Most Inspirational Moment
I never thought I'd say it (not being the world's most confident cyclist), but the long bike ride through desert mountains with just the odd Bedouin, camel or goat for company. I also loved swimming in the Dead Sea and camping in the Wadi Rum, with a camel ride as a contrast to the cycling - true wilderness. However, my real highlight was when Khaled, our wonderful guide, took us to have dinner in a cave in Petra with Bedouin friends of his who had lived there for generations: not on the itinerary but not a surprise given everyone's friendliness and his huge knowledge.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Khaled was fantastic. He had a vast knowledge of the archaelogical sites and everything about the country. He was friendly and more than able to cope with any awkwardnesses in the group. Whenever anyone needed anything, he sorted it out, and I was really sorry to say goodbye. We also had the support of a team of three cyclists, who made sure the bikes were safe, fixed any little problems and even offered lifts to those who preferred to avoid the steep uphills. One of them, Fahad, had a permanent grin on his face and had us dancing to Jordanian pop music every time we stopped for a break.
Advice for Potential Travellers
February is not cold in Jordan! We were kitted out with all our woollies, which were useful for the night in the Wadi Rum but useless otherwise. We really missed having summer cycling gloves, suncream and sunglasses. Most of the time we were cycling in shorts and T-shirts during the day, though jumpers were needed at night. The bikes are heavy but felt very safe on the unfamiliar roads. I didn't regret not bringing my own bike, especially as the team sorted out any problems. Next time I would probably bring my SPD pedals and my own saddle, though.
