Dec 2021 Day 7. With arguably the most scenic riding of this year’s Great Vic, you’ll pedal straight down the middle of the Grampians, with towering rocky peaks on either side. There will be plenty of chances to see some native wildlife including kangaroos and koalas! To kick-start your taste buds the Dunkeld General Store is home to an abundance of local produce. Grab a bite at the Dunkeld Old Bakery offering delicious baked goods. Koopmans is the stop for all your coffee needs and offers a selection of the towns finest art. Plus, wander over to the Pier at Dunkeld Arboretum to watch the sunset with fantastic views of Mt Sturgeon. We have a few locations for accommodation tonight. Even though Dunkeld is a small town, most of our accommodation is in Dunkeld itself. Later bookers will be taken on our bus transfer to a quality motel in Hamilton, a short drive away. Dunkeld has some great restaurant options including the very famous Royal Mail Hotel (book in early by calling the hotel direct if you want a table), while our Hamilton accommodation has its own top rated restaurant onsite. For those who prefer to go back to the campsite for dinner, the AllTrails bus can take you down to one of the most spectacular campsites set with a backdrop of stunning views of the Grampians as the sun sets. Dunkeld to Pomonal (Halls Gap) 97km Sat 4 Dec 2021 Day 8. After a beautiful dinner last night and lovely breakfast this morning you will be fully stocked up and ready to charge through to Pomonal, the last overnight camp location for the Great Vic in 2021. Today’s riding will follow quiet country roads alongside the eastern edge of the Grampians. While you’ll clock up just shy of 100km, the terrain is mainly rolling hills with an accumulated 317m elevation gain by the time you reach the next campsite in Pomonal. Pomonal is a picturesque village set against the Grampians and famous for native flowers, orchids and rolling green hills – a beautiful setting to experience nature walks, vineyard visits and farm gate local produce. Pomonal itself is a very small town with no accommodation for us so we will be staying a short 10- minute drive away in Halls Gap. Once again, our bike mechanic will be waiting at the end of the ride route and our massage therapist and afternoon tea will be waiting for you at your accommodation. Tonight, we will be taking transfers back to the camp for those who want to join in the festivities of the final night. It’s usually quite a party. Pomonal to Great Western 40km Sun 5 Dec 2021 Day 9. Your last day in the saddle! We’ll head off after breakfast to get you to the start line in Pomonal which will be full of energy, excitement and satisfaction as the cyclists come to the end of their week’s ride. The final day of riding is nice and short, which will be a welcome relief after accumulating more than 500kms in the legs over the last week. Enjoy the rolling hills and vast fields before arriving at the final stop – Great Western. It’s doesn’t have to be all over when you cross the finish line either – why not grab your family and friends to explore for an extra day or two? This pretty little town punches well above its weight with world-renowned wineries and cosy cafes to cap off a week in another world. Seppelt estate can’t be missed. The winery is home to the largest underground cellars in the Southern Hemisphere. The Drives, a heritage listed labyrinth of cellars that wind for three kilometers beneath the historic Great Western home. We will meet you at the end of the ride with our mechanic available to assist packing bikes away, then head back to Melbourne on our coach. A week in another world…and well worth the wait!
What has been said about previous years Thank you all so much for AllTrails adding such value to my GVBRide. It was good to meet you and finally taste the AllTrails experience after all these years. As a ‘senior citizen’ I was delighted to be able to access the AllTrails Luxury package… the package you put together was varied and most enjoyable. Having my own bedroom, toilet and shower (without queuing) was sublime. And where a bath was available it was truly luxurious. Each arvo I would crank up the aircon and, having washed my cycling kit, leave it to dry in my snug nest..I don’t believe that I could do that in a tent… So thank you for your fine blend of administrative and organisational skills combined with plain old hard work and cycling smarts. It gave me a seamless worry free tour knowing that all the details would be taken care of by All Trails, whether it be the bus pick ups from the end of the ride to my motel and vice versa, the AllTrails bike corral, the afternoon teas, massages… and friendly personal support. I have already booked my place on the AllTrails Luxury package for the GVBR so that is a fine endorsement… a returning client who received service beyond expectations! Jeremy T Frank and I enjoyed the GVBR and really appreciated the support you provided to us. I thought we had booked an accommodation package but it was much more. The fact this was not the case gave me the confidence I could complete the ride as I had only started cycling this year and this was the first time I had participated on any cycling event. From day 1 it was great to know that we were going to be well supported by massages, good healthy food, cycling expertise and organisational skills. JB’s skilful care of our bicycles was an added bonus. Thank-you again. Jane B Congratulations to all the AllTrails staff for handling such a big contingent of riders so well and still giving us individual attention: as usual we had a really enjoyable tour. Jumping into a dry bus and heading for a warm room surely beats camping after a cold, wet day in the saddle. Thought Ben and JB did a super job with the bikes. The accommodation was superb and I know a lot is dependent on the size of the towns we go through but this year offered some excellent eating out too. The trip was seamless thanks to your attention to detail and ‘can do,’ attitude. A great group of people, indulgent afternoon teas and frequent massages whipped us into shape for the next day. Well done and many thanks. Robyn & John Hi All, Thanks for the Great Alltrails experience. You all make our ride a pleasure…! [and] run the warmest and friendliest and comfort-ablest! package and make the ride a real treat for us. Count us in for next year. Mike and Wendy Thank you so much for the wonderful support you provided for the Great Vic Bike Ride. I love doing the ride and there is no way I could manage the camping option – so the motel option is terrific. But better than that is knowing your support and the support of your team is there whenever we need it. I really appreciated it. Many thanks to you both and also to the other members of the team. I would like to put my name down for the next Great Vic Bike Ride. Joan C Thank you for another great experience with the GVBR, and the excellent professional services