Product Description
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Bespoke Tour – Guided
£350.00
From £350.00 Per Person
Telephone Booking
You can make your initial tour booking over the telephone. In the “Review & Payment” section select “Pay Via Phone” and complete your booking.
Booking by Post
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Additional information
| UK Taster Session Dates | 2017 Per Person Deposit £200, Other TBC |
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John Brooks –
Andy was a great help to me as I planned a tour from Le Mans to Brest following the 2019 PBP route. I’ve planned and done a number of “credit card tours” (routes/mileage/lodging/food) and I’ve done about 2,000 km on foot throughout France hiking town to town. So, I’ve got some experience planning these type things and with “how things work” in France. And yet, I felt like I’d benefit hugely from a “wiser, more experienced” partner in developing this plan. I wanted to avoid “figuring it out on the ground” as much as I could this trip. Andy was terrific about looking over my route, suggesting tweaks (“maybe hop on the VV6 vs the PBP route for this section”), and providing some great guidance. Equally important (probably more so actually), Andy was crucial at helping me sort out the logistics of moving my bike (coupled bike in a case) to & fro, finding a good “bike friendly” launch hotel in Le Mans, pointing out some of the intricacies of “bike-on-a-train”, etc. I’ve got plenty of experience in this type thing and in France but I really wanted a “coach” regarding my plan and logistics. Andy was incredibly helpful, responded very quickly (even though we’re on different continents!), and made suggestions unprompted when he saw areas where things could be better. And, because he wasnt “married” to his ideas, I felt like we could have some back and forth about a few things and that dynamic ended up being hugely productive for me! Andy was gracious, helpful, super responsive and had terrific input about my crazy ideas :)
Ritchie and Odile of New York City –
We found Fellow Velo as we searched for a self guided bike tour in France, and boy are we glad we did. Andy and Jane were amazing and organized an unbeliveable experience through Provence. The accommodations were great, the bikes were perfect and, the support we received from Fellow Velo made this trip unforgettable. The routes that they chose really highlighted the best of Provence Verte and of the French Riviera. The views were spectacular and the bike paths easily conquered. I don’t know how we would have done this trip without them. We are intermediate bikers and managed to get to the places we wanted to see in bike territory that can be intimidating. Our trip was so good we are already planning our return next year. Thanks Andy and Jane
Martin and Inge from Freiburg/Germany –
I was looking for a bike sherpa – a kind of Tensing Norgay type to bring a handicapped guy in his wheelchair and his attached e-handybike (think about BEN HUR without horses) and his partner Inge with her e-bike over some hills in the hinterland of St.Tropez. We were looking for one and we got two – Andy and Jane! After some emails about the how and when we met and had a wonderful day – everything felt just right – like we have done this several times before. Andy has a natural gift to give others a feeling of being secured and helped and Jane has the ability to just appear there where you might think to need a bottle of cool water or a charged battery or a supporting smile! The second tour with them along the scenic coast road from St.Maxime to Cannes was like the first one – everything just worked fine and we had a perfect day. Andy built a wooden platform with a ramp for the wheelchair so I could get into the van – what a craftsman! We look forward to next year for two other tours with Andy and Jane in the hinterland of the Cote Azure.
Ritchie and Odile of New York City –
Well, we decided to move up our return tour from next year to this year!!! And glad we did. we returned to Provence and the Riviera about a month after our last tour. Andy and Jane managed to come up with a week long event that was as thrilling and exciting as our last. thanks guys, for taking care of us. We toured the South Ridge of the Gorge, and it was spectacular. the road from Agay to Cannes was also unbelievable as well. Don’t hesitate in deciding. Provence is the place to tour. Fellow Velo is the company to do it with.
Terry and Lena –
Terry and I recently went on a mixed self-guided and guided tour in the UK (Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and the Peak District) with Jane and Andy. Our 1st tour in the UK but 3rd overall. Jane and Andy are very knowledgeable and fantastic guides. The instructions for self-guided tours were easy to follow and the routes mainly off road and perfect for myself and Terry (medium abilities and covered between 40-50 km). The accommodations booked were good and Jane and Andy always go the extra mile to make our tours perfect.
