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“ An average of 5-6 riders per guide means that you'll spend much more time in the saddle and a lot less time waiting for the rest”
Nope we had to wait 30 mins at the end of every downhill for the plebs to get down,every day was a massive group for us grrr,
we asked a and asked to be put with better riders or by ourselves but no we had to ride with these for a week,one day there was 14 of us in the group,what a waste of a day!
Kept on taking us down really tame trails when we had told them countless times we haven't come here to ride this!
1st two days we had to share with two other riders we didn't know and wasn't part of what we paid for.
on the way back to the chalet they always made user we went the road way back,and when i asked where this footpath went the guide said ohh no where, huh the day after i went down it instead of going the pub way back where the guide must get a bonus for tasking the riders that way as this footpath was pretty good and brought me out right near the chalet
1st day i asked where the supermarket was they reply was there isn’t one,but we sell all that you will need at a very expensive amount i might add.well low and behold the day after i strolled down the road to find a supermarket not 10mins away,well i never hey!
now if i was made of money it might have eased my wallet but to get out to the Alps etc was hard financially never mind everything else,a few more other things too but that is some of them
Ok if you like steady easy trails but far better places in the Alps
Of you have money to burn go for it
It's January.... have you saved up this rant for months?
Dave
Glad to hear you had an enjoyable trip. I'll recommend [b]Trail Addiction[/b] to my friends.
I am puzzled by this...
That was nearly incomprehensible - best calm down a bit and retype.
"Biker books group guided holiday and has to ride with others of varying ability". The horror!
Maybe drive and camp next time, it's cheaper and you'll be all alone.
Oh yeah, it's January....
on the way back to the chalet they always made user we went the road way back,and when i asked where this footpath went the guide said ohh no where, huh the day after i went down it instead of going the pub way back where the guide must get a bonus for tasking the riders that way as this footpath was pretty good and brought me out right near the chalet
Is the word footpath a clue?
on the way back to the chalet they always made user we went the road way back,and when i asked where this footpath went the guide said ohh no where, huh the day after i went down it instead of going the pub way back where the guide must get a bonus for tasking the riders that way as this footpath was pretty good and brought me out right near the chalet
erm... was it because it's a footpath? Lots of paths you are not supposed to ride on - might get away with cheeky trails, but for a guiding company based in a fixed location there is a pretty big incentive to get along with the neighbours!
1st day i asked where the supermarket was they reply was there isn’t one,but we sell all that you will need at a very expensive amount i might add.well low and behold the day after i strolled down the road to find a supermarket not 10mins away,well i never hey!
What did you need a supermarket for? It is fully catered...
All in all, it doesn't tally with my experience at all... they were great and the trails were brilliant.
Dave
Nope we had to wait 30 mins at the end of every downhill for the plebs to get down,[b]every day was a massive group for us grrr,[/b]
[b]1st two days we had to share with two other riders we didn't know [/b]and wasn't part of what we paid for.
So you'd gone as part of a massive group, then had to ride with them? How awful 😕
that footpath you went on is a serious bone of contention in the areas with plenty inconsiderate riders coming acropper crashing into groups of walkers using the footpath for walking.
my experiance with trail adiction is different to your.... even with them a guide down i had a great week - they split us up into two groups of abilitys we had a whale of a time.
In Pinhead's defence, I do think 14 riders in a group is too big a group. His/her holiday did not meet expectations and despite raising it with Trail Addiction little seems to have been done about it. I know that's not always possible, but I do feel a little for Pinhead here. I'd be gutted too.
Pinhead, I wouldn't waste your breath trying to warn these lot about them as the majority of this lot on here are the ones you'd be waiting for at the bottom of every track!! To be honest there's way better riding in the alps than les arcs, I really wouldn't bother unless you like smooth trail centre type trails!.. If u want some REET good riding get yersen to chamonix! By far more technical proper mountain biking!
Did TA last year, going back again this year 'twas so good.
so you only found the crap trails listed in the guide maps then pussywillow- shame that
Bless
Hi Pinhead, long time no see!
Seems like the last few months have somewhat tainted your memory of that week, so I’ll try and remind you.
Yeh unfortunately we were in a large group, but some guides were injured/ill which can’t really be accounted for.
As for the plebs like me, I’m fairly sure 30mins is a bit over the top, also you weren’t the fastest rider in the group, the fastest riders commented on how little waiting they ever actually did.
I seem to remember you had to take an extra day off riding, because those easy trails and long waits meant your body couldn’t handle it.
And I’m sorry you had to share a room with me us, but you did seem glad of it every time you needed some sun lotion or to borrow some tools.
It seems like you need a one to one guided holiday to truly cater for all your needs, but as you said these things aren’t cheap so we all have to put up with/embrace the experience of riding and living as a group for a week.
I thought it was great which is why I’m going again this year!
