It depends entirely on the tour. Our road cycling tours are rated 1–5 activity level and the range is wide — from accessible coastal tours at 2/5 to serious Alpine challenges at 5/5. We explain how we rate them in this guide.

The honest answer: road bike tours tend to attract more performance-oriented cyclists, and the destinations that suit road bikes best — the Dolomites, the Pyrenees, Switzerland — involve real climbing. Arriving undertrained makes these tours genuinely hard.

If you're unsure whether your fitness matches your chosen tour, get in touch before booking and we'll give you an honest assessment.

The destinations with the best tarmac and the most rewarding climbing:

• Mallorca — immaculate roads, the Serra de Tramuntana and Sa Calobra

• Tenerife — Mount Teide from sea level on smooth volcanic roads

• The Dolomites — Giro d'Italia cols on some of the finest mountain roads in Europe

• The Pyrenees — Tour de France mountain stages, open to any cyclist

• Switzerland — Alpine passes on perfectly maintained tarmac

For destinations with mixed surfaces — Romania, Scotland, Portugal — a gravel bike is the stronger choice.

Compact gearing is strongly recommended for any tour involving sustained Alpine climbing — a 50/34 chainset with an 11-32 cassette as a minimum. The Dolomites, Swiss passes and the Pyrenees will test anyone's legs, and arriving with racing gearing on a loaded touring day is a common and avoidable mistake.

Our pre-departure notes specify exactly what gearing we recommend for each tour. If renting through us, bikes are set up appropriately for the specific climbing demands of your chosen route.

Yes — and for performance-oriented cyclists with a bike already set up to their specifications, it is often the better option.

Let us know in advance and we will arrange the logistics accordingly. Our pre-departure notes cover:

• Recommended tyre width for each tour's road surfaces

• Gearing recommendations for the climbing involved

• Airline bike transport — regulations and packing guidance

If your bike needs servicing before a major tour, we recommend doing so at least two weeks before travel.

It depends on the destination. As a general guide:

• 25mm suits destinations with exceptional tarmac — Mallorca, Tenerife, Switzerland

• 28mm is a better all-round choice for most European road tours — more comfort over longer stages with minimal speed penalty

• 32mm is worth considering for destinations where road surfaces are more variable

Tubeless setup is increasingly worth considering for multi-day tours — puncture resistance over consecutive days is a meaningful advantage.

When you book a road bike rental through us, we confirm your sizing details before travel — height, inseam, preferred saddle type and any fit preferences. Our local partners in each destination then prepare a current-model road bike matched to your measurements and tour requirements.

The bike is delivered to your first hotel and ready to ride on day one. If anything needs adjusting on arrival, our 24/7 support line connects you to local assistance.

Road bikes are available on tours where the terrain justifies them — primarily destinations with predominantly tarmac routes and sustained climbing. For mixed-surface tours or destinations with variable road quality, we will recommend a gravel bike instead.

If you have a strong preference for a road bike on a tour where gravel is the default recommendation, get in touch before booking and we will advise whether it's workable for your specific itinerary.