We will definitely highly recommend Fellow Velo. Thank you Jane and Andy. We will definitely be back to see more of the T&B trail 😉
Terry and Lena
John from San Francisco –
My daughter and I just finished a wonderful 4-day biking trip through Provence. Andy and Jane were fantastic in all aspects of the trip. Everything from the directions, accommodations, restaurant recommendations, equipment were all first class. Their organization and warmth made the trip a huge success and they were able to create an itinerary that worked for our time frame. At the end of the trip, our train was cancelled last minute and Andy and Jane without a second thought offered to drive us to the airport so that we could make our flight which was incredibly thoughtful. We look forward to more trips with Fellow Velo in the future and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Robyn Stringfellow –
What a fabulous trip! From our first email inquiry to our drop off at the airport we were given the utmost attention!! Our questions were answered in detail very promptly and an itinerary was planned for us based on our vacation wishes- not too challenging rides, a combination of charming Provençal towns and Mediterranean hot spots, and world class wineries. Andy made sure our bikes were suited to our needs, gave us expert navigational maps, and even made dinner reservations for us! Plus he has a great personality and a good sense of humor! In addition, they recommended we communicate through WhatsApp and it worked very well because we were able to touch base daily as well as share some of our adventures. Every step of they way we were guided to the top sights to see and the best places to dine. It truly was one of the best vacations we’ve ever done!!
Diane from New York City –
WONDERFUL!!!!! That is the simple, one-word answer I have given to all who have asked me about my recent Bespoke Bike Tour in Provence. Then I would go into the details… how beautiful the scenery was each and every day, how carefully planned the routes were, how detailed the directions were for getting us from the start to the end of the ride each day (and all points in between), how lovely each night’s accommodation was, and just how WONDERFUL everything was throughout the whole trip. This was all thanks to the hard work of Andy and Jane planning every detail in advance, while considering personal requests, and even allowing flexibility with the plans once the trip had started. Yet even after the plans were made, and printouts were given to us, Andy pointed out important aspects of the ride each morning, just as the perfect host and guide would do. On top of that, restaurant recommendations were offered, and upon approval, reservations were made for us, allowing us to simply enjoy the ride and the views as we made our way through the beauty of Provence.
There is one word I can think of right now to describe all of the care and support provided to us by Andy and Jane, from our first email inquiry to the drop-off at the airport to head home at the end of our trip… PERFECT!!!! Thank you both for the trip of a lifetime in Provence, with incredible memories from every moment of it, as you were the two who made it happen for us!
Ann R –
A beautiful tour of a beautiful area. I wanted to see the Gorges du Tarn and Andy & Jane’s tour fulfilled this wish. We travelled in a party of seven friends and the stress of finding our way was largely taken out of the cycling. We felt really looked after and a member of our party, who became ill, was given a day to recover, in the FellowVelo van while the rest of us cycled on. We ended the tour in the magnificent city of Carcassonne, which topped off the tour. Accommodation booked for us, was excellent and the restaurants recommended, proved worthy of the recommendation. We were given good advice on whether there would be cafes and food available on the route, so we could make sure we did not go hungry. Jane and Andy topped up our water supplies along the way on what proved to be a very hot week.
Brian M (Cheshire) –
Occitane – Tarn River/Canal Garonne/Canal du Midi/
I was also one of “Isobel’s chums” (aka “the Leeds lot”) on the same tour as Ann R. We had a great tour – the food, drink and scenery (oh yes, via the cycling!) was as expected, wonderful. What made this tour even better was Andy’s habit of being able to track us and provide rest stops, hints and jokes along the way – I was particularly impressed by his scouring a route and finding a suitable gap in a fence for us to avoid main roads and for also allowing us to tail him in the van into our accommodation (ie to make the city bits easier) – this was beyond what I expected. This tour has given me a huge challenge though – sorting out which of the 1000s of photos will make the photobook!
Lastly and most importantly, I didn’t feel as though I was on holiday with tour planners and guides – you both felt part of our group so a huge thanks for that – you have certainly given me a desire to see a lot more of France!
