FAQ CORNER: Do I have to ride in a group?

Last Updated: 1 August 2025

 

This is one of the most commonly asked questions we hear from prospective riders.

The answer is a categorical no! We pride ourselves on enabling you to ride at your own pace. Our van and bike guide support is structured to this end, and with meticulously researched routes uploaded onto GPS units, we are very adept at managing a broad rider spread.

 

Two people wearing Ride and Seek cycling tours jerseys sitting on green grass, face away from the camera and look out on a lake with a town and mountains in the background.
Picnic lunch at Lake Trasimene on Hannibal 

 

We find that with designated coffee and lunch spots throughout the day, the spread will ebb and flow, but we are well-versed in riders coming in at different times and actively encourage that to be the case. Whatever your ride style and ability, we will support you to ride the tour at a pace that suits you.

 

Three people wearing Ride and Seek cycling tours jerseys in a coffee shop smiling at teh camera. The photo is taken from a high vantage point. One rider is holding two small cups of expresso in saucers.
Checking the Espresso Gradings

If you do like riding in a group, you'll typically find other riders in the group who roll at a pace that you feel comfortable with. That often becomes your own mini peloton during the course of the tour. One of the undoubted joys of these group tours is the opportunity to meet and ride with others, but that choice is yours to make.

 

A group of cyclists in Ride and Seek cycling tours kit riding down a quiet country road in a valley. Mountains with snow covered peaks in the background.
The Road Less Travelled through the Dolomites on Caesar 

Another element of being able to ride at your own pace is that you don't have to wait for your fellow riders. You are free to go as fast as you see fit, and there is no requirement to stop at the top of cols for the backmarkers, which some companies insist on. Grab that 'col' photo and then keep rolling.

 

Three people stand facing away from the camera wearing Ride and Seek cycling tours kit. They are looking out over a vast misty valley with a road winding down and are embracing in a group hug. Looking back towards France at the top of Col Agnel (2744m) on Hannibal 2013

Our tours are imbued with a sense of discovery, and as such, we actively encourage you to 'smell the flowers' along the way. Whether that means you are an avid photographer, a gourmet who wishes to take your time over one of our picnic lunches, or a coffee connoisseur, the choice is yours as to how to negotiate the A to B of any given day.

Explore Ride and Seek Epic cycling tours and custom cycling tours, or check out our Digital Catalogue by clicking here to download and view offline.

We look forward to seeing you on the road soon!

 

A smiling woman with blond hair wearing a t-shirt with ride and seek cycling tours printed on the front. The woman is holding a knife and slicing a tomato. There is other fresh produce on the table. The scene is set outside in a street with cars in a car park across the road.Lunch stops to savour or just a grab and go

 

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