7 reasons why our riders return year after year...according to a recent participant of our BC "Sea to Sky" trip.
1. The sense of freedom – all I have to
worry about is getting to the end of each day in one piece. And that itself is
hardly a worry as I had complete faith in our Big Mountain Bike Adventures' guides not pushing as past
our abilities. Just getting on that bike in yet another exquisite location and
just turning the pedal – what a privilege !
2. The sense of
actually experiencing the country , not just being an observer from a vehicle .
Similar I guess to hiking but I think the added adrenalin further connects you
to your environment.
3. The balance
between exercise , great food, good sightings , special
accommodation
– in fact I think you have got the balance pretty perfect for a bunch of
middle-agers trying to stay in touch with our youth !
4. The riding was
wonderfully varied and always seems to have one testing day, just lovely. Exactly what we need to remind us just to go out and do
it.
5. Then of course the
fun of spending time with our friends. Somehow there is a constant cocktail of
irreverent mischief that follows this group. And this is where I would most like to compliment your guiding style – you
calmly dealt with too much noise , terrible language and generally poor
behaviour , without so much as developing a nervous tic.
6. The local guides
all add a special touch to the day – we just know we are going to experience
the best the terrain can offer.
7. I personally
thought this trip offered us the best mix of all of the element of the previous trips , including
the culture on offer!
Showing posts with label mountain bike holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountain bike holiday. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Pure riding indulgence.
Food and mountain biking find their heavenly match in Liguria, Italy
By Vince Shuley.
“Buon
giorno!” Antonio greets me heartily as he looks up from watering his plants,
smiling. Our host and chef at the agriturismo "A ca Vegia" doesn't
speak a word of English — the norm for most people of the older generations in
Italy — but I can tell by his gestures towards the green valley bathed in sun
that he is admiring another perfect-weather day in Liguria.
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| Downtown Finale Lirure is beautiful. |
Our
hilltop retreat at A ca Vegia overlooks the township of Finale de Ligure, one
of the many towns along the Italian Riviera. Finale is the first stop on Big Mountain Bike Adventures' Bella Rivera DH, a week-long downhill mountain bike
tour of the Ligurian coast shuttling some of the country's finest trails, and
gorging on arguably the best home cooking in the world.
Mountain biking has existed here since the early '90s with many of Italy's cross-country
racers using the hills surrounding Finale as a training ground. But after
Canadian freeride pioneers Brett Tippie, Wade Simmons and Richie Schley
(namesake for Whistler Mountain Bike Park's "Schleyer" trail) visited
Finale to film for the Kranked film series in 1999, the local mountain bikers
began to put shovels in the dirt to build their own downhill-centric descents.
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| Guide extraordinaire Louise. There's no one better to show you the trails, and more. |
"(The
Kranked crew) rode XC trails jumping from one side of the trail to the other,
playing around and having so much fun with their bikes," said Allesandro
Molini, a born and raised Finale local and guide for Big Mountain Adventures.
"It
was an explosion. After that (the locals) started to build trails just for
fun."
Finale
de Ligure has since become a popular destination for British and European
mountain bikers looking for easily accessed trails and reliable, sunny weather.
Trails range from berm-filled downhill descents, jumps and stunts to the 2013
Super Enduro course, all with views stretching along the beaches of the
Ligurian Sea.
With
as many shuttles as our group can handle, for two days we sample trails that
finish either in the town or on the beach, the locals barely noticing trains of
riders donning full face helmets and body armour. Bikers are welcome here,
providing much needed tourism after years of declining mainstream tourist
visits to Italy.
| Mid-descent. Yes, that's Finale Ligure way way down there on the Med. |
A
new destination is on the cards tomorrow, requiring a send off from the
hospitable folks at A ca Vegia. Glasses of Prosecco clink as another gargantuan
four course meal emerges from Antonio's kitchen.
Good
thing we don't have to pedal uphill tomorrow.
The Witching Hour
Driving
west along the coast and turning up the steep Valle Argentina, we soon arrive
at the tiny crow's nest village of Triora. A dark history permeates the alleys
and cobblestone streets, testament to the brutal witch trials held by the Holy
Inquisition in the late 16th Century. Today the locals celebrate the morbid
legacy of putting the witches on trial and burning witches by selling
wart-nosed witch dolls and Halloween decorations year round, as well as
celebrating several witch-themed festivals throughout the year.