Dana B from Washington, DC –
Fabulous and truly unforgettable experience!! Andy and Jane provided my friends and me with a beautiful self-guided tour through lovely Provence. From our first contacts with them by email, they were super helpful and thoughtful about putting together an itinerary that would best fit us, as the four of us had varying levels of cycling experience and comfort. Because of their responsiveness and thoughtful guidance, we arrived in France fully prepared for our journey. The cycling was fantastic- and for me, thrilling! And what an extraordinary way to take in the gorgeous landscape of Provence! A treat for all of the senses, as cycling the French countryside meant not only seeing the breathtaking golds, purples and greens of the fields and hills of the region, but also taking in the sweet scents of lavender and mimosa, and experiencing the excitement (like being a kid again!) of gliding down the hills on mountain roads. And the tastes of Provence- apricots, cherries and nougat from the markets- were a delight.
On a few occasions when we needed extra guidance (okay, distracted by complete and overwhelming beauty, we might had taken a wrong turn or two — or three), Andy was ever-available and responsive and kind, and he consistently got us back on track.
Thank you, Jane and Andy. We will be back!
Liz –
Just home from the MOST FABULOUS bike trip through Provence with Andy as our intrepid guide. I can’t imagine a better experience from start to finish. Andy and Jane put together a wonderful set of rides for our group of four and were accessible and helpful though out the planning process. Once in Provence, Andy was helpful not only in orienting us to each ride and getting us into proper position as the day started, but also responding immediately to SOS calls when we needed help with directions or had other questions. He also gave us good leads on restaurants and outdoor markets and suggested interesting things to look out for along all of our rides. We experienced spectacular views on every ride. Seeing the countryside this way has made a convert of me. Can’t recommend FellowVelo strongly enough. Thanks, Andy (and Jane) for a truly unforgettable experience!
Paul & Erin Turner –
From the moment we signed up to the day we said goodbye Jane and Andy – the all singing all dancing but bijou fellow velo team could not have done more. Their aim appears to be to make everything go according to plan and then to work things out when they don’t. Probably the most anticipated and organised holiday of our lives so far, we literally put ourselves in their hands. Admittedly Provence is a pretty good canvas to work with , but the choice of towns, routes, chambres d’hôtes, hotels, restaurant suggestions were impeccable. Andy’s near obsessional attention to cleaning the rear mechs and encyclopaedic knowledge of routes was only matched by Jane’s understated thoughtfulness and unmistakable love of the area. This is the most flexible and accommodating pair you will find. Erin and I had an absolute blast on this trip and hope to come back to conquer Mont Ventoux very soon!
Liz M. –
Just home from our FABULOUS trip through Provence. Jane and Andy were extremely helpful and responsive in the planning of this trip and Andy was an affable and intrepid guide for our group of four–providing excellent maps for each day and getting us well positioned each morning for the ride. He was unflappable–always good-naturedly responding to our SOS calls when we needed help of any kind. He gave lots of excellent recommendations for stops along the ride for lunch, markets and unusual/notable landmarks and historical sites. The scenery was beyond spectacular. The rides seemed to be planned for maximum beauty while staying within the realm of what we were able to manage. None of us were bikers before this trip, but I think we’ve all been converted! It’s the perfect way to be immersed in the landscape. Can’t say enough good things about FellowVelo! Thank you for a wonderful experience, Andy (and Jane)!
Anna and John (Ipswich, UK) –
We have just returned from a bespoke ten day trip to the Tarn Gorges and the Canal du Midi, a group of seven friends with varying cycling experience levels. Andy and Jane couldn’t have been more accommodating. They organised a taster weekend in the UK to try out the bikes to begin with. Their bikes were superbly maintained and Andy was on hand to make any running repairs we needed. Andy’s notes for the trip were so well researched and thorough, and the accommodation they found for us was stunning. Nothing was too much trouble, they booked great restaurants for us along the way, very welcome after a long day’s cycling. I was expecting them to be on the end of the phone if we got into difficulties during the trip: I couldn’t believe their patience in waiting, sometimes for hours, in the heat of the day along the route with bottles of water, advice about the route and friendly chat. Others have said this, but they have a calm confidence and easy friendliness that make them a pleasure to spend time with. This is the first time I have been on a holiday I haven’t had to organise myself, and it was a real treat. I left home feeling that I had left out something important, but returned feeling that I had experienced the best of the area. I would whole heartedly recommend Fellow Velo to anyone wanting to experience cycle friendly France!
