I think it's about time somebody posted something (Positive) regarding Sierra Cycling over in Southern Spain. I went away twice with them last year, 10 days in April and a week in early October, which in a sentence speaks for itself.
Alan collected and returned me my bike and my belongings at Malaga Airport both times [b]Free of Charge[/b]. On arrival at the Beach House there is always some food - biscuits/peanuts or a drink alcoholic or none alcoholic in the fridge which is perfect after a tiring flight and spending hours queuing.
Last time Ash one of the two British guides put my bike together for me and took me to the BMX track for an afternoons advanced skills coaching session and blast back down San Anton - even though it was his afternoon off - again [b]Free of Charge[/b]. (Other companies charge £220 a day for a skills session)...
Alan and Mary are always up every morning to make a full cooked breakfast, fruit, cereal, fresh bread, orange, porridge or whatever you ask for - this is included in the price of the room. The riding is extremely varied and the guides have an extensive knowledge of the local area. The routes range from XC, technical single track to smooth fast techy enduro/downhill. A highlight for me was the El Chorro, Bob Astro and Holy trails out in the mountains behind Malaga. This is a truly stunning place with some great riding. (hoping to ride the Telecom Tower next time out)
Any technical or bike queries or issues are always dealt with and nothing is too much trouble. The fridges are always kept full of drinks pop, beer and there is freeview and internet access with a wash facility for cleaning your dusty clothing after a ride. If you want to cool off there is also a nice clean shared pool located in private secure gardens.
The accommodation is 100 meters walk from the Promenade which stretches down along the Mediterranean. From there you can walk in to town to find a decent cheap Tapas/Italian/Spanish restaurant or (Tahiti) bar where you can get a drink (cocktail) or game of pool. Last time this was all arranged by the guides and we all went out as a group - which was great for me being a single traveller.
I've just booked another week with [b]Sierra as they cannot be beaten on price, value, accommodation, guiding/coaching, atmosphere, location, weather and riding. [/b] The reason I will go back again and again with Sierra is because I get a feeling their primary interest is with catering for you the customer and making sure you enjoy your time with them.
This is a lot more than can be said for another allegedly leading UK outfit that I have recently been away with where the relationship seemed strictly materialistic.
Keep up the good (hard) work Sierra,
looking forward to September!
🙂
took me straight up to the BMX track for an afternoon(Other companies would charge £220 a day for the skills session)...
I've done a couple of trips with Sierra Cycling as part of a group and I've always found them to be excellent, even when we made Ash ride in a torrential downpour because we only had two days of riding and didn't want to miss out!
Very welcoming, very accommodating and the free beer in the fridge was very much appreciated after a day on the trails.
The trails are excellent, with plenty of variety, and the guides know them like the back of their hands.
My only complaint is that Alan beat me up every hill, despite being at least 15 years older then me!
We will be going back later this year.
Id like to think Alan took the feedback on board, I noticed a recent reply from him where his Sig mentioned money back guarantee. Didn't stop him initially threatening legal action, but maybe with time to reflect he lowered his defences and took stock.
We had a fantastic trip with mike at mountainbikekerala and could draw direct comparisons between where Alan failed and Mike excelled. Glad to hear he seems to have got his mojo back, and we liked Ash but he was new (arrived after us) and was still learning the trails.
We're of to bikeverbier in a few weeks time, only ever heard glowing praise for them.
Just giving an HONEST and accurate opinion of my 2 stops with Alan.
I don't do arguing I just want to be honest with this review as this is how I spent my time with the great staff ENJOYING myself...
I don't like people who go around bigging up how good they are blowing their own trumpet and name dropping places in the French Alps...
This is a review of my Holiday and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!
?
Not sure where I bigged myself up? Your post implicitly referenced our critical review so you had to expect a reply. And like my original review I have been reasonable. I referenced bikeverbier and kerala to point out we have ridden with other outfits and will continue to do so. Some of the positive reviews I've seen or heard of SC were from novice riders with no reference point. It's a public forum, we're all allowed to post.
Your review comes suspiciously early in your posting history. Were you prompted?
And verbier isn't in the French alps.
Creating a thread on a subject on a public forum and then getting annoyed when someone else offers an opinion 🙄
This is a review of my Holiday and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!
Am I allowed to post on your thread, maybe you should have asked for the thread to be closed after your post.
