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Anyone got any experience of these? Any companies to recommend?
Single? You? Surely not....!
Not totally bike related, but Neilson hols are very good for single folks. Lots of people go on them single and it never seems to be an issue for them or any of the couples/families there, as everyone's too busy having fun! Nice guided rides as well.
from my experience of about 10 bike holidays with six diff companies i would say that a single girl will typically be out numbered by men about 7 to 1. of these men about half will be single. whether they are worth meeting you will have to decide for yourself.
I've been on plenty of MTB holidays on my own - various reasons either cos at the time I was single or (if I was seeing someone) because it was the only week I could get away or she wasn't into MTBing/wasn't around etc.
It's never been a problem, I've always met some nice people out there and/or already known the guides. I've been with AQR, Mountain Beach, Bike Verbier and FreerideSpain on my own over the years.
Or you could put an ad up in the classifieds - wanted, guy to go on holiday with you! 😉
It depends really there will always be couples but then there will always be single people.
Where are you thinking of going?
I will be working for a guiding company in Whistler in the summer. If you want some more info www.ticket2ridebc.com
[url= http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/ ]Been with these a few times[/url] Awsome holidays :0)
second bike village. i've been a few times on my own and its been great. i've not gone as a single lady, but there have been one or two in the past. lovely owners, quality guides, amazing food and brilliant riding. i'll be back for the 7th time this summer...
Thanks guys.Bike village looks interesting.Sparky - been on a couple of rides with ticket to ride - before i got trashed 8O, not looking to spend quite that much this year, maybe next 😀
if you find a good one diane, let me know, i am looking for same thing having found myself single and wasnt "allowed" biking breaks and such like when i was married and need a holiday so will be doing that, or walking up a bloody mountain somewhere!
I really can't see why people are recommending bike village in respect of the OP's 'single mountain biking holidays' question. Like any bike holiday company, it's going to be no more than random, that other single people will be there at the same time as you. Cannot see the specifics of bike village over any other - sorry. From my bike holiday experience, I think you will be more likely to be amongst single people on the more generic activity holiday companies, like neilson - as suggested, cycleactive, skeddadle - these are also the most expensive!
I have been to Landry/Bourg BTW.
i've been on a couple of bike holidays on my own (and single) and there seemed to be a good mix of girls/ fellas on there own single and attached.
bike village (the only one i went on with a mate as it happens) was really nice - lovely atmosphere, great food etc.
seasonally undjusted; good fun too. http://www.seasonallyunadjusted.com/
[b]@ sparky[/b]: do you know what date the ticket2ridebc season starts? i see from the website it's around 15th may, but i seem to remember that last year a last-minute, significantly cheaper week was offered in early may (presumably to train the new guides)? any insider info?
[i]BitterBaldingFatty[/i]
sorry, nothing to do with the thread, i just lol reading that forum name, class!
HungryMonkey,when you going to BV?
Woodsman - liked the look of Bike Village as they look after you from dawn to dusk. I am a lone female who wouldn't want to be going into town to buy dinner at a restaurant.
Bike, Map, Camping kit....... Car/Train...Highlands/Lakes/etc.........Job done!
A friend of mine (single female) went on a trip with Bike Village this summer. She had a great time, was a real mixed group and said she would definately go with them agian.
There's a thread here about a singles ride in Swinley Forest on 07 Feb started by Cinnamon_girl (I think).
Surely this forum would be a good place to organise one? I've been on a few on my own- had some good experiences and some bad ones. At least if someone gathered together some of the lone guns from STW they'd be gueranteed some good banter, if not the guy/gal of their dreams!
woodsman, the point is that afaik there are no bike holidays which are single specific. there may be activity holidays, but i dunno if this is what the OP would want.
BV is great thanks to the fantastic atmosphere, and by the end of the week everyone is friends. unlike other operators, such as trail addiction, there is an absolute limit of 12 guests per week which is much less unnerving imo. i've heard of weeks where trail addiction have had 40 or 50 guests.
plus given that the owners and guides essentially live in the same building, there is always someone around who is paid to be your friend 😉
andylaightscat - i'm not quite sure yet - i'm graduating this summer so may have job/travel/emigration to consider... hoping to go to norway cycle touring for a month before graduation, so i may go to BV mid/late june or july...