Isobel G –
I rarely give 5* on any review, but for this holiday I simply cannot give less. I was the organiser for a small group of friends that wished to cycle Gorges du Tarn and the Canal du Midi to Carcassonne. What impressed me most was details, details. These only had to be provided once (and we are talking details that were provided years in advance here) -who was bringing their own pedals, when tracks were being provided, blah di blah di blah… The job of chasing was simply not required. A huge relief for me personally as I always bank on missing at least one key item for someone else, but more importantly, it allowed me to properly relax and enjoy my holiday. And ultimately that is what Jane and Andy do better than any company I have used to date; they ensure that you do not have to sweat the small, but very important, stuff and you are ready day 1 to the end to relax and enjoy. Simply superb.
Tom and Tori Rutkowski-Peglar – Boulder US –
Andy and Jane put together a truly bespoke 3 days of riding for us and our two teenage daughters. Having done quite a bit of travel and touring ourselves, I never realized how effortless, relaxing and fun an organized tour can be! Andy and Jane picked out fantastic stretches for us to ride from old villages in the hills of Provence to vineyards, to a fantastic ride that started above the coast and then descended to the Med through the gorgeous village of Bormes Les Mimosas. First time in France for our teenagers and they quickly filled my ICloud storage with countless beautiful photos of flower covered doorways, narrow alleyways, and scenic backroads. The bikes were in good shape and the lodgings were varied and always comfortable. Andy was chipper every morning and provided good tips, stories, and local history. Andy and Jane were flexible with us in booking a customized trip that fitted in with our overall trip. We highly recommend a trip with Fellow Velo and will look to be booking a trip with them again in the future.
Brian K. (Vancouver, Canada) –
I have planned biking trips in France before, but since we wanted to go to an area we hadn’t been to before (the Dordogne and the Lot) and I don’t have as much energy and patience as I used to, we hired someone to do the planning for us. Although Fellow Velo doesn’t have a physical presence in that area (i.e., no luggage transfer or any other on-the-ground support), Andy listened carefully to what we were looking for in terms of distance, climbing, scenery and accommodations. The route he plotted was just what we were looking for, and he put us on roads that I probably wouldn’t have thought of taking based solely on a parsing of a map. Although we had to carry our own baggage, Andy planned out an itinerary involving three loop rides from three different inns, so we didn’t have to lug our panniers on three of our eight days of cycling. Almost all of the accommodations he and Jane arranged for us were superb — friendly staff, bike-friendly, and comfortable. (The one exception was an inn that was new to them, and upon hearing of our dissatisfaction, they pledged never to use it again.) I highly recommend paying extra for the digital navigation files from Andy (assuming you’re used to using them) because it really cuts down on the start-and-stop of consulting maps at every turn. Andy kept in touch with us during the trip to make sure everything was going OK, and even sent us “detours” at the last minute due to possible road closures stemming from the Bordeaux wildfires, as well as optional shorter rides due to the extreme heat. We will likely use Fellow Velo again, so we can tap into their expertise on routes and accommodations, and depending on the location, baggage transfer.
Daniel and Nathalie Glaser –
This was our fourth tour with Andy and Jane. We’re a couple with three children now in their t(w)eens. We’ve previously brought our 88 year old father and another family. This time it was us and another couple with two children. We started in Dijon and spent six days cycling through wine country. It was a brilliantly varied with vineyards, canal-side and (our favourite) converted railway lines. Much of it was voies vertes and so clearly signed and often segregated, but of course French drivers are almost always thoughtful when overtaking. Andy and Jane in their magic green van have an uncanny ability to pop up just when you need them: when there’s a tricky turn or a sensible drink stop before a climb. They’re always cheerful and the joy they take in the countryside and culture is evident throughout. The accommodation they booked was a perfect combination of town, village and country the logistics were effortless. Above all this was a restful, physically engaged, aesthetic and stimulating trip. And we got some decent wine-tasting in too.
Brenda Blanton –
This was my first tour with Andy and Jane, a long time in coming to fruition because of Covid, etc., but finally it happened! All along the way, they kept tabs with me, and I felt secure in knowing that when it was possible, the tour would happen. This was a solo tour for me (accompanied by Jane on all the days but one), first time travelling to Europe alone, and first time in the haute Provence. The one day I did guide myself, using the excellent directions and maps Andy provided, I always felt safe and in control of the journey. I had a wonderful experience due to all the planning and attention to detail that Jane and Andy put into each day. The cycling itself was a nice challenge for me (but thank goodness for Elodie, the electric bike)! The accommodations that were booked for me were a nice mix of experiences and I always felt comfortable and well taken care of. It is my hope to be able to join Andy and Jane again in the near future—can’t wait.
