Switchbacks Spain

Will Dolphin
Reviewed: 21 June 2009

BEST TRAILS!!!

The trails! You get great scenery and food etc. wherever you go in the world to ride but the quality and variety of trails can't be like this in many places. I love riding stuff that's not made to be ridden - loads of tracks in the Alps etc. and UK feel a bit too manicured and although they are fun to ride there's nothing better than the buzz you get hammering down a 'natural' trail, not knowing what's coming next, but safe in the knowledge that there isn't a breaking bump to clatter over all the time you're there.

My inability to ride at 4000 feet altitude for 6 days straight :)
My tyres! I thought the conti mountain kings were alright til I came here - next time it'll be downhill tyres, I'll know about them on the climbs, but there's some rocks here like you don't get in the UK that I pinch flatted on a few times...

Great week away, the whole package of organisation, accomodation recommendations for food at night and the fact that Mike's a bloody nice guy to go for a beer or 8 with :)

Helpful advice and tutoring for the weaker riders in our group got them banging down the trails around double the speed they started the week at and everyone conquered their fears and did at least a couple of 3 foot high drops - big grins there!

I don't mind earning the descents, but loved having a lift part way up the mountain in the morning with a gentle climb to warm up - and that every ride ends at a bar!!

Adam Mitchell 2
Reviewed: 13 May 2009

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

the warm welcome
the fridge full of food
the house
the weather
the workshop
the transport
the trails
the spanish beer with free tapas
did i mention the trails
finishing every ride at a bar
the guide

the pool in Bubion isnt finished yet

This was a fantastic trip. There really isnt anything you could fault. Michael has a way of getting you to go faster and try more without you even realising it. The range of trails on offer is huge and everyday was perfect riding conditions. If all this sounds too good to be true you have to go to believe it. Riding with Switchbacks has made riding a home feel a bit tame.
If you want a proper mountainbiking holiday forget France with its s**te weather, ski resort prices, lift queues, savage breaking bumps and crowded trails. Get yourself to Bubion you wont regret it.

Thanks again Michael for a fantastic week.

David Cooper 6
Reviewed: 12 May 2009

INSANOS!!!!!!!

Everything:

Michael, Isobel and the team at Switchbacks.

The terrain.

The weather.

Location.

Value for money.

My Fitness and some little Irish dude on an 80mm cross country bike that ripped.

What can I say, what a great week in the Sierra's. Perfect weather, massive terrain, great location and run by people that know what they are doing and passionate for the sport.

It's not just about the terrain and riding, Michael,Isobel and family who run Switchbacks were great. Michael knows everything there is to know about the area and mountain biking in general. I'm still recovering from the daily hike a bike (mint) out of some of the steepest valleys I have ever ridden down. Isobel for logistics and great organisational skills and Lucky for running us to the airport while it was still dark.

Dont know what 2many gears is on about, go to Switchbacks and see it for yourself, it was the best mountain biking I have ever done and I have biked all over the world.

Pin it, own it, send it!!!!

2many gears, little idea
Reviewed: 13 March 2009

COMPANY TOO STRETCHED, POOR PLANNING

Lovely scenary, proper spanish fare restaurants, most of the DHing OK on an AM rig with armour.

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.

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.

Avoid.

Simon Battersby
Reviewed: 06 September 2008

AWESOME

Mike and Jim are simply fantastic guides and their skills are just unreal.

Lucky could do with driving a little faster, lol

The best riding i have done to date, i went with my club the woollybacks and everyone couldnt believe how good the week was. It is amazing how much your riding skills can improve in one week. A superb week cant wait to go back.

Simon