Travel Insurance: Insurance is mandatory for everyone on the tour. It is your responsibility to take this cover out and make sure we have the policy details.

Please observe and obey the road rules: The rules are similar to ours in Australia, so if you use your common sense you will be ok.

Baggage Labeling: All bags must be labeled clearly on the outside of the bag for easy identification. Mark fragile items clearly.

Punctuality: Please make sure you are on time bringing your bags downstairs, attending riders’ briefings and roll outs and meeting for dinner. Please remember if you’re late, so is everyone else.

Check In: On arrival, hang back and wait until you’re given the go ahead to collect a room key. Making sure everything is in order can take some time, so please be patient. Have a coffee with the boys and girls and your room will be ready in no time.

Bike Safety: Try not to lean your bike against other bikes or vehicles. Find a safe spot and make sure it has two points of contact so it cannot fall over, even if it gets bumped. No one wants his or her bike damaged. Lean the bike with the derailleur in.

Carry your phone with you. Make sure you have the correct contact numbers saved.

Make sure you know your ride leader each day. Listen to the riders’ briefing.

If you are lagging behind or finding the pace too hard, please tell your ride leader. It is important that we know where you are during the ride.

Make sure you know your destination and hotel name. Worst case is that you can get there yourself and not be lost and homeless in Italy or France.

Please stay with the group you started with each day, unless instructed otherwise by your ride leader.

Please stay on the approved course at all times. We cannot find you if you’re on another road. If you’re ahead and in doubt, wait.

Please stay with the bus you started with, so we can account for you during transfers.

Italy and France have many small, narrow roads that we ride over. Some are too narrow to ride 2 abreast, so when your ride master instructs you to ride single file, please comply without delay. It is for your safety.

If there is a mechanical and we need to stop, get off the road at the first safe spot. That means everyone needs to get off the road. No exceptions. Please let the ride leaders deal with the problem.

Europeans drive on the right hand side of the road. Please remember this at all times.

Ride to your ability. It’s not a race, so ride within yourself. We all want to get up the hill and down the other side as well. Safely! Remember you don’t know the roads, so think ahead and assume the worst. Be defensive and don’t get caught up descending more quickly than you want to. We will wait for you.

If you need a day off let us know at breakfast please. Don’t find yourself in a hole because you’re too tired trying to ride every stage. Have a day off. After all, this is designed to be a fun-filled holiday.

We request that everyone takes care when deciding how far to ride and who to ride with. There are limited seats in the sag wagon, so we cannot pick up everyone who cannot make it. In addition, you can see that there is a lot of riding packed into the 2 weeks! You don’t want to run out of steam too soon during the tour. Biting off more than you can chew is only okay when it comes to the pizza, pasta and prosciutto Italy has to offer (not the hills)!