Frequently Asked Questions

Who are pie? – pie develops and delivers bespoke rides throughout the UK and Europe. We offer fully supported group cycling tours for companies, charities and private groups, only to your specific brief.

What events do pie organise?

pie specialise in organising guided and non-guided bike rides. We also organise city walks, countryside treks and multi activity events. They range from 1-day events around the Surrey Hills to 10 days from Land’s End to John O’Groats to 5 days from the top to bottom of Portugal. All our events are designed to your specific brief. For inspiration check out our Event Ideas.

Is pie B Corp accredited?

Yes! If you are looking to make sure your events provider has the highest sustainability and eco-friendly credentials look no further! We are delighted to confirm pie was the first in the sector to get B Corps accreditation as well as still being the highest scoring in the sector!

What is B Corp?

B Corps is a global system of accreditation measuring in fine detail, a business’s effect on the environment, the community, their employees, their governance, and how they work with their customers.

How much does an event cost?

There is no fixed cost for our events as they are all bespoke and designed to your specific brief. For more details on costs please get in touch and we can put together a proposal for you.

Do the events start and end on set days?

All of our events are specific to your brief and are available to start and end on any day of the week you would like.

How long is an event?

This depends on your route. For example, London to Paris is usually over 3 days, however we can adjust any routes to be spread over as many or as few days as you like.

How many people can go on an event?

There is no minimum or maximum number required for an event. However, we will ask you your expected numbers so we can make sure we have sufficient staff to work on the event and to source appropriate accommodation, book travel, etc. Numbers will generally effect the routes.

What does a typical day on a bike ride look like?

If on a ride with accommodation, everyone will have breakfast at their accommodation. They will have the chance to fill up their water bottles and pick up ride snacks i.e. cereal bars, plus gels and electrolyte tablets. Our bike guides will go through a safety briefing before you depart and make sure everyone in the group is briefed for the day.

There are usually three stops each day – AM stop, lunch stop and PM stop, where sweet and savoury snacks, fresh fruit, fresh water, tea/coffee, etc will be provided for you. Lunch will be a more substantial meal. At the end of each day, your luggage will be waiting for you at the finish/hotel along with post ride snacks.

If on a multi-day event, there will be a dedicated area to store your bikes overnight where work can be done on the bikes if needed. On some nights accommodation may be split across 2 or 3 hotels but everyone will have dinner together.

What bike is best for this event?

The most suitable bike for most of our events is a road bike. Road bikes are generally a lighter option and will be beneficial when you meet some of the steeper terrain on the journey. You will be cycling many miles each day, so it is important you feel comfortable with your bike and put in plenty of training on the bike you will use for the ride. Ask in a bike shop for advice on the best gearing.

Please ensure that your bike is fully serviced, and in good working order before the start of the event.

How can I make sure my bike is suitable for the ride?

We recommend you visit a bike shop and speak to them about your upcoming ride. They should be able to advise you on how best to set up your bike for your ride. We strongly recommend you get a full service on your bike before the event. For details on how to perform your own check, watch this video. If you have specialist parts on your bike it is wise to bring your own spare parts as we dont carry every part for every bike.

How to make my bike suitable for hills?

For information on how to set up your bike for the hills, read our handy guide. We would also recommend you go to your local bike shop and discuss your upcoming ride with them.

Will you send me files of the route?

The vast majority of our rides are guided, so it is unlikely you will be given the route files. The entire group will be divided down into smaller groups of 8-10 people each riding at a slightly different pace. Each of these groups will be accompanied by a pie bike guide. They will lead you from start to finish each day via each of the refreshment stops.

There will be the option to move between groups for a slightly faster or slightly slower ride, or between routes if more than one is offered. The pie guides are your navigators and mechanics, so you don’t have to wait for a mechanic’s van. For more serious mechanical failures, our support vans carry a spare bike and comprehensive toolboxes for the guides to delve into.

Will I have access to my luggage during the day?

We will be transporting your main luggage and day bags each day. You may have access to your day bags at lunch time. Typically, cyclists have day bags for items of clothing they may need later in the day or into which they can discard items they no longer want i.e. rain jacket, arm warmers etc.

Although we try to provide access to day bags at lunch, please be aware the vans have many jobs to fulfil and can be called away for urgent matters. You may  therefore wish to ride with a saddle bag, handlebar bag or cross bar bag instead of putting your day bag in the van.

What kit do I need to bring?

We usually recommend you bring the following things on the trip. However, it is important to check the cyclist information document you will be sent in advance of the ride as some countries will have specific laws around bells, lights, reflectors etc, or some rides will have specific recommendations due to eg hot weather.

• • Bike (a road bike is highly recommended unless otherwise stated)
  • Helmet (mandatory)
  • Bike pump (that either fits on your bike, or transported in your cycle jersey)
  • Spare tubes to fit your tyres
  • 1 or 2 water bottles in cages on your bike
  • Cycle shorts
  • Cycle jersey
  • Cycle gloves
  • Wet weather gear
  • Sun-cream
  • Change of clothes
  • Any specialist equipment needed for your bike
  • Energy Gels (optional)
  • Mobile phone (with zip lock bag to put it in in case of rain), chargers, etc
  • Cash in local currency

Do I need to bring any spare bike equipment?

Whilst we carry a wide range spare parts and tools that fit most bikes, we can’t guarantee we’ll have the exact part you need. If you have specialised parts and tools for your bike, we suggest you bring them with you.

What additional items am I able to take on my event?