Like Hungry Monkey said I cant think of anyone who does single specific holidays, but as MTB'ers we are all friendly folk and we have had many single people including women become good friends with other groups/individuals.
Some companies also do Girl only weeks if thats your thing.
Only thing I would make sure when booking is to ask what level of riders are going on the week you choose, so you dont feel intimidated by fast macho guys and you are struggling to keep up (or vice versa). In the evenings it will be all good banter so i wouldnt worry there.
A good company will ask about your abilities and experience and advise a group for you to join.
As for Trailaddiction, they do have big groups, but there are plenty of single people and women and there are 4 different groups you can join to suit your ability.
Aslo look [url= http://www.rivierabike.co.uk ]here[/url] 😀
Diane
Go find out then - from my experience most, if not all the bike holidays I've been on look after you 'from dusk till dawn'. I didn't find BV particularly great in that repsect, obviously they are doing something right, as they have many loyal customers, but I would put them not that high on my rating, compared to the other companies I've been with. It is of course subjective as proved by the comments above. Just don't go with Challenge Activ in Montriond (Sp) near Morzine, the women that runs that has an appalling attitude! Her husband (guide) didn't show for a ride he promised, we were searching for him all set up in the morning, his wife said he changed his mind as we were too fast! (we were not that fast, he was just shite btw) we had to try and find our own way, having not been to the place before, a wasted day really.
If you want to be looked after, Cycleactive - Spain, for something a bit narlier - Ciclomontana (Spain again) or Bike Verbier in Switzerland (Lucy runs women specific bike holidays - worth an email). They all feed you in the eve, so no going to restaurants on your own, lunch, breakfast and spend the day in the group is how it is, on all the trips I've been on.
AQR also feed you in the evening, with very good food.
I went with them last September as a female on my own. Had a fantastic time and am still in touch with some of the people from holiday.
Highly recommended. Even if I was the slowest there!
BitterBaldingFatty we are open from the first of may but the bike park isnt open until half way through may.
The best thing to do is contact Peter on peter@ticket2ridebc.com and he will give you all the information you require.
For the women. Whistler bike park does a women only course every wednesday aswell sa our own guiding. We will have around 6 guides, so we can accomodate every style of rider, fast or slow.
2nd vote for cycleactive as awesome holiday company who look after you from dawn to dusk including helping out with bike issues! did their Morocco trip worth every penny, definately worth it. I can carry on raving about it but you'd get bored 😉
I've only been there with a group but bike village is very very good. Sam and Lyndsey are lovely as are the guides...they will tune in to you quickly and keep you happy on and off the bike. I'm hoping to get a group together for a holiday in the states but if that doesn't work I'll have no qualms about booking myslef on a week or two at BV again. Think they might do a women only week too if that was of interest to you.
I know some single MTB blokes, how fit are you? 😯
Thanks, Sparky! Good luck with your travel plans.
Diane...big Ian is going back to Verb in Sept if you fancied going out with him as a weel kent face 😆
Had thought about this myself but decided it would be easier to do my own thing. Reckon I would struggle both fitness wise and being with other people every day for a week.
So am moving out of my comfort zone and going away up North for a week of riding and walking by myself, and staying by myself. Only thing that really worries me is if I have an off, nobody will know cos it's a remote area. Probably a good idea to have a daily check-in system with a friend ... except there's no mobile phone reception in the vicinity 😯
Good luck Diane with what ever you decide to do 🙂
Thanks for all the info guys.
Trekster - Does Ian know you are fixing him up with a travelling buddy? 😆
Cinnamon girl - ooo that sounds a bit scary but good for you! If you want a bit of company for a ride on your way up e mail me!
c-g, you don't HAVE to spend all your time with a group. I'm sure any good holiday venue will be happy to give you some pointers, maps, directions, alternative non-biking suggestions etc and let you do your own thing for days that group riding didn't appeal - they understand its your holiday nad your happiness matters.
c_g, good on you. I know what you mean about getting into trouble, I do quite a bit of riding/walking on my own and I often wonder what would happen if I mangled myself.
Couple of good bits of advice.
Be prepared for things. So, bits of basic advice like take a map+compas and know how to use them, I mean really know how to use them.
