Ticino Lakes Cycle

5 breakfasts - buffet style

vegetarian, vegan, kosher, meat

5 nights in a 4 star hotel on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities, including daily entrance to the spa, swimming pool

Your hotel has a long history. Over decades the hotel has developed from a simple hostel to one of the most welcoming hotels in Switzerland. Today the old manor will charm you with its authentic interior and spacious rooms. You can relax under palm trees at the hotel pool or at the sandy beach, go for a swim in the nearby river Maggia, use the wellness area with hammam or try your luck on the hotel's own golf course.

hotel: 5 night(s);

Bicycle, 24 speed with pannier, helmet & bike computer (electric bike available - supplement applies)

Train tickets Locarno-Melide, Lugano-Locarno (with bike)

Ferry ticket to Isle of Brissago

Bicycle, 24 speed with pannier, helmet & bike computer (electric bike available - supplement applies)

Train tickets Locarno-Melide, Lugano-Locarno (with bike)

Ferry ticket to Isle of Brissago

Digital Information pack including route notes and App per room booked

Entrance to the castles of Bellinzona

Emergency hotline

At the welcome meeting you will receive your rental bike. Either a City Bike standard:-

· 24 speed, frames available in three sizes

· Bicycles come with pannier and saddle bar bags and a service kit (pump, spare tube, tools)

Or if you have booked an E-Bike (Flyer)

• 8 speed, frames available in three sizes - (for minimum height 160cm / 5ft25")

• Bicycles come with pannier bags and a service kit (pump, spare tube, tools)

Please note that e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes and given the higher speed possible, should only be ridden by confident cyclists. Minimum age for e-bike rental is 14 years and a minimum height requirement is 160cm / 5ft25".

- Kids bikes and bike trailers are available and should be prebooked.

- Body height and type of bicycle should have been advised on booking.

- Helmets are not available for rent although they can be purchased locally. Otherwise we recommend you bring one with you from home. Although it is not a legal requirement to wear one we strongly recommend that you do.

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Increased safety for e-bike riders

In order to increase visibility in traffic and avoid accidents, e-bike riders are now also required to ride with lights on during the day. In addition, all fast e-bikes with pedal assistance of up to 45 km/h must be equipped with a speedometer in the future to ensure that the maximum speeds are observed, namely in 20- and 30-km/h zones.

Please use the locks to secure your cycles every time they are left unattended (particularly overnight). No security deposit is taken for the bikes however you will be expected to pay for a replacement if a bicycle is stolen or damaged.

If the bicycle is damaged in case of an accident, you are liable through your personal insurance. Please ensure you have valid liability insurance for bike theft or accident.

Please take good care about the battery of your E-bike and take the key, which is needed to remove the battery on your bike with you when leaving the bicycle.

Rental bicycles will be equipped with the following:

-Pannier bag (25 litre packing volume)

-Smartphone-holder

-Service-Kit (incl. Repair kit, tools, spare hose)

-Pump

In case of a breakdown of a rented bike, please contact our service hotline. You are expected to be able to change a flat tyre. In case of larger problems, we will organize a transfer, show you the way to the nearest service station or find the suitable public transport connection for you.

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ADJUSTING YOUR BIKE

As you are going to spend some days in the saddle, it is important that you adjust your rental bike correctly at the start of the journey, because a wrong position of the saddle can quickly lead to problems.

The saddle height is correct if you can reach the pedals with your heel with your leg stretched.

Depending on the bottom bracket height and frame geometry, you will usually be able to reach the ground only with your toes if the saddle height is adjusted correctly.

Make sure that your back stays straight and stretched. If you bend your back in the lumbar area when grasping the handlebars, you should lower the saddle slightly from the front.

As a rule of thumb, the handlebar should be positioned about 5 to 10 cm above the saddle. This results in a comfortable back angle, which can be maintained over longer distances.

Women often like to sit more upright than men. So, just adjust the bike as it suits you best.

Seat (saddle) Adjustment

Normally, the saddle should be horizontal; women like to have the saddle nose slightly lower than men. Basically, adjustments to the saddle are intended only for fine tuning of the pedalling angle and the seating position.

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MENDING A TYRE

Flat tyres can hold up even the best of cyclists. With your rental bike you will receive a repair kit, replacement hose and pump. Ensure that at least one person in your group always has this material with him/her.

For your bike tour, you must be able to mend a flat tyre yourself. The important steps are briefly explained here:

1. Unhook the brake and remove the tyre from the bike. To release the rear tyre, it helps to switch to the smallest cogwheel at the back.

TIP! Place the bike on the left side to avoid placing any weight on the derailleur. This is the most sensitive part of the bike!

2. Use the tyre lever to detach the casing from the rim on one side. Then pull the hose out of the tyre. Sometimes you have to remove the valve cap to remove the hose. Remember how the hose was in the tyre!

3. Pump some air into the tyre and compress it. The escaping air normally reveals the position of the hole. The hole also gives indications of the cause of the flat tyre. Even the casing can have splinters that pierce the holes in the hose.

TIP! Make sure you have eliminated the cause of the flat tyre before remounting the hose.

4. Mending a hole:

a. Sand the area around the hole with the paper from the repair kit until it stops shining. Now don’t touch this area with dirty fingers.

b. Spread the rubber solution over the hole to form a thin film.

c. Wait till it dries completely and then place the patch on the hole.

d. Press the patch down for about 2 minutes.

5. There should be some air in the hose so it can be pulled up properly. Start at the valve and work your way evenly in both directions. Lay the hose as straight as possible on the rim.

6. Starting from the valve, insert the tyre casing back into the rim. The casing must never rest on the tyre.

7. Ensure that the tyre is fitted properly before fully inflating and using it. It's easier to bring the tyre over the brake pads when it's not fully inflated.

8. Remounting the tyre:

a. Quick clamps facilitate the mounting and removal of tyres, but are a bit tricky to use. They should be tightened with a good strong jerk. If they are not tightened properly, the tyre may come off while cycling! So there is a huge risk of injury!

b. For the rear tyre, the chain must be placed over the smallest cogwheel again.

TIP! Be sure to check your brakes before you leave.