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(Mr MC posting)
Posted on the basis many here recommend them, and Alan uses the forum to promote his business and has a right to reply.
Managed to identify Alan lurking in the airport despite not wearing his SC baseball cap, and making no effort to approach what was obviously a bunch of cyclists looking for their host. If we hadn't been his clients than a friendly intro might have promoted further business.
Unpacking the bikes in what is effectively the rear yard of the house we stayed in, a woman walked in the front, through the house passing most of our group, to the rear. Stood watching me, unloaded a washing machine, then turned and walked out, not saying a word to any of us. Turns out this is Mary, Alan's partner and our host. Putting aside personalities, an introduction would have been professional and common courtesy.
Sunday our group of 9 headed out in one van with our single guide. We completed what was planned to fill the whole morning in an hour, so our guide Dave invited us to go ride the loop again, whilst he sat in a cafe. So no medical support, no guiding, no "here's an emergency number" etc etc.
For most of the week, our group of 9 had one guide. The other group of no more than 5 clients had 2 guides (Alan and Salvo).
In the afternoon one of our group got lost. The guide was the last one to realise (we all know each other) and the last one to respond and try do something about it. Luckily one of our group who was a really strong rider and a repeat visitor followed the most likely "wrong" route (road descent), and did eventually find our missing rider. Not that the guide would have known, as no effort was made to ensure he had been found safe and well.
Monday we were joined by a day-client on a rental bike. So now our group numbers 10. Still with one guide, who as he is ill is more accurately an uplift driver. We cram our bikes into the back of one van (MC's new Fox forks getting trashed in the process),to discover the other van with half as many people (which left from the same place) is at the same site, so we could have more efficiently split the loads. The day's riding is actually guided by our repeat visitor friends.
Apparently the website advertises that they will look after you, including fixing punctures and mechanicals (which is not something I would ask for or expect). The day client suffered a puncture, and the "guide" was forced to borrow one of our pumps to fix it as neither he nor the van had any kit.
The rest of the week followed in a similar fashion. A van broke down mid week, and our guide was ill. Neither of which should impact on me the paying client; Alan could hire another van, keep the one van in use doing multiple runs, or cram as many people in as possible and do as little as possible. He chose the latter option. At one point we had 10 people in a 9 seater minibus, so likely to be insurance issues there.
One of the best days riding is El Chorro. Except most of it is in a national park where it is illegal to ride. Alan usually guides there on a Sunday when the rangers don't work (we were caught and turfed out). Whatever the reason for banning cycling, be it environmental sensitivity or just a blanket policy, I am not impressed at a professional outfit using illegal trails. I also know my travel insurance covers mountain biking "on designated trails". Whilst I haven't tested this definition I am sure it would exclude trials where cycling is prohibited.
The day guest described the set up as chaotic which is accurate if charitable. They have the feel of a new start up with teething troubles, not someone in their 20th year. Alan obviously has enough custom to keep in business, but in 14yrs of annual foreign riding trips this was the worst. Limited riding, poor or none-existent guiding, no-expense-spent bike transportation (the back of a van, old sheets and fingers crossed = the only time any of our bikes have ever been damaged in transit). Our repeat visitors had a far better experience last time with a different guide so much may be down to the quality of the staff. When the 2 groups merged we got to meet Salvo, the Spanish guide who's total lack of English is offset by his enthusiasm, charm and attention and I am glad to hear Alan is looking to keep him on.
We were a group of 9 of mixed abilities from nervous to former Commonwealth competitor and are happy to accommodate each other, which is just as well as with one guide there is no way SC could accomodate different needs. If you are going to push it and run such a big group with one guide then surely asking one of the group to play sweeper would have been sense (something we usually do on non-guided holidays anyway).
This is only the second time we've had a guided/supported holiday so we're not high maintenance molly-coddled types, but the difference between SC and Cycleactive (and Rich Barnard) couldn't be more stark. Rich and Hassan in Morocco added to our experience and it's only from riding with SC I've appreciated just how able they were.
