Hey guys.

I split with my long term gf 2.5 yrs ago and I have decided that this year I am going on holiday abroad. Europe looks the most cost efficient, but I am wondering if anyone knows of a company that would accept me booking in just myself, but would have other people who have booked with them – so that the riding is done in a group.

Not that I would mind going away for a week myself, but as we all know having other people around to ride with makes it all the more enjoyable. All of my mates who cycle are either married or in long term relationships and would not be able to commit to a week away.

Any advice appreciated.

I think most places would do that tbh. White Room certainly do.

One hint I liked, was to check in with them first to see if they know the composition of the rest of the group or groups- if it’s a single massive group of mates, that’s probably less good than if it’s several small groups.

I think many will have weeks with a number of small groups, I’ve done just that in the past.

Loads of them will, just decide where you want to go and get in touch with them.

Have been loads to Switchbacks & SB DH on me tod partly for the reasons you state and partly cos my mates aren’t as keen as I am.

We joined a ride with Rivierabike last may with 5 other lads we had never met, pretty sure if theres room no guiding company will knock back the business.

+1 for Rivierabike

As per Dd, don’t think anywhere would not take you. You might have to pay a single room supplement if you want a room to yourself and won’t share with whoever else.

Also consider TrailAddiction, FreerideMorocco….

Trail addiction or white room for lift assisted gravity fuelled xc in les arcs France.

Switchbacks for xc in mijas Spain.

Great fun what ever your level.

Been with Saddle Skedaddle and Joyriders. Both times I went on my own and most other people on the trips were individuals like me. Every one on both trips were so friendly it was great

+1 for whiteroom ask first and try and get an idea if there is a week when there is a good mix going.

I went with Switchbacks XC (since Switchbacks AM, soon to be Switchbacks Ednuro due to gnar core inflation).

I might have asked what weeks had other small groups, I might have not. I don’t remember paying a single room surcharge. I settled in to a group with some very fast lads from the Isle of Wight and a couple of other young guns my own age. there was another group that week of 40-50 y/o oil execs who were a bit slower but rode everything. It meant that each group had only one guide but the two groups didn’t have to ride at the slower pace.

Been to BikeVerbier 😆
Want to go to Doug’s @ https://www.facebook.com/BasqueMTB

You can’t go wrong with AQR Holidays in the French Pyrenees. I ended up on my own after the girl I was supposed to go with injured herself two weeks before the trip. Small group with two other couples on and I was worried I’d feel a bit of a lemon, but all was fine and we had a really good laugh. Mostly XC but did a lift assisted day also.

Went on me tod to go and see Doug in the Basque country last year. No problem at all. In the group there were 2 couples, and another guy who was there on his own as well. You just join in and get on with other people. As others have said though, probably most guiding companies are the same.

We certainly welcome singles and it won´t take long to bond with all the others in the group. We´re close to the airport so can collect you individually, no extra charge – always a bonus not hanging around an airport.
Stunning singletrack rides with plenty of bus uplift during the day & lively après-bike on the coast at night.
http://www.sierracycling.com since 1992.

http://www.bikeverbier.com will probably be perfect. Absolutely amazing riding, but also really well set up for groups which include single travellers. The atmosphere in their chalet is always super-friendly and very inclusive, and groups are split up each day so that everyone gets to ride the kind of trails they want to. Check them out – dozens on this forum are very happy regulars with BV.

I work for Saddle Skedaddle, almost every one of our trips will have a few solo travellers on, often far more. No single supplements to be paid unless you specifically request a single room. If you want any advice about destinations or which trip would suit you drop us an email or give us a call, I pick up any MTB enquiries that we recieve.
Cheers, Matt
SS

Oh yeah, looks like I might be soloing it next year as me and my normal holiday-biking buddy are looking for different things now, it won’t make any odds to me. Been to White Room twice and they are incredibly brilliant, love it, it’s like their holidays are purpose built for me… Quite tempted to try Bike Verbier or BasqueMTB next year just for a change, as they see to get similiarly brilliant reviews, not sure yet. I loved the riding (and the cooking!) at A Quick Release but it’s almost all pedalled-up which just means less time spent flying down mountains so though I loved it, won’t be back sadly.

Bike holidays are brilliant- DOOOO ITTTTT!

If I was not married, with a 7 month year old sprog, would definitely be up for it. They seem good value and there are loads of companies that cater for different needs, so more xc/lift assisted etc.

One company that looks good is: http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/

Companies like the above, Saddle Skeddadle etc all usually make a specific point somewhere in their FAQs that they welcome solo customers with open arms.

