Freewheel Holidays Suggests Winter Bicycle Vacations In Four Sun-Splashed Coastal Destinations in Europe

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Released on Thursday, 31 August 2017 08:25

MANCHESTER, UK, Aug. 31, 2017– As the long days of summer fade into fall, avid cyclists can follow the sun south to warmer climates. Freewheel Holidays (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/), the UK’s specialist cycling vacation provider, arranges week-long bespoke, self-guided bicycle vacations in Sardinia (Italy), on the Costa Brava (Spain), in the Algarve (Portugal) and on Lanzarote (Canary Islands).

These four sun-splashed destinations have in common beckoning cultures and cuisines, wave-fringed coastlines with sandy beaches and dependable reputations for showering warmth on vacationers escaping winter’s doldrums. 

Following are snapshots of Freewheel Holidays’ 2017-2018 portfolio of Winter Sun cycling vacations. Accommodating parties with as few as two adults, in some instances these vacations can be tweaked to accommodate families who enjoy traveling at their own pace on two wheels.

Sardinia Family Cycle Tour is an 8 day/7 night vacation in Sardinia bicycling over terrain graded “easy” and over distances that can be tailored to meet family needs. Daily rides range from 20km to 36km. The itinerary is also flexible with choices on one day, for example, to ride to a beach famous for its turquoise waters or to board a ferry to a village where locals fish for red tuna and where surrounding lagoons are populated by flocks of pink flamingo. On some days vineyards and olive groves vie for attention with ancient ruins, Roman roads, vestiges of the Phoenicians and always beaches. The per person double rate is from £549; rates for children ages 3 to 12 are available. Included are seven nights accommodation with breakfast, bike rental, luggage transfers, welcome meeting, detailed route notes and maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. This tour is offered year-round. For details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/sardinia-cycling-holiday.

Discover Costa Brava for Families is a 7 day/6 night vacation in Spain’s Catalonia, a distinct, autonomous region in northern Spain known for the beach resorts of Costa Brava and for the Pyrenees Mountains.This flexible trip can also be from two to five days, giving ample time to explore this fascinating area and add on a beach or city break. On two wheels guests discover the unspoiled hamlet of Can Muni, a beautiful coastline, pine forests and the fascinating medieval, Greek and Roman architecture of the region. Must-sees are the world famous Dalí museum in the town of Figueres and the Museum of Empordà which showcases the archaeological finds of the region, including the Hall of Asclepius. Guests can also mix in horseback riding. Ambitious riders can traverse up to 56km on a day; but shorter routes halving the daily distances are also outlined. The mostly flat terrain is rated as “easy.” The per person double rate is from £539; rates for children under 13 years of age are available. Included are 6 nights accommodation with breakfast, a welcome meeting, bike rental, GPS with everyday tracks and map, detailed route notes and local information and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. Offered year-round, for details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/costa-brava-family-cycling-holiday.

Guests on the 8 day/7night Algarve Coast to Coast bicycle vacation enjoy “easy” to “moderate” cycling on the Ecovia do litoral, a dedicated cycle route in Portugal that links Vila Real de Santo António on the Spanish border with Cabo de São Vicente (Sagres) in the west. This route that requires cycling up to 40km on some days combines trails in nature preserves with stunning coastal views and beach access. There are also linked stretches on traffic-calm or car-free routes. Fishing villages that date to Roman times, Moorish architecture and cafes heralding coffee and wine breaks blend into the horizon that’s the sea. The per person double rates begin at £779. Included are 7nights accommodation with breakfast, return transfers from Faro Airport, bike rental, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and cycling maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. Departures may be scheduled any day of the year. For details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/algarve-coast-to-coast-7-nights.

Lanzarote in the Canary Islands may not seem an obvious choice for a cycling holiday, but here’s one island in the Canaries that offers easy access, year-round sunshine, minimal rainfall, some of the most dramatic and fascinating landscapes (think volcanos) in Europe. Restrained development has preserved the best characteristics of this often-overlooked paradise. Fine beaches and quality hotel and rural villa accommodations are laced into this 8 day/7 night vacation on two wheels. The terrain is classed “moderate” with some daily rides covering up to 58km. Routes can be modified for families. A native son, César Manrique, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, left his mark artistically and in architecture on Lanzarote. Guests have an opportunity to view some of his work. They take in a volcanic cave and another volcanic landscape along a beach, cycle and walk under innumerable palm trees in towns with Moorish names, and they tour thewine-producing area of La Geria. A waterpark and go kart attraction add to the family fun. The per person double rate is from $809. Rates for children are available. Included are 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, bike hire, luggage transfers, detailed route notes & cycling maps and 24hr hotline assistance service. For details on this year-round, self-guided adventure please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/lanzarote-7-nights-self-guided.

