King Edward's SchoolPied Piper Cycle Tour: 28 July-6 August 2018

INFORMATION PACK – PLEASE KEEP!

THINGS TO DO NOW Please go to kes.org.uk/tourpupil to enter passport, diet and medical

information for your son. There will be a printed consent form nearer to the date of the tour. Please complete the online form straight away, even if your son’s passport is to be replaced at some point this year.

If your son is not a citizen of a European Union country, please download the very short form from kes.org.uk/visa and send it to Mr Boardman at cb@kes.org.uk. This will save you the trouble of applying for a visa for the country we are visiting.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Tue 9 Jan: for boys who are new to KES cycle tours - equipment issue from

4pm in the CCF building, Briefing meeting 6pm-7:15 in Big School. Please bring cheque book in case you need to buy any equipment. I suggest Shells come at 4pm, Rems at 4:30 and Ums at 5:00, so that queues are not too long.

Wed 10 Jan: for boys who have taken part in a KES cycle tour before - equipment issue from 4pm in the CCF building. Please bring cheque book in case you need to buy any equipment. Times: Rems 4pm, Ums 4:25, older boys 4:50.

Sun 4 Feb: afternoon meeting only for adults taking part, aimed at new adults. Noon until 4pm.

Sat 14 April: training day for boys who are cycling independently (ie Upper Middles and older). This is compulsory if you wish to ride on some days without adults, and haven’t done so before with us.

Sun 29 April: 30 mile practice ride, Barnt Green, compulsory for all boys new to touring with us

Sun 10 June: Briefing meeting for all adults taking part Wed 25 July: Drop off bicycles at school, 4pm. Collect GPS unit. Sat 28 July: 03:45 am meet at Birmingham Airport. Don’t forget passport. Mon 6 Aug: Flight arrives Birmingham Airport 17:25. Parents collect boys

from airport. Wed 8 Aug: Collect bikes and tidy up at school, 14:00-16:00. Note: all boys

and all adults will be needed for the full two hours to assist with the tidying up.

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CHECKLIST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE Make sure you bring your passport – all adults and all children. Obtain Euros from a bank, post office or money exchange Do you have two spare inner tubes of the right size and with the correct

valve? Get your bike serviced and ensure that it has correct components such as

rack, lights, water bottle, bell etc (see later in this pack) Try to go out on some practice rides with a friend/parent. Maps of our

recommended rides are at kes.org.uk/tour. Do some daily exercises at home. The exercises together with some stretches

can be downloaded from kes.org.uk/tour. Have you collected the following school kit:

o For everyone: yellow school waterproofs, shirt, panniers, lock?o Independent boys and adults: have you collected GPS mount, first aid

kit? Do you have a working pump and a few tools?

FLIGHT TO AND FROM THE UK Wear your evening clothes, not cycling clothes Pack your panniers for the tour, then place these together with your helmet and

empty water bottle inside a suitcase with reasonably rigid sides that can prevent damage during the flight. If you wish, you could put an additional set of clothes in the suitcase to wear for the journey home.

We suggest that you bring a small rucksack as carry-on for the flight, containing a jumper, your waterproof top and a packed lunch (not including drink, yoghurt or other liquids that will not be accepted at security). More information about what is allowed in carry-on luggage is at tinyurl.com/bhxsecurity

Either bring an EMPTY water bottle and refill it at a water fountain, or buy a mineral water bottle, after passing through security. There are two water fountains at Birmingham airport. One is located in the main departure lounge, behind Blanc et Noir Champagne bar. The other is located adjacent to the toilets, past No1 Lounge.

Be sure not to have any sharp items (such as scissors from our first aid kits) in your carry-on luggage. Put these items in your suitcase instead.

All passengers ie boys and adults will need their passport, wallet and phone for the flight.

Boys will be provided with a neck wallet to keep their passport for the flights. There are nearly as many adults on the trip as boys. At the airport each parent

will be asked to look after their own son and one other boy whose parent is not travelling. It will be your job to get both boys to the departure lounge in very good time – don’t let them wander off! We suggest that boys pair up in advance for this. You will also visit the same museum in Frankfurt, so bear this in mind when pairing up.

Arrival in Germany We will travel by coach from the airport to the hostel on the first and last day –

the coach journey is about three hours. On arrival at the youth hostel on the first afternoon, the lorry containing the

bikes will already be there and we’ll unpack the bikes. You will unpack the panniers, helmet and water bottle from your suitcase. Then you leave in the suitcase your carry-on rucksack if you brought one, plus the neck wallet and if you have brought them, the spare set of clothes for the journey home.

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 3 Passports will then be put in the zipped internal pocket of the panniers – boys will

carry their own passports for the week. The rule is that nothing else goes in that zipped pocket, then boys will never need to open it and so the passport cannot be lost. Panniers themselves won’t be lost since it is very obvious if a boy tries to set off cycling in the morning without his panniers attached to his bike!