I expect happy clients to step to Alan's defence, but I can't recommend either Sierra Cycling or the region itself. Apparently Alan commented to one of our group as he left for the airport that we didnt seem happy, which seemed a little late to show an interest.
Guess that's one company i'll not use.
Wow! That really was a terrible week you had.
I presume you've already taken it up with Sierra Cycling; it'd be interesting to hear their side.
That does sound shambolic, thank you for the heads up, I wouldn't expect my cycling holiday to be like that so I will not consider them in the future.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them... 😯
Doesn't really matter what SC say, MC & 8 others have clearly had a crap time. The damage is done.
Im going at Christmas and cant't wait.
I'll let you now how we get on.
Sounds awful, I'd hate to have a holiday ruined like that. Hope you managed to get something out of it at least. Will keep them in mind to avoid in the future.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them...
You must be new here? 😉
...but seriously, the damage appears to have been done in relation to MC's holiday experience. Not the sort of thing that can be fixed retrospectively, short of some sort of financial recompense. Even then, their experience remains as written above.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them...I presume you've already taken it up with Sierra Cycling; it'd be interesting to hear their side.
It's an honest review, most people would balance the mix of reviews and form their own opinion.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them..
Never sure what the protocol here is. It's a holiday, and can't be fixed under warranty- it's what happens during the holiday that matters- a host that has their finger on the pulse and rectifies/manages problems and issues as they arise.
[i]Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them..[/i]
If it was crap other people who might go may be interested to know, just as good holidays get reported without prior consultation, so should bad ones.
1 Guide isn't enough with a group of any size never mind 10. What if the guide had fallen off and been knocked unconscious. Had a similar experience in Greece where the advertised "Advanced Level" trip had managed to attract a woman who had never cycled before, she freaked out at the first offroad section, our sole guide sent her a different way and promptly set off down the trail, went over the bars injuring his arm. The woman wasn't seen for the rest of the day as she got lost on the alternative route. By the second day our group of 6 was down to 2 of us and a guide, the rest of the week was great!
Were Sierra the ones who used to advertise in mags with ads about how bad the competition are? Could be doing them a disservice of course.
Sorry to hear that, MC. I've been with them before and had a great time; then (1999 or 2000 I think), there were at least 2 guides per group, and they were ace.
Having said that, the whole set up was fairly laid back and chilled, so it's not surprising that when things go wrong (van, ill guides), the impact is immediate and obvious to clients. Like others, will be interesting to read SC's point of view.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them . . .
Here we go. 🙄
Can't say that was a 'slating' - seems like a balanced and reasonable review to me, and for that I thank you Mr M-C.
Hope you have given SC an opportunity to respond to your disappointment before you came on here and slate them...
Surely the owners could of offered some sort of compensation the OP would be happy with, or an explanation as to the sub standard level of service....and maybe then OP wouldnt of felt the need to come on here and explain
Fair enough if the owner wasnt helping or offering a resolution then the OP has every right to come on here and tell all.
Two sides to every story and all that... 😉
Fair point though - the damage has been done and Mr MC obviously didnt have a good holiday.
I used them 6 years ago and had a good time (though the day before we got there there was a break in to one of the houses and the guests bikes got stolen) so doesn't make good reading
It would be great if someone from SC came on now to say that they would look in to what happened. That would give confidence that they cared
What is more likely these days is that the thread gets pulled once they hear about it which is a pity as things do go wrong and what differentiates the really good organizations is how they handle it when things go wrong.
To be fair, what i remember of Alan, he'll post on here when he spots it
Interesting, I spoke to Alan about a guiding job lately, looks like he should have employed me not the other guy 😉
I wonder why you cant recommend the region as you are the only person Ive ever heard say that.
In fact Im going because of the region and that my friends keep going back to train through the winter.
I can't recommend either Sierra Cycling or the region itself
What area did they take you riding in? Did you get up into the Alpujarras around Bubion, Lanjaron, Orgiva way?
It's a few years since I went (with a different firm) and my riding has come on a lot since, but I still reckon some of the best trails I've ever ridden were there.
