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Before you book, you are bound to have a few questions about the area, the weather, what to pack, what there is to do etc. perhaps we can answer a few of them for you here. Don't hesitate to call or email us with any other questions...

Which are the closest airports? Pau (1 hour by car) and Toulouse (1hr15 by car) are the closest best-served airports. For details of which airlines and airports click on our How to Get Here page, which also has links to the various airlines' websites. The more local airport of Tarbes-Lourdes (30-40minutes by car), is also served by Ryanair and some charter airlines. Slightly further away is Carcassonne or Biarritz (both 2 hours by car), again served by Ryanair. We offer return transfers to all these airports or all of them have car-hire outlets.

What is the best way to bring a bike? Car, plane, train or bus - all have their pros and cons. If you are bringing your bike by aeroplane or train, make sure it is well packed (and that you have tried packing it into the box/bag before - as it can take a while!!) Bike boxes or bags can also be well padded out with clothes etc. to reduce the weight in any other luggage you are bringing. Most airlines do now charge for you to bring a bike box/bag, so make sure you specify this when you book, and check any weight allowances, to avoid excess baggage charges on departure. Your bike travels without a bag or box if you are using the bike-bus. However you arrive, we have plenty of space in our vehicles to collect bikes either built-up or inside a bag/box.

Do I need to pack towels? No, both bath towels and pool towels are provided and can be dried/changed each day.

Do I need to pack a hairdryer? No, our rooms all have hairdryers.

What if I have special dietary requirements? We are used to catering for lots of different dietary needs, such as gluten-free, dairy-free or vegetarian. So long as we know in advance, we can ensure all your meals are suitable for your diet and will ensure we have suitable foods where possible (such as soya milk or gluten-free flour etc.) Even if you just dislike a food - if you tell us beforehand, it avoids disappointment and we can keep whatever it is off the menu!!!

Do you have internet access? Yes, we have a broadband connection, which can be accessed wireless in some bedrooms and via an ISDN line at the desk in the dining room, which you are free to use at any time.

Is there a telephone I can use or be called on? Yes, if you need to make calls, please just use our telephone and keep a tally of the minutes used (we have a very reasonable call tariff to most countries). The telephone can be found on the reception desk in the dining room.

Do you have self-catering facilities? Our Tourmalet bedroom has its own kitchenette. This is equipped with two rings, fridge, microwave, sink, cutlery, crockery, pots/pans etc, kettle, and a table & four chairs. There is a small grocery shop a couple of minutes' walk from the house and large supermarkets 10-15 minutes away. There are also barbecues and areas to eat outside accessible for all the rooms. All bedrooms have tea & coffee-making facilities and we are always happy to store anything you may need to keep in a fridge (such as baby bottles, cold drinks etc.)

When do we have to decide if we want evening meals? We like to know before you arrive if you are going to need lunch/dinner or breakfast on your first day. After that, a menu is displayed each morning, so that you can tell us at breakfast if you will need a meal that evening.

Do you provide packed-lunches? Yes, let us know the day before if you would like a packed lunch ready for you the following morning. Alternatively, our bike and walking routes give details of suitable places to stop for lunch, or we can provide some suggestions. There is also a small grocery shop in the village (2 minutes' walk away), that has bread, cheese, crisps and drinks etc.

What is the best time of year to come for cycling? We cycle all year round. Our house is situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, so cycling from the house is possible throughout the winter as well (although you certainly need a few more layers!!) The large cols are passable from approximately May to mid-November, although this can vary if there is very late or early snow. Certain mountains are still cycle-able throughout the snowy season too, as they are routes up to ski stations (e.g. the Peyresourde or up to La Mongie on the Tourmalet) but the higher you get the colder it gets. In terms of heat, the sun can be very hot during the summer, but the mountain air keeps humidity low. For more information about the weather, take a look at our weather page giving average temperatures and rainfall, plus a link to a French site with forecasts for the region.

Do you have bikes to hire? Yes, we have road bikes (Gitane-make, aluminium-framed, Shimano parts, compact chain sets) and mountain bikes (as above), three sizes of child's bike plus a bike seat or trailer for smaller infants. There are cycling helmets, pumps and basic repair kits provided plus cycle-computers fitted on the adult bikes. Steve can set up the bikes prior to your arrival to fit your specifications. 

Do you have pedals or should I bring my own? We do have a range of pedals (SPD, Look, SPD-R) but it is also easy to fit your own pedals on to the bikes if you prefer to bring your own.

What sort of cycling is available? The local roads are perfect for everyone. They are easy or challenging enough for all abilities, with limitless routes to take straight from the house ranging from 20 minutes to a whole day on the bike. There are maps to follow or Steve can ride with you. To get to the mountains, it is possible either to ride a loop from the house to cols such as the Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, Col du Peyresourde or Pla d'Adet (approximately 4-6hour loops depending on speed). If you simply want to ride the mountains without the warm-up there and stretch-off back, then we can provide one-way or return transfers to your chosen climb. Alternatively, if you have your own transport, we can suggest good places to start or stop for lunch etc. and again provide maps and routes. There are also a number of mountain-bike tracks nearby, for which we can provide a map, transfer etc.

What is there to do if I don't like cycling? Have a look at our "other activities" page, for a full run-down of things to do at the house, within walking distance and further afield.

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