Running mountain biking holidays in the Colorado Rockies, Moab and Fruita since 1997
What kind of people go on a Rocky Mountain Adventures holiday?
What if my partner isn't into biking as much as I am?
Can Rocky Mountain Adventures book my flights for me?
Where can I fly from?
Can I arrange my own flights or request a specific airline?
What kind of bike do I need?
Can I take my own bike or should I hire one?
How fit do I need to be?
How much money will I need with me?
What should I bring with me?
What if I want to travel on to somewhere else after the holiday?
How many people go on each holiday?
What if I can't stay for the whole length of the holiday?
Are there any supplements for single travellers?
What happens if I want a longer holiday?
What if I want to do my own thing, do I have to be guided?
What if I want a day off and don't want to ride?
Are bikes and bike kit cheaper in the US?
Will the altitude affect me?
Why should I book with you when there are so many biking holiday companies to choose from?


What kind of people go on a Rocky Mountain Adventures holiday?
The demographics over recent years are as follows:
- People aged between 28 and 45 make up 80% of our guests
- 55% are couples, 40% are single travelling males and 5% are single travelling females
- 36% are returning guests who have been with us before
- 100% of guests come with us because they love to mountain bike

What if my partner isn’t into biking as much as I am?
No problem at all.  They can join in as much or as little of the riding as they please and go in a slower paced group or on an easier trail.  Apart from biking there is lots to see and do in Breckenridge and Moab.  The shopping is excellent, plus hiking, golf, rock climbing, white water rafting, walking tours, museums, scenic chairlift rides, fishing, a day on the lake, cinemas, a bowling alley and much more…

Can Rocky Mountain Adventures book my flights for me?
In short, yes! We are fully ATOL bonded (license number 6742) and have direct access to fares from all the major airlines that fly to the States. We don't make a profit on the flights we book for our guests - we pass the cheapest air fare directly onto you without adding any mark up.

Where can I fly from?
You can depart from the following major UK airports:
London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow
There are also flights from Bristol and Belfast however the choice is quite limited.

Can I arrange my own flights or request a specific airline?
Yes you can - often people have air miles that are restricted to certain airlines or just prefer to book flights themselves. Our flight booking service is completely optional, however there are some things you need to be aware of...
If you do book your own flights, then it's your responsibility to be at Denver International Airport before the allocated pick up time of guests on our flights. You may also be in for a wait while other flights arrive. Where possible, we will advise you on what times will fit in with our transfer for the other guests, but if you're the first person to book then this isn't always possible. Either way, it's essential to run your proposed flight details past us before you confirm your flights. It's also important for you to arrange your return flight so that it fits in with the other guests flight times, since we can only do one transfer to the airport.
If you book your own flights and they are radically different to the other guests' flight times, then you may have to make your own way to and from Denver airport. This is easily done by using an hourly shuttle service which costs around $59 (£35) per person each way, plus the same cost for carrying a bike unfortunately.
People who choose to fly direct with BA must be aware that this flight departs at 20:30 and therefore when we drop off somewhere between 10am to 1am, you're going to have a very long wait. Alternatively you can leave your bags at left luggage and go and enjoy Aurora shopping mall which is a short taxi ride away or have a look round the city of Denver.

What kind of bike do I need?
First things first, if you're bringing your own bike with you then you need to make sure that it's in the best possible condition. 2 weeks solid riding here could result in the same wear and tear as you could rack up in several months riding at home. In other words, if you have any doubts about any parts on your bike before leaving then don't be tempted to see if they'll last the holiday - get them fixed before leaving so that you can rely on your bike and enjoy your riding: A broken bike can certainly ruin your holiday!
We recommend that you bring the bike that you're used to riding. If you're used to a hard tail then you'll be fine riding it over here. Although if you have a choice between a hard tail and a full sus then you'll probably find a full sus more comfortable for the amount of riding you'll be doing and for the challenging trails. If you're joining us on the Grand Tour of the Rockies then we would definitely recommend a full sus just because of the sheer length of time you'll be spending in that saddle!
For your interest, approx 90% of our guests ride a full sus.

