Recently, we have a new section on Cycling Destination called Cycling Destination Approved. But what exactly is this? And how can you qualify for it? We briefly explain the concept so that it is clear why a location can be or become 'Cycling Destination Approved'.
You have to earn it
In short, Cycling Destination Approved is a quality label. It is a place where we as Cycling Destination feel welcome as cyclists. A place where you get value for money, where service is good and where people go the extra mile. We distinguish a number of categories within this section. More or less the same criteria apply to each category. The most important thing is: the label is NOT for sale. A paid collaboration with our platform does not guarantee an entry in this beautiful list. It does, of course, ensure that we come along, but still.
Categories
The categories to be distinguished in Cycling Destination Approved are as follows:
In the remainder of this article, we explain how we arrive at our assessment by category.
Coffee shops
As far as we are concerned, a coffee shop is Cycling Destination Approved if it meets the following points:
- Quality coffee, not a D-E machine with pre-programming
- Something tasty to go with it, homemade or from a local partner. No factory produce
- A lunch menu is a plus, but not necessary
- Place to park your bike
- Possibly the possibility of making an inner tube or cartridge or other emergency purchase
- Bike-friendly: as a cyclist, you can refill your water bottle, borrow a lock for your bike or other simple service things.
- Bike-related decoration items in the shop are always a plus!
Hotels / Bed and Breakfast
To get the Cycling Destination Approved label as a hotel or B&B, the requirements are quite simple
- Lockable bicycle storage
- Bicycle pump and repair tools on-site
- Place to rinse and polish your bike for a while
- Routes from the hotel for both race and gravel (downloadable or not)
- Possibility to stay only 1 night (e.g. bikepacking trip)
- Breakfast (buffet) suitable for cyclists. This usually includes yoghurt/cheese, fresh fruit, bread, good coffee and an egg
- Preferably, you can also take care of some things at the hotel, such as quickly washing your clothes should they be extremely dirty or just getting some stuff for a follow-up.
Read also: basic packing list for a cycling holiday
Campsites
A campsite is obviously a category apart. Here are the main criteria:
- Lockable bicycle shed
- Rinse-off area for your bike
- Laundry facilities for clothes
- Spacious tent site or caravan site so you can store your belongings
- Routes from the campsite for racing and gravel
- Breakfast service or a good adjacent coffee shop with breakfast
- Emergency items for sale such as band, cartridge, energy bar or the like
Specialist (bicycle) shop
This category is a bit broader and therefore a bit more subject to personal preferences. Most important for us is the following:
- Good and friendly welcome. Nothing is worse than walking around a shop for 5 minutes and not being addressed
- Punctual service: a deal is a deal and if something goes wrong we like to hear about it in advance and not notice it afterwards
- A shop 'breathes' cycling and passion. That could be in the owner/owner's stories, from an atmospheric café, from beautiful items on the wall.
- Bonus points for an original name
- Bonus point for an original concept
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Tête de Course in Nyon, Switzerland