Ride Geneva to Nice with Graeme Obree

First it was Eros Poli, now it's Graeme Obree. Cycling legends, it would seem, are like buses you wait a lifetime for the chance to ride with one, then two come along at once. Bike holiday specialists KE Adventure Travel are offering 16 lucky people the chance to spend a week riding with Graeme in June, and it's a proper ride too, Geneva to Nice across the heart of the French Alps, the ‘Route des Grandes Alpes’ from June 20th – 28th.

Graeme will be riding with the group each day giving participants the rare opportunity to ride and chat with one of the most innovative figures in cycling. Gav McDonald is an old friend and racing contemporary of Obree's “Grame and I were junior racers from the same part of Scotland at the same time… he was Scottish Junior TT BAR champ in '83 and I won it the following year, so we've a long standing friendship”.

McDonald leads this ride every year and it takes in some of the most famous Tour de France climbs, such as the Galibier and L’Iseran, the ride also goes over the Bonette (2802m / 9193ft), Europe’s highest paved road. According to Gavin McDonald riding 15,500 metres (51,000 feet) of ascent and descent through the French Alps is a real challenge with most of the climbing concentrated into six days, it certainly sounds like a fantastic holiday even without the chance to ride with a cycling legend like Obree.

"I’m really looking forward to the ride, especially as it’s across one of my favourite parts of the world. The route itself looks phenomenal - a real ride through cycling history". Graeme's a man more noted for his exploits on the track and as a time triallist than for climbing so it will be interesting to find out what type of set-up he will be riding – we'll ask. If you are up for the ride, Gavin McDonald recommends using a compact.

Graeme Obree was twice holder of the World Hour Record, cycling’s blue ribbon event. He was also World Pursuit Champion twice and World Pursuit Record Holder twice. He is famed as an original thinker and a cycling and training innovator. His autobiography  'Flying Scotsman'  was published in 2003 and the film of his life to date released in 2006.  

For more information contact Tim Greening or Nadja Stracey, on 017687 73966 or
e-mail: tim [at] keadventure.co.uk or nadja [at] keadventure.co.uk