WITH YOU AT EVERY TURN OF THE PEDAL
Renowned for their wealth of experience, great sense of humour and boundless enthusiasm, our guides are hard working and a credit to Active England.
Ian and Geraint have worked with us at Active England for many years. Friendly, local and passionate about cycling – for both, the opportunity to be a guide was the perfect fit.
Here we find out a little more about them.
What do you like most about your job?
G: I like meeting the people on the tours. Most are very interesting and out for a lot of fun.
I: It’s also great hearing their stories, learning about their lives and the places they come from.
Do you have a favourite stop on the tour?
I: I love the garden of the Lamb Inn in Burford, the atmosphere of Bath and the pasties from the bakery in Bourton-on-the-Water.
G: My favourite stop is Lower Slaughter. It is a beautiful little village that is the classic picture of the Cotswolds.
Find out more about locations on our tours.
What have been your most memorable moments from the tours so far?
I: The achievements of the kids who are more up for it than the grown ups. The laughs and banter with the guests over a beer in the Hotel gardens at the end of a long day.
G: A lady from San Francisco joined us and had been very quiet and was a little fussy over her food. On day 3 we were in Bourton-on-the-Water. She went off on her own for a look around. When she came back she announced that she would not be cycling for the rest of the day and would have a lift in the van. I was the driver that day and she had a complete character change and didn’t stop talking. All of sudden out of nowhere she announced that she was pregnant! She had tested herself whilst in Bourton. Fortunately, it was planned and was very happy. She got back in touch early the next year and confirmed she was a very happy mummy.
2017 will see some new additions to the tours, what are you most looking forward to about next season?
G: I think Windsor Castle will be an excellent ‘iconic’ addition to the tours. Learning its history is going to be really interesting.
I: New places and learning how to get the most out of them.
What makes an Active England bike tours so special?
G: We did lose a lady from Montana once. She missed a turn and carried on for six miles. Once we caught up with her she was very disappointed that she needed a lift back to the group. She hadn’t realised she was lost and was enjoying the ride and views!
I: I love all the laughs we have with the guests.
Our guides are with you from beginning to end – from making sure you select the right bike, to changing tyres, and offering lots of words of encouragement. They are local to the area with knowledge and experience that is second to none.
By providing you with their confidence and calm, you’ll be free to enjoy all the sights and sounds of glorious England. They’ll ensure you have a truly memorable tour and that all your needs are catered for.