Black Rat Cycle Trips

20/06/2024

Entries are open for our Gravel Sportive on Sunday 6th October!

16/06/2024

Entries are open for our Gravel Sportive on Sunday 6th October in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean.
2 routes of 88km and 58km, both taking in some of the fabulous trails in the Wye Valley and the Forest.
Fully signed route plus GPX files available.
2 Feed stations, mobile mechanics and cider and pasty to finish!
We will be ably assisted by the excellent members of Portishead Cycling Club again, so you can expect a fun filled day.
Starts and finishes at Devauden Village Hall near Chepstow, so easy access to the trails!
https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/events/

13/06/2024

Amazing gravel trails and great food and drink. Badlands Gravel Trip. www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/spanish-badlands-gravel-trip/

07/06/2024

Our Badlands gravel trip continues to amaze us! This area has some of the best gravel trails we have found anywhere!

05/06/2024

Another truly epic day in the Badlands and Tabernas Desert

04/06/2024

Our recce gravel ride to the Spanish Badlands is proving to be pretty epic!

07/05/2024

Black Rat helped out on this year's Penguins Against Cancer charity ride from Guys Hospital in London to Blackpool Tower.
We provided van and mechanical support for this great charity www.penguinpeloton.com

14/03/2024

Entries for our sportive on 19th May are open. We still have spaces available in all 3 ride distances.
Fancy a long, tough ride? Enter the Granfondo event and ride over Gospel Pass in Wales - the highest road in Wales.
The Mediofondo route will take you into Monmouthshire on quiet country lanes near to the Skirrid (Holy Mountain).
The Piccolofondo route will take you through the Forest of Dean to Monmouth and back via the Wye Valley.
Something for everyone!
Enter now at www.blackratcycling.co.uk

13/03/2024

Join us on a ride across beautiful Algarve in Portugal.
Start at Cabo São Vicente in the far south west corner, ride through the hills of Central Algarve and finish in lovely Vila Real de Santo Antonio, on the Spanish border.
This is a fantastic trip that can be ridden in 3, 4 or 5 days.
www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/trans-algarve-cycling-trip/

08/03/2024

Check out details of our Spanish Badlands gravel cycling trip for 2025
https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/spanish-badlands-gravel-trip/

05/03/2024

More images of the fantastic boardwalk across the salt marshes next to the River Tejo, leaving Lisbon at the start of the Camino Trail to Santiago de Compostela.
https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/lisbon-to-santiago-camino-trail/

03/03/2024

Strade Bianche today. A tough ride but beautiful. Siena in the background of this pic

29/02/2024

We're off to Siena tomorrow to ride the Strada Bianchi sportive. Looks a bit showery on Sunday ☹️

27/02/2024

Checking out the new section of boardwalk on the Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela Camino Trail. The boardwalk across the salt marshes allows us to avoid some busy roads on our trip in September.
https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/lisbon-to-santiago-camino-trail/

27/02/2024

Did a recce of the new segment of the camino trail from Lisbon today. Instead of tackling some busy roads and tatty back lanes, this new 8km boardwalk over the salt marshes takes you on to the camino trail away from traffic. It's fantastic!
Another reason to come with us in September!
https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/lisbon-to-santiago-camino-trail/

18/02/2024

Our trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in October is creating quite a bit of interest. Do you enjoy gravel riding? Ever wanted to ride somewhere completely different, away from the crowds? You should consider Morocco, a fabulous place with some amazing riding.

Take a look at our website for more details https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/gravel-trip-to-atlas-mountains

15/02/2024

More Camino 2022 pics

15/02/2024

Black Rat Camino Trip 2022. Look out for our 2024 trip

15/02/2024

We have another amazing trip planned in September this year.
We're heading to Portugal to ride the Camino Trail from Lisbon to Santiago to de Compostela.

The trip will take place over 9 days, from Friday 20th September until Sunday 29th September.

You will fly to Lisbon on Friday 20th, ride from Saturday until Friday, travel back to Lisbon on the train on Saturday 28th and fly home on Sunday 29th.

The route is a mixture of road and gravel and is most suited to a gravel or mountain bike. There are road alternatives to the off road sections but we think that for maximum fun and enjoyment, you will get more out of the trip on a more capable bike.

As usual, the trip is fully supported, with guides showing you the way on the bike and your luggage being taken to the next hotel en route, each day.

You can rely on the usual Black Rat service and of course, fun is guaranteed!

Riding the camino trail is on many rider's bucket lists and we are pleased to bring this trip to help you achieve your dreams.

Full details are on our website https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/lisbon-to-santiago-camino-trail/

13/12/2023

We have another 2 gravel trips to Morocco in 2024. One will be for experienced riders and the other for anyone looking to explore on a gravel bike but with less intense riding each day.

Dates to be announced very soon!

17/07/2023

Our excellent trip to Northern Spain is over for this year.
We rode some amazing routes, crossing Spain from west to east, including classic Vuelta España climbs El Angliru and Lagos de Covadonga. Everyone said El Angliru was the hardest climb they have done.
No accidents, injuries or mechanicals. Just one puncture all week. 😊

12/07/2023

We rode up to Lagos de Covadonga today. One of the classic Vuelta a España climbs. A bit of low cloud at the top was quite a relief after a long, hot climb.

09/07/2023

Our trip to Northern Spain starts today in Oviedo. A couple of beers to loosen up before Alto de L'Angliru tomorrow 😵‍💫

27/06/2023

We are often asked about the best insurance for cycling trips or for cover against bike theft.
We have teamed up with Yellow Jersey who offer a comprehensive range of insurance coverage depending on the amount and the type of cycling you do.
They have offered a 10% discount on premiums to Black Rat participants, friends, clubmates etc. Use this link https://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/?ref=blackratcycling and then the code BRC10 to get your discount!

We believe riding a bike is one of the best things in life. Whether it’s for fun or fitness, it’s all about getting out there and enjoying the ride.

21/06/2023

Portugal trip 2023. Some fantastic riding on quiet roads and amazing views. 35 degrees made tough days harder but everyone had a fantastic time. Tuscany in 2024!

01/07/2022

Pyrenees Coast to Coast is done! 720km, 15500m of climbing and 17 mountain cols ridden by a fantastic group. Thanks to everyone who took part.

04/05/2022

We have just returned from another outstanding trip to Algarve, Portugal.
3 days riding across the country from the Atlantic coast to the Spanish border.
A great group, who were good fun and strong riders.

03/02/2022

We have some places left on our next Algarve trip which takes place from 29 April until 3 May.

Three fantastic days riding in the lovely Algarve with great hotels and airport transfers included.

Ride from Sagres in the far south west, through the interior of Algarve across the country to Vila Real on the Spanish border.

We will ride up to Foia, the highest mountain in Algarve as well as through spectacular countryside on very quiet roads.

We will stay in good quality hotels with breakfast and dinner provided.

Full support will be provided in case of mechanicals etc. and bike hire is available if needed.

See full details of this excellent trip on our website https://www.blackratcycling.co.uk/cycling-trips/trans-algarve-cycling-trip/

12/10/2021

Some photos of our recent trip to Algarve, Portugal. 3 great days in the saddle, crossing Portugal from the south west corner to the Spanish border.
The rides were challenging without being too hard to enjoy the evenings.

26/04/2021

We're putting together a gravel bike tour in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco!
7 days of cycling in some of the most remote parts of the country, riding some amazing routes.
Watch this space for details...
(and yes, I know that the photo is of the road up Dades Gorge - which we will ride on this trip - not of a gravel trail, but as it's so spectacular, I thought I would use it!)