Calendar

As of the 10th February 2020 the following weekends are still free in the 2020 season, plus maybe one or two days either side:

• May 15th to 18th
• June 26th to 29th
• July 10th to 13th
• August 14th to 17th
• September 11th to 14th
• October 22nd onward

I have listed below the trips booked so far for 2020, as well as left those taken in 2018 and 2019 further below, so that you can see the range of trips that I take.

As I type (10th February 2020) there are 18 trips confirmed for 2020 (deposits paid) with 3 other open trips proposed but not yet confirmed. These require a minimum of 5 participants to become confirmed trips

So, if you are thinking about a trip then let me know as soon as possible because while you are thinking about it the available dates are being bagged, especially if you'd like to go in peak season (late May to early July, and also September) and I can hold some dates for you for a couple of weeks while you consider your options. 

Please note: you don't need to have a full group yet, it may be that you are still recruiting a group or that I can help you to recruit from the La Vie en Vélo social media following and quarterly mailout. This has a very good success rate, especially if you'd like to go somewhere iconic like the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux. There are always a few solo or couples of riders of riders happy to fill spare space on great trips.

How does that all sound? In short, if you have an idea first thing's first is to get in touch to bag some dates!

In red are the trips that are booked, so those dates are not available. In green below are the dates available, although within those there may be dates that I am holding for groups while they consider their options or assemble their group. If you'd like me to do the same for your group, just give me a call on 07984 065329 or email me on angus@lavieenvelo.com.

 

 

2020

 

 

January to February

 In January and February the cycling trip world seems to not have quite awoken from its annual hibernation, but I am available if anyone is feeling brave, albeit I tend to be busy preparing for the coming season. We can go anywhere you like whenever you like. Some winter/spring suggestions: head south to find the sun on the Cote d'Azur or maybe to Girona where the Pro's hang out in the off-season. Or day trips and weekends to Flanders and northern France. You will also find me doing broom wagon duties at various Kent & SE London sportives.

 

March

 From 1st to 14th March dates available. We can go anywhere you like whenever you like. Some spring suggestions: head south to find the sun on the Cote d'Azur or maybe to Girona where the Pro's hang out in the off-season. Or day trips and weekends to Flanders and northern France.

 15th March The third Ronde van East Kent. Open and free to all, an annual La Vie en Vélo birthday ride through the lanes of East Kent for friends of La Vie en Vélo past and future. Just a gpx file and some prewarned pubs and cafés. Routes from 40 to 100 miles. Just a social ride. More the merrier. Nothing fancy!

 20th to 24th March Cote d'Azur Just 1 place available 5 days riding in the pro's favourite springtime playground. Dramatic mountains and coastline and, most importantly, some early season warmth.

 

April

 3rd to 5th April: Tour of Flanders sportive & race weekend all places booked. Assembling a group of 8 for a 3-day weekend. We take you from Kent or SE London via Eurotunnel on Friday morning for a leg-stretcher ride to a hotel near Ghent in the afternoon and to pick up your race packs in the city on Friday evening. Then on Saturday ride the mighty Ronde van Vlaanderen sportive with 16,000 riders from all over the world on courses up to 220km which all include the great cobble climbs such as the mighty Koppenberg. On Sunday, either ride your bike or in the van to watch the Pro's do it with a beer in your hand and then be driven back to Kent or SE London for a mid-evening arrival. £345 includes getting there and back with your bike and baggage, 2 nights accommodation (B&B basis), full ride support throughout.

 10th to 12th April: Paris-Roubaix sportive & race weekend all places booked. Assembling a group of 8 for a 3-day weekend. We take you from Kent or SE London via Eurotunnel on Friday morning for a leg-stretcher ride to a hotel near Arras in the afternoon and to pick up your race packs in the city on Friday evening. Then on Saturday ride the mighty Paris-Roubaix sportive with 5,000 riders from all over the world on courses up to 220km which all include the iconic cobble sectors such as the mighty Arenberg Forest. On Sunday, either ride your bike or in the van to watch the Pro's do it with a beer in your hand and then be driven back to Kent or SE London for a mid-evening arrival. £345 includes getting there and back with your bike and baggage, 2 nights accommodation (B&B basis), full ride support throughout.

 14th to 29th April:  dates available  includes enough time for a quick trip somewhere!. The Amstel Gold race is on 19th and has a great sportive on the 18th. That would make a great 3 day weekend. Flanders and Northern France, including Normandy are also doable in this time frame.