Mika Pakarinen –
Our trip in the Verdon region ending in Ste Maxime was arranged , or rather taylor made, in an excellent manner: The overnights were more than we could have expected. Due to our partly unexpected circumstances, Jane and Andy managed to stay close by and assist us in many ways. All in all, we have nothing but good to stay regarding their warm and friendly care during our stay in France.
Carmen and Bruce Alger –
From Sea to Sea
Carmen and I booked FellowVelo in 2020 for a bespoke tour from the Atlantic Ocean, starting west of Bordeaux, and finishing in Sète on the Mediterranean Sea. We had paid our deposit, worked on details and then Covid struck. One thing led to another but finally this September we spent 2 amazing weeks completing our tour. Throughout this entire process, Jane and Andy were wonderful to deal with, being available, staying in touch, and being oh so flexible with us as flights and schedules continued to change. Thank goodness we persevered as we had a fabulous tour.
Baggage, route maps and ongoing support was top notch and we felt completely supported for the entire trip. The cheery green FellowVelo van seemed to be guided by a sixth sense (Andy actually), showing up at just the right place with water and confirmation that we were still on the route.
We will fondly remember this trip for a long time.
Thank you Jane and Andy!
Terence Gale –
The first part of our tour took us along the Kennet and Avon canal and with B&B stops in between ended up in Bath and other than a much too close encounter with the towpath on the first day was trouble free. The scenery was great and the weather mild and dry and led by Andy was pleasant and good Fun.
Transported by the unmistakeable Fellow Velo green van, onward to Somerset and to some really stunning scenery and less flat than before…
Jane joined us on some of our rides and we all had some laughs along the way. The accommodations were really nice and given our relatively late booking ,their choices were very good.
Nothing seem too much for this lovely couple and we have experienced this on each tour they have organised for us.
Thank you Jane and Andy , we’ll see you again either in France or the UK.
Erin and Paul Turner –
We loved our first ‘Fellow Velo’ cycle trip in Provence last year so much so that we decided to return, this time with with my sisters and husbands. We were a merry band of 6 and the holiday couldn’t have been any better. Jane and Andy knew exactly what we wanted and planned the trip to perfection. The bikes were in excellent condition and the accommodation they booked was spot on. Andy had tirelessly planned routes through impossibly beautiful villages, where we were able to sample the local produce, and maybe the odd glass of vino! On our last day we realised that our flight had been brought forward and when the train was delayed, Jane stepped in, put on her hero cape, and drove us directly to Nice airport- what a star!! We have no hesitation at all in recommending ‘Fellow Velo’- this will not be our last trip
Doug Strange –
I’ve planned a lot of tours, and my brother, wife, and I have done many bike tours both self-planned and using a service. We were apprehensive about self-planning a tour in France, as we had no experience in the country and wanted the best experience for the time available. We used Jane and Andy to plan a tour that met our time limits, distance, and geographical goals. What a great choice, the result was 3 weeks of simply outstanding cycling, and the accommodations were outstanding. We simply could not have planned a better trip ourselves, and certainly, avoided many “lessons learned” by tapping into their experience and knowledge. We would certainly use them again and would recommend them to anyone considering exploring France by bike.
Greg Strange –
We (my brother, his wife, and myself) are experienced at arranging our own short self-guided tours in our home country of the United States, but when I came up with the idea of doing something a bit longer and in France, I started looking around for help. I found Andy and Jane who, at a very reasonable cost, put together a fabulous trip. The accommodations, while reasonable, were each an experience unto themselves, ranging from a few self-catered apartments to rooms in boutique hotels in the heart of medieval towns, to chambre d’hôtels that served us wonderful dinners. The route was an excellent mix of primarily back country roads, canals-trails, rail-trails, and other bike trails, taking us across a variety of terrain from Britany down to the Mediterranean. Andy and Jane provided GPX files that we loaded into our bike computers, making navigation easy and stress free. While self-supported by choice, Andy and Jane were in communication every day and quick to jump in and help on short notice when we wanted to do things like book a dinner a day in advance and weren’t confident that my French was up to the task. If we ever get a chance to do another bike trip in France, first thing I’ll do is contact Fellow Velo.
