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 are!
As 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! |