You come across a bit too positive for me, make it sound like you're a bit of a PR man or part of a cult! 😯
It's a bit hard to see if you're always this positive as it's only your 2nd post on the forum.
This is a review of my Holiday and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!
I don't think I'd like the kind of holidays you like, you sound an utter twerp.
This is [s]a review of my Holiday[/s] advert for my company and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!
FIFY
drwato
This is a review of my Holiday and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!was there any reason to be rude? nothing i can see, suggest you cool off and apologise
This is a review of my Holiday and not yours... So politely BORE OFF!
Totally uncalled for. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and may not have such a positive experience like you with that particular company. In contrast they may have used a different company second time round and had a very positive experience.
I for one have been thinking about a biking holiday in Spain and welcome all input so I can make an informed choice who I book with.
Unfortunately your review does read like an advert, maybe that's just your writing style, maybe not.
Unfortunately your review does read like an advert
+1
Seems like a lot of keywords to stuff into the title to get it up the rankings in google (now above that 'other' thread)
Hmmmm I smell something...
Seems like a lot of keywords to stuff into the title to get it up the rankings in google (now above that 'other' thread)
Plus a bit of [b]bold font[/b] tagging.
And the title "sierra-cycling-holidays-fuengirola-southern-spain" I mean, come on, it's a bit blatant.
Was this the other thread you meant? [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/a-shambolic-week-with-sierra-cycling ]A shambolic week with sierra cycling.[/url]
I thoroughly enjoyed a holiday with Sierra Cycling, a good while ago now right enough, and would recommend it based on that, but there is an advertorial quality to the OP's glowing review and subsequent adversarial responses which has my spidey senses tingling.
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If it looks like an advert and smells like an advert it probably is an advert. I don't like the (failed) attempt at subterfuge.
I'd hate to be a LBS or tour operator in Britain. Sites like this have way too much power and not enough quality control. No wonder the LBS is dying in the uk whilst online retailers with F all responsibility and accountability thrive.
this is just painful and fairly sad, fair enough to big up your or someone else's business - nothing wrong with that, but at least make an effort to engage and encourage, not some transparent and amateurish attempt at an impartial review
OP - read your post and was aware of the previous "episode". Actually went to the SC website and thought uhmmm, does look pretty good. Now I have doubts - whoever you are - you are an Idiot. If you are genuinely just a customer - you are now a customer and an idiot.
Reads strangely doesn't it?
Second ever post on here, registered a month ago but obviously aware of the old Sierra Cycling post which is 8 months old.
Long time lurker? Second account? Someone trolling/hoping to re-open old arguments?
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hugor - MemberI'd hate to be a LBS or tour operator in Britain. Sites like this have way too much power and not enough quality control. No wonder the LBS is dying in the uk whilst online retailers with F all responsibility and accountability thrive.
In fairness for every specific "my LBS is crap thread" there must be 10 CRC are rubbish, raped my pet cat then delivered the wrong part threads. If anything LBS's get an easy ride on here!
I once paid £35 for some shimano brake pads and complained about it on here, the response was that I should continue buying them as if I bought enough stuff they'd start to offer a discount as I was a regular customer, what a discount when they're chargeing 8x more than discobrakes?
I wont reply to the OP as others have covered it but to hugor;
After the other thread we were threatened with legal action for defamation, and someone else threatened to complain to my employer (?!). The company owners have a right to reply on any forum, and there are plenty of examples of problems being solved or addressed to the satisfaction of the complaintant and the credit of the supplier.
I'd also say that if owners take part in forums (ie. Free promotion) they accept the consequences. Brant, Richie at silverfish, mike at dialled, Cy at cotic, loco and many others have a fan base on here as they actively engage, take criticism, and respond. Alan at sierra used to be fairly regular on here which is why I was happy posting "that" thread. Alan replied and people judged us both accordingly. I've posted more positive reviews than negative which I think is consistent with forums generally so on the whole Service suppliers benefit. Forums make suppliers accountable more than they do empower unjustified grievances.
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Opinions are obviously subjective. I read the original Sierra thread too and before someone accuses me of anything I am not associated with the cycling retail industry in any way. As opposed to other online retailers like eBay/ amazon etc this place does not have a formal rating or voting system. One voice is extremely powerful. I recall your thread but I don't know if your bad experience is the exception or rule. I'm not in any way suggesting that your account was inaccurate but perhaps various mitigating circumstances resulted in your bad experience. I haven't read the thread recently but this was the message that I got when Alan eventually replied. I recall that some of his responses weren't the best but he's in a highly competitive industry and his livelihood depends on sites like this so he would have been pretty stressed.
