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Participants
Who is the tour aimed at ?
The tour is aimed at individuals who want to challenge
themselves. It's definitely a challenge to cycle the
whole distance with all kind of weather conditions. But the tour is also meant for the people who
like to travel by bicycle through a beautiful country and
to visit the Dutch cities and some of the less
known attractions. It is not a problem if you take a
seat some days in the supporting vans. If you like the
challenge or if you prefer more the journey, you
are both welcome in the "Poppies Pieter Pad".
Am I capable of doing this ?
If you are in good health, love a challenge and enjoy
cycling, you are capable of completing the "Poppies
Pieter Pad". We average roughly 105 km per day and you can ride at
your own pace. You will be served lunch at the mid-point
of each day's ride, and our crew are always available to
assist you if you are having difficulties of any kind.
On any day when you don't feel up to biking, you can
also catch a ride on one of our support vans.
Before you start
What about insurance ?
You are responsible for obtaining health and travel
insurance, including emergency rescue. Further
information will be given in the brochure. Individuals
without proper insurance will not be allowed to
participate.
On the Tour
Where do cyclists stay and sleep ?
During the "Poppies Pieter Pad" we stay all nights in a
comfortable hotel. The day before the start in Groningen
and after the finish in Maastricht you also stay in a
hotel.
What will I eat ?
The hotels provide every day an extensive breakfast.
During cycling stages we offer halfway a tasty lunch and
we make sure that you can recover at the end of the
stage with some refreshments. Next to that we provide
fruit, energy drinks and energy bars.
We have all evenings dinner together in the hotel after
the stage. We also have a dinner together the evening
before the tour in Groningen.
Who will carry my equipment ?
Support vehicles will carry your personal items. While
riding, you only have to carry some basic tools, a spare
tube, water, and a snack.
Climate
What kind of weather should I expect ?
As you can imagine, at this time of the year the cycling
conditions are not the most ideal, when even frost in
the early morning hours are still
possible. Good warm cycling gear is therefore a must to
enjoy the tour. Precipitation in the form of rain and
maybe bits of snow are certainly not excluded.
Road conditions
What is the terrain like ?
We will follow mainly the Pieterpad, which is unpaved
for about half of the route. The sections that are only
accessible to hikers or that are too technical are
avoided. However, we try to include many gravel roads
and other unpaved paths in the final route.
The vast majority of the unpaved sections are relatively
easy to cycle with a gravel bike, cyclocross or mountain
bike, although some parts can deteriorate significantly
in wet weather.
We also offer two alternative routes for those who
prefer to cycle the whole distance completely paved, or
prefer to avoid only the tougher unpaved sections. These
routes run parallel to the Pieterpad and the overnight
places are identical.
Bike
What kind of bike should I use ?
The bike is without doubt the most important part of
your equipment. A gravel bike, cyclocross or MTB is the
most efficient to complete the planned route where more
than half is unpaved. If you are considering to follow
the paved alternative entirely, you can also do this on
a regular road bike with narrow tires.
Partner
I don't want to cycle, but can I still come
?
There is the possibility that your partner can join you
in the hotel and/or at dinner in one of the days; also
in Groningen and Maastricht. You can contact us to
coordinate this.
What to bring
What do I need to bring along ?
Detailed information will be sent in the brochure.
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