Can I take my own bike or should I hire one?
Most of our guests bring their own bike with them since it's currently free with most airlines as long as all your luggage remains within the weight limit.  However this could change at anytime without any notice according to the air carriage terms and conditions.  The airlines that currently charge sporadically are Continental and Delta, plus Northwest are making noises about introducing charges too. We do our best to avoid booking with these airlines that charge for bike carriage, but if it's unavoidable then we will do our best to make you aware of it.
The great thing about taking your own bike is that you are completely familiar with it and know how it rides.  Having said that, hire bikes are plentiful in Colorado and Utah and cost around $24 a day for a hard tail and $32 for a full suspension. The choice is also good plus the hire fleets are often high end models. If you do choose to hire a bike then we can help you to organise this and offer advice on which bike shops stock which makes of bike.

How fit do I need to be?
This depends on what holiday you're thinking of coming on...
If you're considering the Grand Tour of the Rockies then you need to be very fit. You'll be riding for 10 days out of 11 and need to be capable of spending an average of 6 hours on the bike each day. You should also be fit enough to cope with up to 8-10 hours in the saddle on some of the longer days. The rides on the Grand Tour include some big climbs of up to 2 hours, sometimes on technically demanding singletrack. Note that we top 12,000ft a few times on the route. 
The Rockies/Fruita/Moab holidays and the Moab Extravaganza holiday are much less demanding and don't require such a high level of fitness. Having said that, you need to be capable of riding for an average of 3-4 hours a day, but you'll have plenty of opportunity for rest days if you need more recovery time. The riding on these 2 holidays can be done at your own pace and you have much more flexibility to pick and choose when you ride, how long for and at what pace.

How much money will I need with me?
Depends on your spending habits and how extravagant you areAs a guide, a main meal in a restaurant will cost on average somewhere between $7 - $15 (of course you can pay a lot more in the high end restaurants). A two course meal including drinks, service tax and tips will cost you around $20 - $30.
Our chalet in Breckenridge has a fully equipped kitchen available for your use so you can always cook instead if you're on a tighter budget: Supermarkets are a pretty similar price to the UK.
Finally, in our experience bike kit is about 30% less than UK prices.

What should I bring with me?
Riding kit for all weathers since the weather can change very rapidly in the mountains:
light weight waterproof jacket and trousers are essential, as are long sleeves and suitable trousers or leggings for biking in, also a hat/buff/skull cap that you can wear under your helmet.
Biking shoes, gloves, helmet, sunglasses, a camelbak or similar hydration pack capable of holding 2 litres at the very least (3 litres is more ideal and 3 litre minimum for our Grand Tour of the Rockies holiday), water bottle, insect repellent, sun screen, puncture repair kit, bike pump and basic bike tools, at least 2 spare inner tubes, a small torch, a basic first aid kit, set of spare brake pads, spare rear derailleur hanger and finally don't forget swimwear for the hot tub!
You'll also need a suitably sized rucksack for riding with that can fit your waterproofs, spare warm clothes, food and drink, plus most of the above items that you'll need with you on a ride.
All bedding, towels and camping equipment will be provided for you.

What if I want to travel on to somewhere else after the holiday?
No problem, let us know when you book and we can arrange the flights accordingly.

How many people go on each holiday?
On our Rockies/Fruita/Moab holiday we can accommodate up to 24 guests at any one time, but we normally only run one minibus at a time; in which case the maximum is often 12 guests. On the Grand Tour of the Rockies we have a limit of 11 people and our Moab Extravaganza in October can have up to 24 guests on it. These small numbers mean that you can expect the personal touch at all times!

What if I can’t stay for the whole length of the holiday?
On the Rockies/Fruita/Moab holiday you could reduce the holiday to 10 days, so you’d leave after getting back from Moab.  If you chose to do this you would need to cover the cost of a taxi back to Denver airport at the end of your 10 days. We can help to book this for you and you can expect to pay around $59 (£35) per person. The Grand Tour of the Rockies can't be reduced due to the nature of this point-to-point trip.