The
steep walls of the valley meant most paths were originally built to traverse
the hillsides, used by hunters stalking game and peasants harvesting the
numerous chestnut plantations. But the trails are not without their challenging
sections; rocks and roots protrude out of the soil and the exposure off to the
side requires disciplined braking and line choice. Ancient medieval bridges and
simple stone shrines honouring the Virgin Mary are just a few of the historic
treasures we pass by as we descend towards the valley floor.
![]() |
| Nice spot to be at the end of the day. |
We
break for lunch in Triora's town square, the iron sculpture of a hooded witch –
complete with cauldron and broomstick – overseeing our four courses of
bruschetta, meats and cheeses, pasta and tiramisu. I order a double espresso to
shake off the afternoon fatigue, but our first ride after lunch turns out to be
a spectacular wake up call.
We
descend directly from the restaurant in Triora to the satellite village of
Molini, bikes buzzing down the vacant stone walkways. Riding through the town's
deserted cobble-stoned alleys with cats scattering into the shadows, you can't
help but feel that the souls of those "witches" haunt the place
several centuries later.
The
hills have their share of history as well. During World War II the area was a
staging ground for the guerrilla attacks against Italy's fascist rule, the
roads that provide such convenience for shuttling mountain bikers were refined
by Nazi Germany to move troops and armour faster inland from the Mediterranean.
Now the majority of traffic is relatively peaceful with shuttle vans and
motorcycle groups.
![]() |
| A SUPER fun trail deep in Europe's largest beach forest. |
The
Santo Spirito Hotel is our dinner and bed for the next two nights, and its
chefs have been hard at work to give our hungry group of mountain bikers the
meals of our lives, which after Antonio's magic will not be easy.
Two
more days of riding and eating lay ahead of me. Without a single hill to climb
on this mountain bike vacation, I'll be needing an endurance of a different
kind.
For
more information on this trip and more, head to the Big Mountain BikeAdventures
Click here for Bella Riviera DH trip details, and here for Dolce Vita all-mountain trip details.
Friday, December 20, 2013
10 YEARS.
This is a photo compilation that was posted on Pinkbike.com back in May of this year. We figured that since the year was coming to an end we'd bring it back. Enjoy!
This photo-essay shares a few highlights from Big Mountain Advenures (BMA), the Whistler-based mountain bike tour company that turns 10 this year. This is a brief history for Big Mountain, but really its roots started growing back in the early-70's...
Circa 1977, BMA founder Chris Winter getting a taste of cycling tours from the back of his dad's custom tandem on a month-long camping trip with 30 high school kids. Winter's pioneering parents started running road bike trips in 1972 to Europe and Canada's maritime provinces. The company, called Cycleventures still exists today, 41 years later.
The wheels were set in motion for the idea of developing an
international mountain bike travel company during the winter of 2001
while eating fondue and drinking wine in a little chalet perched above
the town of Haute Nendaz, in the Swiss Alps. Winter met local Francois
Panchard earlier that year on the internet as he researched riding
options in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The two hit it off
like old friends and realized that they both shared a passion for
mountain biking and exploring new terrain. In this 2002 photo, Paddy
Kaye, Ryan Bowland & Winter ride the Col de Mines, Verbier,
Switzerland.
On this first exploratory trip Panchard eagerly dragged Kaye, Bowland
and Winter all over his local mountains, linking up rides with buses,
trains, lifts and a shuttle truck. Panchard’s bike that year was a 25
pound fully rigid with v-brakes that he climbed like the wind. The bikes
of choice in Whistler at the time were heavy overbuilt freeride bikes
with double-crown forks and 3” tires built for jumping off roofs and big
stunts. And jeans and flannel shirts as riding apparel. Needless to
say, the Whistler crew got worked pretty hard on that first trip, but
they still returned blown away by the riding. This photo is Winter
taking trip notes after a long stretch of back to back big epics in the
Alps. Tired, but very happy.
In Switzerland every ride requires a map and serious logistical planning to link the details together. Besides the amazing rides, what stood out for the Canadians was the lack of riders they saw on any given day and the unreal transportation network. And unlike riding in Whistler, every ride in Switzerland is a high alpine epic accessed by a lift or paved road usually with a cafe at the top. Each day became a top 10 of all time. In this photo, Panchard & Blaise Mettan scope new lines in their backyard.
