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General::
Will I be comfortable visiting the guest house by
myself? Absolutely. One of the best aspects of staying
with us is that you get to meet and mix with like-minded
people, sharing an interest in sport and the great out-doors.
We cannot resist getting out on the roads and trails
for too long so there is always the possibility of joining
us.
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How fit do I have to be? It depends on where
you would like to ride. For some of the cols a base
level of fitness is an advantage. However, there are
miles of easier and undulating routes which are very
rewarding. To get the most out of mountain biking,
basic off-road experience is required.
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Can my non-riding spouse / travel companion come
and stay at VéloPyrénées? Absolutely.
There are plenty of hiking trails close to our base,
allowing your companion to see some spectacular scenery.
There is plenty of opportunity to sightsee as well.
To make the most of your visit, a car is highly recommended
and can be hired from the airport. For more information
on what the area has to offer, click
here (opens in a new window).
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How do I get medical cover for travelling abroad
from the NHS? UK residents should ensure that they
apply for an European Health Insurance Card (this has
replaced Form E111). You can apply on line for the free
card at www.ehic.org.uk/InternetPROD/home.do.
The application takes just 5 minutes and you will be
sent your card in 7 days.
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Booking:
How do I book? You can confirm availability by
telephoning us on +33 (0) 5 62 39 68 44 or e-mail info@velopyrenees.com.
You can then complete a booking form and return it to
us by e-mail or post with a deposit of 25%. For further
information, including the booking form, click
here.
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What if I cancel after paying my deposit? (Refund
policy) You should notify us in writing that you wish
to cancel your holiday. In the event of cancelling the
deposit is non-refundable. We will send you a cheque
for any other balance you may have paid. We recommend
that you take out relevant travel insurance that would
cover such events.
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Accommodation:
Are linen and towels provided? Yes, we change
linen and towels on a weekly basis. However, you should
bring your own towel for use outside the guest house,
i.e. around lakes and swimming pools.
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Is there clothes washing facilities? Yes, there
is a washing machine available for use by guests. We
will provide you with washing powder and there are clothes
drying areas outdoors and under cover available.
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For any meals - what if I have special dietary requirements?
Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements
so that we can cater for you. If you do not tell us
until you arrive, then we may not be able to accommodate
your dietary needs.
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Is there a good selection
of restaurants locally? There are two restaurants
within walking distance, both French with good menus,
and very reasonable prices - very cheap compared to
the UK! The medieval town of St-Bertrand-de-Commings
(5km away) and Loures Barousse has several good restaurants
and a wider selection. There is an interesting restaurant
(Lugdunum) which uses recipes based on the book of Apicius
from ancient Rome and have a very good reputation. We
can offer transport to local restaurants on occasion.
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Travel:
Can I reach you by car? Yes. Our location along
with further information can be found by clicking
here. Car parking spaces are available at our guest
house. Directions can be sent to you on booking.
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Can I reach you by public transport? Yes. There
is a good train service from Toulouse and Pau to Montréjeau,
visit www.sncf.com
for train timetables.
The journey from Toulouse-Blagnac
airport is very easy. There is an airport shuttle bus
every 20 minutes that will take you to Toulouse railway
station. There is a ticket office where English is spoken.
The trains from Toulouse to Montréjeau are very
reliable. A one way ticket will cost approximately 21€.
We can arrange to pick you up from Montréjeau
station. If you are doing this journey with a bike box,
you will never have to carry it very far.
Further information can be found
by clicking here.
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Is it easy to take my bike on an aeroplane? Yes.
Your bike will need to be protected in either: a bike
bag / box which can be bought or hired from your local
bike shop; or cardboard bike boxes (that new bikes are
supplied in from manufacture) which can be obtained
from your local bike shop for free if you ask nicely.
To pack the bike, you will need
to take the wheels and pedals off and turn the handlebars
90 degrees. Pack clothes around the bike to protect
it or go to B&Q and buy some pipe lagging for a couple
of pounds to protect the tubes.
You will need to check with the airline
to determine the weight allowance. For some airlines,
such as Easyjet and RyanAir you will be required to
pay an additional amount of money (£10 to £15) per flight
to cover sports goods. If you need help to assemble
the bike on arrival, we will be happy to help.
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Cycling:
Do you have bikes I can hire? No, but there are
several places in Luchon that hire bikes out on a daily
basis. The best bike shop in Luchon has 15 new
mid quality front suspension XC bikes for EUR 17 per
day or EUR 59 per week. They also have some good spec
full suspension bikes for hire or DH specific bikes
are available for EUR 29 for half a day.
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Do you have a bike workshop? Yes, we have a bike
workshop with all the most common tools needed for building
your bike on arrival plus tools needed for maintenance
and basic repair (such as wheel tunning jigs).