The largely empty suitcase will be put on to the lorry once the bikes have come off, and you will have NO ACCESS to the suitcase until the last night of the trip.

The first meal we are providing on the tour will be the evening meal at the hostel.

Exact timings for the first and last day will be in the route guide which will be available in the summer term.

Museum visits on first dayWhen we land in Frankfurt we’ll be taken by coach to the city centre. I can pre-book group entrance to the two museums I think will be of most interest to the boys. The cost of entry to these museums will be included in the cost of the trip with no additional charge. The alternative is that you can choose to have free time in Frankfurt.

All boys must be accompanied by adults during our time in Frankfurt to prevent people getting lost. If you go to different museums than the two I am pre-booking, you will need to get to and pay for these yourself: they will not be included in the cost of the trip.

In addition to having time to go to a museum if you wish, there is sufficient time during our stop in Frankfurt for you to buy some lunch in a café or restaurant. However, the trip budget will not cover this: the first meal we will provide will be the evening meal at the hostel.

The two museums you can choose from for me to pre-book are both on Schaumainkai, the museum embankment of the river that is a short walk from the Iron Bridge that leads to the attractive city centre. I have visited both these museums and found them really interesting and likely to appeal to pupils. Museum for Communication (opens at 11am). The best part of this is the

permanent exhibition in the basement covering everything from apple devices to fake news and much more besides.

Film Museum (opens at 10am). There are two main display floors, ie the first and second floors. All kinds of film history and technique is on display as are clips from famous films. Be sure to ask for the free iPad that is available for visitors since this enhances several of the exhibits.

Note: all Frankfurt’s museums have lockers where you can place rucksacks, coats etc, and in most museums this is a requirement for rucksacks. The lockers require a €1 or €2 coin to operate, which you get back when you collect your stuff afterwards. Be sure to bring a coin with you. Alternatively leave your rucksack on the coach and just have your coat, camera and wallet for the museum and city visit.

Once you have visited the museum, I suggest you walk along the river to the Iron Bridge (a suspension pedestrian bridge). Cross the bridge and you will arrive at the Römerberg. Then return across the bridge to meet at the coach ready for the journey to the hostel. In the city centre you can see the following:

4 Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 The Römerberg, the old part of the city with attractive buildings and cafes,

authentically rebuilt following the destruction of the city centre during the second world war.

Between the Römerberg and the Cathedral, walk up some steps and through the lobby of the Schirn Kunsthalle. This lobby is free to visit and has a fascinating art installation of a huge see-through mirror in its ceiling, which changes from mirror to see-through as the lights dip every minute or so.

Cathedral tower (open from 10am) €3 (adults) or €1.50 (children). There are guided tours at additional cost but it is more interesting just to pay the admission fee and climb the 328 steps of the 66-metre-high narrow spiral staircase, from which you get fantastic views of the city.

Venues along the same museum embankment that you could decide to visit independently include the following, though I think these will appeal less to the boys. Art Museum Sculpture Museum Museum of World CultureVenues further away in the city: these would require you to catch a train, tram or bus The Archaeological Museum is housed in attractive former church and has

many very beautiful exhibits however none of the labels are in English. There is an audio guide in English which gives a general introduction to each of the sections, but not to individual exhibits. This is only likely to be of interest for people who have a particular interest in archaeology.

The Natural History Museum has a superb dinosaur display, and very large collection of stuffed birds, plus other stuffed animals. About a quarter of the printed descriptions are in English, the rest are in German only. The English audio guide is quite helpful in explaining some of these sections, and costs €3 extra. You may touch some of the exhibits which is quite unusual for this type of museum.

The Science Museum is all about physics. Every exhibit is interactive. About a quarter of the explanations are in English but if you ask at the desk they can loan you a book which has all of the explanations in English. When I visited teenagers were having as interesting a time as youngsters, but I wonder whether it is of more interest to Shells and Rems.

WebsiteDon’t forget to look at kes.org.uk/tour – there is a lot of information about our cycle tours, and photos from previous tours. You can also see an interactive map of our route.

Detailed route notes will be provided in the summer term, and will also be available at kes.org.uk/tour.

Practice before the tourIn addition to the practice events organised by the school, we strongly recommend that boys get out on a practice ride regularly, ie at least once a month. The distance can be built up – try two rides of 10 miles, then increase to 15, then to 20, etc. Ride with a parent, and try to get together with two or three friends

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 5 who are on the tour, since this is more fun and your parents can then share the task of taking you all out on a ride.

Maps of our 15 and 30 mile practice routes at various places around Birmingham can all be downloaded from kes.org.uk/tour.

Bikes on loanWe are able to offer bikes on loan, which boys will keep from November to the end of the tour in August. Bikes will have puncture-resistant tyres, front and rear lights, a pump, bottle cage and bottle. If you’d like to borrow a bike please first check with Mr Boardman whether there is a bike available. The cost of the six-month loan is £60, payable via www.schoolgateway.com.