 

May

 1st to 4th May: Tour of th D-Day beaches and Normandy. 3 places available  5 gentlemen are coming for a leisurely 4 day Tour of the Normandy beach area and there are still 3 places available. Expect good humour and good eating!

 8th to 11th May: A Tour of Flanders. all places booked. A custom trip to Flanders for a group on their fifth La Vie en Vélo trip after the Dordogne, Calias-Amsterdam and a couple in Normandy, including the Veloscenic route from Versailles to Mont St Michel last year. We are heading south-east in 2020 starting in lovely historic Ypres and staying in the wonderful Flemish towns of Arras, Oudenaarde and Ghent.

 13th to 20th May:  dates available  Prime time for a trip to the sunny south or for a few days springtime cycling somewhere not far away, such as Flanders or Normandy. Unlikely to remain unbooked for long. Get in quick!

 22nd to 24th May: London-Ghent ride  all places booked. A new group taking their custom trip through Kent and Flanders to beautiful Ghent over 3 days.

 29th May to 1st June: San Fairy Ann CC head back to the Pyrenees. all places booked. A custom trip for a group of 8 regulars from who have been to the Alps, Provence and the other side of the Tourmalet over the last 3 summers. This time they're heading back for some more Pyrenean action from our great new base on the western side, over 4 days.

 

June

 5th to 8th June: Pyrenees long weekend all places booked. Celebrating Jimmy's 50th, 8 chums last assembled on Mont Ventoux in 2016 head back to Luchon for another cracking 4-day weekend in the wonderful Pyrenees.

 12th to 16th June: Pyrenees long weekend all places booked. The second Pyrenees trip of the month of 2019! A new group heading to Luchon for their first taste of the lovely Pyrenees.

 20th to 23rd June: Open Alps trip. 8 places available  4 days based in a lovely catered chalet near Bourg St Mauric with opportunities to climb the Cormet de Roselend, the Iseran, the Petit St Bernard and the Madeleine, plus a few other classic Tour cols.

 25th to 2nd July:  dates available  The primest of prime time for a trip to anywhere you like with all options on the table, including the Alps & Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux, Flanders or Normandy. Unlikely to remain unbooked for long. Get in quick!

 

July

 3rd to 6th July: London-Paris long weekend all places booked.   A new group from riding from the London to Paris over 3 days with an extra day to see the city.

 8th to 13th July:  dates available. Peak season in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! 

 15th July: Amsterdam  all places booked. A one-dayer taking a family trip to Amsterdam and leaving them there to fend for themselves!

 18th to 25th July: Raid Alpine  all places booked. The team that took on the Raid Pyrenean in 2018 are reforming to take on the mighty Raid Alpine. 750km over 6 days with over 17,000m of climbing the Alps greatest cols. 

 

August

 7th to 10th August: Open Pyrenees weekend  6 places available. ! 4 days based a brilliant base in Argeles-GAzost with the chance to ride the Tourmalet, Aubisqu, Hautacam and a few other classic Tour cols. 

 13th to 17th August:  dates available. Peak season in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! 

 21st to 24th August: Italy - the return to the mighty Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo all places booked. A custom trip for a group of 8 from the Midlands who have been with me to the Alps, Mont Ventoux and the Pyrenees. Flying into Switzerland before riding up and over to Bormio and bagging the mighty Stelvio and one or two others over a 4-day weekend.

 26th to 30th August: dates available. Space for a short, sharp visit somewhere! 

 31st to 3rd September: London to Amsterdam  all places booked. One of the teams who took on London-Paris in 2019 are scheduled to come back for a new custom trip to take head west this time.

 

September

 5th to 15th September: dates available. Prime time for a trip anywhere! The weather is still wonderful and all the crowds have gone back home! Perfect for the Alps, Pyrenees and Mont Ventoux, and pretty much anywhere else including those great northern locations such as Flanders and Normandy

 18th to 21st September: Alps long weekend all places booked. A group of regulars coming back for the next episode. They've been to Mont Ventoux, they've been to the Pyrenees, and now it's back to our wondrful new base in the Tarentaise Alps.

 25th to 29th September: Pyrenees  all places booked.  Another group of regulars on their third trip are coming back for a second bite at the Pyrenees. They used our eastern base in Luchon in 2019, so in 2020 they want to go and try our new western base in Argeles-Gazost. As before, for another 5 days of Pyrenean cols.

 27th September to :  dates available. still perfect in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! Also includes the dates of the last weekend of the UCI World Championships in Yorkshire, so why not head north!

 

October

 2nd to 5th October: Open Mont Ventoux trip  8 places available. A 4-dayer weekend at our outstanding accommodation nestled at the foot of the mountain. Lots of opportunity to ride the great climb as often as you like and also to enjoy all those other heavenly Provencale routes.