Winter was so excited about his Swiss experiences that he and Panchard hatched up a grander adventure for the next year, 2003. Panchard dubbed it the Crazy Canuck Freeride Challenge (CCFC) based on the ambitious itinerary and the all-star crew of fired-up BC riders and local Swiss riders invited. This photo shows the modest view from their digs in Zermatt and JJ Desormeaux heading out for a day of big mountain riding on his Chromag on singletrack that could not have been closer to the front door.
Panchard laid out an ambitious riding itinerary that encompassed rides that overlooked Lake Geneva to rides on the doorstep of Mont Blanc and a long list of loops on both flanks of the Rhone valley through Martigny, Sion, Sierre and onto Brig and Zermatt. Many of the rides had barely seen bikes. This 2003 pic is Squamish-based Chad "The Champ" Onyschuk hanging it out on the Dent de Morcles. A hike-a-bike to end all hike-a-bikes that led to an extra large descent.
Nights on the CCFC were spent packed into his small chalet pouring over maps, listening to techno music, drinking too much beer and wine, or spent in a mountain hut, drinking too much beer and wine. In this photograph night had fallen, the group had ridden a massive day and had caught the very last lift, just in the nick of Swiss time, to an alpine hut for the night. Panchard (second from left with beer in hand) set the bar very high on the CCFC, and it was met with great enthusiasm as the smiling Sean Dinwoodie attests.
Guides Joe Schwartz & Chris Winter descend the final stretch to the Hotel La Vallee in Lourtier, Switzerland, Big Mountain Adventures' European headquarters in the heart of the Alps. The hotel is run by the skiing and mountain biking Pellissier family who are the warmest mountain hosts after a big day of riding.
This photo is Big Mountain Adventures' backyard, exploring deep into
BC's South Chilcotins region with good friends and a flight from Tyax
Air. BMA has spent a decade exploring some of the far reaches of the
earth in search of great singletrack and great trips. Each time the crew
returns home though, the riding and culture out its front door become
just a little sweeter. The company also run some impressive itineraries
out of Vancouver that encompass Squamish, Pemberton, Whistler, the South
Chilcotins and the North Shore.
Fall '04 was their first trip to Morocco led by Montreal-based Dave
MacDougall who’d been guiding and living in Marrakech on and off for a
decade. After an amazing eight days of remote desert riding, on a whim,
MacDougall had this first group climb North Africa's highest peak, Mount
Toubkal. A side-trip that goes down in the books. BMA knew that this
would be the first of many visits to Morocco. Here, Andrew Shandro is
seen flying high in remote mountains on the edge of the Sahara while
Vanderham carves a giant red wall while filming for The Collective.
Early in ‘05 a big crew left the snow and rain of Coastal BC and headed south to the palm trees Costa Rica to ride with legendary San Jose-based guide Paulo Valle. The trip ended with a few deserved days of surf and sun on the worldclass beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula. Since then Valle has hosted hundreds of BMA riders and created lifelong memories. In this photo Valle admires a killer view in his beautiful country.
Along with leading trips for clients, BMA also produces corporate and media events. Here, locals Fabio Bernardi & Paolo Tossi drop down to their beautiful hometown, Cortina D'Ampezzo while researching routes for a Trek Bicycles event in 2012.
Peru remains one of Big Mountain's most popular destinations. It's for good reason, it's one of the best places to mountain bike on the planet. The Andes are extra grande, the second biggest mountain range the world. Add the fact that their mountains are arid, that the Incas happened to be master trail builders and you've got a recipe for a whole lot of good times on a mountain bike. Rider: Justin Mark.
For a number of years Big Mountain ran a mountain bike safari trip in South Africa and Botswana where you'd ride from luxury camp to luxury camp in a 70,000 acre game reserve. Kinda like being inside the cages of a zoo, except without the fences. The trip is no longer, at least for the time being. This photo is a group racing the sun back to camp. When the sun sets in Botswana the predators come out to hunt. Lions, leopards; a different kind of technical. It's a good thing guides carry big-ass guns just in case.