SupervisionJunior boys will be supervised by adults while cycling. Depending on where we are staying, it may be acceptable for boys to set out to the local shops in a small group without adult accompaniment, provided staff are informed.

Independent cyclistsBoys in the Upper Middles and above may ask about forming a small team of their own and cycle without adults. In this event each group will be expected to call the staff at regular intervals. Groups of independent boys will have maps, a GPS unit and a school phone. Accommodation will be with the main party. In the event of difficulty boys will need to call the main party and an adult can then provide assistance.

It is essential that boys who ride independently are able to ride in a safe and responsible manner. This includes: Always, ALWAYS, stop and look both ways before crossing junctions, however

small, even if another rider has just crossed the junction ahead of you Only overtake or move out from the side of the road when you have looked

behind, and when you have a clear view of the road ahead: ie not just before a bend or a crest of a hill.

The organizer of the trip will decide whether each individual boy will be allowed to ride independently, with these factors in mind. During the course of a trip this may have to change if boys are seen riding in an unsafe manner.

There will be a training event at the end of the Easter Holiday for boys who intend cycling independently. The topics for the day will include: Simple road-side fixes for bikes Navigation using maps and GPS

First Aid Riding safely

Boys should bring their bikes. A separate letter giving further information and a packing list will be sent to you after the spring half term.

Inevitably some boys will be unable to attend the training day, in which case we will check that each independent group of cyclists has some boys who have attended training, and some who have not.

Spending MoneyIt is difficult to give good advice on the amount of money you should bring. The fee for the trip includes all meals, accommodation, transport, swimming (when

6 Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 available) and entry to the tourist venues such as museums. Pocket money will be used for souvenirs and snacks. A figure in the region of £50-80 in Euros might be suitable: older boys tend to spend a lot more than younger boys. A little English money, say £10, might be useful at Birmingham Airport but the best advice to boys is to avoid wasting their money at the airport! Note: adults will not carry money for pupils, but we can loan you money if you run out or lose yours, provided that your parents text us to give permission.

Remember that any additional food your son buys during the day, must come from his own spending money – we will only provide the packed lunch each morning, in addition to breakfast and the evening meal.

Passports and visasEveryone on the trip must bring their passport – we are no longer using collective passports. After arriving in Germany, boys will keep their passports in the zipped pocket of their panniers.

Boys who are citizens of countries outside the European Union must have a stamp in their passport stating that they have British Residency. You download and complete the ‘visa waiver form’ from kes.org.uk/visa, which must be sent to Mr Boardman. We will then carry a visa waiver document — you will not need to obtain a visa for your child.

Adults who are citizens of countries outside the European Union must have a stamp in their passport stating that they have British Residency, together with a valid visa for visiting Germany. Please ask and we can supply a supporting letter explaining that you intend to take part in a school trip.

AccommodationWe have four nights in youth hostels and five nights in hotels. In each case our party will have its own private bedrooms. The numbers sleeping in each room will vary each night, so you will need to be flexible over whom you share rooms with. Note: youth hostels DO NOT provide towels, so you must bring one with you (which is also needed when you go swimming).

You will be provided with a key for your room each night. You need to figure out where to carry your money, contact card and key when you are walking around – a zipped pocket in your trousers, or possibly a small bum-bag, would do.

Accommodation GuidelinesTake off your cycling shoes as you enter bedrooms. They are likely to be muddy, wet and oily and will leave stains on carpets. If you have brought spare footwear which is clean and can be used indoors then wear this. DON’T put your panniers on beds!! Cycle bags can be very mucky from the day on the road and it is easy to leave stains.Have a shower every night. Hang your towel somewhere in your room to dry it overnight for the next day.If you wish to go out, to the shops for example, ensure that you check first with one of the staff.Stay silent overnight. This generally means between 10:30 or so and 7am the next day.

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 7 Avoid horseplay which will annoy other residents and the owner, and may cause damage for which you will be charged.Don’t use spray deodorants – bring a roll-on instead. This is because the spray particles can set off the smoke detectors in the youth hostel, and there is a €300-500 fine levied for false fire alarms!!

FOODBreakfastYou need to eat a good breakfast – you are going to use up a lot of energy and boys who have missed breakfast have had problems in the past. The continental breakfast consists of juice, cereal, tea/coffee, croissant, bread, butter, jam and possibly some sliced meats and cheese.

Lunch and snacks while ridingWe make a packed lunch before leaving the accommodation, and sometimes supplement this if we pass suitable shops. Snack bars can be extremely useful if you run out of energy during the day. Bring several with you, and replace them when you have used them.

Evening mealsAs a group we usually have to pre-order a set meal – everyone has the same thing. If you have a special diet requirement such as vegetarian it is essential that you let me know on the online form so I can tell the hostels. We are not able to provide Halal meat, so boys with a Halal diet may prefer to state on the consent form that they will be vegetarian for the week.