Surely the owners could of offered some sort of compensation the OP would be happy with, or an explanation as to the sub standard level of service....and maybe then OP wouldnt of felt the need to come on here and explain
But the damage was done. And also, a review is a review. Compensation shouldn't make any difference to what the review of the holiday consists of.
On the flip side, I had the opposite experience recently on a motorbike trail riding holiday. 3 days before we went someone posted up a review on about 5 different websites saying how crap the riding and service was, to the point where me and my mate debated driving strait past them to the Pyrenees. In the end, we gave it a chance and it was probably some of the best riding I'd done, certainly out stripping Wales.
So one bad review doesn't break a company, but it needs to be taken in context with all the glowing reviews.
I went with them 8yrs agor on 2003 and had a good time.
Mind you, it was my first (and only 'til next month) mtb holiday so i had nothing to compare it to. We had two guides at all times, apart from the first afternoon when Alan took the two of us out on a short local loop - we had landed that morning.
As for the quality of the riding, it was a long time ago but i remember there wasn't a huge amount of singletrack but i enjoyed it all the same.
I am very surprised to hear about the use of illegal trails in the National Park though, if true (and i've no reason to dismiss it) then this is quite serious as i'm led to understand the Spanish Police make no differential between the holiday operator and their clients, all will be equally guilty and i believe you can even have your bikes confiscated! That could really be an expensive problem to solve.
🙁 been twice 2009 and 2010 yes it is a little layed back so tiny things can mushroom.
i have had very good times with them, yes the airport thing got us the first time round knew who to look for the 2nd time.
we had very good guides of which none are nolonger working there, and only one at a time but always rode at the back telling us where to wait for everyone to catch up so cannot comment on the guides you had.
the days where split around lunch sometimes riding the same routes which i like as i will go faster if i know where i am going
would i go back yes i was thinking about next oct2012 for some winter sun.
M-C hope you ended each day with ice cream on the beach or has that gone too 🙁
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(Mr MC posting)
couple of points;
I deliberately left posting any review for a few days to try be dispassionate, objective and accurate. Only reading positive reviews of anything doesn't necessarily give an accurate picture.
"Our" guides were Dave, Alan, Salvo and Ash. Ash literally joined SC mid-week (you may remember Alan advertising on here for a guide a few weeks ago) and seemed like a nice guy. One of our group quizzed him on his qualifications and when he discussed the MBLA he mentioned that he would never guide a group larger than 8.... Alan is the owner, Dave has been there this year, Ash as above and Salvo I understand was a new local recruit (he knew the trails but not the routes if that makes sense). Our repeat visitors had previously ridden with guide Johnny and raved about him but he has moved on. Worth bearing in mind as the old "good" guides other respondents used may have left. In the future Ash should be trained up, and Salvo (a lovely guy) have studied English. Or Alan may more evenly split groups/guides.
I wouldnt recommend the area based purely on what we rode. Our rides were short (see original post for example) and in the same couple of areas so we re-rode sections and hills. There may well be far more out there but we didn't see it.
Our group of 9 are of all of a similar opinion to mine despite the vast spread in ability, and we have actually been a group of as as much as 15, taking up 2 chalets in Morzine. me n MC are off to India with mountainbikekerala in January, and should be having a week with bikeverbier in the summer so whilst most of our previous trips have been self-supported we are not averse to paying for guiding. Both these have come with rave reviews and I am looking forward to the trips.
Had a good time with them back in the day (in my 20's), remember the guide snapped his seat post but still managed the rest of the ride...bit chaotic but worked out ok, perhaps this is more spanish style. Kind of liked it back then.
At one point we had 10 people in a 9 seater minibus, so likely to be insurance issues there.
Yikes!
Actually not yikes. Given the choice between waiting 40 minutes for a minibus to go back for one person and bundling in the back, I'd jump on on. Live life on the edge me.
TBH having read the review it kind of illustrates horses for courses, none of those occurances would have had me worried. I think I still would have had a brilliant time, but I can see why the OP is fed up.