Phil Collinson –
We were looking for a circular route starting & finishing in Roscoff of about a week’s duration. Ironically, we approached one company for guidance who couldn’t help us but they did refer us to Fellow Velo & Andy & Jane. We’re so pleased they did! They suggested a couple of routes, introduced us to Komoot, provided the GPX files & booked the accommodation. 4 of us had a great week following the coastline west of Roscoff & then down to Brest before returning to Roscoff. Communication from FV was excellent all the way through, particularly the daily whatsapp update whilst out on tour. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend FV & would approach them again ourselves if/when we attempt something similar.
Christina –
I have experienced many bike camps, self-supported touring and guided bicycle touring trips in my past but traveling with Fellow Velo was my first experience at a self-guided holiday and I loved their model and service! The ease with which Andy and Jane planned and executed our trip was brilliant – from airport transfers to many seamless, magical luggage transfers en route, together with their expert route planning and ability to hone in on our style of travel, likes and dislikes, etc… Andy and Jane were able to satisfy us on every level during our 12 day ride through Provence. The rides were impeccable and totally on brief with great run downs of daily route highlights that catered to our interests and desires. Accommodation was fabulous, often unique and varied and added a lovely flavour to our tour. We loved how simple and understated they made things look and feel – so perfect in meeting our needs and providing the ride vacation experience we were looking for. I would do another part of France again with their support in a heart beat!!
Kate Howser –
The three of us had an amazing time on a week-long trip following the Veloscenic, organized by Jane and Andy. Communications with Jane leading up to the trip were prompt and succinct, making us feel like we were in good hands from the very beginning. Jane did a great job of balancing being there for us and helping with issues and suggestions, making us feel taken care of, while also giving us plenty of space to experience it all as if we were truly doing it ourselves (when in actuality, we had her behind the scenes doing ALL the logistics!). Her tips about things like “make sure you get food at this town, because there is no more food for 30 miles” were invaluable, and something we wouldn’t have known, or even thought about, on our own. Looking forward to getting back to France for another bike trip and using Fellow Velo when we do.
laura veirs –
We had a lovely time biking almost 300 miles from Paris to Mt St Michel in July 2023. Jane was a wonderful liason through the whole process. We loved all the scenic places, chateaux, farmland, wooded areas and historic sites we got to see along the way, plus the great hotels Jane arranged for us. Highly recommended! The bikes were great, too.
David –
I’ll keep this short
5 star service
Bespoke trip to French Alps for 10days
Couldn’t have been better from start to finish
Planning logistics accommodation transfers transport hotels routes….all exactly as required.
Andy and Jane very willing and able to flex to our ideas whilst adding sound advice and support
Highly recommend
Ann Schiller –
We had excellent communication with Fellow Velo in the spring when we started to plan our Paris to Normandy Beaches trip, and it continued through to our final goodbye with Andy when we dropped off the bicycles. The organization and support were impeccable and we enjoyed Andy’s recommendations at each overnight locale. The route Fellow Velo chose for us was safe, diverse, comfortably challenging, and breathtakingly scenic at each turn. All was seamless and we thoroughly enjoyed our 8-day tour. Now, about next year… Ann & Bob, Nevada
Hal –
We had a quite amazing trip from Toulouse to Sete. Andy was our tour Maestro, setting us up and sending us on each day for the rides, and ensuring that we ate well along the way. The Canal du Midi is a great ride, as it is almost traffic-free and beautiful throughout. In our group of eight, riding for five days, we had exactly zero complaints and a few thousand toasts of appreciation. Andy is apparently psychic: Wherever there might be an ambiguous spot in the route, there was found the bright green van, waiting with instructions, water, and snippets of history. FellowVelo has the perfect mix of support and subtleness. We could not be more happy with our trip!
Peter & Alida –
Another great week with Fellow Velo. Perhaps a bit too hot but can’t blame Andy for that! Super routes and help with transfers all went without a hitch.
Susan and Paul –
What a trip! Best supported tour we have ever done – Andy and Jane were able to very successfully accommodate our requests to merge two bike trips ; longer distance rides each day for our daughter and husband with our shorter but spectacular rides in Provence. We feel that we saw so many amazing spots but the highlight was definitely the Gorges du Verdon. Andy and Janes’ local knowledge on routes and accommodations were invaluable and made the trip amazing. Highly recommend to anyone considering a trip in France.