Cost of mealsThe cost of breakfast, lunch and the evening meal are all covered within the trip fee. Extra snacks and occasional visits during the day to cafés are not covered and will need to be paid for from pocket money. Drinks with meals, other than water, are also not included.

SwimmingThere are swimming pools within reach of some of the hostels, which we’ll visit if there is time and boys wish to. The cost of swimming is met within the cost of the tour.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contacting Mr Boardman before the trip If you have any queries at all, please don’t hesitate in contacting me:

Direct line at school: 0121 415 6038 (don’t use this during the summer holiday)Fax: 0121 667 3525 (can be used any time)e-mail: cb@kes.org.uk The number for Mr Boardman will be +44 7448 198 363. Can all boys and adults please add this to your phone’s contacts, otherwise you won’t receive WhatsApp messages.

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Contact during the tripFor our cycle tours we recommend that boys bring a mobile phone. The cost of using mobile phones in Europe is much cheaper than it used to be. Don’t forget to check with your son’s mobile provider that it is enabled for ‘roaming’ abroad.

Contact cardsEach boy will be given a laminated contact card giving the mobile numbers of the staff and the numbers for our accommodation. This cards should be kept with you all of the time in case you become separated from the party and need to ask for help. Note – if you do need to call the staff on our mobile numbers you sometimes need to try more than once for the call to be connected abroad.

WhatsAppOur group has 100 people and we are cycling in small groups each day. To keep everyone informed I plan to send WhatsApp messages several times each day via a ‘broadcast group’. This only works if you add my phone number to your phone’s contacts. For this trip, please create a contact called ‘Mr Boardman’ with phone number +44 7448 198 363. This number will be deactivated shortly after the trip.

HEALTH AND SAFETYYou will need to be fit and healthy on departure, and take care to avoid medical problems en route. If a medical problem does arise during the trip it is best to tell us straight away so that we can help as soon as possible.

InsuranceTravel insurance is included in the fee you are paying for the trip. It includes: Emergency medical and associated expenses Repatriation to the UK in the event of an accident Loss of personal possessions – but not if left unsupervised Theft of bicycles, provided they have been locked up or kept in a lorry or locked

room`A small excess is payable on most claims, and exclusions do apply – please ask if you have any queries.

Cancelling a placeIf you decide not to take part in the tour, you may lose the money you have paid up to that point: we may already have spent your funds on hotel and ferry fees plus our equipment. Only after the tour finances are completed sometime in the Autumn term following the tour will we be able to say if we can make a refund.

If you have to cancel your place due to illness or injury, you can claim the cost of the tour on our insurance policy. The claim form is available at kes.org.uk/insurance. Print this and take it with you when you see your doctor so that they can fill in the short section required. Then send your form to Mr Boardman at school.

European Health Insurance CardParents have the responsibility of obtaining this and sending their child with it on the trip. Failure to bring this card will mean that parents are liable for any additional costs of treatment not covered by our travel insurance. The EHIC card should be kept inside your son’s passport.

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 9 You can apply easily online, free of charge, at www.ehic.org.uk which also gives details of applying by phone or at a post office. On line applications are easiest. You apply for all the members of your family and you will need the NHS or National Insurance Number for each person.

When applying, you first give ‘main applicant’ details – a parent You are then asked to complete details for a spouse, if relevant Finally you enter details of your children. Cards for each member of the family will arrive a couple of weeks later.

Travel sicknessIf you get travel sick please say so on your consent form. We will have a stock of travel sickness tablets for use on the coach.

Looking after yourselfA few suggestions: Have a shower every day. Each evening: wash your cycle shirt, then shower and change into fresh clothes,

then hang up your day clothes to dry. Don’t just leave your wet kit lying around – it won’t dry, and will just get everything else wet.

Quiet down reasonably quickly after bed time. If you get over-tired you won’t enjoy activities as much, and are more vulnerable to sickness and injuries.

Drink plenty. Use sun block.

You must be safety conscious at all times during the trip. In particular, Take great care when crossing roads – find a safe place to cross, stop, look and

listen. Remember that traffic will come from unexpected directions since cars travel on the right side.

You will be issued with a contact card giving our contact phone numbers. Keep this with you all the time.

If you get very cold, or feel ill, or feel insecure about an activity, tell us!

BehaviourIt should go without saying that boys’ behaviour must be excellent throughout this school trip. Normal school rules apply. We reserve the right to send home at parents’ expense a boy who is misbehaving very badly.

It is important that all members of the party give truthful and sensible replies to any questions asked by security or customs or immigration staff at the ferry or airport. Security staff cannot afford to have a sense of humour on duty, and flippant jokes (eg ‘I’ve got drugs in my case’) will always be treated seriously. This may well result in a delay, a missed ferry/flight, or other sanctions being applied. Our travel insurance does not cover this eventuality and parents will be liable for any additional transport tickets for the boy and an accompanying member of staff.

