Rocky Mountain Adventures ~ Mountain Biking Holidays in the USA

Intro
Once a year, RMA descends on the legendary mountain biking mecca that is Moab for a 10 night "Moab fest". Moab should be on every mountain bikers tick list since the trails here are like nothing else on this planet and second to none. You'll get to ride the famous Slickrock Trail and Porcupine Rim plus many more unbelievable trails. The holiday also includes excursions to nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and a trip to the superb upcoming riding destination of Fruita in Colorado. Whether you're a casual rider or a seriously talented mountain biker, this holiday will send you home with a huge grin on your face!

Summary
This 10 night holiday departs the UK on Saturday 30th September 2006, destination Moab, the world's mountain biking capital. You'll get 8 days of amazing riding which includes 1 day riding in the highly acclaimed Fruita area. All rides are fully guided or you can choose to do your own thing if you prefer. Plus with evening excursions to nearby National Parks and local beauty spots, this holiday will test your photographic flare as well as your mountain biking skills! All for the bargain price of just £599 (excluding flights).

Ability Level: Moab has it all. This mountain biker's paradise has trails to suit every ability and fitness level. From leisurely scenic jaunts for novices, to death-defying trails that are as technical as it gets for experts, and of course everything else in between. All levels of mountain biker are catered for on this holiday. Also, there's plenty to do in the adventure-packed town of Moab that even non-bikers can join us and have a fantastic time!

Single Travellers: There are no single room supplements as long as you don't mind sharing a room with another single traveller. However, you can choose to have your own private room if you would prefer for an extra £35 per night.

What to bring with you:
Riding kit for warm weather plus a few warmer layers just in case. Bring waterproofs too for the occasional down pour.
Biking shoes, gloves, helmet, sunglasses, a camelbak or similar hydration pack capable of holding 3 litres at the very least, water bottle, insect repellent, sun screen, puncture repair kit, bike pump and basic bike tools e.g. multitool, at least 2 spare inner tubes, a small torch ideally a head torch, a basic first aid kit, set of spare brake pads, spare rear derailleur hanger and finally don't forget swimwear for the swimming pool and waterfalls!
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 and towels will be provided for you.

Itinerary
We like to keep this holiday as flexible as possible so there is no set day-by-day itinerary. Instead we will choose which rides to do when, according to the weather, temperature and rider's abilities. But we can assure you that the holiday will include...

The riding is offered either guided or on your own. It's your holiday so you can choose what pleases you on a daily basis. Possible trails for you to ride (on your 8 days of riding) include the following:

The Slickrock Trail
Porcupine Rim
Amasa Back
Poison Spider
Portal Trail
Gemini Bridges
Fins n Things
The Sovereign Trail
The Shafer Trail
Bookcliff / Road 18 trails (in Fruita)
Loma trails (near Fruita)
... and many more!

We will also be offering shuttle rides to and from the trailheads for those wanting to explore on their own or retrace the route from a previous day's ride that was so good you just had to do it twice!

Flights to Denver international airport cost between £350 and £450 at this time of year. We can take the hassle away from you and book these for you (we're fully ATOL bonded), or you can arrange them yourself if you prefer. Flights depart the UK from Gatwick, Heathrow, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. See our FAQ page for more details on flights.

Travel in comfort from airport to hotel in our own air conditioned minibus with video player, and our own trailer for your bikes and luggage. Our vehicles are also used daily to get everyone around, to and from the trailheads, and on our evening excursions.

The town of Moab sprawls 2 miles along Main Street. Many of the buildings are based on the Native American Indian Architecture and play host to a vast array of gift shops, clothes boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bars. A bite to eat ranges from $6 to $20 dollars depending on what your taste is. At the high end there are some fantastic options where you can enjoy a real cowboy sized steak, which back home in the UK would set you back double the price. In fact you will be able to spoil yourself every night on a very reasonable budget. After dinner there are several popular hang outs in town where you can shoot some pool and enjoy a locally brewed beer. There is also a cinema in town that shows all the latest movie releases.

Excursions during the afternoon and evening are complimentary and highly recommended. The Arches National park is the second most visited National park in the US, next to the Grand Canyon. The natural sandstone rock formations here that have been formed by millions of years of erosion are quite astounding and from 10 years of showing people, we will take you right to the best spots around. Canyonlands National Park is so awe inspiring. After leading you to our secret spots, well off the tourist paths, you will be astounded by the sheer grandeur of it all. After a moments silence you could go through a whole memory card on your camera.! Afternoons offer the chance for a hike up the local's favourite beauty spot, Mill Creek Canyon, following a stream that leads into small lagoons and waterfalls; a great place to cool off when it's hot.

Non Bikers will love Moab too. While it's a famous destination in the mountain biking world, bikers can sometimes only make up a small percentage of people staying in town. For starters there are two of America's most visited National parks within 10 miles of town. There's some great hiking, horse riding, rock climbing and bouldering for those looking to exert some energy. White water tours of the Colorado River by boat or raft, scenic flights over the canyons and a round of golf are also popular activities, not to mention the massive array of shops, visitor information centres and galleries.

Fruita is said by the bike magazines to be "the next Moab". We love the fun-packed trails here and couldn't let you come all this way without driving you the short distance to experience the excellent riding here too. Depending on the weather and rider's abilities, we will take you to the Book cliffs trails (aka Road 18 trails) and/or the Loma trails on the other side of the valley. After riding the lovingly crafted singletrack trails here, you'll realise why Fruita is ranked by the IMBA as one of the top 10 riding destinations.

Our Guides: All of our guides are first aid qualified and carry maps, walkie-talkies and a mobile phone with them at all times. Our guides will not rush you and are aware that they play a crucial part in making sure that you have a fantastic holiday. If you want to find out a bit more about them and see what they look like, then check out the about us page.

Accommodation
On your first day, when you've just landed in the US, we transfer you the short distance to our chalet in the nearby Rockies in Breckenridge, where you will spend the first night to get some much needed rest before your adventure really begins. The next morning we'll be off early to drive you to Moab.
In Moab we stay in a well-equipped motel in the centre of town, amidst all the action and within walking distance of everything in town. All rooms are air conditioned with 2 queen size beds, phone, fridge, microwave, TV and of course an en suite bathroom. The motel also has free high speed internet if you've brought your own laptop, laundry facilities and a small swimming pool to chill out in. The rooms are big enough to keep your bikes secure in your room.

What's included

Airport transfers to and from Denver international airport*
All accommodation in our chalet in Breckenridge (first night) and hotel in Moab
Transport to and from all trailheads where necessary
All rides are fully guided and fully supported by our minibus and trailer
Evening excursions to nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Afternoon excursion to Mill Creek Canyon
All entry fees to recreational parks and National Parks
Trip to the nearby highly accredited riding area of Fruita in Colorado
* Please note that if you've arranged your own flights and the times are radically different to the times of the flights we have booked for our other guests, then you will need to cover the costs of your own airport transfers - this we can help you arrange

What's not included

Flights to and from Denver international airport - although we can book these for you if you wish. See our FAQ page for more details
Flight taxes
Travel and bike insurance which you must have (see our links page for providers)
Food and drink
Bike hire (see our links page for bike shops offering hire bikes)
Extra activities that you choose on your days off riding (e.g. white water rafting)