I want to book a surprise MTB holiday for my hubby and his mate for 2001 around April 'ish. Has anyone got some suggestions re areas eg northern Spain, France, that have good/technical trails. They will want to go somewhere that is very challenging, they are also good map readers. Any ideas would be appreciated.

karen, try the portes du soleil area of the alps, i've there twice and the trails are excellent, but at that time of year i don't think any of the ski lifts will be open so it will mean big time climbs for all the accessible high points.

I agree. My girlfriend and I have been to both Les Gets and Les Deux Alpes. Both places are well geared for mtb holidays. Les Gets has the World Cup DH course with a day lift ticket for about FF50. Morzine close by is supposed to have even better trails.

Les Deux Alpes has a lot more trails for full day rides. We did a 1.5hr DH run from the peak of the mountain...awesome.

Both places have full price range of accomodation and decent quality rental bikes...Les Gets has great duallies. There are also many other activities inc rock climbing.

I don't have much experience of riding abroad (apart from various coastal areas of France) but a year or so back i went to Chamonix in the French Alps (with MBMB) and it was the BEST riding I have come across by far - sure the climbs were tough but that's half the fun - and to have a whole afternoon of Dh biased singletrack well,...

Even if you don't book with MBMB, I would advise having a chat with them or similar when you're over there to find out where the best trails are as these guys know the trails really well and can advise on which ones will be hot (or not so) as regards weather.

You can't go far wrong as there's also karting and some weird thing where you go downhill on what is basically an overgrown skateboard with steering....

I've heard the road rides there are awesome too if that's your bag!

As soon as I can find the time (and cash!) I'll be back there again.

Not sure about the Alps now, especially in April. Have gone the last 2 summers now, 1999 to Morzine, 2000 to Chamonix with MBMB. The riding is great but the weather is so dodgy considering the distance you have to travel. On both trips I lost a few days 'cos the weather was so bad, and I'm used to Wales!
I think my choice would be Rocky Mountain in Colorado, a fortnight with them wouldn't cost much more than what me an my mate spent going to Chamonix!

I agree - the ski season finishes on 14th / 21st April in the French Alps so I can't see there being much riding possible - unless they like riding on snow.

I would a have thought April for Europe is a very bad time. The weather can be very variable and crappy right up until July. We went with MBMB to Chamonix last July - the day we turned up was wet and cold! (The rest of the week was excellent). Likewise with Tyrol in June.

You can still go skiing in the alps in April in the high resorts and all of that snow melt would result in some spectacular mud!

However, if you wanted to go a little later, how about Bourg St. Maurice as a centre? You can get there on the Eurostar and there's a funicular railway up to Les Arcs and some fantastic riding. In the neighbourhood are Tignes and Val d'Isere virtually strung along one road.

I went there last year with Exodus last year. Bourg is a great little market town

Just like
the lakes in England, some of the best MTB stuff in Europe is not in the highest bits. I went to Lake Garda in Italy this Easter - good weather and fantastic biking. You can get a cable to the top of the local mountain that has awesome "free ride" trails for the 40km descent. MTB is big there so there's loads to do.
I've also been to the Ardeche in France - not so high but v good quality trails and good VTT signing.

Thanks for all the ideas - perhaps France would not be so good in April. What about Spain ? It is further south so should have better weather - I had thought of perhaps booking an apartment and jeep so they can do their own thing. Any suggestions where in Spain, or perhaps the best resort to base themselves at?

I'm in Portugal and the riding here is pretty good, but it'll be better in Spain, particularly in the central/northern regions. Try looking on the web for travel agents who specialise in such things.

www.sierracycling.com is supposed to be good value, 01707 650854. also try this one, www.tuspain.com/ciclo

Me and my then girlfreind, now wife had a great fortnight in a village called Alhaurin el Grande, about 25 minutes (by car) inland of Fuengirola. We stayed in a villa called La Avellana who used to advertise in the bike mags, don't know if they still do though.
There's some great riding, the weather in April should be just right and you can enjoy the nightlife on the coast if you want!

France is fine at that time of year, you're just going to the wrong place! Get to the Pyreenees, it should be cool for most rides then as its much further south.

Is there anything decent in Sardinia? I'm off there for the New Year, and I'm wondering whether to pack my bike or not...

Karen,
I went to the Picos de Europa in Northern Spain about 7 years ago (and wrote about in in the quickly defunct MTB Monthly). This offers excellent riding, we went in mid April, giving the opportunity for snow on some trails.
We took my camper and stayed in various locations, Potes, Panes on really quite good campsites.
The Cares Gorge is not to be missed, although realistically it is a return trip along it (don't try on Saturdays though).
A caple car runs from Fuente de, to about 6000ft, from here wonderful trails head through alpine, meadows etc..

If this is the knid of stuff you are interested in, I hope it is still the same. I can give you more details get back to me.

Mike

Hello Mike, thanks for the suggestion, it does sound ideal, can you tell me which airport is the closest for the region.