Mr. Wade Simmons with Chile's Villarrica volcano looming in the background. Not all destinations have made the cut for a BMA trip. Chile is one of them, at least not yet. It has all the features of a world-class adventure mountain bike destination but its unique geography makes logistics difficult and expensive.
This is mountain bike-crazy Rotorua, New Zealand. A truly great place to ride if you get the chance. Every town planner should go to Rotorua and take some notes in their Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. Task #1 is to figure out how to pronounce the name. They've created an extensive network of great trails within a concentrated area minutes from town. Easy climbs to trail heads, trails for all levels of riders and a killer shuttle service. The dirt there is pretty much perfect for trail building. Lucky them. Rotorua. Rocks.
Dropping down to dreamy Lahaina, Maui with Lanai island in the distance.
There are pockets of good riding on Maui but not enough to warrant
bringing your mountain bike instead of your surf board, yet. This is
local mountain bike advocate 'Moose' leading the charge on a killer
evening ride.
Wherever they travel, Big Mountain's mission is to support the local economy by partnering with the very best local guides and tour operators at its destinations. It also has had the pleasure of working with a number of celebrated guides like Joe Schwartz, Wade Simmons, Lorraine Blancher, Paulo Valle, Wayo Stein, Andreas Hestler, Seb Kemp, Louise Paulin and Stephen Matthews, to name just a few. Here, Kemp is right at home on the planet's biggest mountains, on BMA's Nepal 'Himalaya Heights' trip.
What's in store for the next decade at Big Mountain Adventures? Continue to fine-tune and improve their current roster of destinations, develop new itineraries and keep inspiring people to ride their bikes and love our sport. The search continues...
A huge buffed-singletrack-filled thanks to all the riders who've joined BMA on trips over the past decade. And more thanks to the amazing professional photographers that have shot our trips: Sterling Lorence, Blake Jorgenson, Harookz, Chris Christie, Scott Markewitz, Dan Barham, Ian Hylands, Bonny Makarewicz, Ilja Herb, Mattias Fredriksson, Christophe Margot & Adrian Marcoux. And BMA's amazing sponsors: Trek Bicycles, Sombrio, SRAM, Chromag & Smith Optics.
This photo-essay shares a few highlights from Big Mountain Advenures (BMA), the Whistler-based mountain bike tour company that turns 10 this year. This is a brief history for Big Mountain, but really its roots started growing back in the early-70's...
Circa 1977, BMA founder Chris Winter getting a taste of cycling tours from the back of his dad's custom tandem on a month-long camping trip with 30 high school kids. Winter's pioneering parents started running road bike trips in 1972 to Europe and Canada's maritime provinces. The company, called Cycleventures still exists today, 41 years later.
In Switzerland every ride requires a map and serious logistical planning to link the details together. Besides the amazing rides, what stood out for the Canadians was the lack of riders they saw on any given day and the unreal transportation network. And unlike riding in Whistler, every ride in Switzerland is a high alpine epic accessed by a lift or paved road usually with a cafe at the top. Each day became a top 10 of all time. In this photo, Panchard & Blaise Mettan scope new lines in their backyard.
Winter was so excited about his Swiss experiences that he and Panchard hatched up a grander adventure for the next year, 2003. Panchard dubbed it the Crazy Canuck Freeride Challenge (CCFC) based on the ambitious itinerary and the all-star crew of fired-up BC riders and local Swiss riders invited. This photo shows the modest view from their digs in Zermatt and JJ Desormeaux heading out for a day of big mountain riding on his Chromag on singletrack that could not have been closer to the front door.
Panchard laid out an ambitious riding itinerary that encompassed rides that overlooked Lake Geneva to rides on the doorstep of Mont Blanc and a long list of loops on both flanks of the Rhone valley through Martigny, Sion, Sierre and onto Brig and Zermatt. Many of the rides had barely seen bikes. This 2003 pic is Squamish-based Chad "The Champ" Onyschuk hanging it out on the Dent de Morcles. A hike-a-bike to end all hike-a-bikes that led to an extra large descent.
Nights on the CCFC were spent packed into his small chalet pouring over maps, listening to techno music, drinking too much beer and wine, or spent in a mountain hut, drinking too much beer and wine. In this photograph night had fallen, the group had ridden a massive day and had caught the very last lift, just in the nick of Swiss time, to an alpine hut for the night. Panchard (second from left with beer in hand) set the bar very high on the CCFC, and it was met with great enthusiasm as the smiling Sean Dinwoodie attests.