Sue & John Morton –
A 5 Star cycling tour from a 5 Star company. Fellow Velo provided us with one of the most enjoyable holidays we have had. Everything was organised to perfection. The locations were stunning, the cycling exhilarating and relaxing in equal measure, the accommodation and hosts were super. We couldn’t have asked for more. Highly recommend Fellow Velo to anyone looking for cycling tours in France.
Brian K. –
Our second trip with Fellow Velo was very different from our first, the year before. Instead of a self-guided tour, in which FV plotted our route and arranged accommodations while we carried our belongings in panniers, on this trip Andy served as our full-time “concierge” as we biked the length of the Alps. This, of course, was more expensive, but we didn’t want to be weighed down by panniers while tackling such challenging climbs; it also provided us with peace of mind that if we ran into mechanical trouble, nasty weather or simple fatigue, we had someone who could “rescue” us if need be. Andy met us at the Geneva airport at the start of our trip and even provided us with a 3:30 am ride to our departure airport in Nice. Although our trip mostly followed an established route through the Alps, Andy was very strategic about tailoring it to our ability and maximizing the best the Alps had to offer in terms of scenery. Although he hadn’t biked these roads himself, he knew the area and the roads well. For example, one day he suggested that we skip a particularly busy and “cyclist unfriendly” portion of the route, so we hopped in his van for 50 km and started riding where the riding got good. Each day, Andy “shadowed” us by vehicle, driving ahead and stopping every 10-20 km to make sure we had enough water and stamina, to provide encouragement as we struggled up hours-long climbs or make sure we descended in one piece, and to capture our riding with photos and video that he shared with us. FV also proved extremely helpful when one of our bikes was temporarily lost in transit; the morning after we landed, Jane found a bicycle rental company in Geneva that had the equipment and flexibility we needed to keep to our itinerary, and when my own bike arrived several days later, Andy handled the return of the rental bike without any interruption to our cycling. Most days, the accommodations were just what we needed (sometimes more so), and FV made sure that we had easy access to meals, either at the inn/hotel, or a short walk away. Andy let us dictate our schedule, and didn’t bat an eye when we indicated a desire to start cycling at 7:00 am in an effort to beat the heat. We are already looking forward to our next trip with Fellow Velo — probably another self-guided trip like our first one.
Patty and Aaron –
We had an amazing trip with Andy and Jane! They created a fantastic custom route for our group, planning more challenging routes for myself and my husband, and shorter days for my parents. They booked us in charming hotels, and had great dinner recommendations for when everyone met up at the end of the day. In four days we felt we got to see many different stunning sides of Provence – the Gorges de Verdon, many of the Plus Beaux Villages, and our highlight was cycling up Mt Ventoux! We really appreciated an early morning transfer right to the airport to make out flight home. We would definitely book another trip with them.
David Birley –
My pal Jon and I have enjoyed two FV rides in France. Both have been superbly enjoyable. FV have a knack for finding quirky and authentic accommodation, quiet hotels, wonderful chambres d’hotes, often with excellent restaurants, which make the apres cyclisme so much fun. They also manage the routes very well. They were quick to fix one of our bikes when it suffered an unexpected breakdown. They are also really nice guys. We both unhesitatingly recommend FV for experienced tourers and for newbies. Good luck guys…. looking forward to our next outing with you next year.
Vicki Cunningham –
Andy from Felo Velo arranged and then supported our group of 4 whilst we ebiked around the beautiful Luberon area exploring the gorgeous perched villages. Andy was always on call if we got “temporarily lost” and gave us plenty of ideas each day. So helpful. We loved our trip and would highly recommend to anyone to use Jane and Andy.
Simon Struthers –
”Fellow Velo supported and organised our trip, cycling supported from Caen to Marseille for the rugby World Cup quarter final matches. We did this over 10 days. Right from the early stages the discussions, planning and communication between Jane, Andy and our group was fantastic, working out what was feasible, what we wanted and the desirable add-on.