To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.

About Freewheel Holidays - A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy to moderate cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers.

Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of over 40 established European holidays offers riders of all levels a freedom of choice. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna.  The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.

# # #

Follow Freewheel Holidays on Social Media

Twitter:           @FreewheelHols

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/FWHolidays

Google+:        https://plus.google.com/+FreewheelholidaysCoUk

Website:         www.freewheelholidays.com

Media Contact:

For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Still Time This Summer & Fall to See Italy on a Bicycle - Freewheel Holidays Offers a Variety of Weeklong Self-Guided Tours

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Released on Wednesday, 05 July 2017 15:20

MANCHESTER, UK, July 5, 2017– Inquisitive travelers eager to see the real Italy at the speed of a bicycle can choose among four bespoke, self-guided tours that dip variously in and out of the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Venice, Tuscany and the Chianti region. These seven-day/eight-night itineraries are available through early autumn from Freewheel Holidays, the UK’s specialist cycling vacation provider offering a 2017 portfolio of more than 40 European holidays on two wheels.

“We are really passionate about Italy as a cycling holiday destination and have selected cycling holidays that really showcase the varied nature of the country,” explains Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays’ spokesperson. “There’s still time to book a trip this season and to help decide where to go, here are four of our favorite tours.”

Dolomites & Lake Garda begins in Resia (accessed by train from Bolzano) near the Austrian border where Italy’s South Tyrol region combines Italian and Austrian influences. Here at 5,000 feet, a dedicated cycle track winds down through Val Venosta and a collection of small villages as mountains on either side rise up to over 13,000 feet. Merano, a town that pampers people in its spas, is followed by Bolzano, the regional capital.Lake Garda beckons through the Adige valley past apple orchards and vineyards, promising a boat trip from Riva del Garda down the lake to Peschiera, a walled town with a traffic-free center.The Arena di Verona Opera Festival can be the piece de resistance in the city of Romeo and Juliet where this summer’s offerings include, among others, three Verdi favorites: Rigoletto, Nabucco and Aida. Per person double rates are from £669. For more details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/dolomites-and-lake-garda

Venice Lands - Self Guided is a classic tour between the Alps and the Adriatic that is centered on the jewel of Venice. Cycle tracks and minor roads are generally flat on this tour that begins and ends in Vicenza with its own Teatro Olimpico and an array of historic buildings and cobblestone streets. The next stops are Marostica, famous for its castle and chessboard in the main square, and Bassano del Grappa with a covered wooden bridge and grappa. Another Italian city shares a canal culture with Venice. This is Treviso that follows a downhill run through Prosecco vineyards. This walled city also sports a castle and may be the birthplace of radicchio and tiramisù. The cycle continues into Venice and later along two rivers which carried Venice's trade centuries ago. The Bacchiglione River leads to Costozza, a small town at the foot of the Berici hills. The cycle path passes in front of La Rotonda, the architect Palladio's most famous creation. Per person double rates are from £519. For more details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/venice-lands-8-days-7-nights-self-guided

Tuscany - Pisa to Florence 7 nights embraces the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, enroute exploring an intimate landscape beloved by anyone who has ever visited Tuscany. Travel is on cycle-friendly tracks and minor roads, with two rest days to explore Lucca, a city ringed by Renaissance walls and the birthplace of Puccini. Enroute to Montecatini Terme, known for its spa waters, is a village, Collodi, known as the place where Pinocchio sprang from his creator’s hands. There’s never enough time to imbibe all of the ancient villas and landscapes, but two days in this region affords a fair amount of time for unscheduled pedals led by curiosity. The per person double rate is from £659. For more details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/tuscany-pisa-to-florence-7-nights

Siena, Chianti Region and Florence brings into the spotlight the history of Palio di Siena, a race held twice annually in Siena with riders representing 10 of the city’s 17 wards and political feuds never to be forgotten. This adventure begins and ends here. The history of the dynamics, again political, between this one-time highly important municipality and Florence begin to sink in, along with ample quantities of Chianti ripe for the sampling. Along with viniculture comes high culture (think Florence), thanks to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and, of course, assorted Medicis. Siena was also an important stop along the ancient (11^th century) pilgrim’s way (from Canterbury to Rome), the via Francigena. The per person double rate is from £659. For more details please see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/siena-chianti-region-and-florence-7-nights

Freewheel Holidays’ (www.freewheelholidays.com) self-guided tours include, among others, inn and/or bed and breakfast accommodations, bike rental, luggage transfers, route maps and notes, services of a tour host including welcome and information talk.

To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.