I went to spain with Switchbacks DH in march, and I am going back in nov, we had groups of 6/7 with a driver and guide, it was awesome. The guides were all excellent riders, very good at talking us through sections and overall excellent fun. We rode at el chorro, (at least I think that was the place) without any issue.
I've been with them a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed it, we always had 2 guides though for our 8 [ish] strong group.
We had plenty of long days out and the trails were good, I wonder if the inexperience of the guide meant he was restricted to the shorter routes that he'd had time to memorise?
Stuff like getting people lost, more than 6 guests to 1 guide, the guide having no kit and overloading the minibus are completely unnacceptable. I can't understand why you didn't say anything while you were out there ?
TBH it should have been to have sorted it out with them face to face rather than washing dirty linen on here.
Not been with them so cant comment, I can say that you will be blown away with the set up with Bike Verbier next year. When are you going?
I went a couple of years ago and had a great time. But I'd suggest that was largely down to the lead guide at the time, Jonny, who couldn't do enough for you and took me on some great trails.
There was also another guide there (Dave - a kiwi corporate drop out) who couldn't be bothered. Funny guy, but just not motivated as a guide (which was why I was there dur!!).
I liked the shambolic way of doing things, but as said, the superb guide made the holiday.
Oh and didn't exchange two words with Mary the whole week 🙄
+1 for Bike Verbier. Try Switchbacks if you want to try another Spanish flavour.
Everyone should note that at least one Chamonix based outfit guides on illegal trails during July and August. "Just say you're English" doesn't wash with me, and it certainly doesn't wash with the Mrs who is a Scot.
There are some great trails in this area it's a matter of knowing where to look, clearly your guide didn't know them. You would have thought though that the routes used every week by S.C. would be recorded on a GPS so that any new guides would know where to take clients.
Good post Mr M.C you are paying guests and are not satified with the holiday and want a reply from S.C.
As previously stated One guide to Nine clients is not only totally unacceptable It's dangerous.
Did you mention to Dave your concerns, while there - what did he say?
Like after the first day or two?
So you raised your concerns during the trip whilst they still had a chance to do something about it, or you sat their quietly waiting to get back on line and have a rant about it.
I'm confused by your first 2 points. You found the guy in the airport - ok he didn't make it easy but it doesn't sound like it was a disaster. Then you let some "woman" walk past you in the yard without talking to her (perhaps because you thought she was just the cleaner) then complain she didn't give you a cuddle or whatever your issue was.
Whilst I can see some of the other issues could be frustrating, did they really ruin your trip? I mean someone needed a loan of a pump, I doubt I'd have remembered that at dinner that night never mind a week later. You've said yourself that many of the guiding issues (a sweeper, mixed abilities etc) you took care of yourselves - perhaps the guide didn't want to upset your "status quo" by enforcing "school rules" on you.
Perhaps not a trip you would recommend - but hardly holidays from hell!
poly - MemberI mean someone needed a loan of a pump, I doubt I'd have remembered that at dinner that night never mind a week later
That's the sort of thing that could be a bigger problem though- if the guides say they'll take care of tools, punctures etc then people might just ride without them. Once they've offered something it's important to follow through
(we had a brilliant week with A Quick Release but another rider had a big mechanical that only got fixed because I'd ignored the instructions that we wouldn't need tools and shouldn't weigh ourselves down. But that was offset by all the really, really brilliant stuff, unlike in this case where it becomes a minor issue on top of other issues)
That's the sort of thing that could be a bigger problem though- if the guides say they'll take care of tools, punctures etc then people might just ride without them. Once they've offered something it's important to follow through
This is all true but there is another dimension which is that the guide is the most important person in the group and has to be able to care of himself because if he can't - he can't take care of everyone else. basic stuff really.
My 2p
1) if it were me on holiday there I'd raise the issues with the owner whilst I was there and see what could be done to rectify them
2) if it were my business I'd split my time across two parties staying with me so I could make sure they were both happy.