THE ROUTESAll details about each day’s routes will be in the Route Guide, a 60-page booklet which will be available for download in the summer term. In addition you’ll be able to download daily maps. These will both available at kes.org.uk/tour. The guide is broken into more manageable chunks on our Evernote guide which you can install on your iOS or Android phone – links will be sent in the summer term.

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The standard route option for the first six days of the tour has very little climbing. By comparison, our easy autumn rides each had 185 metres of climbing in just 15 miles. Our routes for the first six days this summer have a similar amount of climbing spread across the whole day, and since it is spread out it feels very flat.

Last summer six Shell boys completed a 100-mile day, so I have plotted a route this year on day 4 that provides the option for 100 miles with very little climbing. For boys who did last year’s 100 miles who want to try a little further, day 4 offers a 126 mile option, still with very little climbing.

There’s no pressure whatsoever to trade up to longer routes: boys can decide when they are there. And if boys commence a 100 mile route and then find they need to shorten it, the route has places where groups can split and the day can be shortened. The idea is to allow boys to be ambitious without having to make a total commitment.

You will see that our final two days, skirting the edge of the Harz mountains, do involve some hill climbing, but by then we are all in good shape and the amount of climbing is not excessive.

Date Destination Route options

Distance (miles)

Metres of ascent

Sun 29 Jul Höxter 1a1b

4365

274542

Mon 30 Jul Hameln 2a2b2c

434973

120471914

Tue 31 Jul Minden 3a3b

4155

102795

Wed 1 Aug Mardorf 4a4b4c4d

33100126175

123276322435

Thu 2 Aug Celle 5a5b

4355

105149

Fri 3 Aug Hildesheim 6a6b6c6d6e

4282100143204

170331522708918

Sat 4 Aug Goslar 7a7b7c7d

39526576

4568868891149

Sun 5 Aug Quedlinburg 8a8b8c8d

486790100

7317718261164

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 11

Making route choicesEveryone will be asked to make their choice of route for the first two days, in advance on our website. The remaining choices will be made during the trip.

Riding a ‘ton’ – your first 100 mile dayWe started offering a 100 mile day two years ago on a tour in Holland, where the flat terrain made the distance more feasible. 25 people rode the route including four boys from the Removes. In 2017 we had a group of six Shell boys riding 100 miles in a day, and one Shell boy did two 100 mile days. It is feasible if you are interested (and determined), and this section provides some advice about it.

The 100 mile days are split into sections. At one or more points in the day you will have a choice to decide whether you are still up for completing 100 miles, or whether you need to cut the distance down a bit.

If you are thinking about trying a 100 mile day, here are some thoughts.

It would be a really good idea to get ‘cycle fit’ in advance of the tour. For the two months before the tour, be sure to go out on a weekly ride. Start at 20 mile routes and wind gradually up to 40 or 50 miles. It really isn’t wise to set out on a 100 mile day if you’ve done no decent preparation. Obviously 50 miles in the Midlands will have hills, whereas Holland is flat – though you may have wind to contend with.

Pick a day when you feel fully up for the challenge: you need to be determined and committed to the task. So if you feel a bit off, set off on a shorter route instead that morning.

Consider weather and especially wind direction and speed when making your decision. That said, all the 100 mile routes tend to be something of a horseshoe in shape, and so you will inevitably be into the wind for part of the day and with the wind at other times.

Get up early, eat breakfast early, make a large packed lunch and set out by 8am latest.

Adults – be sure to have the list of route names. Be sure to know the segments at the end of which decisions about distance have to be made.

Keep your stops short – there isn’t really time for a lengthy stop. The stops need to be about eating and drinking, and replenishing your supplies for later.

Eat regularly. Sandwiches and bananas and pastries from bakeries are all fine. Don’t eat loads of sweets and don’t stop for hot food since not only will it take time, but you won’t as easily be able to digest a hot meal when on the go.

Obviously you need to apply sunblock very thoroughly before you go to breakfast – cover ankles, legs, arms, neck, face, ears. To do this properly takes at least five minutes.

Take great care to drink loads of water all day long. Even if it is overcast you will lose plenty of water through sweat and you need to refill constantly. Don’t have fizzy drinks – rely on water or possibly flavoured still drinks such as iced tea.

If it is a hot day, when you go to shops to refill water, pour some water down the inside of the front of everyone’s shirts. This is hugely effective in cooling you down for the next few miles, reducing your need to sweat.

The last group to arrive two years ago, got to the hotel at about 8pm. They had a really good day and were really happy with their achievement. In 2017 groups tended to set off earlier and were finished before 7pm.

If your group is still out on the road at 7pm, one of the adults must text Mr Boardman, stating the names of the people in the group and the number of miles remaining in your day. This is a rule for all groups, not just those riding 100 miles.