Guides Joe Schwartz & Chris Winter descend the final stretch to the Hotel La Vallee in Lourtier, Switzerland, Big Mountain Adventures' European headquarters in the heart of the Alps. The hotel is run by the skiing and mountain biking Pellissier family who are the warmest mountain hosts after a big day of riding.
Early in ‘05 a big crew left the snow and rain of Coastal BC and headed south to the palm trees Costa Rica to ride with legendary San Jose-based guide Paulo Valle. The trip ended with a few deserved days of surf and sun on the worldclass beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula. Since then Valle has hosted hundreds of BMA riders and created lifelong memories. In this photo Valle admires a killer view in his beautiful country.
Along with leading trips for clients, BMA also produces corporate and media events. Here, locals Fabio Bernardi & Paolo Tossi drop down to their beautiful hometown, Cortina D'Ampezzo while researching routes for a Trek Bicycles event in 2012.
Peru remains one of Big Mountain's most popular destinations. It's for good reason, it's one of the best places to mountain bike on the planet. The Andes are extra grande, the second biggest mountain range the world. Add the fact that their mountains are arid, that the Incas happened to be master trail builders and you've got a recipe for a whole lot of good times on a mountain bike. Rider: Justin Mark.
For a number of years Big Mountain ran a mountain bike safari trip in South Africa and Botswana where you'd ride from luxury camp to luxury camp in a 70,000 acre game reserve. Kinda like being inside the cages of a zoo, except without the fences. The trip is no longer, at least for the time being. This photo is a group racing the sun back to camp. When the sun sets in Botswana the predators come out to hunt. Lions, leopards; a different kind of technical. It's a good thing guides carry big-ass guns just in case.
Mr. Wade Simmons with Chile's Villarrica volcano looming in the background. Not all destinations have made the cut for a BMA trip. Chile is one of them, at least not yet. It has all the features of a world-class adventure mountain bike destination but its unique geography makes logistics difficult and expensive.
This is mountain bike-crazy Rotorua, New Zealand. A truly great place to ride if you get the chance. Every town planner should go to Rotorua and take some notes in their Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. Task #1 is to figure out how to pronounce the name. They've created an extensive network of great trails within a concentrated area minutes from town. Easy climbs to trail heads, trails for all levels of riders and a killer shuttle service. The dirt there is pretty much perfect for trail building. Lucky them. Rotorua. Rocks.
Wherever they travel, Big Mountain's mission is to support the local economy by partnering with the very best local guides and tour operators at its destinations. It also has had the pleasure of working with a number of celebrated guides like Joe Schwartz, Wade Simmons, Lorraine Blancher, Paulo Valle, Wayo Stein, Andreas Hestler, Seb Kemp, Louise Paulin and Stephen Matthews, to name just a few. Here, Kemp is right at home on the planet's biggest mountains, on BMA's Nepal 'Himalaya Heights' trip.
What's in store for the next decade at Big Mountain Adventures? Continue to fine-tune and improve their current roster of destinations, develop new itineraries and keep inspiring people to ride their bikes and love our sport. The search continues...
A huge buffed-singletrack-filled thanks to all the riders who've joined BMA on trips over the past decade. And more thanks to the amazing professional photographers that have shot our trips: Sterling Lorence, Blake Jorgenson, Harookz, Chris Christie, Scott Markewitz, Dan Barham, Ian Hylands, Bonny Makarewicz, Ilja Herb, Mattias Fredriksson, Christophe Margot & Adrian Marcoux. And BMA's amazing sponsors: Trek Bicycles, Sombrio, SRAM, Chromag & Smith Optics.
Friday, November 04, 2011
Ride Dirt & Ride Waves this winter.
It's about time.
We're elated to announce that we've partnered with Peaks n' Swells Surf Camp on two of our Costa Rica mountain bike trips this winter. What does this mean for you? It's simple, and it's really tasty: join us on our new cross-country Peaks and Beaches trip from Feb 25 to Mar 3 and then leave your bike stuff and fly out to the coast in a little prop plane for five days of surf instruction, bonfires on the beach, morning yoga sessions, organic eats, epic accomodations and beach life.