Bar the recriminations it's all a bit late for both 'sides' to do anythign to sort it out now.
Yep Poly...borrowing a pump may not be an issue but if the "guide" neglects the basics what state will his first aid kit be in?
overcrowding a minibus is fine until it rolls and you find you have no travel insurance to pay your hospital bills and possible medi flight home.... same for biking non authorised trails...ok doing cheeky trails at home the NHS will pick up the tab... holiday insurers will take any opportunity to wriggle out of a claim guys!
Seems like a fairly long list of complaints. That much stuff going wrong would certainly annoy me. When you pay for guiding you'd expect a level of professionalism to be involved. I was impressed with the setup at Trail Addiction, the only similar trip I've been on. Your experience seems a long way from that.
Having said that, I think you might have had a better time if you'd raised some of your concerns whilst there. Surely having two guides with your group would have made sense? Can't quite understand why it was arranged like that but perhaps Alan assumed you were happy and his guide was doing the right things? I had an ability issue 🙄 in Les Arcs and was subsequently put in a group with other folks who can't ride 🙂 Smiles all round.
Hope you have a better time on your next trips and that Alan comes on here to tell his side of the story.
I went a couple of years ago and had a great time. But I'd suggest that was largely down to the lead guide at the time, Jonny, who couldn't do enough for you and took me on some great trails.There was also another guide there (Dave - a kiwi corporate drop out) who couldn't be bothered. Funny guy, but just not motivated as a guide (which was why I was there dur!!).
I liked the shambolic way of doing things, but as said, the superb guide made the holiday.
Oh and didn't exchange two words with Mary the whole week
i was there last year - basically sums up my experience. By comparison went to the Alps with Bike village this year, couldn't be more different - end of the day, it came down to the passion and drive of the respective owners, couldn't help but think that Alan's heart wasn't in it
Only been on one overseas trip with BV - best week of my life (much to the annoyance of my missus who didn't go with me).
Can see this thread turning into a cracker though. Sorry to hear about you and MC's bad holiday - its shit when you pay good money for a break and it turns out to be rubbish.
Off to do some housework - be back later with a tea and some biccies.
have you emailed Alan?
To the people saying the OP should exhaust all options of feedback / complaint with the company, why? Also they are not sides, the customer is king in the relationship, it matters not that we have cycling in common... When I have terrible customer service from any company large or small, the first, and most natural thing to do is rant about it. Companies should take note, that their reputation is ingrained in their customer service.
Really does sound like a company that has become complacent about this.
am i the only one who finds this a slightly harsh review?? i mean dont get me wrong it sounds like you had an awful time - no excuses...
BUT and a big old BUTT....could you not have raised these issues at the time with the guy/owner?? i mean us brits are great for complaining about food/accomodation ABROAAAAAAAAAAD on holiday, why not excercise your right to do so then whilst there??
im not condoning if its been a piss poor experience for you...but surely if you were that miffed at the time you told him about the above??
if you did, ignore me, totally....but if you didnt, i feel its a little late to now try rectify it, without even giving the guy the chance at the time to sort it out for you and your party...
Sorry to hear of your bad holiday, thanks for the warning. I think I'd be gutted if I had a holiday like that. I had one of the best holidays I've ever had, MTBing with the White Room in the Alps a couple of weeks ago. I think the hugely high standard I got there - on my first proper biking hols abroad - would encourage me to presume that all cycling holidays would be like that. I would expect organisation, professionalism and warm friendliness from the owners of a bike holiday company, which I got in spades at the White Room, but it sounds like you didn't get any 🙁
I don't have an issue with the OP's review, unfortunately for the OP it sounds like it was a toss week and I'm grateful for the review. I can't understand why though, that nothing was said whilst they were there. Not due to any issues of fairness to the company, but if it was my hard earned paying for a rubbish holiday I would want to sort it and at least salvage a couple of days/ or some cash back. I would have been in Alan's face every minute of the day, assertive but still respectful, but I have no shame.