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GENERAL POINTS ABOUT YOUR CYCLING ROUTINEIn sunny weather, apply plenty of sun block each morning, and refresh it at lunch time. Cover ears, face and neck particularly, plus arms and legs.Fill your water bottle each morning (or the night before) and take advantage of stops where we will find places to refill the bottle – you need to drink plenty if the weather is hot.The adult in front of the party must not be overtaken by boys. An exception to this is on uphill sections – boys may cycle to the top of the high ahead of the adult and wait (well into the side of the road). They can set off down the other side of the hill once the adult leader gets to the top and gives permission. Sometimes it will be decided to wait for the whole party to arrive, so wait until you have permission to set off.Cycle on the right!!! Cycle in SINGLE FILE on any busy road, or on a narrower section of cycle path where you will get in the way of oncoming cyclists and pedestrians. On quiet roads and cycle paths you may cycle in pairs (NOT THREES) to allow chat. However there must be space behind each pair so that when a car or other cyclists comes you can split, one cyclist going behind the other. Don’t cycle round a blind bend in pairs – only cycle in pairs when you can see what’s coming.DON’T go shooting round corners downhill – you may hit a stationary object (or there may be a junction which we are therefore all stopping for). Even when you can see round corners take care with speed so that you don’t overshoot the corner and crash – more likely if the road is wet.When overtaking another cyclist or an obstruction, ALWAYS look behind before maneuvering. You are checking for cars of course, but also to see that another cyclist is not trying to overtake you. It is very easy for cyclists to collide if they overtake each other without looking. It is also a good idea to call ahead to warn the person you are overtaking – ‘I’m coming to your right’ for example.We will often come to a halt, to let people catch up, or to check the map, or fix something. It is very important to get your bike off the road onto the verge, or at the very least well into the side of the road, whenever we stop. Don’t bunch up into the road at stops.When seeing pedestrians and in particular dogs, sheep, horses etc, SLOW DOWN a bit and give them a wide berth. Animals and small children can be very unpredictable and jump straight into your path. In the case of horse riders it is a good idea to slow down and greet the rider (‘Good Morning’, for example), since the horse can hear you and not be scared as you overtake.Avoid deliberately silly behaviour of the type which will cause difficulty to other cyclists or road users. We have had instances of boys pushing each other off bikes, or riding with no hands on the handlebars. On one occasion the result was an injury which put the boy out of the rest of the tour, which is of course disappointing and perhaps difficult for parents who need to collect you!Take great care at junctions. When crossing a junction, for example a cross roads, come to a complete halt and check the traffic in all directions. The fact that the cyclist ahead of you has made the crossing doesn’t mean that the junction will be clear for you.

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 13 Ensure that you snack sufficiently. Don’t try to cycle a whole morning to lunchtime without any snack. It is a good idea to keep a spare chocolate bar for when you are getting weary – and buy another when you’ve eaten it! Bananas and fruesli type bars give better energy than mars bars.

EQUIPMENT LIST

The general ideaPACK LIGHT!! You have one set of cycling clothes and one set of evening clothes – you do not travel with loads of spare clothing like on other holidays. This is because everyone has to carry their own luggage on their bike all day, and every extra kilogram makes the cycling a lot harder.We provide a pair of waterproof cycle bags called panniers, yellow for boys and red for adults, which you get in January and then return the day after the tour returns to the UK.

Packing Tips It is important that this kit is light weight and functional. You will be carrying it

the entire journey, so DON’T pack items which aren’t essential! Your total pack weight including the panniers (but excluding drink/food) should be approx. 5kg.

Pack your spare clothes in a plastic bags to keep rain out Make sure that you have a system for packing, that you know exactly where

everything is and you always keep it in the same place. For example, I keep my change of clothes in a bag in one pannier, and my tool kit and waterproof in the other pannier.

What to wear when cyclingHelmet Check that it fits well, and does not slide around on your head a lot. If it

does, try using the different thickness Velcro foam patches which come with the helmet to make it fit. If it still doesn’t fit, think of buying a new helmet!

Trainers Trainers are what most young riders wear on these trips. Cycle shorts A pair of cycle shorts will be particularly welcome, since they have

a well padded seat and help reduce saddle-soreness (although you will still suffer somewhat). You may purchase these from us if you wish.

Yellow cycling shirt We provide this in advance of the trip, and you keep it after the trip has finished.

Sunglasses This depends on your own sensitivity to sun, but bearing in mind you will be out all day in bright light many cyclists consider glasses to be essential. A ‘wrap around’ pair keeps sun and bugs out particularly well, but these can be expensive – shop around, since prices vary a lot. If you have difficulty finding an affordable pair, ask Mr Boardman for help.

Cycle mitts Summer weight fingerless gloves with a padded palm can make a ride much more comfortable.

Your bikeYour bike must have: Quick-release wheels, front and rear – absolutely essential.