you provide. It makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable and painless. Everything went smoothly, which is a credit to yourselves, your planning and active involvement. Bruce R Thank you so much for making our bike experience so wonderful. As you are aware, I enjoyed every minute of it and was so relieved to be with you and not under canvas. The motels were good, the breakfasts made life so easy and to have the mechanic and the massages each day were the icing on the cake. Pat T Thanks for another fabulous ride this year and thanks to your team as well. I hope you have booked us for the next tour! Michael R I want to thank you both and your team very much for taking great care of me and aiding me in completing this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride…thank you for your support! Peter J Thank you so much for your fantastic work on the tour. Your approach was professional, friendly and clearly illustrated a love for bike riding in all its many forms. Yes please can I sign up for next year. Mary-Anne C Please book me in for next year. Thank you for this year’s ride it was your usual impeccable organization I really enjoyed the ride and look forward to next year with you all. Joan G Had a great time on the ride and will be booking in advance for the package for the Great Vic Bike Ride next year. Peter H
Frequently asked Questions IMPORTANT – Insurance Obtaining appropriate insurance is your (very important) responsibility 1. IMPORTANT - Travel Insurance, even for trips within Australia • When you consider the cost of cancelling your tour if something goes wrong before or during your travel, insurance is good protection. • Domestic travel insurance is usually considerably cheaper than international. • Purchase your travel insurance as soon as you have booked your tour and your travel – don’t wait until just before you go. • Some credit card travel insurances do not apply to domestic Australian travel – check with your provider. • There are lots of travel insurance providers – cyclists should do their own research to ensure they are covered adequately. • Some travel insurance providers are currently not issuing new policies due to COVID-19 however some are. Here are a couple of starting points for your research: Travelwithkit.com.au comparethemarket.com.au • International travellers should always have a comprehensive travel insurance. 2. IMPORTANT - Cyclist insurance for accidents and medical Cyclist Insurance is different to Travel Insurance and is often included as part of cycling memberships such as Bicycle Network or Bicycle Queensland or can be bought separately. Cycling can be a dangerous activity and you should be prepared for the worst. If you have an accident in training for the tour or on the tour itself cyclist insurance can help with medical, income protection and third-party coverage. Check out the benefits here: bicyclenetwork.com.au/membership/ bq.org.au/join-us/member-benefits/ Support bus availability on the Great Vic Our support bus is not allowed on the Great Vic cycling route. All support vehicles must follow an alternate route between towns. The event has cycling support volunteers (WARBYS) and also SAG wagons / support vehicles if you need assistance on the ride. AllTrails support will be there for you before and after the day’s ride. Bike mechanical assistance provided A staff member with good bike mechanical knowledge will be part of our crew and will have a stand pump for different valves. The mechanic will often be able to help you with a safety check, general tips and advice about your bike and its upkeep, as well as fixing mechanical problems. We will have limited parts available for replacement which will be charged at shop prices. Labour is free for the first fifteen minutes, there after costs may be incurred at the mechanic’s discretion. Cyclists with rare or different bikes are asked to contact us at AllTrails as parts can often be very difficult to obtain. Sharing rooms – how does it work On the online entry form you can nominate any travelling companions who you would like to share a room with and/or be accommodated close to so that friends can be located near each other in accommodation where possible. If sharing a room, you can nominate a double bed or twin beds. If you are travelling alone like many of our riders, a Single Supplement price is available for those who would like their own room for the whole trip. On our Great Vic Package you can also choose to ‘solo twin share’ where solo riders are paired with other riders of the same gender (often changed during the tour to allow solo travellers to meet other solo travellers). Note that this may not be possible in 2021 due to COVID-19 regulations – if so, we will contact you to discuss options. If you are a snorer, a very early riser, or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates we ask that you book your own room at the Single Supplement price. If you are coming on your own and have booked in as twin share, this usually means that you will share a room with one other single twin share cyclist or crew member, however in some cases we may have larger rooms (eg. two-bedroom apartment or a B&B/house with multiple bathrooms) where we may have 3 or more single twin share travellers together. Snorers can enjoy their own room If you are a snorer, a very early riser, or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates we suggest booking your own room (single supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions but will also give you the space & privacy you need to enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike. Speak to a past client We will be happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride to the one which you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your city or state. Another good place to look is our ‘Testimonials’ page on the AllTrails.com.au website. Group info session Contact us if you would like to find out about booking an info session for your group of friends, or if you would like to find out about a travel talk happening near you in the future. Be inspired, hear from the experts, learn more about a destination and even book your tour on the night. Changing or cancelling a tour Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you. For cancellation and refund policies for your tour click the ‘T&Cs’ tab on the relevant tour page of our website. If you need to cancel your tour, a travel insurance policy will cover cancellation fees due to most unforeseen events. This is why we provide links to travel insurance options and highly recommend that you investigate and purchase travel insurance for all our rides (including Australian domestic tours) at the time of deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel (see Travel Insurance FAQ). For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost baggage, personal liability, cancelled tour or other trip related issues.