+1 for Jonny being a great guide but otherwise when I was there in 2009 the holiday overall didn't appeal to me as much as my stays with Bike Village and A Quick Release.
Is the Dave guiding now the same Kiwi who was the other guide back in 2009?
Never been on a proper bike holiday so nowt to say other than sorry to hear you had a such a crap time. Thats all.
poly; Alan not introducing himself and and Mary not "giving me a hug" 🙄 are minor points, but I included them as they seemed to set the tone and stuck in the mind as part of a consistent pattern. Walking into a house which is to be someone's home and not introducing yourself is rude full stop, and just bizarre when you are their paid host whether or not you are outgoing or introverted. I neither wanted or expected a hug, but a "hi, I'm Mary, you'll see me every morning sorting your breakfasts" isn't too much to ask?
On the first day Mary was the van driver, we were presented with an open back van door. I reasonably asked "whats the best way to load it?" to which she replied "I don't know". Again possibly trivial, possibly not when your'e talking about transporting maybe £20K of kit and it's something you do daily as part of your profession? One of our group had just ridden with rivierabike who make a point of their bike-friendly trailers. I don't mind damaging bikes in use, acquiring battle scars is part of the territory, but I do mind them being damaged in transit (and I cant believe anyone would just shrug off such damage). "Luckily" MC's Fox forks only got scuffed on the sliders (she started wrapping her knee pads around her forks after that) if it had been the stanchions they could have been ruined functionally, not just cosmetically.
I don't mind someone borrowing my pump but
1) they advertise that they look after you so they are setting expectations they can't match
2) as whytetrash has observed, if he doesn't even have a pump what of his first aid kit?
Dave didn't observe and leave the group dynamic to run itself, he had no idea when a nervous rider crashed early on the first day, and no clue someone was lost until we told him, and absolutely no idea how to deal with the situation. If we had been a mixed group of strangers when might the missing rider have been identified? How does that square with guide/leadership training?
I won't go into what I said to who on the trip but suffice to say discontent was well aired. Posters who mention the value of the guide are bang on, as I've said before Salvo was great and despite not having any common language I know all sorts of random stuff about him and he put a lot of effort into the days we had with him (later in the week when we were a combined group with one van).
It's for Alan to explain why the groups and guides were split as they were and what size groups he believes is acceptable with one guide, I am trying to keep expressing my opinion to a minimum.
edit; guide Dave wasn't a kiwi, he was a brit who had apparently guided in whistler.
And as I said I've posted on here as we read positive reviews here prior to booking, and Alan uses it to promote SC, so should anyone use the search function (!) they might get a balanced perspective.
Been thinking about this.
When i went with SC 8yrs ago i was a comparative novice and the riding was enough that it tested me a little. However, looking back and looking at it with 8yrs more experience i do wonder if i would have enjoyed it if i had taken that same holiday this year.
There are more than a few bike holiday firms offering trips in that part of Spain now, and if (only surmising here) SC haven't evolved in line with their competition i think i would find the riding a little on the dull side nowadays.
Of course, i may be completely off-base and they have a whole new set of exciting trails to ride plus, everybody's perception is different.
Its not good to feel that your holiday was poor as these are not cheap trips.
Bad luck on your trip and experience - just to say that I had a good time with Biking Adalucia, based in Orgiva, last year. I was the only client that week which possibly helped, but would definately encourage people who have not been to explore the region. I would go back myself if there weren't so many other places in the world to explore.
Hope your next trip is more positive & that SC post a reply on here
I was with them last year too. Agree 100% with what capt bastard & Andy said.
To me it seemed like SC was run with minimum outlay possible (have they got curtains in the rooms yet ?). The OP's experience doesn't exactly surprise me.
Rode with trailaddiction this summer... couldn't have been more different from what you describe. Attentive, friendly, professional and always quick to ask if there was anything else they could be doing to make our trip better.
Looking for somewhere to go next year; will cross Sierra off the list of potentials. Cheers!