As lead of the group I felt very confident before the start that everything was covered down to the last detail. Sure enough when we started the trip everything was to plan. Andy had taken a rough route and expertly made it into a wonderful backroads and scenic tour of the French countryside, whilst keeping miles to a sensible level. Jane had the burden of managing 5 middle aged men, and did so admirably. Day to day support was great with spot on suggestions for stopping places and meet points with the van and Jane. The accommodation was a mix of hotels in towns, self catering and amazing grand houses in the middle of nowhere with supper and breakfast provided by hosts. Jane’s language skills and French knowledge smoothed any mild problems and directed us not to miss important things , like Chablis in Chablis and ensuring we had appropriate food and drink for self catering nights. What struck me most was the Jane and Andy’s flexibility – two of our group decided to detour to cycle mount Ventoux one day, and Jane suggested it might be better for her to support them on the big climb , and leave the rest of us to the standard route – which was great and definitely needed. Andy then contacted us from abroad to suggest the coffee and lunch stop and bike repair shop for a new saddle, for those on the standard route.
We had a seamless bike drop off in the centre of Marseille, loading Jane’s van with 5 bikes to return to the UK at a later date.
Jane and Andy made a slightly mad idea of “cycling down to the rugby World Cup”, hatched 2 years ago into a memorable and relaxed holiday. They made a great job of it. Special thanks to Jane, who was a fantastic lead, wonderful manager and great person to have around. We have already recommended Fellow Velo to others and I know we will all continue to do so.”
Jacqui Lieberman –
My friends and I had a fantastic time in Provence biking for 6 days thanks to the expert planning of Jane and Andy. The routes were gorgeous, with little traffic, and Jane and Andy kept us updated every day (as they were not leading the trip nor were they transporting our stuff). They recommended wonderful cafes and restaurants along the way and if we ran into any glitches, they responded promptly with solutions. The accommodations they set up for us were lovely and were as we expected (they were very attentive on the front end to the type of accommodations and routes we would be happy with). The electric bikes we rented were fully outfitted and when we had a problem with one of them, Hubert, the bike vendor, came to meet us at our location and replace it. We will definitely be planning another trip with Andy and Jane.
Colorado Lance and Melissa –
We had a great time from the time that Andy met us at the first accommodation to when we had to say see you later. The bikes were great with Andy doing his best to get a mountain biker in somewhat of a roadie position. The places we stayed were not only beautiful but the hosts were amazing as well. One host cooked us an amazing meal while another helped us clean our dirty biking gear. Then there was Andy. Andy was a rock star making sure that we were taken care of on the road and checking in and out of every location. He even went back to get my backpack that I left at a little bakery after we had traveled over 20 miles on the bikes. Thanks for a wonderful trip and we look forward to getting back. Maybe next time we can climb a little more! :)
Brian Moss (“Isobel and Chums”) –
Our 2nd time as a group of 7 with Fellow Velo but this time cycling down the Loire
We started off in Blois with Jane and Andy waiting for us patiently after train shenanigans in Paris. Our holiday was carefully planned by them to make sure we saw the best of the area including some superb chateaux and during the end of our holiday the wonderful vineyards around Sancerre. We were offered rest days to explore the major towns. A big call out to Andy for loaning me the Komoot Pro to enable our group to stay as a group and also for going back on the route to collect my (only) fleece (which in the event I needed). One highlight for me was sharing breakfast with them at La Charitie (oh that chocolate mousse!)
They also amused me on our final night meal where they presented one of our party celebrating a significant birthday with a small gift
Thanks again for a superb holiday and some treasured memories
Liz –
Andy and Jane gamely changed our bike tour in Ireland to a hiking tour after a member of our group was injured before the trip and, thus, unable to bike. They found gorgeous hikes, suggested fabulous restaurants and cheerfully ferried us to our various hiking and site seeing destinations. So appreciate their flexibility and the care they took in finding us stunning locations and very comfortable accommodations.
Isobel –
Our second group cycling adventure in France with Andy & Jane.
We opted for a relaxing cycling along the Loire, soaking in the chateaux, and partaking of many of the regional gastronomic delights
Andy & Jane’s recommendations were spot on (Le gourmand wine tasting at Chateau de Tracy, to name my favourite). And the accommodation they organised for us was local – so much more fun than lodging in some major international hotel, giving us ample chance to meet the neighbours.
Most of the cycling was very straightforward, so Andy planned some additional/alternative routes for the more experienced in our group. This was truly bespoke.