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SeasonallyUNadjusted Guided MTB Holidays in Andalucia

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SeasonallyUNadjusted Guided MTB Holidays in Andalucia
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Average Rating: 5 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 20
RRP: £299
Year: 2005

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Description: Guided mountain bike holidays in the heart of Andalucia

REVIEWS

11 to 20 of 20 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.Page: 1 2

Charles Brown

Posted: 03/12/04

'20 DEGREES IN NOVEMBER - HOW GOOD IS THAT!'

Strengths:
Great weather, fantastic scenery, challenging trails and perfect hosts.

Alora is a pleasant town built on three hills and certainly feels very Spanish. The accommodation is spot on, and finishing the day on the roof terrace with a cold beer is not a major chore.

Jim & Heather are tops, both with an easy going manner, which makes for a very relaxing stay - they can't do enough for you.

Jim is an excellent guide and takes a very professional approach to what he does (Spain is not like France and there is no developed MTBing so a guide is fairly essential unless you want to spend a lot of time trail finding - good luck 'cos those mountains are very big.) He knows the trails and you'll even get a few flora and fauna pointers along the way.

Weaknesses:
Can't think of a thing.

Overall:
Went with a mate and we would both go back. It's easy to get to, cheap(ish) and easily doable (is that a word?) for a weekend.

You'll need a reasonable standard of fitness to get the most out of it because you have to earn the descents and some of the 'hills' are a bit big.

The singletrack is excellent, and all natural, so no trail grooming going on at all, which means it can get rather technical - which is something I prefer.

Probably sounding a bit gushy but we did really enjoyed it - highly recommended.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Bike Bear

Posted: 06/12/04

'TOP TRAILS, TOP PEOPLE'

Strengths:
Great scenery, challenging trails. fantastic hosts.

Weaknesses:
Weather not actually *guaranteed*!

Overall:
Well, I was the unlucky one - it actually rained most of the time I was there. However Jim still got me out on the hills every day when I'm sure he would rather have had a few well earned rest days. Only came home early once and it WAS in a thunderstorm!

Fantastic food too, both in the local hostelries and served at breakfast and tapas by Heather. Breakfast tortilla highly recommended. :o)

Nice to meet Charles and Sandi too - You're a lovely couple and I'm sure you have a very happy future ahead of ;o)

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

cormac ahern

Posted: 23/12/04

'AN EXCELLENT HOLIDAY'

Strengths:
Great XC trails.
Good, decent(lung busting) climbs
Long decents ranging from easy to V. technical
Professional but relaxed guiding by Jim and excellent food and beer provided by Heather
Prompt response to enquiries

Weaknesses:
Apart from a few cactus plants and bees, none.

Overall:
This being my first MTB holiday I didn't know what to expect but I had a great holiday and would recommend it to anyone.
Most days start with a lift to the starting point, this cuts out any boring road work (The climbs can be cut out by getting a lift to a reasonable height if you wantto avoid the pain!). After a few hours in the saddle lunch was had in local cafes. The afternoons involved longer climbs and decents.
The defficulty of the rides progressed throughout the week but are entirely dependant on the group. Jim has a lot of routes so most riding styles can be catered for.
The trails really do go out into the wilds of Spain, with stunning scenery, and amazing views. Stops for hand picked fruit from roadside trees (I was just too early for the oranges to be ripe!) were a nice excuse for a breather.
The days were ended sitting in a roof-top terrace with a cool beer watching the sun set behind the 1000 year old castle in the distance.
All in all I would recommend Seasonally Unadjusted for a MTB holiday

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Mark Sheekey

Posted: 30/12/04

'GREAT'

Strengths:
Relaxing
Friendly
Non-Touristy
Lovely Tapas
Great Trails

Weaknesses:
My legs

Overall:
Jim knows his stuff and tailor the rides to suit how you are feeling. Him and Heather cant do enough for you and do it in a relaxed friendly manner.
I've been 3 times and will be going again.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Simon Mould

Posted: 04/01/05

'FACINATING AREA, GREAT ASSORTMENT OF RIDES.'

Strengths:
Jim is a great guide and has put lots of work into finding trails. He was also easy to deal and communicate with.

Weaknesses:
None

Overall:
We went up from the coast for a couple of days riding, made the whole costa experience bearable.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

93%

Patrick Jerome

Posted: 23/02/05

'BEST TWO DAYS SPENT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE!'

Strengths:
Jim's knowledge of the mountains is exceptional,[probably to do with his mountaineering background]apart from taking through some of the most spectacular scenery in the area,he is also very informative about the local history & culture.Very professionally done.Thanks.

Weaknesses:
Only weakness was the bike hired to us,not Jim's fault,so best to take your own!

Overall:
I was informed by Jim that was probably the oldest rider he had had on one of his rides,[I'm 58]Even though I did find some the climbs a bit tough I don't think I held the group up,& Jim's encouragement over some pretty difficult terrain was excellent.So if you are cabable of riding stuff like the "Wall" in Afan Argoed do yourself a favour & book one of Jim's holidays, or even one day while your missus suns herself on the beach!You wont regret it.

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

87%

andrew hobbs

Posted: 30/03/05

'SUPURB FEW DAYS IN THE SUN.'

Strengths:
Very friendly,
Great food,
Great weather,
Awesome singletrack riding in an incredible area.

Weaknesses:
None

Overall:
One of the best biking trips we have had.
This is back to real mountain bikiing no lifts, no groomed trail where you know you will ok around every corner no people or horse riders, just great trails, good company and fine weather.
You must give it a go!

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Kate Chappell

Posted: 14/04/05

'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!'

Strengths:
Fantastic trails - huge grins by the end of the descents and I got fitter after 7 days of riding the ups!
Jim and Heather looked after us really well and made us feel at home.

Weaknesses:
None - except I had to come home and go back to work

Overall:
Truly brilliant - I learnt loads, went riding on excellent trails in some astounding scenery. Can't wait to go again.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Paul Zarb

Posted: 29/04/05

'GREAT VALUE, FANTASTIC FUN - GO!'

Strengths:
Jim is excellent on all accounts...From the first contact via email, right through the holiday to dropping us back at the airport. On the holiday you will go on some amazing trails and see some beautiful countryside. Whilst out I got some excellent tuition on technique, learned a lot about Spanish culture and went to some great cafes for lunch. Overall is a really great holiday. We went over a as a party of 5 (plus 14 month old baby) and Jim booked us into a local hotel (Casa Alondra) which provided great accommodation and a pool which is cold in April but refreshing. The town itself is Spanish through and through with good restaurants and Spaniards riding into town on there horses for beer in the evening.

Weaknesses:
None, would recommend it to anyone and am already planning a return visit.

Overall:
The whole thing was everything and more than we had hoped. From the setting of the town, the accommodation at Casa Alondra, the wonderful countryside, the fantastic food from all the restaurants and cafes, the amazing guiding, the invaluable and patient tuition and most of all the mountain biking this was just top notch.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

SarahHair

Posted: 13/01/06

'FAB TRAILS, FAB GUIDES, FAB TIME!'

Strengths:
Trails are amazing matched by the landscape. Couldn't have been easier - they met us at the Airport, took us riding on brilliant trails every day, made sure we were fed and taught me loads of stuff. My biking is 10 times better since my holiday.

Weaknesses:
Nothing

Overall:
Great - trying to get my mates to go back soon

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

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