Dave
Bike Verbier are the polar opposite of what you describe. Guides who can deal with groups of varying ability with ease, detailed trail knowledge, friendly and amenable from the start to the end of your holiday, an ever expanding network of trails on offer, excellent food and accommodation. To be frank, they are the gold standard that others aspire to. You'll have a great time. Sorry that you had such a poor experience in Spain. Doesn't sound like it was the holiday you were expecting.
sanny thanks, [i]everything[/i] I have heard about BV is in the same glowing vein. We were due to go out there this summer but I broke my arm so have moved the funds/holiday to next year.
In regard to SC I don't want compensation, but if nothing else a negative review may prompt future clients to ask pertinent questions to reassure themselves on the service they will receive.
I won't go into what I said to who on the trip but suffice to say discontent was well aired.
Ah, fair enough then. For some reason that doesn't come across in the first post. If only because you'd expect things to have improved after complaining. I think other people have alluded to the politeness of emailing the owner first with your concerns. Clearly that's much less relevant if he's already had a chance to rectify things.
Shame about the forks being scratched though. Might I suggest some Bombers as a replacement?
Sounds like there was probably some good riding to be had in the area, and other groups have had a good time, but unfortunately you guys have been on an odd week when you didn't get as good a service as you should have.
Not the worst riding holiday ever though.
Went to morocco a few years ago, part of it was 3 days staying with some local peeps and riding up in the high atlas, including uplift to get the masses of climbing on roads out the way...
well. the peeps we were staying with were not farmers living off the land, or general locals, but some grotty drug riddled student hole none of the people residing at the time were known by the organisation just that 'its a place to sleep', would have rather stopped with a farmer & his goats personally.
Riding? Oh shit. day 1 guys pulled some 1990s low end rigid mtbs that prob cost £150 back then, and were wrecked in every sense. Both were huge and didn't fit either of us.
So we HTFU and rode the 1st day anyway. 2hours in and my bro struggled like hell with altitude sick'ness (been up in the hills for a week by then), threw up then more, then some blood then passed out.
Guide didn't have a clue how to deal with him, nutured him back then rode back down to the drug shack, got him taxi'd back to the hotel and others took care of him. I went back out and rode the rest of the first day, was basically just dirt tracks & roads but at altitude, enjoyed it anyway, then stayed in teh drug shack and said no thanks to the remaining 2 days.
Was nothing like it said on the tin, or from what others had described/reviewed it (they had Cube FS bikes, a land cruiser and a converted rustic farm house with pool + view), and borderline disgraceful guide (couldn't ride and no medical knowledge).
But recognized that I was getting ****ed over, left, and only lost the deposit (around £40 inc currency fees) instead of paying the whole amount (£180) and carrying on with the whole sorry saga.
I can sympathize with the OP to an extent, but surely during the course of the holiday something should have been said to the level of care you were getting?
Oh dear, I'm glad alan let me down with the guiding job now. Luckily I have still got a job but I could have been left jobless, anyway enough about negative firms.
Whilst I have never used the following firms the quick and polite correspondance was appealing so I'll give them a thumbs up - Doug at basquemtb, Darran at lava trax and stevo at white room.
Sorry to hear about your holiday.
That's a real shame about your holiday.
As someone who used to live in Gibraltar, from a local's perspective there is an absolute ton of amazing riding to be had in Andalucia, but yes, you certainly need a good guide.
I won't go into what I said to who on the trip but suffice to say discontent was well aired.
I look forward to hearing the 'defence' but I think if I'd experienced something like that (and had no improvement after complaining) I would have been far less measured in my post.
Holidays are too important, not to mention expensive, to waste.
10 years ago we had a wonderful holiday with MountainBeach, I think that it was fairly obvious that we would not be returning or recommending them - to the point where one of the guides took me to one side to apologise for the other guide and his girlfriend. I think that at one point we asked them where was a good local taxi company to get us us back to Geneva - totally washed over the tosser though.
It's always shit when something you've looked forwards to turns out to be so awful. Fortunately we had 5 years of great holidays at Pyractif with Steve and Brenda to make up for it.