Come on, how does that sound? Big Mountain clients receive $100 off the Surf Camp. We're also offering this on our March 10-17 Pura Vida DH trip. Yep, rip dirt then rip waves and chill out with some assisted stretching and organic eats and cold beers while the sun sets...
Or, meet your non-mountain biking partner out on the beach???
Peaks n' Swells Surf & Yoga Camp Extension Details:
Dates: March 3-8 (post Big Mountain XC trip) and March 17-22 (post Pura Vida DH trip)
Cost for Surf & Yoga Camp: $1395 USD (usually costs $1495 USD!)
What's included?
We're elated to announce that we've partnered with Peaks n' Swells Surf Camp on two of our Costa Rica mountain bike trips this winter. What does this mean for you? It's simple, and it's really tasty: join us on our new cross-country Peaks and Beaches trip from Feb 25 to Mar 3 and then leave your bike stuff and fly out to the coast in a little prop plane for five days of surf instruction, bonfires on the beach, morning yoga sessions, organic eats, epic accomodations and beach life.
Come on, how does that sound? Big Mountain clients receive $100 off the Surf Camp. We're also offering this on our March 10-17 Pura Vida DH trip. Yep, rip dirt then rip waves and chill out with some assisted stretching and organic eats and cold beers while the sun sets...
Or, meet your non-mountain biking partner out on the beach???
Peaks n' Swells Surf & Yoga Camp Extension Details:
Dates: March 3-8 (post Big Mountain XC trip) and March 17-22 (post Pura Vida DH trip)
Cost for Surf & Yoga Camp: $1395 USD (usually costs $1495 USD!)
What's included?
- beachfront house with pool and epic jungle in backyard
- professional surf instruction with video analysis
- high performance surf boards
- daily yoga classes
- daily fresh & natural breakfasts
- professional surf photography - your best surf shot!
- happy hour with drinks and fresh snacks
- fresh snacks at the surf break including freshly cut coconuts when you return from surfing
- transport to the breaks
- pick-up & drop off from Tambor airport
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| How good does that feel after a week of riding? |
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| Easy waves for the whole family. |
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| Learn how to do this! |
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| Super comfy digs with nothing but the sound of waves when you drift off to sleep... |
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| Relax and re-charge. We all need it. |
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| Wake up to a surf session, then a swim and some fresh fruit smoothie every morning! |
Thursday, October 13, 2011
6 things to remember when going on a destination trip.
Ride lots leading up to your trip, you can never be in good enough shape. Typically on a destination trip the fitness required for a single day is not a problem for most. Where you'll shine however is when the days accumulate, and then throw in some altitude, some climbing and a big day (or two) in the saddle and you'll be happy that you arrived fit.Talk to your tour operator about the technical ability required on the trip and the specifics of the riding. Is the riding in the desert of Morocco and generally dry and loose and midly technical singletrack and doubletrack? Or is the trip all-mountain in BC with an emphasis on going downhill where the trails are rocky and rooty? This information will ensure that you are able to handle the riding, or if you'll need to spruce up on your riding skills with a local riding coach.
Is your bike ready? Make sure that your bike is ready and know what tweaks to make. This goes along with the above point. A good tour operator should know the best tires to bring, if a shorter stem might be a good idea, or bars with a substantial rise. And definitely don't get your bike serviced just before leaving, have at least a few rides on it before putting in the box.
Get travel and medical insurance. If you break your pinky three days before flying to Peru and have to cancel travel insurance will reimburse you for your flight and land cost. If you go down on the trip and need to get home, medical insurance will cover expenses. It's best to kick down and get the most comprehensive packages that include heli-evac and more. Afterall, we're mountain bikers and what we do is risky.Packing your bike is easy. Well, it's not as hard as you think. There are more options than ever for bike boxes: Crateworks, EVOC and Dakine are good considerations. Or, you could swing down to your local bike shop and get a large cardboard box which works fine (they'll even pack your bike too if you want). Unfortunately expect to pay an additional fee to the airline to take your bike, usually between $50-$200 each way. Or you can have Bike Flights ship your bike for you.
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| Just below the Italian/Swiss border. |
One of the best parts of going on an overseas trip with your mountain bike is the dreaming and planning. Take the time to do some research on your destination and read up on the history, culture and sights. And, of course spend lots of time dreaming about the great singletrack and adventures that lays ahead.
