Im wanting to book a weeks guided trip to the Alps, only problem is that as my riding friends all have kids it looks like if i want to do it ill have to go alone. Anyone else been out on their own and how did you find it? I was thinking maybe Whiteroom first week of July

Just book it. Great fun. I did Trail Addiction on my own, shared a room. There is no better way to get to know people than spending all day riding bikes and then relaxing with a beer while watching the sun go down in the mountains.

Note other young talented riders may not be as enthusiastic given old fella mincing down at the back of the group 8)

You will be fine, I have done it a couple of times and got to know quite a few other riders from doing it.
Always a few at Bike Verbier when we go out.

1st time I went to WR I went in my own as did maxtorque and snaps. We all drove down in my car, which looking back was a little odd for me to insure 2 complete strangers but it worked.

I’ve been back out with maxtorque a couple more times and ride with a few of the other guys I’ve met out there over the years as well. You’ll be fine.

I went on my own for a week with Bike Verbier this year. shar d a room too and had a great time. im planning to go away with one of the people I met this year! The strangest thing was that on the last morning, while getting ready to leave for the airport, it turned out that the guy I had been sharing a room with all week was the brother of my sister in laws best friend!!
Anyway, definitely go for it. You won’t regret it.

I’ve never been on my own but I’ve been with TrailAddiction many times in a group when they add a solo rider into the group and we have always made them welcome. In fact I’m still active FB friends of many of those we ended up with.

The guides/group leaders of all companies are pretty good at ID’ing the abilities of all the riders and will put you in a group where you should feel comfortable.

If you don’t you just speak to the guides and they will change your group.

There’s been a couple of ‘Billy no Mates’ on a couple of the trips I’ve been on, everyone’s different but usually they warm up and join in, got on really well with one lad after we both went for the same little bridge over the electric fence at the same time and ending up skittling each other down. It’s not like you’ve got nothing in common.

Jake – I’m in a similar position to you; keen to do my first alps trip, have a leave pass from Mrs White and yet no one to ride with. We could form a billy-no-mates group! I’ve not got as far as researching guiding firms or accommodation. I prefer fast and flowy trails to mad DH and big gaps – and the more uplifts the better.

I’m planning a few trail centre days between now and the summer as training for all day uplifts…!

Email in my profile if you want to exchange notes.

i’ve been a couple of times on my own, last with Bike Verbier last year, didn’t have to share a room (lucky) and was made to feel very welcome by a lovely group who all knew each other.

There’s always been a few lone guests at Bike Village every year I’ve been…and always a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere so would recommend!

@siwhite the whole point of guided trips is you do little or no bike park riding. It’s all about getting away from the crowds, local knowledge and usually a few van uplifts the normal hokiday makers can’t access without a mahoosive ride up.

Just a note on Bike Verbier, I called them to join an early season week before lifts opened, we went through my riding and the already booked group and we both decided that particular week wasn’t for me (too much pedalling up and one group that wanted to stick together) and they suggested some other dates. My point is the companies run on customer service, they’ll sort out the right group for you.

I went to bike village as Billy no mates, and left having made a dozen good friends. One of the best holidays I’ve had.

Done it almost every year! So much easier just sorting your self out instead of people messing you about.
Been with trail addiction in the Alps and singletracksafari to Andorra

Just need to take the plunge an book something really, keep going round in circles, looking at whiteroom, trail addiction, bikeverbier and singletracksafari. Thinking probably Whiteroom.

@siwhite Yeah thats what im looking for really, fast and flowy and not too mental. Ill drop you an email and let you know what im planning.

@notsospeedydaz How did Trail Addiction and Singletracksafari compare? I thought STS looked good price wise but then noticed there is a £175 single person supplement

Jake – you’re welcome to join our group from Devon at the Whiteroom but we’re going in September (we go later in the season to avoid snow/snow melt)
Probably going to Italian riviera for an MTB week in April also.

I’ve done it one with mtb and once boarding.

Great times on both, and I wasn’t that outgoing at the time.

I’ve been to White Room in a group and solo, had a great time both ways. In some ways, if you go out with friends you tend to hang out with them more, solo I socialise with others in the group a bit more and do some different things… There’s pluses and minuses, the travel is definitely more hassle and more boring solo though.

Email the White Room and ask what bookings they already have. People who go to these places in largeish groups are more likely to stick together during the holiday. If all the guests are coming out on their own or in small groups there’s a better chance everyone will interact and being there on your own won’t be much of an issue. This isn’t a hard and fast rule of course but I reckon it’s a useful starting guideline.

@snaps Which week are you guys going? Is it the backcountry week your doing? Because of work I can only really go fist two weeks of July or the second or third week in September. Kinda keen to do as little uphill as possible!

@ChrisL Probably a good shout, certainly makes sense.

Not the Alps, but we get lots of riders coming out solo. Almost all fit right into whatever other riders there are in house at the time, because, generally, mtb’ers are super nice and welcoming people.
First week in July – we actually have a solo rider looking for another single to room share with to remove our single occupancy supplement.
He’s booked July 1st – 7th
Whilst you might assume it to be super expensive to get to Whistler, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t compare the cost of a week with us here in Whistler to that of a similar catered/guided week in the alps.
Plus, how jealous would your dad mates be 😉
Contact in profile

Any experience of these guide companies doing long weekends? Arrive Friday, leave Monday, do as much riding as possible around flight times.

All my friends are complete nobs!

Far better of with the company of strangers.

We’ve been on a load of guided holidays and mostly, the other people we’ve net have been great, sociable, like minded etc.

We’ve only had a couple of holidays where the other guests idea of a holiday didn’t align with our idea so, despite our initial sociable efforts, on obe holiday, they simply didn’t speak to us, which we found odd, they were from Derby though. ( excuse given by one of the three who talked to us when his companions weren’t around?

@BearBack Whistler/Canada in general looks awesome but i think this time ill be sticking to the Alps, I think if i were to come over to Canada I would want to make it a bit longer trip!

@lotto I noticed Singletracksafari do a short break, 4 nights with 3 days riding. Sure some of the others do too.

@lotto season is short and usually sold out plus changeover is usually Saturday (no guiding) as such they are not really setup for weekends. I’ve quite a few long weekends usually Thur-Sun but always self guided

I went on my own with WR. It was the best holiday I ever had 😀

I’ve been out on my own before and as long as you make an effort to talk to others you’ll be fine. On the flip side me and a mate went out with White room this year and there were three guys in the chalet that had all come on their own and we all tagged along together for riding / drinking and had a great time

I’ve been out on my own before and as long as you make an effort to talk to others you’ll be fine. On the flip side me and a mate went out with White room this year and there were three guys in the chalet that had all come on their own, we all tagged along together for riding / drinking and had a great time

+1 Bike Verbier. Amazing holidays in every respect and totally fine for solo travellers.

Out of the 4 times I’ve been to Bike Village, 2 of them were on my ‘billy’! Had a great time, really friendly bunch and the riding is amazing! Definitely going next year, not sure whether on my billy or with mates yet!