 9th to 12th September: Girona trip  3 places available. a 4-dayer to the pro's spring and autumn playground staying at our super-cyclist-friendly hotel in the beautiful Catalan countryside where the city and all those iconic rides, such as the Rocacorba, Els Angels and Mare de Deu del Monte are all on the doorstep. 5 regulars are signed up. Just 3 more spots available.

 17th to 20th September: Lads and Dads return for a Somme Battlefields trip all places booked . A group of four Dads and their sons (who I used to teach) came to Normandy to visit WW2 battlefiled sites in 2019, and this time we are looking for WW1 sites in the Somme.

 22th onward:  dates available. Still perfect in the south (in fact, it's even better because it's not too hot)!  How about a gravel trip to Girona, or something on the Cóte d'Azur?

 

November onwards

 All dates available. still rideable in the south of France or Girona, although the high cols of the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux will be closed. The WW1 and WW2 battlefields of the north of France can be especially atmospheric at his time of year, particularly around Armistice Day!

How about a WW1 Remembrance battlefield ride?

 

 

 

 

 

2019

There were 22 trips booked in 2019. I have left them below simply so that you can see the diversity of trips that I run. It might help you come up with some new ideas.

In red are the trips that are booked, so those dates are not available. In green below are the dates available, although within those there may be dates that I am holding for groups while they consider their options or assemble their group. If you'd like me to do the same for your group, just give me a call on 07984 065329 or email me on angus@lavieenvelo.com.

 

January to February

 In January and February the cycling trip world seems to not have quite awoken from its annual hibernation, but I am available if anyone is feeling brave, albeit I tend to be busy preparing for the coming season. We can go anywhere you like whenever you like. Some winter/spring suggestions: head south to find the sun on the Cote d'Azur or maybe to Girona where the Pro's hang out in the off-season. Or day trips and weekends to Flanders and northern France.

 

March

 From 1st to 14th March dates available. We can go anywhere you like whenever you like. Some winter/spring suggestions: head south to find the sun on the Cote d'Azur or maybe to Girona where the Pro's hang out in the off-season. Or day trips and weekends to Flanders and northern France.

 17th March The second Ronde van East Kent. Open and free to all, an annual ride around East Kent for friends of La Vie en Vélo past and future. Just a gpx file and some prewarned pubs and cafés. Routes from 40 to 100 miles. Just a social ride. More the merrier.

 22nd to 26th March Girona 5 places available 5 days riding in ther pro's favourite springtime playground. Dramatic mountains and coastline and, most importantly, some early season warmth

 

April

 5th to 7th April: Tour of Flanders sportive & race weekend all places booked. Assembling a group of 8 for a 3-day weekend. We take you from Kent or SE London via Eurotunnel on Friday morning for a leg-stretcher ride to a hotel near Ghent in the afternoon and to pick up your race packs in the city on Friday evening. Then on Saturday ride the mighty Ronde van Vlaanderen sportive with 16,000 riders from all over the world on courses up to 220km which all include the great cobble climbs such as the mighty Koppenberg. On Sunday, either ride your bike or in the van to watch the Pro's do it with a beer in your hand and then be driven back to Kent or SE London for a mid-evening arrival. £345 includes getting there and back with your bike and baggage, 2 nights accommodation (B&B basis), full ride support throughout.

 9th to 13th April: Tour de Normandy all places booked. A custom trip for 8 people doing a tour from Normandy back towards the UK over 5 days.

 15th to 23rd April:  dates available  includes Easter (and my 50th birthday, so I'm not in a hurry to get this booked, but it is available!). Enough space for a quick trip somewhere warm!

 26th to 29th April: UK to Amsterdam  all places booked. A custom trip for 8 people doing a 4 day route from the UK to Amsterdam stopping at lovely Bruges and Delft en route.

 

May

 1st to 8th May:  dates available  includes first May Bank Holiday weekend (3rd to 6th). Unlikely to remain unbooked for long. Get in quick!

 10th to 13th May: Veloscenic route from Mont St Michel to Paris all places booked. A custom trip for a group on their third La Vie en Vélo trip from Mont St Michel on the Normandy coast following the newly developed cycle route eastward to Paris over 4 days.

 17th to 20th May: London-Amsterdam corporate ride  all places booked. Following their London-Paris adventure with me in 2017 the good people of a certain bank are returning and this time heading east.

