Strengths: Lovely scenary, proper spanish fare restaurants, most of the DHing OK on an AM rig with armour.
Weaknesses: The XC in feb often gets too much snow (4 hr push anyone?). Much more snow than advertised, despite it being a hard winter this amount of snow does fall with regularity(I asked the locals and those clients that had been before). We didnt get the instruction that was promised. Snow free trails werent ridden but were available in the mtns, poor trail planning by guides. Accomadation in the mtns simply awful (buy your own wood for the fire or freeze)Chaotic organisation for transfers.
The company now with the DH expansion is not the XC hardcore specialist of old, it's trying to do too much with too small a staff base and keep all the clients happy. if they delinated certain weeks XC or DH only they may get less clients per week, but the quailty of the expereince would be better, and thus the return rate better. IMO the magazine reviewers are obviously treated as such, hence the rave reviews.. so if they do focus their efforts this operator can deliver, but not to the average client going in winter, the weather is against you and the staff are split between riding areas 3 hrs apart. In particular with the above and the now weak pound its not worth the money these people charge. (no evening meals is all explained, but the food in the fridge for lunches etc.. was cheap english type white bread, cheap cheese etc..)
I'd consider doing the uplift DH type trails again for a weekend break (fly to malaga) or fly to Granada in May for the XC, but not for a trip to both areas in the same week.
Overall: We went in feb 2009, we were unlucky with the the weather, even so not a holiday to recommend.
The holiday was split, part DH in Malaga, part XC in the mtns. Though we wanted XC only with hindsight the company had factored in the DH from the begining. So we were enticed to still go with promises of intense instruction - this never happend. Hence being asked to fly to Malaga not granada - so having to spend a fair amount of time on transfers that were orgainised a bit off spec.
The DH ended up being the best bit. Malaga is good, not alps class, but in feb it's a great break away. The XC looks awesome on the www. and no doubt other reviews on here have had a good time (dont think it's the year round dry trails you are led to believe mind). DONT go malaga and the mtns. Do one, dont pay what we did for the accomadation / food we did.. too much cash. As the staff are split if the DH holidays are running as well you will NOT get the instruction that the other reviewers on here had the fortune to have. In addition, the XC trails are not for the faint hearted in the mtns.. experienced riders only. By the owner's admission when he first started up none of the clients could ride the trails!
In summery a once unique operator in this area has over expanded in order to deliver a wider range of holiday to consolidate income stream with too little investment in staff leaving a just about average holiday experience.
Strengths: strong frame, flickable once at speed, not a *sexy* brand, so loads of good deals, can FR and DH with no worries
Weaknesses: forks explode! gearing means you will run out of pedal power on the big (such as french courses)DH runs
Overall: bargains gallore last xmas, got mine for a grand... didnt want to spend more as i was just not sure about leaving the XC world... for an entry level bike it's just SO much bike. i was ragging DH courses, do ing moderate UK FR with 4 ft to flat and railing berms in 2 months... and i'm not the talentd type.
apart from new forks (boxxers) i got the betd 7inch linkage plates... from betd... the frame and shock will take it with ease.
bottom line- wanna try FR? get one and it wont let you down!
Strengths: There is a wide range of opinion on this stuff - so here's mine:-)
It's worth it to change the shifters at the same time... The 1:1 precision shifters really do work better than Xt or combined braker shifter pods.
By work better i mean, very positive click in either direction, easy to move 5 gears at a time and the thumbs only action is in fact useful when you've cocked it up & are hauling on the brakes and are needing to change gear simultaneously.
Installation is well easy for mech and shifters, if you need instructions then they are clear and simple to follow.
By having no barrel adjuster at the mech end is much better, mainly cos there is less moving parts to get gunged up and then start sticking.
I have had no ghost shifting problems, which is impressive when the trails I ride at this time of year are in fact a quagmire.
The construction is very solid.
As my XT mech exploded recently and I wasnt going to get drawn in to the big S incompatability game - never mind the combo brake / shifter madness i decide to go sram, in fact there's not much else to choose from.
Weaknesses: er... had to get the shifters as well to ge the most out of the mech...