<rethinks previous sympathetic comments/>
🙂
Hi Pinhead, long time no see!
Seems like the last few months have somewhat tainted your memory of that week, so I’ll try and remind you.
<...>
Priceless 🙂
Pinhead just got [b]pwnd[/b]
We had a really good week with TA last year would go again G
Nice on Gareth 🙂
pinhead...........did you get MATES RATES?? 😉
Classic 😆garethcolins89
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to help soothe the pain from that slapdown Pinhead
Pinhead sounds like you don't being in a guided group. So don't. Me and a couple of friends went to the Ls Arc/Bourg last year. Hired a chalet rode our bike no guides. Found some great trails, explored, looks at a map, spoke to locals etc..
Have a great time, was a real adventure.
Travel about a bit too. Les Arcs, La thuile, Pila, Tinges, val-d'lsere
WTF? I had a great time when i went. I returned for a 2nd visit in fact. Groups were 5-6 initially but it went down to 3 on the last day as everyone was so tired from all the riding! It certainly wasn't "smooth". Made some good friends each time. We did around 100k ft of descent in the week. great fun.
Maybe we didn't have any "shredders" in our group who we couldn't keep up with?
I feel your pain Pinhead.
All I can say is:
This would not have happened with Bike Verbier!
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seriously why now? if you holiday was months ago?
anyway two back country weeks with trail addication and plenty of fast and challenging trails had by all, +1 for their great service and trails
<awaits next installment>
pussywillow - MemberI really wouldn't bother unless you like smooth trail centre type trails!
You rode a different Les Arcs to us. Well, we did do one descent on a trailcentre type thing, it was alright, but we didn't waste much time on that stuff.
1st day i asked where the supermarket was they reply was there isn’t one,but we sell all that you will need at a very expensive amount i might add.well low and behold the day after i strolled down the road to find a supermarket not 10mins away,well i never hey!
Is that true? I'd be a bit peeved if it was.
Me too we rode some [b]really[/b] rocky/Techy trailsYou rode a different Les Arcs to us. Well, we did do one descent on a trailcentre type thing, it was alright, but we didn't waste much time on that stuff.
"but we sell all that you will need at a very expensive amount i might add"
on that note - what did they sell . when i was there they sold brake pads and tires and tubes and freely admitted they were expensive as they didnt want to sell them but did for peoples convienance - they want you to come prepared to avoid disapointment. - didnt see any brake pads or tubes in the local supermarket.
i went to the local supermarket for a tin of coke one day as i wanted a pickme up before the night at la vache - i asked pat the guide and he pointed me down the hill into town centre.
Been twice with TA, each time the group was 6 people tops. Guides were invaluable, as even when we borrowed one of their maps we still struggled to find some trails as they are that we'll hidden! Great riding, guiding, accommodation and food. Will be going again.
Supermarket 10mins walk from Peisey? Don't bloody think so. 1 euro a beer in the chalet isn't it? Happy to pay that
EDIT - are you talking about the wee shop?
This thread could rival the UKBS thread for thread of the year.....
No guiding holidays ever again
I can't afford it that way and will be every 2 years when I go now times are hard aint lining the pockets of the rich
Gareth gareth you was a smart chap and well done for your smart post
The trails were more like uk trail centre trails Red 10 what a load of shite, ahh dear I loved la varda yes I wanted more of that stuff ! Which you lot hated so there we go eh ,I had only just recovered from a serious illness and just come out of hospital where I had lost 3 stone that is why I had to have a day off
Supermarket as couldn't afford TA prices
The TA setup is different to what I've expereince before, seems more of a divide between staff / punters / different groups at times. However our guide was a world cup level DHer who made us look like total beginners and she was a GIRL but a great guide who fetched me things for my bike when I broke them and paid for them out of her own pocket. The mechanics really helped me out aswell.
We rode stuff steeper than anything Ive ridden in Austia or Switzerland, trails were superb. We may have once or twice accidently ventured onto a footpath at times, by accident.
15 all
New balls please!
so why now?
[quote=pinhead]I can't afford it that way and will be every 2 years when I go now times are hard aint lining the pockets of the rich
Yeah, check out TA and their fleet of Bentleys!!
how was the ride up from the local supermarket in bourg with a crate of beer then ? worth the slog ?
was tough with 2 tins of coke 😉
😆
In my mind this is actually pinhead from Hellraiser. This is good stuff.
Pinhead, no hard feelings, i just felt some of those points werent the whole truth
i agree guided holidays don't seem to be the right choice for you as you have a particular trail style which you love and that's fair.
i think trails like red 10 are suited to certain riders but it would take a bloody good rider to really make the most out of a trail like that, however i agree it doesn't take much skill just to get down it.
IMO TA are great you just gotta realise what your paying for isnt an entirely bespoke holiday now matter how hard they try to meet the needs of all the riders