Looking to plan a unique corporate cycling challenge?
In a world where work is becoming increasingly remote and online, fostering face to face connection is more important than ever before. A corporate cycling event is a fantastic team building opportunity that has multiple benefits, including developing stronger relationships among employees and boosting team morale. The positive long-term impact on company culture can be immeasurable.
But we know the prospect of organising a large group of colleagues on a cycling trip can be a daunting task…
I rode London to Paris as part of a corporate charity cycle event and my husband rode from Zurich to Milan on another. I regularly receive enquiries from organisers looking to plan their own and so decided to write this article to help unpack the key things to consider, how to choose the best tour operator and share some route inspiration!
Read on and get ready to start planning a once in a liftetime cycling event – and get in touch if you need some help!
Types of corporate cycling events
Single day rides
Does your team have limited time to spare?
A single day corporate cycling event is a good option to start with and still gives plenty of time to squeeze in lots of cycling.
The UK has many accessible challenges that can be completed in less than 24 hours. Where you choose to ride will partly depend on where your business is based. For London based businesses, popular options include loops of the Surrey Hills or point to point rides such as London to Brighton.
The Devon C2C or the classic Whitehaven to Sunderland C2C could also be options, depending where your team is based and how fit they are!
Multi day challenges
If you’ve got more than a day, there are lots of options for multi day cycling challenges; though you’ll need to factor in some additional planning and services such as accommodation.
The best duration depends on the level of challenge you are seeking and how long you and your team can afford to be out of the office. Options typically range from two-to-three-day trips, or routes that take up to a week to complete.
Fancy completing a lengthy cycling challenge as a team? The iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats spans over 1,000 kilometres and offers the ultimate cycling challenge in the UK. Depending on your team’s fitness and skills, you might want more than a week to complete a route of this length.
See below for more multi day route suggestions.
Charity cycle event
Alongside enabling your colleagues to have a great team bonding experience on the bikes, a corporate cycling challenge can also be an opportunity to get the team involved in fundraising for a good cause!
Perhaps you have close ties with a charity already? Or you are looking for a new way to give back as a team? Whatever the cause, cycling challenges for charity are a great way to raise vital funds and to help make a difference.
A food stop on the Le Loop cycling challenge (photo credit: Le Loop)
Want some help organising a corporate cycling challenge?
For the last six years, we've been working with tour operators that organise corporate cycling trips.
Get in touch and we can connect you with someone who can help.
Key things to consider when organising a corporate cycling challenge
Key logistics
Identifying the best time of year for your corporate cycling event is a good place to begin. The season you want to cycle in can have a big impact on the location of the challenge you undertake.
For example, if your company is typically busier in the summer, you might want the event to take place in spring or autumn and so will need to think about a warmer destination in Europe. Alternatively, if your busy time is in the winter and you have more availability in the summer months, a UK challenge is a great option.
Top tip! Early on in the planning process, identify any key cities and landmarks you want to include on your route. They can provide a lot of inspiration for route planning.
Level of challenge
Next, consider the demographics and cycling fitness levels of the team.
Are you a bunch of road cycling race cats regularly ticking off cols? Or, are you a group of more leisurely riders who love combining cycling with fine dining? Perhaps your team is made up of a mixture of the two…
The answer will help you determine the right kind of cycling challenge to suit your colleagues’ needs. Understanding this will also enable you to factor in any potential additional support that your team may need.
Level of luxury
Factoring in some unique elements can really elevate your corporate cycling event and provide a treasured memento of the experience for your colleagues.
So, alongside the daily cycling, what extras do you want to include to make it really memorable? Common things to consider include:
- Accommodation options
- Food and drink
- Personalised gear (e.g. branded cycling shirts)
- Additional activities
- How you might capture the experience (photographers and videographers)
- A finish line party (or other evening entertainment)
Of course, how far you can push the boat out will really depend on your budget (something else you’ll need to identify early on!).
