Why a trip to the dentist helped me know it was time to launch

Mark Noonan, Director at Go Pedal • July 1, 2021

And why now is a good time for you to be thinking ahead

Unlike many, I don't mind the dentist - except for one thing; it's the cheery, "see you in December," that gets me every time. After all, here I am barely out of longs and into shorts and the long days of warm cycling to come are instantly replaced with an image of Christmas and cold, wet rides.

The idea for Go Pedal had been gestating for some time. I'd successfully organised a number of corporate, long distance charity rides and thoroughly enjoyed the process of making it happen for the riders. Cycling is fast taking over from golf as the way to network and mix business with leisure. But, the pressures of business, the requirements around COVID safety (and the changes brought about by Brexit for those fancying Europe) mean an obvious need for someone to provide a service to do all of the planning, logistics and then ride support. So Go Pedal was born.

But it was that trip to the dentist's that pushed me to launch. These things take organising and planning what with agreeing routes, recruiting riders, raising sponsorship, booking travel and accommodation and so on. If my next dentist appointment is in winter anyone thinking about a winter training camp, or finding some sun in the new year needs to be starting to think about it now - even more so with the added complications of the current world situation to be thought about and planned around.

So, here we are. We're ready to support you and help make your dreams come to reality. And we're not just here for corporate rides, we can support a cycling staycation or whatever it is you want to do. Our service is completely bespoke from a simple bit of advice to a fully facilitated event, we can help. Then you can Go Pedal and we'll look after everything else.
By Mark Noonan February 20, 2022
Europe is simply full of variety and putting together a trip itinerary can be intimidating and exciting. And seeing it by bike is so rewarding. Fancy a tour of the beautiful towns and villages in the low countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, or the WW1 battlefields, perhaps? You also won't be far from taking in parts of the most famous one day classics. France offers us vineyards and rolling rural rides all the way through to the steep challenges of the Alps, Mont Ventoux and the Pyrenees. Fancy tackling some (or all!) of the Tour de France, perhaps. Germany offers massive forests, wonderful river routes and beautiful scenery at every turn, or challenge your legs in Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy. One of our own favourites is the area round Tuscany - beautiful rolling hills and the famous white roads combined with the potential to overnight in Florence of Pisa. Spain is wonderful cycling country, smooth tarmac, warm climate wonderful food and plenty to see. All round the Mediterranean is perfect for a winter get away - and don't forget the islands such as the Balearics or Canaries - follow the major teams to their winter training camps! If you're inspired, talk to us about planning your trip and how we could support you. We think Euro Velo is a great source of information and ideas. You can find them here . If you're thinking of going further afield, talk to us and we'll discuss what we can do to help make your world wide cycling dreams come true. Lonely Planet have some great books and articles such as the one you'll find here .
By Mark Noonan February 20, 2022
If you're a UK resident or you're thinking about visiting, the UK has some great cycling possibilities which are easy to underestimate. For a start the UK has a wide variety of landscapes, from the quiet rolling countryside of the south, the Moorland uplands of the Peak District, Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales to the more tougher mountainous areas of Wales and Scotland. With lots of rural areas and routes don't think there is a lack of cycle friendly routes and that there is too much traffic on our roads - and with the " Sustrans " network there are lots of long distance cycling routes opening up. If you do intend to tour the UK it is easy enough to avoid the large conurbations (unless there is a Sustrans route through it) and the main 'A' class trunk roads as the amount of traffic on these can be large and UK drivers although usually courteous are not used to a lot of cyclists. If you stick to the minor roads and use the long distance cycle routes you should have some great touring. It goes without saying that we at Go Pedal can help you work through all these options. If you're visiting the UK or having a staycation we'd love to talk to you about how we make your cycling adventure happen, from transfers and equipment, to routes and accommodation and on ride support. Follow these links for more information, then come back to Go Pedal so we can help you ride wherever you want to. Sustrans National Cycle Network here More cycling routes, this time from Cycling UK here A great set of county and region guides, also from Cycling UK here A set of northern England guides from Cycle England here Some of England's quietest roads from Visit Lincolnshire here
By Mark Noonan - Managing Director, Go Pedal August 6, 2021
For me, the beauty of Go Pedal is our flexibility to provide a bespoke service; this means that we can support and facilitate everything from cycling holidays through to long distance corporate rides - but Go Pedal's origin is networking and team building. If you know me you'll know my background is in relationships and engagement, so you'll also know I've done more than my fair share of networking in bars and the like (and hosted a good number too).Like me, I'm sure you'll have also sat in an office on a team building course. They've got merit - like many things in the world, it works for some not for others; but for me, it's time we took more advantage of other ways to build business, build relationships, build teams. I mentioned Go Pedal's origin; Go Pedal has gestated since 2015 when I rode from London to Liege in three days on a ride organised by John Lewis for their property teams. We raised a rake load of cash for a great charitable cause but that wasn't just why JLP organised these rides. They knew that the shared passion and shared challenge gave a real strengthening of relationships between their property team and their supply chain. Six years on I am still in regular touch with all of the group I rode with, we've shared business, supported each others aims and goals and done a lot more cycling together too. Sitting here today there is so much around us about everything opening back up. We're all getting about more and I'm sure events in bars and meetings in offices will soon be back filling our diaries. But, I believe that there is more of a mindset toward meeting in a different environment than there has been before. Whether it's health, whether it's Covid, or whether it's another reason doesn't matter, what is key is that different and more healthy ways to build strong and lasting relationships is becoming more acceptable.
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