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Queen of the Mountains, September 2017
Introduction to Alpine Riding – Annecy and the Aravis, Northern Alps
In association with Queen of the Mountains we are pleased to offer a special introductory weekend to Alpine riding, based in the heart of the Aravis mountains and Annecy. Our Bike Weekender breaks in the Northern French Alps offer you great cycling, stunning scenery and the perfect base to relax and unwind after a long day in the saddle.
So this trip would be an incredible opportunity to come and build your fitness, as well as improve your climbing and bike-handling skills on some iconic climbs – and is suitable for anyone taking their first steps in the mountains.
However, your trip will also be fully supported by our excellent ‘road crew’ in the minibus, supplying vital refreshments and encouraging cheers along the way, so you will always have the option of a lift home if you need it.
Hopefully you will be inspired by the beauty, freedom and feelings of exhilaration of riding in the big mountains, and the huge sense of satisfaction you will feel when you finally reach the summit. This is both a physical and mental challenge, that can help you to build inner belief and confidence, in your riding and in yourself.
Our Dedicated Cycling Base – Lake Annecy / Aravis Mountains
Our base for your Lake Annecy – Aravis trip is the Aravis Lodge, in Saint Jean de Sixt: the home of Bike Weekender. A charming Alpine farming village in the heart of the Aravis Mountains, its location ensures varied cycling is possible with minimal hassle, all weekend long. It’s a sociable chalet-hotel, offering great food, on-site bike hire and a high level of personal service from our resident team, helping to make this a trip to remember for a long time to come.
Queen of the Mountains Cycling Weekend – Maximum Riding, Minimum Hassle
Dates – Thursday 21st to Monday 25th September 2017
(You also have the option to depart on the Sunday evening if preferred).
You’ll stay at our home base, the Aravis Lodge, a comfortable home away from home in the centre of the traditional Alpine village of Saint Jean de Sixt. As well as delicious, hearty food, you’ll find great bike facilities and dedicated service from our resident team.
All rides are accompanied by our friendly support team in the minibus, who will be equipped with plenty of drinks and snacks, spares, gear you don’t want to carry etc. They can also give you a ride back to base if the legs give up any time, so you don’t have to feel under any pressure at any time, allowing you to simply enjoy the experience.
Queen of the Mountains Cycling Weekend Itinerary
Thursday 21st September – Arrival
You arrange afternoon / evening flights to Geneva Airport.
Geneva is well served with flights from the UK – see full details on travel options here >>>
Our airport pick-ups are at 17:30 and 21:45 – transfer to your base is only 1 hour.
There’ll be time to build bikes / set up hire bikes, and maybe go for a quick ride to stretch the legs, before a 3-course dinner or late supper is served.
Friday 22nd September – Col de Forclaz & Lake Annecy ride
A spectacular first-day ride with amazing views across Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains from the top of the Col de la Forclaz. From there, you will then drop down to Talloires and ride round the lake via Duingt, into/through the beautiful medieval town of Annecy, and then onto Veyrier du Lac.
Finish with a swim (or at least a paddle to cool the feet) at Plage de Veyrier.
Option to ride back – or take the minibus up the hill home!
Finish at Veyrier = 74km – 1,365 ascent
Full ride = 97km – 2,049 ascent
Time to refresh and relax before a 3 course dinner at Aravis Lodge with wine
Saturday 23rd September – Aravis Loop ride via Flumet
A stunning ride featuring Col de Marais and the less well-known but spectacular Col d’Arpettaz complete with 42 switchbacks – a real hidden gem and an incredible view of Mont Blanc! Then tackle the famous Col des Aravis and a thrilling descent back to base – as featured on the penultimate day of the 2016 Tour de France.
Ride distance = 89 km with total climbing of 2556m
Time to refresh and relax before a 3 course dinner at Aravis Lodge with wine
Sunday 24th September – Gorge ride via the Col de la Colombière (- Optional early departure)
Ride down the scenic river gorge to Bonneville in a big loop, which will bring you to the heights of Col de la Colombière, via Le Reposoir. Take in the fantastic view down into both valleys as your reward from the top, before a long sweeping descent back down to St. Jean de Sixt via the pretty Alpine villages of Chinaillon and Le Grand Bornand, with the majestic Aravis mountain range on your left.
Ride distance = 62km with 1,466m of ascent
For those leaving – transfers depart at 1400 or 1730
For those staying – time to refresh and relax before a 3 course dinner at Aravis Lodge with wine
Monday 25th September – 3 col circuit – Departure
Ride down the valley to Thones, then up to Serraval with amazing views across to Mont Charvin, followed by an exciting decent down the Col de l’Épine to Saint Ferreol. From there you will make your way back via an ascent of the Col de Marais to the base of the Col de Croix Fry.
Ride distance = 51km 1,014m of ascent
Option of taking the minibus back to base, but for those wanting more – ride back over the Col de Croix Fry
To give total ride of 73km, 1,965m of ascent
Return to base, pack away bikes, shower, before departing for Geneva Airport.
Transfers leave base at 14:00 (for flights departing after 16:45) and 17:30 (for flights departing after 20:30).
