CALL US NOW     00 33 612 528 229
Group Sites:
  • Skivo2
  • Skivolution

Follow us on Facebook

Our Tours

MENU
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • FAQs
    • Gallery
    • Your Level
    • Privacy Policy
  • Location
  • Accommodation
  • Calendar
    • Our Calendar 2025
    • Tour de France 2025
    • Raid Alpine
    • The Dolomites and Italian Alps
    • Private/Bespoke Cycling Trips and Tours
  • Bespoke
    • Courchevel weekend Sample
    • Alpine Cols Sample
    • Tour de France Experience Sample
    • The Dolomites Sample
    • Raid Alpine Sample
  • Book
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact

Cycling holiday checklist - what you’ll need to bring on your Alpine Tour

  1. Home
  2. Cycling holiday checklist – what you’ll need to bring on your Alpine Tour
  3. Uncategorized
  4. Cycling holiday checklist – what you’ll need to bring on your Alpine Tour
25 January

Cycling holiday checklist – what you’ll need to bring on your Alpine Tour

We want you to have the best possible experience on your holiday with Alpine Chain Gang. We do everything to make sure every eventuality is considered and we appreciate it’s not easy to prepare for a trip when you’re not sure exactly what you’ll need, so here’s a checklist of what we recommend you to pack.

Cycling Gear:

If you don’t want to bring your own bike, we can hire out high-quality carbon-framed bikes with appropriate gears. Let us know if this is something you wish us to arrange. If you do bring your own, our vans are stocked with basic spares and if we don’t have a particular component we can hopefully source this for you fairly quickly from local bike shops.

  • Obviously you need a bike, and the lighter the bike the better. However, it’s the gearing that makes the hills easier. With the right set-up, you can ride up any hill
  • Compact chain ring or triple chain ring are essential and we advise Compact 50/34 on the front and up to 28 teeth on the back. This will get you up even the longest and steepest of Alpine Climbs.
  • Helmet – must be worn at all times when riding
  • Spare tubes and tyres – we have a supply of these but it is a good idea to bring your own too
  • Tyre levers and small pump – support is always around to help with punctures if needed and we have track pumps in the vans
  • Small light for your bike for use in alpine tunnels
  • Water bottles – bring at least three
  • Bike computer or GPS – this is optional, but handy as we can give you a download of our route each day

Bike Clothes:

In summer it’s normally very hot, but weather can change quickly at altitude so it’s best to prepared for all eventualities. In addition to your main luggage, you may wish to bring a smaller bag in which to put spare layers and supplies such as spares and suncream. This can be stored in the van so it is easily accessible should the weather change on our journeys.

  • Biking shoes
  • Biking tops
  • Padded cycling shorts
  • Long sleeved top for sun protection/arm warmers
  • Cycling trousers/leg warmers
  • Short and long-fingered gloves
  • Hat that fits under the helmet
  • Windproof top
  • Gilet/ waterproof jacket
  • Sunglasses

General items:

In the evenings things are very casual so there’s no need to bring smart clothes; just something you’ll be comfortable wearing after all your hard work on the mountains. Most importantly, don’t forget sunscreen and a camera or mobile phone to capture all the beautiful views.

  • Clothes/shoes to wear in the evening
  • Swimming costume – some of the hotels we use have a pool
  • Camera
  • Currency
  • Mobile phone
  • Personal medication/creams – you won’t need first aid kit as we carry that in our vans
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent/sting cream
  • If you’ve got a favourite energy bar or gel, feel free to bring these with you. We do supply snacks, fruit and energy bars, so this is optional
  • Insurance documents
  • EHIC card (UK residents only)

In our next blog post we’ll explain a little bit more about what a typical day looks like on a tour, so you will get an idea of what your holiday has in store. So check back soon.

  • Uncategorized

ALPINE CHAINGANG

Alpine Chaingang specialises in providing exciting and unique cycling holidays for road cyclists in the French and Italian Alps.  We are a small company run by passionate riders.  We offer what we think are unique cycling adventures and training opportunities in some of the world’s most spectacular and challenging mountains.

The Alpine Chain Gang is all about providing a relaxed and informal atmosphere where you can enjoy cycling in this part of the Alps at your own level whilst experiencing the magnificent scenery and challenging terrain. Our trips are designed to include all levels of riders from racing cyclists through to enthusiastic sportif cyclists. It’s not a race and our trips are designed in such a way everyone is included.

Alongside our own programme of cycling tours we offer trips which are specifically tailored to your own personal groups.  This is an increasingly popular part of our programme to the extent that we organised tours or groups of between 5 and 25 this summer. Contact us for details.

CONTACT US

Po Box 6142, Newbury, RG14 9ES
info@alpinechaingang.co.uk
+33 612528229

  • TripAdvisor

© 2023 Alpine Chaingang. All rights reserved.