Cheshire based cycling company to offer tours of Britain

Alan Little, who lives in High Legh, decided to set up Cycle Britain as a way of offering people a holiday with a difference and the opportunity to ride some of the country's most iconic routes.

For Alan, cycling is a passion, and after home schooling his young daughter for several months during lockdown last year, decided to take himself away on some two wheeled adventures, including riding from Lands End to John O'Groats in just nine days.

"My corporate events business completely collapsed during lockdown," Alan explained.

"Between March and September last year I looked after my little girl at home and then in September I went to cycle Lands End to John O'Groats.

"I also did the North Coast 500 in seven days and the Hebridean Way.

"So all in all I did about 1,800 miles in about four weeks."

The cycling adventures and challenges gave Alan the idea that it was something others might be interested in doing, so he decided to set up the company to give people the chance to complete the tour of a lifetime.

He said: "I did a few provisional tours, including one where about 13 members of my cycling club (Tatton Velo) came along to do the Fred Witton in the Lakes, which is another iconic ride.

"So after trialling it, I decided to set up the company with a background of it being good for mental health and fitness and it being based in Britain.

"I just thought there might be more interest in travel in this country the longer the pandemic went on.

"Mental health is such a big thing at the moment so we're all about getting people to do something positive about it and inspire people, without being too in your face about it."

The Knutsford based company is now offering cycle holidays all over the country.

The holidays can be completely bespoke, such as a family or friends tour, where every detail of your holiday is taken care of, or it could be that you just fancy the chance to join a group of other like minded individuals on a cycling trip of a lifetime.

Alan is certainly well placed in backing up his credentials for such a role, having served as a Royal Logistics Corps captain in the British Army for 18 years.

He was also Head of Sports Education at a college in Yorkshire and before that, a qualified secondary school PE teacher.

Alan added: "I have a very strong background in logistics from the military.

"And cycling is obviously a passion of mine, plus there's my background in coaching too.

"So the company is my way of re-inventing something in a new climate."

As well as organising bespoke cycling tours, the company will also be teaming up with another new Knutsford business, Apus Peak, who are soon to open in the former Laura Ashley premises.

He said: "I'll be organising some family bike rides from Apus Peak, which is going to be a new cycling hub and cafe, and they will go in and around Tatton Park, which will be more entry level.

"The aim of these is to improve awareness about how to ride safely but also improve physical and mental health."

Just last week Alan did his first few 'bike-packing' trips, which involve you taking your tent with you on the back of your bike and camping out somewhere on the way.

Tours available this year include a seven day trip riding the Hebridean Way covering ten islands from 19-25 July, described by Lonely Planet as one of the worlds epic rides.

The trip is fully supported with premium accommodation and guided by an expert team.

All cycling abilities are catered for on the tours and can be road, e-bike, gravel or mountain bikes.

Also on offer are road and off road trips in the Cotswolds, Lakes and Yorkshire, Lands End to John O’Groats, North Coast 500, Coast to Coast routes.

All fully supported with tailor made options for travel and accommodation.

As a local business Cycle Britain donate part of their turnover to a local charity the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.

You can find more details about these fabulous staycation cycling tours on their website: www.cycle-britain.co.uk