Overall: - worth the cash
- works better than XT
- easy to set up
- i dont understand why you dont see more of them about
Strengths: Morzine is much more than a DH mecca, the guides know this area so well that you can take full advantage of top XC, "soft freeride" and huge days of gravity assisted fun in both france and swizterland.
you will leave with a real increase in skills and ability.
Having said that the DH runs are awesome, some of the best 4 mins from the chalets!
I've not been on a chalet type holiday before.. so the "being cooked for" bit was all a bit odd at first. esp as i'm a self confessed foodie. My concerns were ill founded and the food is simply fantastic. The time and cost of buying and cooking and still getting all that riding in would just not work - be humble and be cooked for: you'll ride more!
transfers to the airport were faultless.
The accomadation being spacious and ensuite really makes it a pleasure to just hang out in the chalet. there's no queues or hasstles getting ready in the morning and there's loads of seating to slob out post ride.
if you have the fortune to get on a refuge trip GO... awesome days under mt blanc with descents i can still dream of. The climb is a bit of a shocker on a patriot FR however!!
Weaknesses: not the cheapest, but you can see where the money goes - and it's worth it.
By the end of the season the hire bikes are basically shagged. Not as shagged as the others we found on offer in Morzine though! If you ride round there for 12 weeks solid - with no time for full strip downs then what do you expect. The guides will do nearly anything in their power to get the bikes up and running - but i would suggest you go early on the season if you want top functioning bikes
Overall: - worth it, as recommended by BM regulars - large numbers of clients go year on year - so will I - i have a slow DH time on the "pleny" to beat...oh yeah - the passport de les portes de soleil (new version of the free raid) calls for next yr.... i'll be booking once i've worked out the dates! - get body armour and consider a full face for the DHs...really!!
Strengths: light enough to wear all day strong enough to save my bonce
Weaknesses: tight fit around the ears, it is a little heavyier than the same price XC helmet, but that's not why you buy it!
Overall: A really sound piece of kit, fits into the niche of 6 inch travel full suss "all day mtb" well. That is to say, with this helmet you feel more inspired to push your bike and yourself, similar to body armour - you wear it, you then feel less worried, you then relax a bit more and thus you ride better...
that's certainly why i put up with the extra weight(480g is not really that bad anyway)
btw: last week, wharncliffe woods DHs... we were doing xc as well so a full on full facer would have not been the best all round... on the *fastrack* under the pylons - fast as possible on last run of the day... skipped out of line and slowed inbetween the last 2 jumps... landed the last one too heavy as a result and wheeeeeeeeee over the bike and straight into a large hard tree... split dainesse leg armour with the force... front of head hit the tree full on... helmet is cracked and i need a new one... my head is fine and i am very impressed with the crash prtection for an non full face DH lid....
Strengths: comfort, stable and stops my arms getting broken
Weaknesses: velcro straps get caught on the padding when left (thrown) into cupboard for storage
Overall: works really well. Despite using them on the trails and not just tracks they fall down a minimal amount, are very comfy (5 hr rides fine) and do not impeded movement.
this model (this years) seems more streamlined and is well worth the extra £5.
Strengths: Well respected manufacturer, good colours, nice "lycra sock feel" crrent cheap offer on wiggle
Weaknesses: despite length right for size shoe made too wide for me
Overall: I ahvent got particulary thin feet, but these simlply felt too wide, shame really cause with the curent wiggle offer they were very competitivly priced. I've sent them back...
Strengths: large air volume - more than most 2.0s grip that is reliable ind inspires convidence all the time
not "twitchy" on rutted trails
Weaknesses: er....they cost abit - who cares..last a good while and you wont be bricking it thst the front will twitch out that rutt when piling DH in the peak (which is where I ride)
they only come in black - i wanted the gold borders!!!
Overall: MUCH better than trailblasters, which admittly roll faster on tarmac....great.
These are lightweight, stable, clear very well, quiet, easy to get off, NO twitching (i have thing about the edges of tyres grabbing the side of rutts and throwing me off the trail at speed - my trailblaters made a habit of it you see).......just but them!!!