We stock spares such as inner tubes, chains, cables
and brake blocks. Lee can help with any mechanical problems
you may have, alternatively there are mechanics in the
bike shops at Luchon.
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Do you stock bike spares? We
stock common spares such as inner tubes, chains, cables
and brake blocks for road bikes and mountain bikes.
Lee would be more than happy to help you with replacing
any of these items if you have any unexpected bike problems.
We do not stock energy drink/ bars, but you can find
these items in the bike shops at Luchon, St-Gaudens
or in the local supermarkets.
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What types of cycling is available in the area?
For mountain biking, there is a huge variety of routes
from XC to Free-ride to suit most people. There are
many XC singletrack signposted routes which are graded
for difficulty level. There is 'gravity assisted' cycling
from the ski stations - during the summer especially
when you can take your bike on the cable car to the
summit to follow downhill routes. Or, you can work for
your altitude and choose a mixture of everything including
alpine trails, singletracks and great views.
For road cycling you can take easier
days over rolling terrain to the North of us or challenge
many of the famous cols. It is possible to incorporate
several famous TDF cols in a days ride from our door
or spend the whole day just spinning easy though the
small villages in the foot hills.
For further information on the types
of riding available, please visit our mountain
biking or road cycling
section.
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What cols and climbs are there nearby? Here is
a brief list of some of the popular cols from our base
in Crechets; Ares, Larrieu, Portillion, Portet de Aspet,
Mente, Aspin, Peyresourde, Super Bagnere, Port de Bales,
Mortis, Azet, Nistos Cap Nestes, Beyrede, Tourmalet.
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Do I need a triple chain ring for road cycling?
This will depend on your own ability. As some of the
climbs can be long and challenging, we would recommend
either a triple chain ring, compact chain set or a large
ratio rear cassette 25 +, just to give you something
in reserve if things start to get tough.
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What clothing should I bring? You will need to
bring your normal cycling clothing, ensuring that you
have a good layering system as backup.
Generally, the weather is much milder than the UK but
you can experience extremes for short periods of time
- especially at altitude. Even in the
height of summer the col du Tourmalet can be closed
due to adverse weather due to its high altitude. You
may experience one extreme to the other as you climb
a col and then make the fast descent. Leg warmers, gloves,
arm warmers and a compact / light weight water proof
top is good for most of the year.
Click here to visit
our month by month weather guide.
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Can I take part in a cyclosportive event during my
stay? There are several popular cyclosportive events
in the area such as the La Barousse Bales and Luchonaise.
These events are typically cheap to enter, attract a
large numbers of cyclists of all abilities, offer 3
distance options, are well supported and organised -
usually with food included at the finish line.
To enter an event you must fill out an online application
form and post it to the organisers with either a) a
suitable race license or b) a recent medical certificate
stating you are fit to compete in such an event (available
from your doctor). You can find some of the popular
events on our website on the races
and events page, or contact us for further information.
Running:
What type of running kit will I need? For most
of the time and at lower altitudes (under 1000m) we
recommend shorts and vest. Even during winter, warm
mid-day tempreatures (usually between 11:00-15:00hrs)
means shorts and vest can even be worn comfortably.
However, outside of the summer period, we recommend
that you bring technical long sleeved tops (Helly's,
etc), base layers and gloves just in case. If you are
sensitive to the cold or plan to run at altitude near
winter then you should consider leggings, headwear and
a good breathable outer layer.
Click here
to visit our month by month weather guide.
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What type of trainers should I bring? For off-road
running you should bring trail specific shoes or a trainer
that has good grip. Most of the trails dry out quickly
from any rain and do not suffer from lots of mud, however,
Autumn leaves and debris can make some of the forest
trails slippery. There is the possibilty of taking some
technical, steep and rocky trails which would benefit
from a shoe with a good tread and that offers adequate
stability.
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What can I do when I'm not running? There
are plenty of hiking trails close to our base, allowing
you to see some spectacular scenery at a slower pace.
For relaxing you can go swimming, visit thermal spa's
or enjoy a massage. There is plenty of opportunity to
sightsee as well. To make the most of your visit, a
car is highly recommended and can be hired from the
airport. For more information on what the area has to
offer, click
here (opens in a new window).
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Can I incorporate a race into my stay? Yes, there
are many races throughout the year of varying distances,
terrain and difficulty. Events range from the shorter
5km events to mountain marathons at altitude. Entry
fees are typically low at a couple of euros with age
group and spot prizes. Entry into local events can usually
be made on the day although the larger races may require
a pre application. If you are interested in this option,
please e-mail julie@velopyrenees.com
with distances and dates in mind and we would be more
than happy to give you some suggestions.
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