Sorry - I know this topic is a bit overdone.
3 of us (ATM) are looking for a week’s worth of superb biking at some point this summer. We’re decent rather than shit hot riders - bikes will be Orange Switch 6 and 2 x Privateer 141 - all love the Golfie and done plenty of Lakes/N Wales big days. Country doesn’t matter too much - looking for a mix of all-day rides in big mountain environments, some tech without horrendous certain death exposure, flow trails - ultimately fun and mixed.
A few people I’ve spoken to suggest White Room and I know that’ll get a thumbs up here too…anything else? Austria, Pyrenees? Needs to have lifts/uplifts - who wants to climb on their holiday!? 😉
The 3 going have only ever been to the Morzine area multiple times so def keen on trying something wise…TIA
Finale Ligure (Just Ride Finale), Massa Marattima (Bike Hotel), Madeira (Freeride Madeira), San Sebastian (BasqueMTB), Sierra Nevada (formerly Ciclo Montana, not sure now).
All highly recommended.
I'm splashing out in two summer bike trips this year. Both with BasqueMTB.
Does depend on what you want though. If say BasqueMTB is a bit more expensive than others but the team are paid well enough to do this as a career and know the job well as opposed to some places that use younger riders as guides for a summer. The food and accommodation is local rather than chain so you're putting back into the community and I believe the uplifts are helped out by the people who build the trails so putting back there as well. You get what you pay for.
Plus @doug_basqueMTB.com who runs it often posts on here.
Get Dolomites on the list - i did Paganella after Aldo (?) suggested it - lovely place. Also, more over to the east side for bigger days out. If you've not quite done France to death, based in Bourg and riding the back country out of Les Arc - i really enjoed that area. Would love to do Pyrenees - STW have just done an article on it in issue 164.
@Onzadog which Basque trips are you doing? I'm try to make the High Pyrenees work but the logistics are are bit of a nightmare and think you're local ish to me. Sorry for the hijack Wayneo 😎
Endless Trails.
Haute Alpes Enduro Safari or Queyras Trail Delights would fit the bill. I did the Queyras trip in September and the trails were stellar. Not too much death defying, but plenty of tech, loads of flow and plenty of both together, all in wild, unspoilt, beautiful terrain. Might meet one of 2 walkers per trail, or a shepherd, thats it. Logistics, guiding, accom, food all excellent too.
I've only ever ridden the Portes du Soleil area, Les Arcs / La Plagne and Chamonix. Out of those, Les Arcs every time for that sort of riding. Portes du Soliel has huge amount of trails but I prefer the less parky stuff at Les Arcs. Chamonix was a while back for me before greater bike restrictions came into effect. Can't speak for elsewhere.
Enough variety in Les Arcs if you go beyond the park trails, which White Rooms will definitely get you. I've only ever self-guided myself there after initially been shown the trails beyond the park trails by friends. Going back this summer with mini a11ys 😀
Has anyone done any of these trips solo? Where/who with do you reccomend?
Years (decades) of trying get mates to actually commit to a proper riding holiday... f*ck em, I might just go on my own.
Has anyone done any of these trips solo? Where/who with do you reccomend?
Years (decades) of trying get mates to actually commit to a proper riding holiday... f*ck em, I might just go on my own
@snotrag 50/50. It's not a problem. Normally based on 2 sharing. Either share of pay a supplement.
I find that my riding mates are either not into that time of riding enough to want to drop 4 figures or they're not available to do so.
I've done Whiteroom solo a few times. As long as you're not a prick then it's great.
@Onzadog thanks, the flights to the airports they use all get us there to late for there pick up and going a day early isn't an option. The Odyssey trip looks amazing but my riding bud can't do mid summer. I think I've talked the Mrs into the Coast trip in August as well.
I'm in Dronfield Woodhouse, so must be nearby.
@snotrag a couple of the White Room holidays I've been on have had solo travellers and they've all seemed to get on great.
Molini is always amazing and I'll be heading back if I get the chance later this year. We always stay with Atipico / RideMolini.
Basque is superb as well. I did the backcountry trip with Basque MTB a few years ago which was really good but a fair chunk of time in the van. Last year a few of us spent a week split between Ainsa for a couple of days and then up to Cerler in the Benasque valley with BlackTown Trails. Similar price to Basque MTB (and using the same hotel in Ainsa) but smaller groups and more flexibility as they're not set weeks.
@fathomer yeah, if I fart and the wind is in the right direction, you might smell it.
I normally fly businesses class from Heathrow as it actually works out cheaper if you have a really heavy bike.
Coast trip is great and ideal if there's some in the group that don't like to push the tech aspect. Having said that, Doug knows where the tech is hidden around there. It's more that there are option not to do it on the coast.
Another recommendation for Basque MTB here - did the High Pyrenees trip last September. I'm firmly in the "decent rather than shit hot" category and I got down everything fine, with only a couple of trails being above my pay grade. Even with these brief exceptions, it was more a case of "I rode that badly", as opposed to "I actually died". The bigger issue for most people is how physically taxing the descents are, being mostly long and rough (I was grateful for every minute I'd spent training). However, it's far from samey - the variety is pretty staggering and there is actual flow, as well as what the guides euphemistically call "Spanish Flow". As for exposure, you will inevitably encounter some. However, on my trip, it seemed to be mostly on the hike-a-bike sections - no sustained, horrible, get-this-wrong-and-die riding. I coped fine.
Food, guiding, organisation, accommodation and vibes were all pretty much faultless. And the scenery is jaw-dropping.
@snotrag - I went on this trip solo and paid a 300 Euro supplement for a single room. A number of others in the group did the same and everyone got on really well; a great bunch of guys.
I'm currently looking at Whiteroom's Backcountry Enduro trip in Early September (if I can overcome Basque MTB-FOMO). Probably going to have to share a room with another rando - because they have their own chalet, the cost of a single room supplement is prohibitive. Hoping for a non-snorer.
Has anyone done any of these trips solo? Where/who with do you reccomend?
Have done Basque solo, and it was great, good group (people, size, and similar riding ability), not much additional fees for hotel rooms etc . I'd recommend them every time, especially the Basque Back country trip. The riding is some of the best I've ever done, Doug and his team are the perhaps the best guides I've ridden with. Although it's a road-trip really so there's quite a bit of transfers/time in the van and swapping hotels if that bothers you.