How to enter

Get Kids Going (020 7481 8110, getkidsgoing.com) can organise entry for the étape 2011 for £170; you can apply for a refund on the entry fee if you raise more than £500 for the charity. A three-night package including race entry, B&B, airport and race transfers and bike storage costs £650. Cycling specialists such as Sports Tours International (sportstoursinternational.co.uk) and etape.org.uk organise étape packages. The date and location of next year's étape will be released in October.

Getting there

Return tickets from London to Toulouse or Pau cost from £101 or £111 with Rail Europe (0844 848 4070, raileurope.co.uk). Bicycles in a box or bag can be taken as part of the standard luggage allocation, or pre-booked at an additional cost. Advance returns from York to London with East Coast Trains (08457 225225, eastcoast.co.uk) start at £20; bicycles are carried free of charge – reserve a space when buying your ticket.
Further info on Pau and the Pyrenees
See franceguide.com, tourisme64.com, velo64.com.

Equipment

Kevin rode a Giant Defy Advanced 2 road bike (giant-bicycles.com, rrp £2,000) and used a bike computer and shoes from Specialized (specialized.com).