Ride the best European cycling routes
Ever fancied cycling in the tracks of great Tour winners or simply want a memorable cycling holiday? Vertical Gain™ offer exactly this, but rather than beat the competition, it’s a fully supported ‘break-away’ where you share the epic achievements with other passionate cyclists. Climb to your peak and book a break-away with Vertical Gain™, the brand that brings you experiences through cycling.
Perform better, cycle stronger
Whether you are looking to improve your physical performance, your bike’s technical performance or simply gain more comfort during rides – Vertical Gain™ can help find those improvements.
Bike Fit
Coaching
Footbeds
Stay at The Lodge
Take advantage of our beautiful accommodation situated in the heart of Snowdonia. You can create your own Vertical Gain™ experience then chill out with friends in the stunning setting of rural Wales. Welcome to The Lodge.
Cycling Heaven
With a ride in every direction, The Lodge has been chosen as the ideal venue for cycling Break-aways. Sleeping up to six people, The Lodge has everything required to make your bespoke trips truly memorable.
View The Lodge
Route Grading
We aim to demonstrate the overall challenge of a Break-away with a colour coding of red, amber and green. All of the Break-aways could have elements of all three during the event, but the overall load is good to be aware of.
CYCLING SUPERHERO
Prepare to Earn Your Stripes
Code red will most often mean a significant amount of vertical gain on each ride and cumulatively during the week. There is no need to have raced previously at the highest level, but you will need to be able to spend consecutive days in the saddle, cope with fatigue and be aware of how a tired body can warm into the day and still have a great experience, even with one of Europe’s highest col’s ahead of you.
Code red could also associate with a one day event whereby distance could be extreme, or many miles of cobble stones could be between the rider and the finish line.
SERIOUS CYCLIST
Get Ready For Serious Gains
Code amber will be measurably lower load than a code red event. There would be less vertical gain and a lot less fatigue after each ride. This would mean a code amber event would be suitable to any rider who is a keen cyclist and exercises regularly, but could also complete the Break-away with a little less conviction in their preparation.
WEEKEND CYCLIST
A Challenge Within Reach
Code green is just as it sounds….green means ‘go’. This style of Break-away would associate more with an adventure or journey through a region, but without huge days of riding, and most likely more time to compete the distance. A participant who is a regular exerciser and not just a cyclist would be great on a code green Break-away.
Whichever colour code your chosen Break-away has tagged to it, Vertical Gain™ will ensure you have the very best opportunity to complete it with our support alongside you during every pedal revolution. Good luck and enjoy.
Cyclist Reviews
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Great food, great routes, great mechanical and roadside pickup service (in case your legs fall off). Set in a traditional, well-finished Alpine chalet with all your bike and recovery needs looked after by Gary and the team, I cannot recommend highly enough. If you’re looking to turn off your brain and pedal as hard as you like in a beautiful setting, this is the trip for you! 11/10
Charlotte – UK
'THE' ALPS TRIP
Where to start? Having done several personally and a couple along with the wife, I/we can say that from the moment you arrive to the minute you leave, you will want for nothing. Gary & K have always gone well above & beyond to make the trips challenging, memorable, and fun. All the best with your future adventures.
Marc & Caz – UK
VERY SPECIAL TRIPS
I've been extremely fortunate to have shared some amazing cycling experiences with Gary over the last ten years. Basing ourselves in a first first-class Chalet in the Haute-Savoie, Gary's intimate knowledge of the area guarantees challenging routes and breathtaking scenery.
From cursing up the brutal Col de Romme to bombing down the Joux Plane or watching stages of the Tour de France, there's been some incredible highlights.
But it is the camaraderie within the group that really make these trips so special. On and off the bike, the banter is brilliant and lifelong friendships are formed.
Richard - Australia