It what’s called “a busman’s holiday!”

After a busy summer enjoying the great company of all my guests on cycling vacations and guided e-bike tours in the wonderful Cotswold Hills, what better way for me to take my holiday than on a bike! Escaping the first frosts of November, Susan and I flew out to Cyprus during the school half-term holiday to soak up the sun and explore the varied historic and natural wonders the island has to offer.

A week goes by too quickly and soon Susan had to head home to support her school, while I awaited the arrival of friends for our cycling break. Last year we all brought our bikes from the UK, but Chris’s illness made the prospect of juggling  bike-boxes too challenging, so he and Jane hired e-bikes, I intended to hire a hybrid and Richard brought his road own bike. Being in the business I should have thought to book well in advance. “Bikin’ Cyprus”, based in Tochni, were great at sorting out bikes for us at very short notice – I think we got their last two e-bikes, although my hoped for hybrid turned into a mountain bike as that’s all they had left. Despite the handicap of a heavy bike with chunky tyres, I surprised everyone by managing to keep up, even on the long climbs into the hills. Clearly, my summer gently exercising on an e-bike helped me develop a lot of stamina, as well as helping  me shed a few pounds.

For keen cyclists, Cyprus is the perfect place to visit in late autumn or early spring. Frixos Hotel and Apartments in Oroklini, near Larnaca, are very welcoming towards cyclists as well as offering excellent accommodation at good prices. You could bring your own bikes (if you let the hotel know they’ll organise transport from the airport of you and your bike boxes) or you could hire bikes from Bikin’ Cyprus who also offer great service.