Since its inception in 1993 European Bike Express has offered the best way into Europe for you and your bike with a unique and flexible service. The regular service offers you the opportunity to get off at any of our continental points, create your own itinery for your holiday and be picked up at another point so long as it coincides with our timetable (Please refer to Brochure Insert for Timetable on the Homepage).
At European Bike Express we offer a service which has been built using customer interaction, discussing feedback from regular customers over the years as well as incorporating ideas from new customers. In our view, your comments allow us to offer tried and tested areas for your cycle tour as well as providing safe and efficient transport for you and your cycle.
Bike Express offers four routes, which enable itineries throughout France, Northern Spain and into Germany and Switzerland. As an alternative we offer a Fixed Base Holiday in Rosas on the Costa Brava in Spain. The excellent cycling opportunities alongside the comfort and enjoyment of the Hotel Marian Platja have proved to be a huge success with our clients since its introduction in 2006.
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The Holiday with a Difference
While we know that touring is a very acceptable form of pleasure, we also know that some enjoy cycling with the comfort of a fixed base. The Fixed Based Holiday option blends the beauty of cycling with guaranteed comfort and enjoyment. To cycle alongside lagoons, enjoy historic architecture and capture the warmth of the sun adds comfort to the fact you are being cared for in very comfortable accommodation. Many customers are already aware of the fantastic cycling opportunities in Spain and especially around the nature reserves and typically Spanish villages who boast about their relaxed hospitality. If you are a CTC member you can request the cycling routes for this area from them.
Santa Margarita - The Bay of Rosas in Spain is of particular interest as there are many interesting places within easy cycling distance. For non cyclists, the area has much to offer and it is therefore perfectly possible for an avid cyclist with a non cycling partner to both have an enjoyable time. Many customers are aware of the fantastic cycling opportunities in Spain especially around the nature reserves and typically Spanish villages boasting relxing hospitality.
The cycling in this area is very diverse. For example, those who like to ride long distances can explore the regions of the Pyrenees Mountains or the fascinating nature reserves of Emporda where there are arround 330 species of birds nesting in the area. For those who prefer short distances, Empuriabrava or Roses is only a short ride safely along flat paths from the hotel. There is also the Bay of Canyelles only a litte further afield, just beyond the far edge of the Bay of Rosas from the front of the hotel which offers a small but beautifully picturesque hidden turquoise bay. These are only a few of the many ideas for cycle routes in the area that you may well hear from the experienced Fixed Based Bike Express travellers!
There are some very good routes as well along quiet roads towards the French Border and through the National Park area of Cap de Creus towards Cadaques, Llanca, Portbou and the lower slopes of the Pyrenees. Your may wish to cycle souuth to L'Escala and through large flat areas abundant with fruit orchards. Alternatively you can see the sites inland by riding to Figueres and beyond to Banyoles and the surrounding volcanic Natural Park and then up to the Pyrenees.
As this package holiday is extremely popular, we would advise early booking.
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Luxury Coach Travel
Every year European Bike Express is proud to boast of the high standard in Coach Travel that it has to offer. This is due to the fact that the unique modifications made to the Coaches' onboard facilities make them by far the most comfortable way to travel on the road. The focal point for many customers are the Club Class Seats which have been custom made to provide more than enough leg room between you and the seat in front allowing you to stretch out and enjoy the journey. This has been done by removing seats on the upper deck to allow for more room between each seat.
We believe the key to a comfortable and enjoyable ride is quality and convenience. To achieve this we have balanced quantity alongside quality. All coaches are fully air conditioned, twin-deck with club class seats and 45 degree recliner mechanisms together with extendable leg rests.
As safety is paramount, all our seats have a belt which has to be worn at all times.
Spacious Club Class Seating
At Bike Express we understand that while you are on a coach journey you would prefer to be as comfortable as possible. So we decided to reduce our double deck coach capacity to 54 - which is less capacity that you would see on a single deck coach! This gives ample room for even the tallest of people between seats and also allows ample space for each seat's calf support system and comfortably extended 45 degree recline angle.
Multi-Channel Entertainment System
Our coaches have a headphone system unique to this type of holiday travel with multiple audio channels helping to maximise your enjoyment throughout the journey. This has been popular and now you can listen to 3 alternative music channels, tune into the soundtrack from the films being shown, or enjoy the peace and tranquility of silence in the comfort of your seat to your chosen destination. The use of this system has allowed you as the customer the option of what you listen to rather than the more conventional overhead speakers which simply eliminate that option. It must be noted that headphones are available from our staff for £1.50 or alternatively you are welcome to bring your own. The Coaches will offer reading material in the form of various Cycling Magazines, which are specifically targeted at Leisure and Touring cyclists.
Onboard Courier
Many of you who have travelled with us before will know our regular courier quite well. The friendly service offers Hot and Cold Drinks, Snacks and a good variety of Main Meals including homemade steak pie, lasagne and vegeterian dishes. Most of our clients who travel with us will choose to indulge in an evening meal onboard as it offers a high level, reasonably priced alternative to eating at the regular service stops.
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Like nothing you'll have seen before on the road, our custom built trailers are among the longest that are legally permitted to be towed behind a coach. Due to the unique space we have available in the trailer, your bikes can remain fully assembled and only the handlebars need turning 90 degrees to the left. This space also enables to safely accomodate any type of bike be that a solo, tandem, trike, recumbent, recumbent tande, tandem trike or other oddbike and we even cater for bike trailers too. Yes, these all can be safely loaded fully assembled as well however we do ask that if your bike is an oddbike (anything other than a tandem or solo) that you contact the office prior to your booking so that we can make specific arrangements for your bike.
Owing to the fact that there is no other coach company that offers such a bike trailer service, we are the easiest and most comfortable way for you and your bike to get into Europe. Since inception, they have catered for the safety and specific travel requirements of varied cycles. We are confident that your bike will be transported to your chosen destination with the utmost care. At your pick-up point, your bike will be loaded into the trailer and carefully secured by our specially trained loading staff.
Our custom built fleet comprises of four double deck trailers with carrying capacities of approximately 54 cycles of different types. To enhance safe and secure cycle transit a new clamping system has been introduced for the upper deck. On the lower deck you will find 30 custom built solo slots that your bike can simply fall into with nothing more than a strap to securely hold it in place for the journey.
Please note that paniers and other large bike accessories will need to be removed before loading but can be placed just behind your bike.
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- Spacious Club Class seats with extendable calf supports and a 45 degree recline angle
- Fully Air Conditioned
- 3 TV's and DVD Player
- Multi-Channel Entertainment Headphone System including: DVD Film Channel, 3 Music Channels and Individual Volume Control
- Panoramic Front Seats
- Cushions on all seats
- Table Seats
- Footrests
- Seat belts on all seats. It is a legal requirement that seatbelts are worn at all times except when visiting the toilet facilities.
- A Courier Service providing Hot and Cold Drinks, Snacks and Main Meals throughout the journey
- Lower deck dining area (except in peak season)
- Microwave Cooker
- Toitet Facilities
- No Smoking Throughout
- European Enabled GSM Mobile Telephone
- Speed Control featuring a Brake Retarder for a smoother ride
- Reading material in the form of Cycling Magazines
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