14 Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 Semi-slick or slick tyres – not knobbly tyres. But also, avoid very narrow racing

tyres since these puncture very easily. Preferably V-brakes but other brake systems are acceptable too A bell Lights, front and rear (lightweight LED) Mudguards front and rear Bottle cage and bottle A rack at the rear, attached both at the seat post and the hub – absolutely

essential.WARNING: Boys who bring unsuitable bikes may not be allowed to travel.Good choices of bike are: Isla Bike – the perfect touring bike for children. See www.islabikes.co.uk Hybrid – this has a rack already fitted and may well have speedometer and semi-

slick tyres too. Some mountain bikes – with no suspension frame (or possibly with front

suspension only). Many boys own these already. Be certain to get your bike serviced before the practice ride (see important check-list below). Check also that the bike is not too heavy and that it has the components listed above.

Unsuitable bikes: Suspension mountain bikes are not suitable since it is extremely difficult to fit

panniers. Front suspension is acceptable (though not recommended) – but you need to tighten the adjustment screws at the top of the suspension to make your ride more efficient on road. Rear suspension / full suspension mountain bikes MUST NOT BE BROUGHT.

BMX bikes are not suitable since they do not have gears Racing bikes – some boys have used these, but they are less robust when used

on rough tracks on tour. We recommend that only experienced cyclists should consider these, and they need to practice how to fix punctures in advance, since punctures are inevitable on racing tyres.

Full details of suitable bikes and where to buy them from are available on our website at kes.org.uk/tour

Essential pre-ride serviceIt is essential that you take time well in advance of the trip to check the following — it will delay us considerably if everyone needs adjustments to their bikes because they have not looked at them for a while. The best way is to check your bike in for a service at your local bike shop, which is generally inexpensive. You can also ask the shop to fit a rack at the same time, and lights if you don’t have them. Check: Component list above – quick release wheels front and rear, v-brakes, slick or

semi-slick tyres, v-brakes, bell, lights front and rear, mudguards front and rear, bottle cage and bottle, pannier rack attached both at seat post and hub.

Seat is comfortable height (I suggest the ball of both feet should be able to touch the ground when you are sat on the saddle.)

Tyres are fully inflated. If you are using a mountain bike, get slick or semi-slick tyres fitted, including reinforcement to reduce punctures. The best tyre for this is the Schwalbe Marathon, which several local shops can fit for you.

Gears change properly — go out and try all the gears Brakes work well, front and rear and aren't worn down. Brakes do not rub against

the tyre rim when riding normally. Chain is well oiled

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 15 Reflectors fitted at the rear

Kit to have mounted on your bikeDrinks bottle This should be held in a special cage attached to your bike frame,

costing about £5.Cycle Rack A metal rack to hold your panniers or bag. It attaches to the rear of

the bike and can be bought for about £10-20 from any cycle shop.Panniers We provide each rider with a pair of panniers on loan in advance,

which must be returned after the trip.Cycle ‘computer’ A speedometer which gives speed, maximum speed and

perhaps the time is a great motivator and not very costly. Red LED lightWhite LED front lightBring the lightest-weight lamp you can find, provided it is

still bright enough. Make sure you have completely unused batteries in it which work. We sell low cost front/rear light sets. Note about lights – fix the mounting to your bike before you come on the trip and check that it works. Leave the mounting on the bike all the time but store the lights in your panniers to prevent people stealing your lights when the bike is parked, and avoid the lights being damaged if you fall off.

There needs to be a little spare room in your bag after it is packed, since you may be asked to carry materials for lunch.

What to pack in your panniersPassport All adults must bring a passport. Boys who are British Citizens will not

need to bring a passport since we will have a collective passport. Boys who are not British Citizens will need to bring their passport.

Waterproof top We will provide you with a fluorescent waterproof jacket on loan in advance of the trip. This must be returned after the trip.

Packed lunch You bring your own on the first day, we supply the lunches for the rest of the trip. Don't bring a large plastic lunch box on tour– use a plastic bag and pack it at the top of your bag to avoid squashing.

Snack bars Bring 4 snack bars which you enjoy, for use during breaks on the first cycling day (don’t eat them on the coach!). More will be bought for you to replace these each day.

Spare footwear Ultra-lightweight essential! The best bet is Crocs, which cost about £20 in childrens’ sizes or £30 adult sizes. They are fantastically light weight, which is just what you need.

Lightweight trousers For use in the evenings, not when on your bike. A zipped pocket is important to keep your room key / wallet in. A very good option is to buy zip-off convertible travel trousers, since these can be converted to shorts on hot days, and they generally also have zipped pockets.

Light weight fleece This will be useful in the evenings, and also to put on under the waterproof top if we have to stop for a while (for punctures etc) in the rain. KES Cyclists on Tour fleeces can be bought at the briefing meeting, or bring one of your own.

16 Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 1 spare T-shirt We have a smart school cycling polo shirt which you can buy in

advance of the trip if you wish.1 spare pair of socks2 spare pairs underpantsTrunks (NOT swimming shorts) in a plastic bag. Bring skin-tight swimming

trunks, not British-style swimming shorts, since many continental swimming pools do not allow swimming shorts.