About Freewheel Holidays

A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers.

Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of over 40 established European holidays offers riders of all levels a freedom of choice. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna.  The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.

# # #

Follow Freewheel Holidays on Social Media

Twitter:           @FreewheelHols

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/FWHolidays

Google+:        https://plus.google.com/+FreewheelholidaysCoUk

Website:         www.freewheelholidays.com

Media Contact:

For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Freewheel Holidays’ Self-Guided Bicycle Vacations in France Include Visiting Branded Vineyards, Sleeping on a Barge And Stepping into a Medieval World

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Released on Tuesday, 20 June 2017 10:22

MANCHESTER, UK, June 20, 2017– A leading purveyor of European cycling vacations offers ways aplenty to tour France by bicycle this summer, including how to watch the pros and test some of the cycling routes of the legendary Tour de France to be held July 1-23.

Freewheel Holidays (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/, the UK’s leading self-guided cycling vacation provider, shares a portfolio of independent bicycle tours in France that allow as few as two participants to travel when they can, at their own pace and to explore to their heart’s content the countryside and cuisine they’re wheeling through.

“Visiting branded vineyards, sleeping on a barge and touring in the footsteps of long-gone royals are included in many of our cycling holidays in France,” said Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays’ spokesperson. “Our cycling holidays focus on the many delights of rural France – beautiful landscapes, appealing small towns and villages, and the French emphasis on good living: food, wine, enticing country markets and cultural treasures.”

Steven suggests these three classic self-guided bicycle tours although a full list can be found at: http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/france. All are offered spring through fall, with rates that fluctuate seasonally.

Leisurely Loire Valley, Orleans to Saumur, 7 nights begins at £699 per person, double, including bike rental, B&B accommodation, welcome meeting, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and maps and 24-hour hotline assistance service. Think Joan of Arc (The Maid of Orleans) and then conjure up ancient tapestries of lords courting wimple-clad ladies. Not-to-miss castles, chateaux and cathedrals are vestiges of the cultural and political pulse point known as Anjou that spawned the powerful Plantagenets who changed the course of history in Great Britain and most of Europe. The route to Saumur, considered the Pearl of Anjou, covers approximately 50 km daily on cycle paths and paved roads with little traffic, encompassingpart of the ‘Loire à Vélo’ long-distance cycle route. The wines of the Loire Valley are as accessible as its history. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/leisurely-loire-valley-orleans-saumur-cycling-holiday

Provence: Aigues-Mortes to Avignon - 7 Nights – Boat & Bike begins at £969 per person, double, including accommodation on a comfortable barge in air-conditioned cabins offering private facilities, all breakfasts and dinners on-board and packed lunches, bike rentals and the opportunity to cycle with the on-board tour guide. This tour explores Provence (think sun-soaked fields of lavender) while riding to the Pont du Gard, Arles, St. Rémy and Les Baux over and around the Rhone that runs from the Swiss Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhone Valley is in the Camargue region where vineyards and wildlife live harmoniously. Roman ruins, flamingos wading near the sea and walled cities compel many a stop along the daily route that leads back to wave-lapped dreams. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/provence-aigues-mortes-avignon-boat-and-bike-cycling

Bordeaux Vineyards 6 nights begins at£829 per person, double, including hotel and chambres d’hôte accommodations with breakfasts, three dinners, bike rentals, arrival transfer from Bordeaux train station or airport, luggage transfers, fees, detailed route notes and maps and emergency assistance. This is a cycling window through world-famous vineyards and leading to St. Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s rife with wine estates.http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/bordeaux-vineyards-6-nights

In July the Tour de France, cycling’s most iconic competition, takes place and can be easily combined with an extended stay and self-guided tour. While the pros expend sweat equity competing in the race, visitors can cling close to the tour’s arduous routes by securing various VIP spectator packages through Freewheel Holidays’ parent company, Sports Tours International www.sportstoursinternational.com. This company takes care of all the vacation arrangements in a variety of inclusive packages while tracking the drama of the Tour de France and other international cycling and running events. For package details please see https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/tour-de-france-vip-one-day-experiences/

Suggested Tour de France Package: Mountain Stages, July 11-24, 2017. On this official Tour de France 14-day tour itinerary guests start and finish in Paris and witness all the mountain stages in the Pyrenees, followed by the Alpine finale and the deciding Time Trial in Marseille. Guests have VIP access to some stage starts and also enjoy VIP Hospitality at one of the finish lines. Included are airport transfers in Paris, nightly accommodation and breakfasts, some dinners, bike transfers and storage, and train transfer from Marseille to Paris for the grand finale. The per person rate based on sharing a double/twin room is from US$3,450. See: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/2017-tour-de-france-pyrenees-alps-marseille-paris/

To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.

