'We have worked hard to minimise the extent of grading subjectivity through our espresso classification.'

Grading bike tours is not easy given that there is always an inherent element of subjectivity involved both in terms of how we judge the tours and also how participants assess their respective cycling capabilities. The van support we provide is always available as a sag wagon but we think that it is important to be clear about the difficulty of a tour before you sign up.

We have worked hard to minimise the extent of grading subjectivity through the detailed manner in which we grade the tours and by distinguishing between Classic and Expedition tours. In a nutshell our Classic tours are pretty much open to all levels of cyclist since the routes we choose can accommodate non cyclists as well as offering a challenge to stronger riders who choose to do the daily extra loops. Expedition tours on the other hand are more geared to riding longer distances and taking on more challenging terrain.  The frequent changing of hotels and ‘expedition’ focus of these tours makes them less suited to the novice cyclist.

Our grading levels compliment this distinction by providing a more detailed breakdown of the sort of rider that you are. This breakdown corresponds to the way that we classify the difficulty levels of each tour and are based on distance, terrain and time in the saddle. In some cases this grading incorporates two levels as it is hard to always be totally clear cut but as a guide we hope it helps. Please note that the ‘who am I’ part is not an existential question and we do not the optional extra loops that are available on the Classic tours as part of our grading equation.

The visual symbol we use to present our grading system is the espresso cup. Our logic is that the harder the tour the more coffee shots you will need to complete it and thus by design our easiest tours are denoted by a single cup – in reality a cappuccino cup would probably be more apt. Where a tour is deemed to suit participants from 2 levels – if it sits somewhere in the middle- we use a half cup grade. For example our Provence tour is classified as A/B and is therefore graded as 1 ½ cups.

Level A 

Who am I? I’m relatively fit and am comfortable with steady hills that are less than 750m in length.
Distance: 30-50km (18-30miles)
Altitude gain: 200-500m
Time in the saddle: 1-3 hours
Terrain: Flat to undulating

Level B 

Who am I? I ride my bike on a regular basis either for fitness, to commute, or just for fun. I enjoy an active lifestyle, as well as a physical challenge.
Distance: 50 -70km (30-45miles)
Altitude gain: 600-1000m
Time in saddle: 2-4 hours
Terrain: Undulating terrain, with hills up to 2 km in length.

Level C 

Who am I? Fitness is a central part of my life. I ride my bike on a weekly basis and am comfortable with rides of 2 hours or more at a relatively strong tempo. I like a physical challenge and like to get my heart pumping.
Distance: 70-115km (43-71 miles)
Altitude gain: 1000-2000m
Time in saddle: 3-5hours
Terrain: All terrain, with hills averaging 3-4km, but up to 10km in length.

Level D 

Who am I? I ride my bike an average of 160km per week and enjoy riding at a fast pace for an extended period of time. I love to push myself to my physical limits.
Distance: 100-160km (60-100miles)
Altitude gain: 1500-4000m
Time in saddle: 4-8hours
Terrain: Whatever is put in front of me!