Safety
Cycling is not risk-free, particularly where it’s on roads. There’s additional risk when you factor in the fact cyclists are in a group, and if they’re riding over multiple days. It is therefore essential that steps are taken to ensure the corporate cycling challenge is as safe as it could possibly be.
The bosses that make the decision on whether a corporate event can go ahead or not, might also have an eye to potential impact on the workplace if (dare we say it) someone was injured on the ride.
Adequate insurance and a thoroughly risk assessed route should both be factored into planning. You should also plan how you would handle any incidents or injuries on the trip.
Top tip! If you are booking your corporate cycling challenge through a tour operator, this is typically one of the key parts of the services they offer. More on that below.
Preparation for the challenge
Depending on the level of challenge, members of your team may need to build up their fitness to ensure their comfort (and enjoyment!) on the ride.
Perhaps the training could be part of the team-building – but either way, providing training plans and support for those that want them can be a good idea. Make sure to factor this in plenty of time ahead of the event.
You should also provide an overview of the route so that those taking part are well informed of what to expect and how they can best prepare.
Top tip! How about organising a couple of training rides ahead of the big event? It’s a great excuse to get the team together for additional team bonding and to help build your colleagues’ confidence on the bikes.
Cycling in the Alps on a corporate cycling challenge
Want some help organising a corporate cycling challenge?
For the last six years, we've been working with tour operators that organise corporate cycling trips.
Get in touch and we can connect you with someone who can help.
What to look for in a cycling tour operator
Let’s be honest, organising a large group of colleagues on any corporate cycling events is a huge undertaking! So, a lot of people tasked with organising a corporate cycling trip will want to put the responsibility and planning in the hands of professionals.
But which is the best cycling tour operator to turn your dream cycling trip into a reality? There are lots of companies to choose from and narrowing down the options can seem overwhelming at first glance.
Based on our own experience of speaking to, working and booking holidays with cycling tour operators for many years, here are some important things to consider. This guide to choosing the best bike tour companies is also worth a read for things to consider when picking an operator, whether you’re looking at a corporate event or not.
Experience
Is it obvious on the operator’s website that they have organised large groups as part of a tailor-made package before?
Typically, tour operators that have lots of valuable experience delivering bespoke cycling holidays are not afraid to shout about it. They also usually have a dedicated section on their website to handle new bespoke enquiries.
Top tip! Reviews and case studies provide a good sense of a tour operator’s experience with large corporate groups. Seek out reviews from these groups and don’t just rely on reviews on an operator’s standard holidays. Also consider requesting a call with one of the case study groups to get a firsthand reference from them. There’s nothing like a conversation to ask the questions and get the information people are less willing and able to share in a written reference.
If you’re looking to raise money for charity as part of the trip, has the operator you’re looking at got experience assisting with fundraising? Having a company assist with this could also be very helpful.
Personalised support
After you have placed an enquiry, it’s common to then have an initial consultation to discuss your specific needs with the operator.
A good tour company will make you feel supported from the outset, take care to guide you clearly through the process and have a flexible approach to designing your dream itinerary.
Continuity of personnel is also important; how long have the people you’re speaking to be in the role? Will they be your key point of contact throughout?
Safety and support
Alongside delivering a personalised ride experience, safety should be at the core of what the tour operator will provide.
At the most basic level, ensuring the operator complies with all the relevant rules and regulations is a must. This should include holiday protection and certifications from recognised industry bodies, like ATOL, ABTA and AITO.
Additional things to look out for are:
- Comprehensive risk assessments
- All necessary insurance cover including event cover
- Emergency action plans
- Management of safety logistics
- On the ground support, including fully trained leaders/guides, number of support vehicles, availability of route maps etc…
Open vs bespoke
Depending on the tour operators’ experience with corporate cycling groups and charity cycling events, they may have existing charity routes that your team can book on to.
The beauty of these trips is that they have been tried, tested and refined over the years. This means there will be a lot less planning involved, compared with if you were designing a new bespoke cycling route from scratch. There may also be less pressure on your business to achieve minimum numbers.