We live in a world where Human Rights rule (freedom of speech etc) we are entitled to opinions and in posting our own experiences and reviews on a public forum. If you don't want a response/someone else's opinion then don't bother posting. Either way Drwato, glad you enjoyed your holiday.
Hugor, can't say I disagree with your last post too much, only from personal experience the vast majority of my reviews are positive (see Kerala thread) and that's my observation. Whilst "that" thread still sits high in google the thread itself contains a mix of positive and negative reviews, and the reader can make their own mind up (some thought our complaints trivial).
The review cat is long out of the internet bag and its now how suppliers manage it and respond. Trip advisor is allegedly full of self testimonials and people sniping each others businesses but its still a source of information.
The old thread was locked when some of the comments about Mary got personal and offensive.
I haven't looked back into your other reviews but I've read what I think we're undeserved negative appraisals of my LBS on this site and it seemed everybody got on the bandwagon. Perhaps I'm nieve but I actually thought the OP was legitimate and I would have given Sierra another go. The excessive nature of it seemed logical to me as an act of retribution and overcompensation for their previous sins.
The only reason I posted was because the overwhelming number of responses were suggesting an inside job, but as far removed as it might be to some, it might actually be that someone had had a good service from them and if so Sierra should be commended for sorting themselves out.
I don't think it is an inside job. Bu I do think it is an incredibly clumsy attempt to refute a thread in which someone posted a negative review. All the OP had to say was " I know that some people had a bad time with this company, but I went with them and it was great." The tone of the first post and the subsequent OTT response comes across as a bit too tendentious (to put it mildly.)
There's too many keyword placements in that for me to think there's not something very dodgy going on. Type 'Sierra Cycling Review' into google already and this thread has knocked the previous thread off top spot. But the discussion has progressed to cover the general topic of user reviews and as such it has it's own value now. So, luckily for SC this thread stays, for now.
Very generous of you Mark. I'd delete the thread for blatant advertising. If they resort to under hand means they don't deserve any custom, let alone free advertising.
To me - this is a good example of shooting yourself in the foot.
I cant believe that this whole post hasnt been removed as spam?
Having followed the original 10? page post - how is this allowed as non-spam?
Sadly OP - you come across as an extremist. Marketing doesnt seem to work like that in the 21st century.
No I've never done PR but maybe it's a career I should pursue... My review is probably a little biased as I had a great time... It's also amateur as I'm no professional just an average schmo like most other people who book a biking holiday hoping to have a good time. I wasn't there so cant comment on the other guy's bad experience and I'm not going to pay it any air time as I think it's probably had way too much anyway.
At the end of the day I'm not the one on here slagging people off at the detriment to their lively hood and name dropping other companies - which sounds very suspect to me?
In April this year I used an alleged leading UK outfit for a holiday to Africa and paid twice the amount for allegedly "some of the best single track in the world". From my experience the guide was smug had a resentful and arrogant attitude and the accommodation was very low rent, damp and dirty. A couple of afternoons were spent climbing a tarmac road and riding a fire roads???... I've come back feeling totally ripped off and would not pay them another penny for a holiday or training or whatever else it is they offer!
I used Sierra twice last year and both times I came back thinking - I'll go back with them again - which is what I'm doing in September. The people who I met where friendly and mostly regulars who go back every year and I can understand why. The atmosphere was laid back and not competitive and the mixture of people I met ranged from relative newcomers to the sport to advanced technical riders - in my opinion.
The riding is good and can be dusty, loose and rocky and very different to the conditions in UK - which took some getting used to. Some of the trails are really technical and feature sections that are off camber, slick rock, with baby heads, switchbacks, compressions, woods and steep mountain sided sections. One trail that featured most of these was Allurin Woods - which we slogged back up twice to do again.
Like I say Allan always puts out a good breaky and makes sure the fridge is stocked. Town is on your doorstep if you want it so you've a choice of how to spend your evenings. The guides are spot on and will take you a decent cheap or expensive restaurant, depending on what you want.
I'm happy, I've put my money where my mouth is and know where I will spend my next biking holiday...
😀
Sorry about the spelling mistakes...
Sorry for being rude!
Which holiday companies charge 220 pounds a day for instruction?