Frequently asked Questions cont. What sorts of people join our tours? People from all parts of Australia and some overseas guests. Ages generally range from 35 – 75 with the average age about 50-60 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples. Packing tips Strong, medium sized, bag/case with good handles weighing no more than 15kg. As everyone is living out of their luggage, please limit your outfits. Most people wear less than half of what they bring. If you bring a very heavy bag we may ask you to divide it into 2 lighter bags. For security, write your name clearly on all bags. Bike type – which is best A comfortable racing bike, road bike or touring bike with a good seat and road tyres. A hybrid is also possible if you are comfortable riding the daily distances and average speed of the tour, however these bikes can be around 20% slower than a road bike. Ask us for the ‘Training Tips’ document for this ride to get an idea of distances and speeds you need to train for. Accommodation on the support package We try to obtain the best accommodation in the best location for you to rest your weary head (and legs) in each town whether it be a motel, hotel, resort, B&B, cabins or similar. We choose the best and most welcoming motel for cyclists and our tour group needs, usually 3.5-4 star, or perhaps 3 star on occasions when we travel through some very small towns and villages where accommodation is extremely limited. Accommodation is in same town as the main ride campsite, otherwise in the nearest town where accommodation is available. If for whatever reason, such as limited options, the accommodation one night is below normal standard, we strive to improve this with an extra good room the next night or nights following. Luggage transfer and day packs We suggest you carry your own personal goods, like camera, wallet, perhaps rain gear if it’s threatening. We carry your main luggage to your accommodation each morning once you have departed. Our vehicles are not allowed on the event cycle route so you will not have access to your luggage during the day so you will need to take everything that you need for the day with you in the morning. Your luggage will be available to you once you check into your accommodation or shortly after. Getting to your motel after the day’s ride Cyclists will be given specific maps, detailing where their overnight motel is situated and how best to ride there from the finish. In the case that your accommodation is not nearby the finish you have the option to leave your bike in our AllTrails compound near front gate of the campsite. We will take you to motel, bring you back for dinner at the campsite if you wish and return you to motel then bring you back to collect your bike the next morning. Bike Security If your accommodation isn’t near the day’s ride finish point, AllTrails will set up a compound with a storage rack at the main entrance gate to the camping area. Although security guards are present all night, we suggest you carry a lock as your bike is your responsibility. From the compound we will transfer you to your motel and back. Luggage delivery After breakfast, your luggage will be collected from your motel and delivered to your next allocated motel. It will be left in the foyer or safe storage area and this is usually where you will leave it again in the morning for collection. Day Sheets will have collection times stated for each day. Massage therapist on the AllTrails package The massage therapist is complimentary and will be available most afternoons. To be fair to everyone, we have limited the massage time to ten minutes for each person which allows most people a massage on most days – it is not designed to provide a massage every day to every person. We ask that riders be fair and share this luxury around, allowing the late arrivals to get their fair share of massage time. In some towns where we are using three or four motels, the massage therapist will usually be at the motel where the most cyclists are accommodated – massage locations will be listed in your Day Sheets, sent out approx. 3-4 weeks prior to the ride. Massage bookings can only be made on the day after your arrival at the motel by writing your name in an available 10-minute time slot. We try to allow everyone 4-5 massages during the week, sometimes more. Names will be ticked off, but please speak up if you are somehow missing out. Training for the bike ride The great thing about going on a mass ride such as this one is that there are many cyclists with a wide range of abilities and fitness levels. You can pretty much go at your own pace and enjoy the ride at your own speed. More details on training and preparation are on the ride event website. Evening meals at the main ride campsite You can choose to have your evening meal at the event campsite, your motel, a local restaurant, hotel or wherever. If you wish, our bus will pick up motel cyclists around 5-6pm to take them to the campsite for dinner and return to motels usually at 8pm. Special times will be arranged for motels that may be further out – your Day Sheets will have specific information for each individual day. On occasions where we are hosting an AllTrails group dinner, we do not operate transfers back to camp. Why book with us We only run 10-15 bespoke tours per year. This makes every tour as special to us as it is to you because we are not repeating the same rides over and over again week-in week-out. Every tour is meticulously planned, and we are just as excited to be there as you. On most occasions the owner- operators of the business will be on tour with you looking after everyone on the ride. The safety and confidence that comes with that is one of many great reasons to book your cycling holiday with us. AllTrails is a proud Australian owned company with a great reputation in the bicycle tour industry. We have earned that reputation through hard work and dedication and we sincerely care about every person on every tour. Our large community of loyal AllTrails riders that keep coming back year after year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide.
You can also read