Are there any supplements for single travellers?
In short, no. If you're travelling on your own then we pair you up with another single traveller as long as you don't mind sharing a room.  If we have an odd number of single travellers, then 3 of you may end up sharing a large room, but you'll each have your own bed of course. If you did want a room to yourself then it’s no problem but will cost you an additional £35 per night.

What happens if I want a longer holiday?
You can extend your stay as long as you wish and even combine a Grand Tour of the Rockies with a Rockies/Fruita/Moab holiday.  We can also quote you for a long stay in our chalet if 2 weeks just isn't long enough. If you have an extended stay in mind then let us know your requirements and we can quote a price for you accordingly.

What if I want to do my own thing, do I have to be guided?
Not at all, it’s your holiday.  If you want to do your own thing then we'll give you all the advice we can. We can provide you with maps and route guides and recommend the best trails. However, the guided rides are sociable and fun, and you get the benefit of our years of experience in finding the best trails. 

What if I want a day off and don’t want to ride?
We don’t care, it's your holiday.  We will tell you however if you are about to miss an epic. However, taking a day off on the Grand Tour of the Rockies (point-to-point) holiday will be a little trickier but we will do our best to accommodate you.

Are bikes and bike kit cheaper in the US?
Far cheaper.  There's loads of great stock in if you choose a holiday in June. For example a Kona Dawg Deluxe at £1500 in the UK costs $1500 (~£850) in the US. One of our guests has just paid $2600 (~£1450) for a fully made up Yeti 575. In September all the bike shops are clearing out their stock ready for ski gear so the deals to be had can be even better.

Will the altitude affect me?
For the first couple of days you will feel out of breath as you exert yourself, but then your red blood cell count will start to increase and you'll begin to acclimatise. If you avoid caffeine and booze and drink plenty of water you will dramatically minimise the effects of altitude.

Why should I book with you when there are so many biking holiday companies to choose from?
Sure there are lots of biking holiday companies around.  Lots of them are very good and offer an excellent service.  Our main advantage is that we've been in business since 1997 and have had the time and experience to perfect everything we do.  We use our own chalet, own our minibuses and employ our own guides.  Many companies use hotels, rent minibuses and pay guiding companies, thus relying on 3 middle men.  We have full control over our holidays, except for the airplane that gets you there!

Service is a very important element of your holiday.  You can be in the most beautiful part of the world but if you've got staff that don't care, then the whole thing is spoilt.
  Sophie Lambert and Kath Sergeant (RMA's Managing Directors) run all the holidays personally and insist on everything being perfect. Being hosted by the owners of the company ensures that you get the very best hospitality and service from your holiday, since the satisfaction of our guests is paramount.

More important than anything is our location.  In 2002 the IMBA confirmed Colorado as being the best mountain biking destination in the USA.  The scenery and trails here are unrivalled.  If you only go on one holiday a year and have saved hard for it, don't you owe it to yourself to have the best holiday?  We truly believe we are in the best spot in the world.  We are not ignorant though, we have checked out other places.  In 2001 we were sold out as much as 8 months in advance and we were expanding rapidly in the USA.  We sought out new destinations, visiting The Alps and Canada to name but a few.  Doing these research trips brought one thing home to us; it doesn't get any better than the Rockies! Don't just take our word for it - why not check out the comments from our past guests here.

It's impossible to recreate our holidays for less even if you tried to do it yourself.  It's quite bemusing how many people we speak to or read about on the chat forums who prefer to DIY it.  A few years ago we met a couple at the trail head of the Peaks trail in Breckenridge.  They had been there for 10 days and had ridden on all the lame commercialized and overcrowded trails that the family day trippers from Denver use, as well as getting lost a few times.  They admitted to having read our website and said they thought it would be better if they did it themselves.  They joined us the next day and we took them out with the rest of our guests.  The next year they booked their holiday with us and the following year they joined us on our Grand Tour of the Rockies!
 

























Rocky Mountain Adventures Ltd is registered in England and Wales
Registered office: 5 High Park, Newthorpe, Nottingham, NG16 3QZ
Company number: 5767108