The Team at UK Bike Tours

The experts in creating and delivering wonderful cycling holidays where gentle riding along hand-picked quiet lanes and tracks take you to amazing sights and discoveries. From the stunning Highlands of Scotland to the beautiful coasts of Cornwall and Isle of Wight with all the delights of the Lakes, Dales and Cotswolds in between. 
 
Although only recently formed, UK Bike Tours is built on nearly thirty years of organising high profile cycle events and amazing cycling holiday experiences within the UK and across Europe. Founder, Mark Sandamas, has been a lifelong cyclist who in his professional career has been Event Director of major cycling events in UK including Tour de France, Tour de Yorkshire, countless mass participation and corporate rides and worked with some of the biggest names in the sport. He has cycled extensively all over the UK and is an expert in creating the cycling routes. 

We are affiliated with Belgian, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish Bike Tours. In every country local specialists offer you the best the country has to offer. 

Are you an agent? Contact us about our dmc services. 

Mark Sandamas

Owner/ Director

Active since a kid, always out riding my bike or playing sport. Into a cycling club in my teens and exploring all the routes around the region. Then, a teacher at school also got me into distance running and, coupled with a passion for the countryside, I was spending as much time as possible running, biking or walking. Triathlon came a little later.

When I was ready to start a business it was almost natural it would be an active one. Through my first business (Pennine Events) I have been lucky enough to have managed major cycling and running events (including the World and National Championships and stages of Tour de France) and met some of the top names from the cycling sport, as well as the thousands of interesting characters who share that passion for cycling, running and walking.

Living in a beautiful part of the English countryside with all the hills around, I also got into fell-running. The freedom and buzz from moving in the solitude on the hills is my ‘drug’.

I have owned Coast to Coast Packhorse – the leading provider of walking, running and cycling holidays on the famous Coast to Coast route – for 5 years. Always an absolute delight to meet and welcome our customers as they pass through Kirkby Stephen.

Now, I am really excited to also have formed and be running UK Bike Tours and I can’t wait to welcome more international adventurers to the wonderful routes and hospitality found all over Britain.

My involvement in activities has taken me all over the UK, many parts of Europe and further afield. From cycling around Sri Lanka, competing in the Race Around Ireland, to running Hut to Hut in the Australian Alps, I feel so lucky that there’s little distinction between work and play.

Rebecca Skelton

UK Bike Tours Manager

One of my greatest passions in life is travel, from a young age my family have trekked the globe exploring the world. This sparked my enthusiasm for travel. After receiving a degree in Photography, I travelled the world on a cruise ship, meeting and working with some of the most interesting people. After living and travelling the continents, I settled in Cumbria with my husband over 10 years ago. Then. after 10 years of leading events for a local family business in Cumbria, it was time for a new challenge which led me to the team at UK Bike Tours. My love for travel is reignited and being able to help customers plan and deliver their cycling holiday in Britain is extremely rewarding.

Carina Lightbody

Head of Reservations

Born and brought up in Kirkby Stephen, I have worked with Mark for a good amount of years creating bespoke packages for people walking and cycling the Coast to Coast. I have also been creating packages on other walking routes around the UK and am now involved in the exciting development of UK Bike Tours.

I enjoy exploring the beautiful countryside in Cumbria with my young children Olivia and Matilda and dog Luna and have enjoyed the pleasure of walking in other British regions such as the Lady Anne Way in northern England.