Tarmac and fireroad..Yup that's SC..add in a bit of self guiding whilst guide sits in caff and you are sorted. Glad you enjoyed it though, it would be boring if we all liked the same stuff.
You don't, by any chance, write those restaurant reviews in local free newspapers do you? It reads just like one of those.
http://www.framleyexaminer.com/pages/fron011.php
I'm looking forward to Alan posting on this thread but forgetting to change his user account back from drwato.....!
Better be careful what I say though, wouldn't want to end up in court!
Your review was your second ever post here, not long after joining, and curiously 6 months after your holiday. The title reads as search term-encompassing google friendly and unnatural, hence the scepticism. I received threatening emails from an "unrelated third party" who leapt to Alans defence to a disturbing level, and my reply to you was reasonable, expressing the genuine hope that the old thread had made Alan raise his game. I mention other experiences to contextualise my reviews. Interesting you didn't see fit to post a negative review of this other company who you experienced more recently which would obviously serve forum users well.
I'm amazed the other thread was second to their website in google 8 months on. I'm sure Alan is encouraging happy customers to post counter reviews. Why you why now?
To hugor, I missed the LBS thread you mentioned, I had in mind some opposite-effect threads, such as criticism of the Cotic Rocket being leapt on by the largely pro-Cotic STW collective. There's an expression that a happy customer tells 1 person, an unhappy one tells 10, but I have never cross-posted the SC thread into anything other than other SC threads, whereas I've mentioned Kerala in "what holiday" threads, and even bike-related threads where I've posted a pic of my bike in action. Happy customers become advocates, and without suggesting we get to hold suppliers to ransom it would have been possible for Alan for instance to turn the last thread around by engaging with us, and people like Richy at silverfish try to solve problems.
if so Sierra should be commended for sorting themselves out.
I agree and I think I said as much.
Which holiday companies charge 220 pounds a day for instruction?
An Afternoon. In a BMX park.
edit function timed out so second post
and name dropping other companies - which sounds very suspect to me?
OP, are you genuinely suggesting [i]my[/i] review/posts are suspicious? Check my and my other half Munqe Chick's posting history, we waste far too much time here and have posted glowing reviews of more than one company so not sure which one we work for? As I said I think mentioning other products/services contextualises a review. If I review my full susser I compare it to my last one and other designs I've owned, which might give the reader more to work from than "this is my first full sus and itz da bomb".
To go back to my original reply and bow out from the thread, I hope Alan [i]has[/i] raised his game and is providing the sort of service people should expect. If that is the case then some good came of our experience (I was effectively writing on behalf of a group of 9) and the original thread.
Holy 'not-really-a-thread-resurrection-but-actually-kind-of-a-thread-resurrection-in-a-kind-of-way-inadvertently-sort-of'!
I believe that Alan is retiring this year, not sure what's happening to the business though
Holy 'not-really-a-thread-resurrection-but-actually-kind-of-a-thread-resurrection-in-a-kind-of-way-inadvertently-sort-of'!
All we need now is Trimix to tell us what it was like when he was a diving guide 😀
😆
😛 😛 we still tease him regularly about it.
No I've never done PR but maybe it's a career I should pursue..
Don't give up the day job....
No tarmac or fire road with Sierra Cycling as they have transit vans to take care of that...
Only Single Track, XC, Enduro, Downhill if you ask them...
Check the photos yourself
http://www.sierracycling.com/imagegallery/2011-10-2/index.php
Great holiday, met several people that week who I now go out riding with from time to time
Can you read my [s]irony[/s] sarcasm??
Edit: Nice ninja edit. D?mo arigat? misut? drwato.
DrWato, can you please, please be more condecending, there's nothing that I like more and encourages me to go on holliday with Sierra Cycling than being talked at like I'm 5 years old. Can you read my irony?
None cynical review added to trip advisor...
🙂
everybody was kung-fu editing, did id did di did di di, those cats were fast as lightning, did id did di did di di.................
I like the way the in the first post the bar and being picked up from the airport are [b]Free of Charge[/b] when they are paid for as part of the package.
The OP on the other hand is spamming STW [b]Free of Charge[/b]. 😆
Just wondered if anyone who bothers to comment on this thread actually has a job or are most of you Job Seekers Allowance claimants who sit around starring at this page all day rather than doing any proper work?
😆
Ahhh, the real drwato is starting to surface. 8)
Just wondered if anyone who bothers to comment on this thread actually has a job or are most of you Job Seekers Allowance claimants who sit around starring at this page all day rather than doing any proper work?