Labels:
mountain bike holiday,
mountain bike trip
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Arrivederci Italia: that's a wrap.
I love the people that you meet through mountain biking. May I introduce Louise Paulin. Have you met her or heard of her? It's possible, it's a small world. Born in the south of Sweden, lived in Chamonix for years and now lives full-time in the mountains above Finale with her daughter and husband. She's super cool and chill and rrrrr-rips on a bike.
I like this photo. It's not perfect, but then what is? A portrait of 'ol uncle Roost. Have you seen him lately?
You can't tell in the photo but it just stopped raining. Still, it's the beach and those are big bikes and that's a palm tree on the left and that there on the right is the Mediterranean. It cleared up and the sun did come out minutes after this was taken. I'm pretty sure that these bikes where stoked to feel sand under their tires and just be chillin' on the beach after a week of blissfull punishment.
After ride beers, you know the ones. They really do taste better. Scientific studies have shown that the taste of beer is enhanced post-ride because of a very special chemical is released after you get off your bike and sit down and take that first sip. OK, that's bullshit. This was simply a particularly good post-ride beers sessions. I think Stephen Matthews was recalling a ripping section of trails in this photo.
The last ride of our trip ended at an old church overlooking this sweet cove that was truly idyllic. After a swim it was time to pack up the bikes for the flights home tomorrow. Thanks to all who made this an amazing downhill mountain bike holiday. Want to join Big Mountain in Italy this fall or next year? Get in touch.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Canadian Loonie buys $1.04 USD
Attention Canucks: according to the Bank of Canada one Loonie buys $1.04 USD today. This is the strongest Loonie seen since November 2007.
Hmmmm...let me think for a second...Big Mountain's trips are in USD...that means that with my Loonie im actually getting a discount! Canucks: if there was ever a time to book a mountain bike trip with us, it's today!
Hmmmm...let me think for a second...Big Mountain's trips are in USD...that means that with my Loonie im actually getting a discount! Canucks: if there was ever a time to book a mountain bike trip with us, it's today!
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| Ahhh, the trusty Loonie soars again.... |
Labels:
mountain bike holiday
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Cow's Demise: riding the Alps with Joe
“Ding, ding, ding”, the omnipresent sound of cowbells waft through the Swiss air. If there is one thing I relate directly to my travels in Switzerland, it is the sound of these large bells, attached to even larger bovines. Seriously, these cows make our North American hormone-infused versions look pretty puny...
Read more about Joe Schwartz' Alpen exploits on NSMB.com.
Want to ride with Joe Schwartz in the Alps this summer? He's working out his schedule now but stay tuned... In the meantime, check out out our Alpenrock DH trips and all-mountain Cloudraker trips.
Read more about Joe Schwartz' Alpen exploits on NSMB.com.
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| Big Mountain's shuttle rig in Switzerland. |
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Pura Vida DH next month: a few spots still open!
Want to get a kick start to your riding season? We have two departures next month for our classic Pura Vida 9-day DH get-away in beautiful Costa Rica, February 18 and February 26. Click here for more info or here if you'd like to speak to us click here.
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| Going downhill in the jungle! Photo: Jeremy Saunders. |
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Forecast: rain. Think Costa Rica.
Fall is here. It's official. Here's the forecast for our home base, Vancouver: very moist.
Here's what it looks like:
We've got spots open on our two Pura Vida DH trips meeting in San Jose on Feb 18 and Feb 26. Make fall more bearable with a tropical mountain bike trip to look forward to...
Here's what it looks like:
We've got spots open on our two Pura Vida DH trips meeting in San Jose on Feb 18 and Feb 26. Make fall more bearable with a tropical mountain bike trip to look forward to...
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cheese, chocolate & singletrack...
Did you know that the Swiss make entire meals out of cheese & chocolate? It's true. Did you also know that Switzerland has over 60,000 km of singletrack? Hmmm, cheese, chocolate & singletrack...