Should be good fun, most people will hopefully be like minded and there to get the most out of the riding. Enjoy.

No worries at all to book in “solo” with us (The White Room). Loads of people come and stay with us on their own.

We usually travel as a bit of a group 5 the first proper year of catered guided European mountain bike riding, then 6 the year after.

We are a sociable lot and for us anyway, it’s a holiday as well as a mountain bike holiday, we ride as hard as we can but only until about 3pm then we hit the bars and crack the beers open.

For some other guests they let us get on with it, no harm usually done, just good crack, some join in (they are of course most welcome) some shun us totally as it’s not what they do.

I guess it takes all sorts.

Nobody is in the wrong.

Memorably there was the two chaps who had terrible BO who we didn’t like and they didn’t much like us and there was a group of three, two of whom didn’t even talk to us and the third one only talked to us when the other two weren’t around.

Just don’t expect all the others in the holiday party to be of the same mindset as yourself if you go on one of these types of holidays. Accept folk for who they are.

I went with Ciclo Montana in the Sierra Nevadas, Spain. I was a solo traveller & chose Ciclo because as well as the fantastic riding (and it is!) they provide a sit down evening meal where you all get to eat, drink and chill out whilst talking about the day.
Really helps you get to know your group mates.

Trail Addiction, I travelled alone with them in 2012 to Destination X – excellent. In Les Arcs they have more guests so more flexibility with which group you join. Its best if you don’t mind sharing a room as that’s cheaper. I skied with White Room and if the biking is half as good as skiing it will be excellent.

Also at the end of my TA holiday I did a day in Chamonix and another in Verbier as I had a rental car – lots of options.

What I would say is do your thinking now and book soon, White Room fill up quickly and it’s a short season.

Northwind, i have been out with Doug twice now, the last time was on his Backcountry Pyrenees trip and it was absolutely stunning scenery and riding. Its hard to put into words how good it was staying in classic rural accommodation with local food and wine. The riding was very varied but we were a pretty decent group rider wise and we never felt out our depth.

You cant go wrong TBH. If you check out his recent write up on Pinkbike you will get a good idea of the trip. It was our group that he was taking the pictures of.

More than likely going again next year, just waiting to see if i get a last minute slot on the last 10 for the Trans_Savoie.

I’ve done this with both TrailAddiction and BasqueMTB, both very good.

I have also done BikeVillage and would recommend them if you like pedalling up, to earn your downhills.

I would talk to them so that they can fit you in with a group of similar standard, that way you will enjoy it more. It also helps if your flexible with dates, I liked Doug, he is a nice bloke and went out of his way to sort out my transfers.

I would have no problem doing either one again.

Only problem is that you come back and start looking at Monster DH bikes in preparation for the next trip 🙂

+2 for Rivierabike

Went on my own last September …it was a very last minute thing and I was a bit worried who else would be on the week. Shouldn’t have though as the other guests were fantastic and Ady, Jo & Rich were great hosts. Top riding as well.

Cheers mactheknife- no real need for more positive reviews though, everything I’ve heard’s been great! More about deciding which holiday seems like the best fit overall, rather than any concern about quality. Still a while off though.

Thanks for the comments guys, it is appreciated as always 🙂 Psplat, I can’t place your forum name but am sure I enjoyed having you too!

If you did want to come to us, and I’m sure the same applies if you go with one of the other excellent suggestions in this thread, then it would be best to give me a shout and I can advise what weeks we have with people who might suit. We have a lot of return customers, as I am sure the other places above do, so we can often give an idea of what the people in each week are like. Everyone is nice but some weeks are more social than others. I don’t think that we have ever had a solo person excluded or not looked after by the rest of the group.

Black Marin mount vision, and a vegetation.

Oh yeah, Spain doesn’t really do vege’s, although I didn’t starve, if that is an issue.

Once you are out there, pretty much everyone I met was friendly and chatty so you’ll soon forget your on your own. Where ever you go I’m sure that you will not regret it.

Paul

🙂 got you! Thanks. That was a good week.

It’s is true that they don’t really get vegetarians here, although we do have one veggie restaurant which opens at the weekend.

We at http://www.bikingandalucia.com in the Sierra Nevada, Andalucia, Southern Spain, often cater for solo clients, with no single person supplement, usually there are other clients to socialise with, also our town Orgiva is only five minutes walk with a plentiful selection of tapas bars, cafes etc, so no need to get cabin fever, so you have the freedom to socialise or do your own thing in the evenings.