Pyrenees Fitness Week

It was an experience of a lifetime. I loved it so much!! It changed my entire being. Toni’s feasts were sublime. Each day was bliss, and everything I learned (which was, basically, let’s face it, EVERYTHING necessary to the task), was useful and a building block for the next day. Dave is a genius, and I use that word sparingly because I think there aren’t very many of them in the world, but he is one of them.

Dave and Toni worked very well together as a team. The accommodation is a bit eccentric but perfectly comfortable and much better than a soulless hotel. Yoga room and turbo dungeon both fine. Toni’s meals were excellent, variety, good quality and lots of it and in the evenings, convivial with beers and wine. Dave had a light touch but controlled and encouraged the rides very well.

Toni and Dave’s accommodation was more like a warmly hospitable homestay than anything else in their unique old property with all kinds of unexpected quirks, style and taxidermy. The morning yoga in the loft was a perfect way to start the day. Toni is a wonderful chef, thank you for all the delicious meals in a great sociable atmosphere. This was my first holiday without the rest of my family in at least 16 years, taken at the suggestion of my friend who is an old hand with [the tour operator]. It was fantastic and well worth abandoning the husband and teenagers for a week. The company of the other cyclists and the hospitality, coaching and laughs with Toni and Dave made for a brilliant, memorable week. Thank you.

The holiday comprised of a lot of cycling, aided by a brilliant coach. The food every morning and night was a mix of superior home cooking and excellent international dishes with plenty of choice. The accommodation and hospitality were first class. The lunches were always outside, the breakfast and dinners provided were excellent without exception. My favourite day was Saturday because I climbed a hill that I couldn’t manage on Monday! The service I got probably improved my cycling by 60% in six days. I cannot recommend the tour leaders coaching skills highly enough!

Lovely old rustic house in a quaint village. The rooms were spacious and the beds were comfy. Slept like log!

The rides were varied and interesting with the right amount of challenges. Couldn’t fault the cycling. Dave’s choice of routes was perfect. The ride up Monsegur was awesome. Couldn’t believe I was able to do such a climb. Any day with fantastic downhills…loved speeding down those gorgeous hills surrounded by beautiful countryside.

My experience with Dave as Tour Leader was ‘life changing‘! I had only been cycling for about 4 months, the rest of the group, for many years, they were very strong and fast, so I was definitely the underdog. However, Dave took the time to encourage me (and push me up hills). He gave me some very good training tips and advice on riding as part of a group. He praised me for my efforts without ever making me feel ashamed of struggling. I achieved so much during the ‘training week’ and cannot describe in words just what this has meant to me. I went for a 90 km ride today – my longest ride ever (with Clive, my partner who also came on the trip) and was thrilled to discover just how much I have improved in every way. I feel as though I have got different legs… its amazing. I went up steep hills quickly and easily thanks to Dave’s training and I am not only fitter and stronger, but my mind is more focused and positive. Dave helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses and for the first time I feel like a proper cyclist.

Dave is an excellent coach and really managed the disparate capabilities and objectives of our group incredibily well. His experience showed in his ability to read the individuals and provide just the right level of support and encouragement for each of us. By the end of the week I had certainly improved in my cycling technique and had achieved what I had set out to accomplish. His love of cycling was evident from the start and his enthusiasm for the sport was further inspiration to the group. I would highly recommend Dave and the Pyrennes Fitness weeks to anyone looking to up their (cycling) game!

Toni’s dinners were certainly a highlight of the week and a good incentive to get the miles in so that you could enjoy them to the fullest. She did an absolutely fabulous job and I enjoyed every meal that she prepared for us. Her range is impressive, with everything from a delicious curry to a more traditional chicken with mushroom sauce to lasagna absolutely top notch, restaurant quality but better as it was made at home with personal care and attention. She is very good at adapting her menus to suit the tastes of the group as well and made excellent use of the local fruit and produce. The afternoon tea and snacks were a regular ritual – our treats included brownies and cakes, perfect for winding down after a long day on the bike. Breakfasts were just the right mix of “biker fuel“: yogurts, a variety of muselis, cereals, fruits and of course crossants and toast accompanied by her delicious homemade jams, etc. – the pink grapefruit marmalade was a special treat!

As relative newbies to proper road cycling this week was just fantastic. The area is just a cyclists dream of quiet roads, lovely villages and the odd hill or three. Dave taught us more about our fitness and cycling skills and strengths in one week than I had learnt in years and like all good coaches knows how to motivate when the going gets harder. Toni’s cooking is just to die for. A delightful experience at every meal.