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Dirty tales from Maroc
We just wrapped up another stellar private trip in Morocco's High Atlas mountains. These photos are courtesy of Stephane from Switzerland and are a good depiction of what to expect on our Dirt Merchant trip. Of all our trips, Morocco can cater to a wide range of riders and tastes - from intermediate to professional, XC to ALL-MTN to DH, ultra luxury to ultra adventurous - we can make it happen. If you and your riding crew are thinking of mixing up next spring's annual trip to the desert, you should get in touch with us and seriously consider Morocco. Our scheduled dates are April 10-19, 2011 but we can always organize a private trip if you'd like. See you in Marrakech!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Monday, October 04, 2010
this afternoon in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco
Oh how i wish i was in Morocco right now. It's sunny and warm and the trails are oh-so-super-fun. And then there's the clash of unique cultures, the epic accommodation, great food and very cool atmosphere. We'll have next year's Dirt Merchant XC trip details posted very soon. We do know that the next trip is April 10-19, 2011.
I travelled up this road, and I travelled down that,
What have I to show for it? Nothing flat.
All I brought were slippers which I took off and left by the door.
A silly calf ate them, soles and all.
Moroccan saying
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| Moroccan traffic jam: encountering a Berber on his way home with supplies. |
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| Nancy mid-climb. Check out that singletrack on the left...sweet! |
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Good wine & great singletrack
We mountain bikers are known to enjoy our post ride ales. In certain circles quality beer at the end of the ride is just as important as the singletrack ridden and it seems that everyone I meet is a burgeoning beer sommelier. I like beer too, but can a mountain biker drink wine and still be cool? Our Swiss all-mountain Cloudraker and downhill Alpenrock DH trips take place in the canton of Valais, which happens to be one of Switzerland's main wine producers. It's a spectacular region with sweeping vineyards that go from the shores of Lake Geneva up the mountainsides, and from the Rhone Valley up the steep slopes of the Alps. I can't think of another place in the world where you can descend 6000 feet of blissfull singletrack or ride 50 kms of unreal all-mountain trails that end in vineyards.
Last summer on a private trip, after a day of downhilling at the Crans Montana bike park we rolled down the long last descent of the day and stopped off at wine producers' "cave" for a tour of their production and a wine tasting, and then continued the last bit of riding down to Sierre and our hotel in the setting sun. What a great way to wrap up a day of riding. Ah, the good life...
Want to drink wine and ride your mountain bike in the Swiss Alps too? Get in touch with us and we'll make it happen.
Last summer on a private trip, after a day of downhilling at the Crans Montana bike park we rolled down the long last descent of the day and stopped off at wine producers' "cave" for a tour of their production and a wine tasting, and then continued the last bit of riding down to Sierre and our hotel in the setting sun. What a great way to wrap up a day of riding. Ah, the good life...
Want to drink wine and ride your mountain bike in the Swiss Alps too? Get in touch with us and we'll make it happen.
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| Hmmmm, wine. |
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| Descending down to the Rhone Valley post wine tasting. Eyes on the trail. Focus... |
Photos: Taylor Holland. Thanks to the Holland family for a great trip!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Ride with Joe in the Alps
Some sweet views from Big Mountain guide and teacher extraordinaire Joe Schwartz, summer 2009. Former pro mountain biker with mad skills, professional heli ski and mountain bike guide, cultural aficionado, French speaker, master mountain bike instructor and the kind of great guy that you want to hang out with...could Joe be the ultimate guide? Want to ride with Joe this summer? I think we might have a few spots left on our Alpenrock DH trip.
Labels:
mountain bike camp,
mountain bike holiday
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Ticino, Switzerland all-mountain video
Tucked in the southern part of Switzerland, the Ticino region is mountainous and dotted with lakes and palm trees and the locals speak Italian. It's dry and rocky compared to the rest of the country and has more deciduous forests. Enjoy this video....hopefully it'll inspire you to dream of big rides this summer.
Monday, December 07, 2009
The Brazilian
Upon retrospect we should have worked harder to keep this trail unknown. Back in 2003, on a pioneering trip in the Swiss Alps, journalist Mitchell Scott in a fit of pleasure, compared parts of this trail to that of a freshly shaved Brazilan wax job...the word got out and now we've been told that the name pops up regularly in German mountain bike chat rooms. For years we were the only mountain bike tracks and now we're seeing more riders up there. It's all good. We're mountain bikers and we love a good descent. Here's a good view of it...
Want a taste of The Brazilian yourself? Join us for the ride of your life.
Want a taste of The Brazilian yourself? Join us for the ride of your life.
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