About Freewheel Holidays

A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedalling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers.

Guests cycle on their own, with en-route assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. New to the program are three tailor-made, self-guided UK tours that complement a portfolio of over 80 established European holidays. The company offers a range of multi-night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal.  The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna.  The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveller cycling ‘themed’ holidays.

# # #

Follow Freewheel Holidays on Social Media

Twitter:           @FreewheelHols

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/FWHolidays

Google+:        https://plus.google.com/+FreewheelholidaysCoUk

Website:         www.freewheelholidays.com

Media Contact:

For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Freewheel Holidays Expands European Bicycle Tours Portfolio By Adding Three Two-Wheel Vacations in South of England

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Released on Monday, 22 May 2017 13:02

MANCHESTER, UK, May 22, 2017-- Freewheel Holidays, the UK’s specialist cycling vacation provider, has added three bespoke, self-guided UK tours to their 2017 portfolio numbering more than 40 European holidays on two wheels.

The new tours that concentrate on the south of England can be booked with just a minimum of two people and scheduled anytime, space available, through September 2017. They are a five-night Devon coastal tour, a two-center Oxford and Cotswolds adventure and a five-night Stamford and Lincoln excursion.

“With so many lovely cycling routes now available in the UK, Freewheel Holidays felt compelled to introduce a selection to our 2017 program,” said Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays’ spokesperson. He hoped these would be of particular interest to US and Canadian travellers who are eager to explore this country outside of London. He said the routes are easy, affording plenty of time for exploring. The routes also offer convenient access, both coming and going, to rail lines. Guests don’t have to bring their own bikes, which makes it easy to combine a Freewheel trip with a longer vacation in England and Europe.

“These tours are great for families. They’re aimed at the infrequent cyclist, so the routes are never strenuous and allow for a leisurely ride where you can take in the views.  We’ve also selected small independent guest houses and charming hotels so our customers will get a warm welcome along the way,” he added.

Freewheel Holidays (www.freewheelholidays.com) self-guided tours include inn and/or bed and breakfast accommodations, bike rental, luggage transfers, route maps and notes, services of a tour host including welcome and information talk.

The five-night Devon Coast-to-Coast Tour spans the entire county of Devon along what is becoming one of the UK’s best-loved cycle routes. Guests venture from Ilfracombe on the north coast to Plymouth on the south coast. The route takes in three traffic-free sections including the Tarka Trail, the Granite Way and Drake’s Trail. Guests are biking between 22 and 32 miles a day past Norman castles and 12th century churches. A trip highlight is the three-mile Woolacombe Beach, voted England’s best by TripAdvisor contributors. The rate is £780/$999 per person, double.See: http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/devon-coast-to-coast.

A six-night Oxford and Cotswolds two-center, self-guided tour takes in the sights in Oxford and Blenheim Palace, England’s grandest stately home, before heading off to stay in the honey-colored Cotswold village of Burford. Guests walk the legendary college paths of Oxford, soak up the rich history and wonderful architecture, and visit landscaped grounds of Blenheim.  Shops, pubs and restaurants are plentiful along the route. All rides have two things in common: quiet country roads and enchanting scenery.  The rate is £640/$819 per person, double.  See: http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/oxford-amp-the-cotswolds.

The five-night Stamford to Lincoln ride features the famous market town of Stamford, rife with Georgian architecture, and a rural route past castles, stately homes, Lincoln cathedral and Rutland Water (Europe’s largest man-made lake). Guests pedal north on a lovely country ride to the Vale of Belvoir, overlooked by the imposing Belvoir Castle, home of the Duke of Rutland. The itinerary continues through the villages of the Trent Valley to the historic town of Newark with its impressive market square, 18th century town hall and castle dating back almost 900 years. History buffs will revel in the town’s role as a Royalist stronghold in the English Civil War, which is covered in the town’s excellent National Civil War Centre. Lincoln provides a dramatic finale to this varied holiday. The self-guided cycling on this holiday is of a gentle nature though the best of what Eastern England can offer. The rate is from £740/$949 per person, double.  See: http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/stamford-to-lincoln.

To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.

About Freewheel Holidays

A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedalling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travellers.

Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. New to the program are three tailor-made, self-guided UK tours that complement a portfolio of over 40 established European holidays. The company offers a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal.  The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna.  The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveller holidays.

# # #

Follow Freewheel Holidays on Social Media

Twitter:           @FreewheelHols

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/FWHolidays

Google+:        https://plus.google.com/+FreewheelholidaysCoUk

Website:         www.freewheelholidays.com

Media Contact:

For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness: 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins: 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.