Please Note
The itinerary outlined is provisional, and on rare occasions, we may have to modify this programme due to weather conditions, group ability, roadworks etc.
The Aravis Lodge – A Perfect Cycling Base
The Aravis Lodge is set up to cater to all of your cycling holiday needs, so make yourself comfortable and think of it as your home away from home.
The Aravis Lodge has 18 ensuite bedrooms, with all bathrooms having recently (2016) been fully renovated in a fresh, contemporary style. Most rooms are 2-person twin / doubles; there are also four larger family rooms, which sleep up to 4 in twin / double beds plus an adult-sized bunk bed.
The ground floor of the Lodge has a large dining and breakfast room, with tea and coffee available throughout the day. It also has a large, sunny lounge with comfy sofas, a smaller TV room with satellite TV and DVD player, and a large licensed bar. The bar has draught beers (Kronenbourg and Guiness) on tap along with a wide range of spirits, bottled beers and soft drinks.
On the basement level you will find the bike room and workshop. There is also a fully equipped gym and fitness room with CV and weights machines – in case you haven’t had enough exercise already. The modern sauna and massage room always seem to be much more popular!
Aravis Lodge Food and Drink for Cyclists
All Bike Weekender breaks include half board – a hearty breakfast and 3 course evening meal every night.
Breakfast is a continental buffet, served from 0730 each morning to set you up for the day’s riding.
Dinner is freshly prepared by a dedicated chef team, using local produce, and served at 1930 each day. Menus are planned with cyclists in mind, and will fill you up with the carbs you need for the next day’s riding.
Red and white table wine is included with dinner; additional drinks (draft and bottle beers, spirits and wine-list wines by the bottle) are available from the Aravis Lodge bar on a tab basis, charged on departure in Euros.
Find out more about the Aravis Lodge in the Northern French Alps here >>>
Special Prices for the Queen of the Mountains Cycling Break – Northern Alps
September 21st – 24/25th 2017
4 day option – return Monday evening = £545pp
All prices are per-person, based on 2 guests sharing a room. Contact us for details of single occupancy options.
Inclusive package includes:-
- Transfers to / from Geneva Airport
- Ensuite accommodation at the cosy chalet-style Aravis Lodge, Saint Jean de Sixt (twin/triple rooms)
- Cyclist-focused breakfast and hearty 3 course evening meal, including red and white wine
- Fully supported rides – route marked, vehicle support, drinks and snacks etc.
- The dedicated service of our professional, friendly team
- Access to the in-house gym and sauna
Not included in the package price:-
- Flights to / from Geneva – arranged independently
- Lunches whilst out riding – bought directly
- Additional drinks from the Aravis Lodge bar – tabs charged on departure
- Post-ride massage (optional)
Arrivals and Departures
For Arrivals
Arrive on the afternoon / evening of Thursday 21st September.
We have 2 pick up times at Geneva Airport, which allows a good deal of flexibility across flights from a range of airports, without too much waiting around time.
We will schedule to be there at 17:30 and 21:45.
For Departures
On Sunday and Monday – departing our base at either 1400 (which is good for flights from 1700 onwards) or 1730 (which is good for flights from 2030 onwards).
Booking Process
Sign up using the booking form below
Pay a deposit of £150pp once your reservation has been confirmed by email
The remaining balance will be due 6 weeks prior to the trip (by 10th August)
If you’d like to join us on this special Queen of the Mountains short break, just click on the button below to access the booking form and we’ll be in touch by email shortly to confirm your reservation.
If you have any questions about any aspect of our road cycling holidays, our package, accommodations or the areas we operate in, just send through an enquiry form here, call us on +44 845 557 5983 or email info@bikeweekender.com
About Queen of the Mountains
Queen of the Mountains is a performance cycling brand, creating beautiful cycling apparel designed by women for women.
Our mission is to inspire and empower women to ride and to conquer their own mountain.
We pride ourselves on creating the highest quality women’s cycling clothing and building a community inspired by the beauty and freedom of cycling in the big mountains.
The physical and mental challenge of these magnificent climbs, the sense of achievement you feel as you can finally see the summit is at the heart of our brand. It is these feelings and emotions that we want to capture and share with women.
Each collection is inspired by a mountain connected with cycling – with the details and designs of the garments being inspired by the flora, fauna and epic views from these summits.
Queen of the Mountains was founded by women who wanted to make a big difference to women’s cycling –
starting first with making beautiful performance cycling apparel that is designed specifically for the female form and secondly through building a community of women cyclists who inspire and motivate each other to ride and to conquer their own mountains.
Our inspiration for the name and the spirit behind the brand came from cycling 1,000kms up and over the French and Italian Alps six years ago and seeing less than a handful of women who were doing the same.
We believed that there should be more women experiencing that feeling of freedom and exhilaration you get when you ride through the big mountains and that women should have the inner confidence and belief that they can do it.
Queen of the Mountains, September 2017
Questions about the 'Queen of the Mountains' Northern Alps trip?
Just email us at info@bikeweekender.com , call us on +44 (0) 845 557 5983 or
