about us
Life done differently
Hi! We are Chris and Vicky, your hosts at Pyrenees Cycling Club. We are a British couple living in the Pyrenees-Orientales with our two young kids and running our dream business from home.
How did we get here?
We have known the Vallespir region for almost 20 years, thanks to Chris's parents who had a holiday home and subsequently retired here. Their house became our regular holiday destination and over the years it came to feel more and more like our home too.
Back in 2017, Brexit was under way, Chris had long fallen out of love with his sales job in construction and Vicky was on maternity leave with our first child when the neighbouring house to his parents' came up for sale. After a viewing, a chat with Vicky's mum about the prospect of buying together so she could see her grandkids grow up, a cup of tea was soon swapped for G&Ts and a toast was made to taking the plunge and making our dream come true. We finally moved in in 2018 and then the real work started! Mas Clot d'en Guardia is our home, we are continually renovating and improving the house and garden, we can't wait to share this little corner of paradise with you.
Why cycling holidays?
Easy, we are both keen cyclists! Chris cut his teeth riding mountain bikes in his teenage years in the Yorkshire Dales and has turned his excellent bike handling skills to road cycling and gravel biking. Vicky came to cycling later whilst we were living in London in our twenties. Working in charity events at the time, she fancied taking on a cycling challenge and rode 100km overnight on a vintage Peugeot road bike with just five functioning gears. Despite this challenging start, the seed of cycling was firmly sown.
What is it like to stay with us?
Cycling here is a dream come true, the roads are quiet and there are hundreds of gravel tracks and fire roads in the mountains of the Massif Sud Canigou just waiting to be explored. We love taking our guests on new adventures to places not many people have seen.
The accommodation is comfortable and homely, all meals are home-cooked by Vicky, with the odd cake and sweet treat by Vicky's mum Lorraine (her yuzu cheesecake is legendary). You will wake up to the sound of birdsong in the forest and the smell of pastries in the oven. After a ride you can jump in the pool to cool off then relax with a beer under the shade of the wisteria.
Pyrenees Cycling Club is a truly family-run enterprise and during your stay with us we like to make you feel part of the family too.
Guest reviews
Caroline W
" I stayed with Chris and Vicky for five days, four of these were full days cycling. It was without doubt the most amazing time. Chris has a crazy amount of knowledge of the area and has so many routes available. He gave me a huge confidence boost and some welcome tips on bike handling and skills. Chris and Vicky welcome you completely into their home and I cannot recommend enough. I would give more than 5 stars... book a trip, you won't regret it. "
Adam H
" Having just returned from a week with Pyrenees.cc, I cannot thank Vicky and Chris enough for the most spectacular break. Both work so hard to ensure that everything is perfect for you, from the excellent rides that Chris leads, covering everything that the region has to offer, climbing, descending, flats, the most amazing scenery and the Med; the support that Vicky provides in the van; the coffee stops and restaurants visited; the breakfasts, evening meals and laundry service that Vicky somehow finds time to also prepare! All that is on top of being made to feel like family rather than a guest, with room in their beautiful farmhouse and use of infinity swimming pool all set on the side of the valley above Arles sur Tech. Looking forward to coming back when I can, I’ve unfinished business with a couple of Cols!! Thank you both. "
Wes W
" Our stay with Chris and Vicky (aka “The Dynamic Duo”) was absolutely wonderful! The cycling, of course, was off the charts great - long, but manageable climbs, screaming descents, smooth roads, stunning views… Chris’ knowledge of the area and its history added to the quality of the rides. Did I mention he’s a fine cyclist himself? He is. Vicky is no slouch either, btw. The location is perfect! Tucked away in the woods is the ideal getaway from the stress and chaos many of us come from. The area is VERY quiet with peaceful views. The house was perfect for our small group - plenty of space to chill, have a drink, nibble on unending snacks, etc. Vicky is a wonderful chef, cooking regional dishes and using fresh produce from their garden. The breakfasts were bountiful and delicious. Yogurts, granola, breads, fruits, pain au chocolat, etc. The rooms (we were in the main house) were outfitted well with everything we needed. There’s a bike room for any maintenance you might need. We only soaked our tired legs in the pool. Btw, they seem to know everyone in the area! They are French-fluent so there’s that. I have two regrets: 1) that I couldn’t stay longer, and 2) that I can’t give them 6 stars. "