So, by also posting in this thread, are you suggesting that you're not doing proper work? Or that is this your work?
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Just wondered if anyone who bothers to comment on this thread actually has a job
Fair enough to wonder - you're here though. Is bigging up SC in any way your job?
edit - slower than MrsT, but similarly cynical!
Yes I'm currently a self employed consultant.
In my spare time I've been hitting report on the spam ads on Singletrack. Most only bother with 2 lines.....
I'm glad you felt the need to join STW to sell a frame and rave about a holiday. (using the idiots guide to key search words)
Hahaha I see your not denying being a doley with nothing else better to do with your time??? I'm off work with an injury from my last holiday (fractured collarbone) so at least have an excuse for being this sad!
Ch'ch'ch'check yourself...
I see your not denying being a doley with nothing else better to do with your time???
OK, I'm not claiming a thing. Been doing some work for a bid this week and reading STW as I go, currently having my tea and a beer laughing at this thread.
I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday. Was the fractured collar bone from not submitting a good enough review online?
I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday. Was the fractured collar bone from not submitting a good enough review online?
IT PUTS THE REVIEW ON THE SITE, OR IT GETS THE HOSE!
Hahahaha No from being a shite mountain biker I think... I don't take things too seriously...
Enjoy the weird combo of Beer and err Tea???
Sorry for being rude!
Just wondered if anyone who bothers to comment on this thread actually has a job or are most of you Job Seekers Allowance claimants who sit around starring at this page all day rather than doing any proper work?
Hahaha I see your not denying being a doley with nothing else better to do with your time???
Hey Am I being Cyber-bullied??? I feel a little intimidation and self doubt creeping in - I'm sure there's a law against this sort of thing?
IT PUTS THE REVIEW ON THE SITE, OR IT GETS THE HOSE!
Oh wait. Was she a big fat Spanish mtb holiday reviewer?
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If you are worried drwato you can always report the posts and look at getting the thread removed 😉
Hey Am I being Cyber-bullied???
You're the one calling names
Hahaha I see your not denying being a doley with nothing else better to do with your time???
How rude. For all you know we could all have suddenly acquired some convenient (possibly) biking-related injury that leaves us unable to work but able to type.
Point taken Rusty Mac, User Jamie you best ask User Mrs Toast if she's got an issue?
Anyway 3 people against 1 is bullying so I reckon needs reporting... Thanks Rusty Mac
D?mo arigat? misut? drwato.
[b]Some Wotsits and a cherry brandy?????[/b]
I fear my Spanish is rusty...
I fear my Spanish is rusty...
[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Roboto#Description_and_background ] 8)[/url]
No tarmac or fire road with Sierra Cycling as they have transit vans to take care of that..
seriously, I'd quite whilst just about even if I were you. Do I really have to answer that with content from the original thread? 🙄
I'd turn the abuse dial down to about a 5 too if you intend to stick around and get some value from this site. Mark is concerned about the regular clique deterring new members, but some people dont help themselves. STW got me through an injury-induced riding free summer living vicariously and kept me motivated to ride (ironically the SC trip was my first proper ride) and whilst I dont personally know most of the contributors there is a wealth of experience, advice, support and BS to tap into. You wouldnt walk into a group of strangers in a pub (would you?) and blanket insult them, why expect it to have a positive result here?
And I'm on rest days at the mo, prepping for Bikefest this weekend.
I think your comments above Crashtestmonkey are fair enough as everybody is entitled to have an opinion and report an experience be it good or bad... Unfortunately your was bad.
As regards the previous abusive and offensive provocative comments from previous users, check the T&C's abuse reported...
As regards the comment previous to this check the T&C's abuse reported...
I wouldn't place too much weight on this, I reported you (check the T&Cs) on the first page and nothing happened.
Its still abusive and offensive to people over weight and Spanish... Oh and childish!
And I make you the 10th person to be giving me some form of Harassment on this site...
If anyone does bother to read this that's quite clearly some form of cyber-bullying...
Am I in the 10? 😆
I'm not going to bully any one, as thats not my style, but this is very interesting and funny 😆
I wouldn't place too much weight on this, I reported you (check the T&Cs) on the first page and nothing happened.
Not true since I posted a response on the actual thread itself. Or by 'nothing happened' do you mean we didn't do what you expected?