Woody - MemberI look forward to hearing the 'defence' but I think if I'd experienced something like that (and had no improvement after complaining) I would have been far less measured in my post.
Yep. Think the OP deserves some credit for posting such a restrained, balanced review.
Sounds like next time you need some Ciclo Montana Action!
Sorry to hear u had a bad trip!
Anyone done any biking with 'Pure Mountains' in the Sierra Nevada? I'm out here at the moment and literally bumped into Jenny and Tim with a group of guys here for the week I think. I'm hoping to get on a half day ride with them at some point this week (can't get a full days release as i have my other half along who's not a cyclist)
To the op; sounds like you had some annoying issues on a trip that no doubt cost a fair chunk of change... I know I wouldn't be happy.
djglover -
Member
To the people saying the OP should exhaust all options of feedback / complaint with the company, why? Also they are not sides, the customer is king in the relationship, it matters not that we have cycling in common... When I have terrible customer service from any company large or small, the first, and most natural thing to do is rant about it. Companies should take note, that their reputation is ingrained in their customer service.
Erm...maybe cos they could have sorted most of the problems out there and then and enjoyed the holiday?
Are you happier with more to complain about?
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your holiday. I assume you've pitched your complaints to SC. Let's hope they respond.
The "amateur" standard of guiding seems quite serious to me: insufficient numbers/cover, disinterest, poor trail knowledge, missing equipment, losing a client, illegally over-occupying a vehicle, illegal riding. Did they have first aid skills and gear? What would have happened in a safety/legal situation? Maybe things didn't unravel for you, but they might for a future client.
In regard to SC I don't want compensation
I'm not sure why not. To an extent, they wasted your time which you cant get back. They may even have put you at unnecessary personal risk. The threat of paying back some of their fees might make them buck their ideas up.
To an extent, they wasted your time which you cant get back. They may even have put you at unnecessary personal risk.
risk has no cost or value, so really you cannot compensate for exposure to wider risks than expected after the fact.
Having said that MC's review seems level headed enough, and in the context of my excellent experiences with AQR I can see where the shortfalls he experienced ought not to have happened.
Erm...maybe cos they could have sorted most of the problems out there and then and enjoyed the holiday?Are you happier with more to complain about?
Not at all, just saying that for a lot of people a rant is easier than going back to deal with a difficult to deal with organisation.
True but presumably they did not provide what they said they would ie. guided cycling with properly eqipped experienced people.risk has no cost or value, so really you cannot compensate for exposure to wider risks than expected after the fact.
from the SC website
[i] We offer different daily guided tours each day, the pace and distance entirely dependent on your choice of ride, fast with flowing and technical singletrack or easy and leisurely enjoying the spectacular scenery and excellent weather, it’s your choice.
We use up to 4 guides, so the rides can be fast or slow, long or short, it all depends on what you are looking for in a mountain bike holiday.[/i]
You need Ciclo Montana! been 2 twice now and no differance in the super guiding and hosting dispite leaving a long time between vists. book them now!
or joyriders.co.uk
That sounded like a very restrained and proportionate review to me. I also think MC’s review is a communally responsible thing to do - for the benefit of STW forum users currently deciding with whom to invest their time and money.
Isn’t it about time (Mr MC posting) got his own username though? 😀
i had a very similar experience with s/backs last year.
bad, unorganised show off guide and chaotic uplift.
house we stayed in used like a corridor!
plus a mammoth transfer.
4/10
have been there in the past year, and I find the OP's post not really surprising.
I'd say compared to other guided weeks i've been on, I had just an 'OK' time, and SC's hosting style seems to be very 'hands off' to say the least. I prefer my MTB hols to be a bit more organised feeling. I think the week certainly felt very fragmented.....
shame, as the range of trails are great in the area. guides were both decent chaps, but they can only do so much I guess....
Just noticed the pics on the SC site. Is Mr MC in any of the pics of smiling guests in weeks 1 and 2 of September?
[url= http://www.sierracycling.com/photos.html ]PICS[/url]