Just this second arrived home after spending a week with Doug at BasqueMTB. Want to say what a legend the guy is but feel “legend” doesn’t do him justice.

Best holiday I’ve ever been on and I used to work for a company that ran alps holidays. His knowledge of the trails and how to maximise a day in terms or terrain, trails and weather is just beyond belief.

Really pleased that we now don’t have to research where we’re going for next years holiday. If you want challanging natural riding, I don’t think you can get better than this in terms of a complete holiday.

Cheers Doug!

Seems a nice chap from his posts opn here.

Where did you fly to?

Been once and want to go again
Doug is a top guide and stunning location

I have been twice and would love to go again. Not just because Doug is a good friend, his business is genuinely top notch.

Flew from Manchester to Bilbao. Then about an hour in the van with Doug.

not yet…

but im due to go for the great rock week in july.. I cannot wait!

I’ve been a couple of times, and have been with some of the other favourites so can make real comparisons, and I agree with everything Onzadog says.

Rockhopper – Depending on which week you’re on I look forward to riding with you!

I can only back up what’s already been said up there^^ Hi Phil ! I’m going back again with Phil and a couple of others on 6th July , can’t wait. 😛

[/url] image by santarocky, on Flickr[/img]

I went and will be going back at some stage. Really nice knowledgeable guy and interesting place to ride. Riding into San Sebastian left an impression. Also want to meet up with Carlos the Spanish giude who was a hoot.

Well you´ve all made an old guy really happy! Thanks a lot everyone. Thanks for the feedback Onzadog and thanks for taking the time to put it up on here, it really means a lot. More than that, thanks for giving me an ace week. Your whole group was brilliant and chasing you down Way of the Pear will be one of the highlights of the season!

Don´t know what else to say, just thanks to everyone for coming and for saying nice things 🙂

I’m also going to do the 2nd week with Ed and Doug in July. Can’t. Flippin.
Wait. Got most of the logistics sorted, just need to get there now. Factor 50 sunscreen is already packed.

Echo what others said. Doug/Basque mtb has set the bar very high for riding holidays imo – just hope he’s got some better cd’s in the van than what i had to put up with 😀

Refreshing to ride with someone who seems restless and admits there’s more to found, usually i get ‘my trails are mint, everywhere else is shit..’

Foods pretty good too

I’m crunching numbers to see I’d it’s possible to get back out there this year!

Shame – but i keep getting drunk and spending all my money.

im going for the Second week too Trailofdestruction.. so ill be seeing you there!

Really must book those flights!!

Heading back out in October for a week, doing the back-country Pyrenees tour. Cant bloody wait. And ill echo what everyone else is saying. Doug lays on a fantastic set of trails for all abilities and yep, he is an all round good egg 🙂

flights are proving a nightmare to sort out on the Saturday start / finish days..!

where is / did anyone else fly from?

Just realised I’m going on holiday in the Basque country in July, wonder if the boss would let me take a bike with me?

Probably not 🙁

You can fly into Bilbao and Biarritz, at a push Santander, Bordeaux, Pau.

There’s ferries into Santander and Bilbao.

Train is a possibility.

Mogrim, when in July? You might be able to borrow mine.

im aware of the arrival airports.. 🙂

its finding a departure airport on the saturday thats proving trickier..

only really found stansted so far.. and thats miles away from yorkshire.. and tricky to get to (and expensive to park at!) when i’m going on my own.. 😳

Spacehopper – I had the same problem, and got a little bit stressed about it, I ended up emailing Doug and Ed in a terrible panic, going ” I can only get a flight on a Sunday, Oh My God, what am I going to do !!! “, to which Doug replied in the most casual manner ” well come from Sunday to Sunday then “

Flippin Easyjet, eh. Anyway, Doug turned out to be a superstar, and said it wasn’t a problem, so flight is booked for the Sunday afternoon out to Bilbao, to the following Sunday back to Manchester.

Must remember to get a spare mech hanger to take out. 💡

Email address is in my profile if you want to have a chat off the forum, will PM you my mobile number if you like mate.