On European events we are usually tight for space in the freight trucks. We therefore ask you do not put your bike in a case as we will wrap them in blankets. Due to European customs laws, everything in the freight must be declared in advance on a “ATA Carnet”. We are not able to take anything that is not declared on the carnet. We are unable to transport consumable items in the freight vehicles.

Items such as spare inner tubes should be carried in your personal luggage. Please note there are also restrictions on foods being taken into/out of the EU, so we advise checking in advance with customs if you were planning on bringing any snacks with you.

Do I need to bring my own food?

The vast majority of food will be supplied by pie throughout the ride. You will normally get snacks to ride with before the ride which are usually cereal bars. During the riding day you will normally have 3 refreshment stops a day-morning, lunch and afternoon.

We always aim to provide the most nutritious and beneficial food for your ride, and cater for most dietary requirements. If you have specific snacks you wish to bring with you then you are welcome to do so.

What training do I need to do?

There are many personalised training programmes available on the market which are designed to suit the individuals goals. pie has a section on the website dedicated to training programmes which are general. This link provides you with several training options that will help you train for the event. We recommend you consult a medical professional before you start your training and seek advice frequently to prevent injury.

Do you have any nutrition advice?

We recommend you speak to a dietician or nutritionist for the best advice. However, we have put together some basic information for you on our website. Click here to read.

Do you offer bike insurance?

We are a affiliated to YellowJersey who offer specialised bike insurance and rider travel insurance. pie event riders get a 10% discount with this code: PIEEVENTS10. Find out more here.

Do you rent bikes for your events?

We do not have our own bikes for rent, but we usually have a spare or 2 on the event for emergencies depending on the size of the event. We work with suppliers of rental bikes “On your Bike” who have offices in London, Birmingham and East Grinstead to offer you a rental bike service if needed. Find out more here.

What is an ATA Carnet?

A Carnet, also known as an ATA Carnet, is an internationally recognized customs document that allows for the temporary import or export of goods without paying duty or value-added taxes. All goods are declared in advance of transport and can be stopped and checked at customs on departure to/from the EU/UK or entry to/from the UK/EU. If your event is cycling to/from/within the EU we will manage the whole Carnet process on your behalf.

Why do I need to submit a customs declaration form (ATA Carnet) when going to Europe?

pie are required to account for everything on the event going in each direction – UK to EU & EU to UK – including bikes. pie will only be able to take bikes out to the EU which will also be coming back from the EU in our freight vehicles.

What information is required for the customs declaration form?

• • Description of the bike (e.g. Specialized Tarmac)
  • Bike’s serial number (usually found somewhere towards the bottom/underside of your bike)
  • Weight of bike in kgs (including wheels, saddle bags etc.)
  • Value (what you insure it for / what it would sell for)
  • Country of origin (where it was manufactured)

If you do not complete this form, we will not be able to transport your bike in our vehicles to and from Europe. This form identifies your bike and once completed you will not be able to change your bike.

What if I need to change my bike details after submitting my customs declaration?

If you need to change the details of the bike you plan to bring on a European event please tell us ASAP by email, info@pieevents.co.uk or phone 01932 46 00 90.  You may have to arrange your own transportation of your bicycle to/from the UK because pie will not be able to add the bicycle onto the carnet after the information has been submitted to customs.

If you do not inform pie of any changes to your bicycle it could result in long delays for everyone receiving at customs, and hefty fines.

How would my bike travel back if it’s taken off the carnet?

If you are cycling to Europe on your event (eg a London to Paris), there are a number of courier companies that can bring your bike back or you could travel back with your bicycle. You may need to source a bike transport box. We can only transfer boxes and bags that will travel flat in our vehicles.

If you are on an event within Europe you may need to source a bike box to take your bike out to Europe and back again. Anything that leaves the UK in our vehicles has to return via the freight vehicle and be identified on a carnet.

When will the bicycle be loaded onto the freight vehicle?

This varies depending on where the event is taking place. Details will be given to you specifically for your event in the Cyclist Information Document. Please check that in the first instance. If you are still unsure, you can email us on info@pieevents.co.uk or call us on 01932 46 00 90.

Can I cancel, transfer or postpone my place on an event?

As everything we do is bespoke, the terms of every event will be specific to your event. Please contact us to find out more.

Do you offer travel to and from the start/end locations?

Usually, we do not offer transport to or from the start/end of an event. However, as every event is different, please make sure to check the Cyclist Information Document or contact us.

Do you offer transfers to and from the airport at the start and end of the event?

Usually we arrange for transfers to and from the airport if the whole group is flying in and out of an airport at the start and end of an event at a set time. However this will be specific to your event so please check the Cyclist Information Document or contact us.

If we need to contact someone on the day, who should we contact?

In the first instance contact the Event Manager, there will be details on how to contact the Event Manager in your Cyclist Information Document. At registration at the beginning of the event you will be asked to scan a QR code at the sign in desk. This will take you to a page with event specific emergency contact details. This is usually the Event Manager from pie, bike guides and medic.

We recommend you screenshot this page in case of poor signal should you need it.

Can my family/friends take part in the event?

Only those registered on the event can take part in the ride. On some of our events, this would be inappropriate. If you have friends or family who wish to come and support you, they will need to arrange their own travel, accommodation, food etc.

Can you help me with fundraising?

We have put together a handy guide on fundraising to get you started however, pie does not deal with any fundraising or handling of funds meant for charities. For support on fundraising please contact the charity directly.

Can I amend my personal details once I have registered?

Yes, please contact us so we can make those changes for you.