The downside to this kind of open trip is that it won’t just be your colleagues on the trip. There may also be less flexibility to suit your company’s specific needs, particularly around dates and routes. So if you have specific requirements, a bespoke service may be best for you.
Mechanical assistance on the ground is often part of a tour operator bespoke package (photo credit: Le Loop)
Want some help organising a corporate cycling challenge?
For the last six years, we've been working with tour operators that organise corporate cycling trips.
Get in touch and we can connect you with someone who can help.
Choosing the right corporate cycling route
Deciding on the right corporate cycling challenge to suit your company’s needs will depend on a range of factors mentioned above.
But for those seeking some inspiration, here are some popular multi day challenge routes and cycling regions to consider…
1. Coast to Coast, UK
Best for one of the most popular UK cycling challenges
Our view
This iconic cycling challenge takes you from the Irish Sea to the North Sea on a 220 kilometre journey. In between it passes through some of northern England’s most beautiful landscapes, including the scenic Lake District, remote moorlands of the North Pennines and picturesque valleys en route to Newcastle Upon Tyne.
There’s plenty of climbing involved, including Hartside Pass which sits at 580 metres. This journey is typically completed in three to four days, or the challenge can be dialled up and covered over just two days.
Peaceful woodlands on the Coast to Coast cycle challenge
2. London to Paris, UK and France
Best for an “easy” overseas trip
Our view
This classic cycling challenge enables you to take on your own mini Tour de France! Typically tackled over four days, cycling London to Paris typically covers around 400 kilometres, depending which route you take.
Setting off from London, riders explore the Kent countryside and Canterbury, before making their way to Dover to cross the Channel. The French leg of the challenge explores beautiful French countryside and finishes in France’s capital, Paris.
A team snap in front of the Eiffel tower is, of course, obligatory!
The iconic Eiffel Tower in France
3. Zurich to Milan, Switzerland to Italy
Best for conquering mountains
Our view
Looking for a classic European bike adventure, complete with some challenging climbs? This border hopping route of over 398 kilometres crosses the Alps from Lake Zurich in Switzerland to the glamorous city of Milan in Italy.
In between, riders have several climbs to tick of including the Splügen Pass! A great corporate cycling challenge for teams of experienced cyclists with good fitness levels.
More information
This article has more information about cycling in Switzerland and our Italy hub page has tons of inspiration.
Exploring the stunning Alps by road bike!
4. Tuscany, Italy
Best for food, wine and beautiful scenery
Our view
Looking for a corporate cycling route that combines more leisurely rides with a little luxury? We think you can’t go far wrong in Tuscany!
Spellbinding towns and cities, such as Siena, Lucca and San Gimignano, delicious world-renowned food and gorgeous landscapes are just a few of the reasons we love cycling in this Italian region. The cycling is generally undulating, but manageable for a range of riding abilities too.
More information
Find out more about cycling in Tuscany in this guide.
The pretty Tuscan city of Lucca
5. N2, Portugal
Best for an end to end challenge
Our view
Often dubbed Portugal’s ‘Route 66’, the N2 cycle route spans 739 kilometres and takes riders “end to end” through the whole county.
The N2 showcases some of the best cycling in Portugal and alongside crossing four mountain ranges and 35 municipalities, it’s a journey that’s also rooted in rich Roman history.
This is one of the best European cycling challenges for teams with a sense of adventure!
More information
Take a look at our N2 guide here.
Looking for more route inspiration? Take a look at the best long distance cycling routes in the world!
View of castle in Lamego, one of the historical towns on the N2 cycle route
What’s next?
We hope you found this article useful and can now confidently start putting the wheels in motion to plan the perfect cycling event for your team! For more useful information, don’t miss our guide to the best bike tour companies.
Have you been on a corporate cycling trips before?
We’d love to hear about your experience!
Whether you’ve helped to organise a charity bike ride or taken part in a corporate cycling challenge organised by a trusted tour operator, let us know in the comments below…
Want help with organising a corporate cycling event?
Drop us a line and we’ll try and put you in touch with someone who can help you!
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Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels – and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they’re there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.
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