 25th to 28th May: Tour de Normandy all places booked. A custom trip for a group of 8 who did the Dordogne with me in 2017 and Paris-Roubaix in 2018, this time riding from Normandy back toward Calais over 4 days.

 

June

 31st May to 3rd June: Pyrenees long weekend all places booked.   Our first trip back to the Pyrenees of 2019. This time with the lovely people of San Fairy Ann CC on their 4th or even 5th trip with me, this time headed to Luchon to have a crack at the Tourmalet and the Peyresourde and all those other mighty Tour de France bucket-list climbs.

 7th to 10th June: Italy - the Stelvio here we come all places booked. A very exciting development, a custom trip for a group of 8. Flying into Switzerland before riding up and over to Bormio and bagging the mighty Stelvio and one or two others over a 4-day weekend beofre heading back over the Alps to Switzerland.

 14th to 17th June: Pyrenees long weekend all places booked. The second Pyrenees trip of the month of 2019! Andy and the guys are baclk after Mont Ventoux and the Alps in the last couple of seasons.

 20th to 25th June: Alps (new base in the Vanoise) all places booked. A group started by some regulars who want to explore rides such as the Iseran, the Cormet de Roselend, Val Thorens and others from the 2018 and 2019 Tours de France  & Étape du Tour. 

 28th June to 1st July: Mont Ventoux & Provence all places booked  A new group of maybe 10 coming for the first Mont Ventoux trip of 2019. A good way to start!

 

July

 4th to 7th July: Tour de France Grand Départ long weekend all places booked.   A new group riding from the UK to Brussels to see the Grand Départ of the 2019 Tour de France in Belgium.

 12th to 15th July: Alps (new base in the Vanoise) all places booked. Most of a group who came to the Oisans valley in 2018 will be reassembling in the Vanoise for rides such as the Iseran, the Cormet de Roselend, Val Thorens and others from the 2018 and 2019 Tours de France & Étape du Tour.

 21st to 24th July: Normandy beaches lads & dads tour  all places booked. 4 lads from my old job bringing their dads to explore the D-Day beaches by bike on the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings.

 25th to 31st July:  dates available. Peak season in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! 

 

August

 1st to 12th August: dates available. Peak season in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! 

 16th to 19th August: Pyrenees (new base in the western Pyrenees) all places booked. Most of a group who came to our central Pyrenees base in Luchon in 2018 will be reassembling a few miles to the west for rides such as the western side of the Tourmalet, the Aubisque, the Hautacam and Luz Ardiden and other classic cols from the 2018 and 2019 Tours de France.

 26th to 29th August: London to Paris all places booked. A new group of 9 from the Midlands will be setting off from central London on Bank Holiday Monday via the Dover-Calais route, and then on to lovely Arras and through the WW1 battlefields of the Somme to Compiegne before heading into Paris from the east.

 

September

 4th to 7th September: UK-Amsterdam long weekend all places booked.   Most of a group who rode to Paris in 2018 with me will be reassembling to do a 4 dayer to wonderful Amsterdam, via gorgeous Bruges and Delft, and making sure to have an extra day wandering the in the Dutch capital.

 12th to 15th September: Pyrenees  all places booked. Most of a group who came to the Alps with me in 2018 will be reassembling in the Pyrenees for rides such as the Peyresourde, Superbagneres the Port de Balés and, of course, the mighty Tourmalet, and other classic cols of the Tour de France.

 20th to 24th September: Pyrenees  all places booked. A group of 10 who came to the Mont Ventoux with me in 2018 will be reassembling in the Pyrenees for rides such as the Peyresourde, Superbagneres the Port de Balés and, of course, the mighty Tourmalet, and other classic cols of the Tour de France.

 27th September onwards:  dates available. still perfect in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! Also includes the dates of the last weekend of the UCI World Championships in Yorkshire, so why not head north!

 

October

 1st to 4th October:  dates available. still perfect in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else further south for that matter! 

 7th to 12th September: Southern Alps  (a new base in the Southern Alps) one place available. A group of regulars who are looking for a hidden corner have found one in the beautiful southern Alps well away from the hordes and within striking distance of Italy via the monster Cime de la Bonette and the quieter side of Mont Ventoux. As featured twice in recent editions of Cyclist magazine.

 15th to 31st October:  dates available. still perfect in the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux, or pretty much everywhere else for that matter! 

 

November onwards

 All dates available. still rideable in the south of France or Girona, although the high cols of the Alps, Pyrenees or Mont Ventoux will be closed. The WW1 and WW2 battlefields of the north of France can be especially atmospheric at his time of year, particularly around Armistice Day!

How about a WW1 Remembrance battlefield ride?