South Dartmoor CTC
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Cycletouring is probably the ultimate adventure for cyclists, taking them to new villages, new scenery, new cultures, new tracks and new challenges. Taking part in a tour does require a little preparation of course, but once you’ve experienced the freedom and fun of cycletouring you’ll very probably feel it was all well worth the effort. Our first tour this year will take us to the flattest—and the hilliest—parts of Somerset. It covers the four days of the Easter Bank holiday weekend 6-9 April and will include three overnights at different youth hostels in the area. You can find full details of the tour inside this brochure. We’ve cycled to this area many times before with the club, and it’s always been a popular tour. Most of the photographs in this brochure were taken on previous South Dartmoor tours to the same area, so they will give you a good idea of the scenery you’ll be exploring. Michael also has a number of videos from previous tours if you are interested. Itinerary (4 days cycling)
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| Cost component | Age 12-17 | Adult (with YP railcard) |
| Rail travel, Totnes to Taunton return, including bikes (approx) | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| 3 Youth hostel bednights | 28.00 | 38.00 |
| Food (recommended minimum) | 18.00 | 18.00 |
| General spending (recommended minimum) | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Total cost | 68.00 | 85.00 |
Your cycle needs certain features to cope with the special demands of cycle touring. It needs to be sturdy enough to carry heavy loads and cope with occasional rough roads or tracks; it needs to have low gears (30" or lower) so that you can cycle up most of the hills even when the bike is heavily loaded and you are exhausted; and it needs to be reliable, as breakages are not always easy to fix when you're a long way from civilisation.
Specialist touring bikes offer the best combination of features, but mountain bikes are more popular and can usually meet most of the requirements with just a few modifications. You will certainly need to fit a good quality pannier rack, and full-length mudguards are a sensible idea if you don’t want to have to wash your clothes every night on wet days. We also recommend changing the tyres for faster, road tyres: you will spend most of the tour riding on roads, where chunky tyres make the riding hard work.
If you’re planning to buy a new bike, start by looking at the Trek 3500 or Giant Rock / Boulder ranges which offer quick release wheels and four-point rack fixing bolts for around £200, and have a chat with Michael to discuss your ideas before you make the final decision. Whatever bike you decide to use, make sure it is roadworthy and safe before the tour begins.
Panniers are really essential for a tour, so you can carry all your luggage safely on the bike. A good pair of panniers will have a total capacity of at least 40 litres in two separate, easy-to-remove bags and will cost between £38 and £65 for the pair. Altura and Karrimor set high standards for their products, but some other manufacturers offer similar quality.
When choosing a pannier rack, try to get a strong one that uses four-point fixing, as this will be more stable when loaded with heavy panniers and will be less likely to break - expect to pay £20-£35 for a good rack.
You are almost certain to get rain on at least one day of the tour, so you will need good raingear that is completely waterproof. The recommended kit here is a waterproof jacket made of proofed nylon or one of the cheaper breathable fabrics, costing around £25-£80. Three-layer GoreTex would be even better, but prices start at around £150 and so would not be a sensible purchase if you are still growing. Over-trousers are not really very useful in spring or summer - you'll be better off wearing shorts in the rain than getting hot and uncomfortable in overtrousers.
The best footwear for the tour is probably a good pair of trainers that you can use on or off the bike. Select other items of clothing according to your personal tastes.
Cycle helmets are optional on the tour but we strongly recommend that you wear one. Just remember that they are not designed to protect you in a collision with a car, for example, so you still need to ride carefully and safely at all times.
If you are not already a member of the CTC you will need to join now, before you send in your booking form. CTC membership costs just £12 per year for under 18s and includes free third party insurance (in case you cause an accident while cycling) and free legal aid. You can join online at www.ctc.org.uk or telephone 0870-8730061.
You must also be a member of the Youth Hostels Association when the tour starts. Membership costs £9.95 per year and entitles you to stay at the youth hostels that are part of the tour. Once again you can join online at www.yha.org.uk, or telephone 01629-592700.
Lights are optional, but could be useful in case we are forced to arrive late by unforeseen circumstances. Other items for your packing list will be listed on your final information sheet just before the tour begins.
Complete the online form below and we'll send you our detailed information booklet and booking form, which includes parental consent. Just return the application form to us as quickly as possible with your advance fees (train and hostel charges) and we'll then let you know whether you can be included in the tour. But don't leave it too long, as hostels often get fully booked well in advance.
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