Do:

Choose a coached camp if you want to seriously improve your riding, says Dave LeGrys of Legro’s Sportive Camps, www.legrossportivetrainingcamp.com. "Getting in the miles is often a key goal, but on a coached camp you can learn more about nutrition and training and improve your skills, making you a faster rider. The learning benefits from this will last longer than your tan."

Don’t:

Overdo it on the coffee stops, says Emma Barraclough, senior sports nutritionist for Science in Sport. "European coffee can be much stronger than that in the UK. High caffeine intake can irritate your gut if you’re enjoying multiple coffee stops on consecutive days. Try decaf or teas instead and keep the stress on your gut lower."