FWIW I’ve always found it cheapest/fastest to go from Oop North(Newcastle) into Barcelona then onto Bilbao. Unfortunately for you this’ll mean 2 flights and two sets of bike-bag charges.

awesome! sunday to sunday it is then..! *huge relief*

ill email Doug and let him know i’m doing the same 🙂

can they organise bikes for you, or do you have to take your own?

i’ve only got a cross bike.

Just checked website and found this bit

Bike hire costs €120 per week and €30 per day

So I’m guessing yes. Give Doug an email and ask, I’m sure he’ll be able to help you out Sancho.

sweet I’m on it

Sunday to Sunday from/to Manchester for us as well.

A year or two back went to Biarritz surfing with some mates, it was that end of season weekend when the shops sell all their gear off in the streets, and I spent all my time looking back into those spanish hills thinking ‘I bet there’s some good riding to be had up there’. One mate said we’d do it but it aint happened yet, just this weekend was drooling over Ed’s site……..fancy driving down in the van actually but maybe the wife won’t go for it , ah well.

how would fair to middleing riders get on on this holiday,or have you got to be pretty good to survive:)

Would love to go back but the flight situation from Scotland is a pain in the buhoochy with no direct flights unfortunately. 😥 Sadly, my patience for connecting flights is limited which rules it out for me. I had a great time when I was there and would definitely recommend it and not just because Doug is a friend. 😀

Good question mikey3. There’s a lot of technical riding out there. We watched a lot (if not all) of Doug’s videos to get a flavour of it. Just remember, the camera flattens a lot of it.

Some of our group with significantly less experienced than others but I think it was attitude that allowed them to enjoy it. They didn’t mind walking bits if they were too hard and generally just loved being outdoors.

It’s all natural stuff as well, no trail centres which suited us down to the ground.

If in doubt, talk to Doug, if he doesn’t think it will suit you, he’ll tell you. He won’t flog you a trip you’re not going to cope with. You couldn’t want to meet a more honest and genuine guy.

I found that on the back-country pyrenees tour the trails were just like UK stuff – lakes, peaks, whales etc on steroids – just longer, faster, looser with switchbacks thrown in!

My holiday video from last year:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLoVwW4Tzt4[/video]

whales etc on steroids

A whale on steroids yesterday.

😉

Mackem – Member
Mogrim, when in July? You might be able to borrow mine.

Cheers for the offer, but TBH there’s no way I can actually get some riding in – the reason we’re heading the Basque country is that I’m doing a 31km trail race on the first Saturday in Zumaia, I’ll probably be too knackered for the rest of the week to do any proper biking, not to mention that’s my sport allowance covered 🙂

Weren’t you supposed to be visiting Madrid, anyway?

Only managed a 4 hour visit to Madrid, part of a very quick scout down that way. Be down there properly sometime in the Summer. If you need a guide/drinking pal/excuse for anything up here let me know. Our lass knows the spa/shopping side of things.

Sorry I´m late to this, been guiding non stop recently. I just wanted to say thank a lot to everyone who took the time to post, and visit, I really appreciate it. Loved the video too “Mad Pierre”!

Sanny, train to Manchester airport and direct flight from there. It´s super easy.

We can hire hardtails at the moment but are working on getting some hire full sussers for this season. Fair to middling riders would get on great I think, it depends a bit what you are used to. If you are only used to trail centers then you will find stuff a bit hard because it´s all natural. Like “Onzadog” says though, if you are worried about any of that then drop me a mail and we will have a chat, I´d hate to sell you a holiday you weren´t going to enjoy!

Cheers everyone!

Mad Pierre that’s a great video! 🙂

I too absolutely bloody loved that week (avec Onzadog) with BasqueMTB – made 12 long months of squirrelling away holiday money totally worth it! A real adventure every day and did more hours in the saddle than I ever thought I was physically capable of.

Love this photo of Onzadog taken out there (by Doug’s fair hand I hasten to add!)

Can’t wait to go back next year 8)