Travel towel A small specialist lightweight travel towel. The school has a small stock of these available to buy. (If you don’t plan on swimming or even paddling, the towel is not essential since we are hiring towels from the hostels this year). Keep the towel in a plastic bag. Our recommended towel is the Sea-to-Summit Tek towel which combines the properties of comfort with small pack-size and effectiveness – choose ‘large’ for pupils or ‘extra large’ for adults.

Toothbrush & toothpaste Use a small, or half used, or trial size toothpaste.Spare plastic bag or twoBike lock A combination lock will be provided by the school, so you don’t need

to bring your own. Boys who have brought their own keyed lock in the past have sometimes lost the key, which is why we provide a lock. The combinations on the school locks start from the side where the coloured tape is, so depending on whether the tape is on the right or left of the code on your lock, the combination will need to be entered left to right or right to left.Boys locks are smaller and lighter and have one of two codes:Green tape: 1452 White tape: 2462

Adult locks are longer, and have yellow tape. Code: 1066.2 spare inner tubes of the correct size for your bike, and with the correct type of

valve. Make sure of this at your local bike shop before departure.Puncture repair patches A good choice is the Park Tools Puncture Repair Kit

Super Patch costing about £2 for a box of six patches.Pocket money Between £50-80 (in Euros) for the week depending on the age of

the pupil, plus £10 for stops in the UK.Contact card Make sure that you have a zipped trouser pocket in your evening

trousers to carry your wallet, contact card and room key. You will be issued with a contact card shortly after departure.

EHIC European Health Insurance Card: See page 8.Sun Block A small tube, factor 50.Insect repellent It is quite common for people to be bitten by insects in the

evening so we suggest you bring some insect repellent. Use a roll-on or pump repellent, not a spray. Don’t apply the repellent indoors – it irritates people’s eyes and noses, and can possibly set off the smoke detectors. Apply it outdoors.

Medicines Any special medicines you need, such as asthma inhalers. Don't bring general medicines such as a paracetamol.

Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 17 Glasses If you wear contact lenses, it is essential that you also bring along a

pair of glasses in case it becomes impossible to wear your contacts (eg, losing your contacts, or getting an eye infection). If you wear glasses you might consider bringing a spare pair of glasses.

Ear plugs For adults we suggest bringing ear plugs in case your room-mate snores! Not required for boys.

What you don't need to bringRemember – you need to keep light weight!Rucksacks Some boys have been given these by their mums, to carry spare

clothing. Please don’t do this: a rucksack is very uncomfortable to wear. If you do send one we will not allow your son to travel with it.

Sleeping bag Definitely not needed. Duvets and sheets are provided in the accommodation.

Cutlery, plates, mugs Not needed - all providedPyjamas Most boys sleep in underwear and save the weight of pyjamasFirst aid kit Adult staff and independent riders will have these. Tools and pumpAdults and independent riders do need these but boys riding with

adults don’t need one. Everyone does need 2 spare inner tubes and puncture repair patches.

Independent Cyclists – extra kitThis group must have at least four boys in it each day. In addition to the standard kit list, independent riders must have the following:Provided by school: First Aid kit, set of maps, GPS unit Provided by you:Multi-Tool We have some of these in school if you ask in advance to borrow one.Mobile PhoneTyre levers Pump Cheap (£10) pumps don’t really work. Get a decent Topeak, Crank

Brothers or Lezyne pump, preferably with a hose. These cost about £22. The ‘Lezyne Pressure Drive Mini Pump’ is a great lightweight example.

Cycle ShopsOur website kes.org.uk/tour has details of some cycle shops – there are plenty in the Birmingham region. Three good on-line stores can help with lights, tyres, inner tubes, helmets etc: www.wiggle.co.uk, www.gearshift.co.uk and www.sjscycles.com.

PRACTICE RIDE — SUNDAY 29 APRILPlease make a note in your diary of this date. Attendance on a practice ride is compulsory for boys who haven’t toured with us before. The aim is to check that everyone has basic road skills, you have tested your rack / pannier / rucksack system, and you are confident about the distance. There will be no extra cost payable to the school for this trip.

We will meet at 10am at Barnt Green rail station, to the south of the city. Barnt Green is on the Cross City Line. You are allowed to take bikes on local trains without

18 Pied Piper Cycle Tour 2018 extra cost and with no need to book ahead. We will return at 4pm to the station. Any parents cycling with us may wish to note that the car park is pay-and-display.

You should prepare your bike carefully in accordance with the equipment list below. You will need to bring most of the things listed below for the practice ride, partly because you may need an item such as a waterproof top anyway, and partly so that you can try out your panniers and the expected weight. You can leave out overnight items if you wish – soap, spare T-shirt, spare socks, spare underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste. You should bring everything else, including a packed lunch and 1 litre non fizzy drink.

We will be doing a route to the south of the city, passing through the villages of Tardebigge, Upper and Lower Bentley and Feckenham. The route will be 30 miles or so in length, so expect to be weary at the end of the day! On the main ride we will build up the distance each day to make longer distances feasible.