Warm clothes, waterproofs, bit of extra food/water, couple of LED torches etc. A whistle is really usefull, they never run out of battries and will attract the right sort of attention from miles around. You could go as far as taking an EPERB, its an emergency radio beakon that work anywhere, but that's all I know about them.
Make sure (to some degree at least) someone knows where you are (ie route(ish)) and when your likely to be back. Can be just a text at start of journey to a friend, then one after once your back in civilisation.
Take a mobile phones with you. I certainly wouldn't rely on them, but it often supprises me where you can get reception. And you can do an 911/999 call even if you dont have reception for your own network. Make sure its fully charged and leave it turned off unless you need it.
I'd also add that you shouldn't worry too much. Prepare and plan for a problem, but in reality most people survive most situations, and really really in reality most people don't get into difficulties in the 1st place. So enjoy!
I've seen some of the main companies doing ladies only weeks before so maybe worth ringing around or even canvassing here to get a group together & block book somewhere out?
A quick Google comes up with this
http://www.aeadventure.com/ladies_week.html
don't know anything about them though
[i]Make sure its fully charged and leave it turned off unless you need it.[/i]
NEVER turn your mobile off if you're out and about on your own. Put it on silent by all means but if the worst happens and you're found lying unconscious it means that the rescuer has access to your phone.
Re the holiday thing, maybe phone around a few, see what the "out of riding" facilities are like, how many other people are going out in the same week as you etc - useful for knowing who's around and who you might get to hang out with while you're out there.
I stand corrected, take a mobile, make sure its fully charged but DONT turn it off. Cheers crazy-legs.
Hi Diane, I guess one distinction is important to make regarding the term Single. At Ticket2RideBC over half of the guests each season come alone, however this does not mean they are single as in not married, they have just come on holiday alone as they didn’t have anyone who wanted to go on a mountain biking holiday with them. In fact many people choose Ticket2RideBC because it is a social way to spend a holiday with a group of likeminded people, with awesome trails to ride.
I can highly recommend www.ticket2ridebc.com, I've been 4 times and have made new friends within hours every time.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful it just takes all the hassle out of the holiday. Your only worry everyday is which one of the numerous trails are you going to ride 🙂
uplink - Premier MemberI've seen some of the main companies doing ladies only weeks before so maybe worth ringing around or even canvassing here to get a group together & block book somewhere out?
A quick Google comes up with this
http://www.aeadventure.com/ladies_week.htmldon't know anything about them though
Diane has been there and done that, last year.
She is a pretty nifty rider btw and should be able to cope with anything the mtb holiday companies throw at her.
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@ UrbanHiker - am always practical so have a rather large Wingnut. Have done the odd silly thing like riding through a ford without noticing the algae. It was rather painful 😳
Plus of course a dismount on wet chalk that bought tears to my eyes. Checked bike over and carried on riding. Five days later I presented myself to A & E to discover I had broken my collar bone 😯
Did actually investigate mobile phone reception by network within the U.K. but could make neither head nor tail of it!
A wee plug for the Singletons Social Networking ride at Swinley Forest on Sunday 7th February. More info here:
Come and join in the fun!
Sounds like it would be more straightforward to get a boyfriend.
Hi.
It's not a singles holiday company but I go on my own and have met couples & singles there. The last two visits to Spain I have arranged to meet the same guys and gal. The girl Lives in London but is Danish she is a really nice girl and Spain has improved her riding. I believe she is heading there in April to pick up a new bike after which the group will be meeting up at the end of Aug.
The company is switch-backs.com I can't recommend them highly enough for the natural trails, the sun and the people. It's worth a look. Matt
mobile phone reception by network is not all that impprtant for safety. All phones will call emergency services via another network if they can get to one but not their own so emergency calls can be made so long as one network can be picked up.
HI Diane, Sam here from BikeVillage. The only other thing to add is that we also run one or two weeks a month which are 'female friendly' (sorry it sounds rubbish!). Basically we make sure that single and attached female riders book for the same dates to avoid you ending up at the dinner table with 10 guys. About a third of our guests come out on their own so you'd be in good company anyway. There are 6 of us in total this summer for a maximum of just 12 guests so I promise you'd be well looked after!
Just give us a shout if you have any other questions at all,
Cheers,
Sam