Intro
This holiday has got a bit of everything!
From our base in the Rocky Mountains in Breckenridge you'll get to see why Colorado is ranked so highly in the IMBA's top MTB destinations in the world. The trip includes a visit to the neighbouring state of Utah where you'll experience the legendary mountain biking mecca of Moab and also provides the opportunity to ride in the fantastic up-coming destination of Fruita. This holiday can be done at your own pace and can be made as technically and physically challenging or as leisurely as you like.

Important note: All details on this page relate to our holidays for 2007. We've made some improvements to the itinerary between 2006 and 2007, plus the "what's included" and "what's not included" have changed. If you're looking to book a last minute place on one of our 2006 holidays then we will point out the differences from what is advertised here, before you book.
 

Summary
This exciting 14 night holiday spends 10 nights in Breckenridge in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, 3 nights in Moab in Utah, and 1 night in Fruita. Our very own experienced and knowledgeable guides will take you on 5 guided rides in the Breckenridge area, 2 unforgettable rides in Fruita and 2 legendary rides in Moab. For the other 4 days, the choice is yours whether to take a day off from riding and do something different or to take our trail maps and route guides with you on a self-guided ride.

Ability Level: This holiday itinerary is flexible enough for you to ride as much or as little as you want, plus we can tailor the trails you do to keep you within your comfort zone or crank it up and seriously challenge you.
Novice riders will enjoy the trails at a slower pace with some short cuts around the really technical and strenuous stuff.  Experts, don't think for one minute that this won't be challenging enough for you. How does 20 to 30 miles of rolling singletrack through spruce and aspen forests, over creeks with log crossings, elevation gains of 2000ft, fast 5 mile descents with tight off camber corners and rooty, rocky switchbacks through the wilderness sound? Ride 5 miles a day or 40 miles a day - it's your holiday so it's up to you. All abilities of biker will love this holiday.

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.

Best time to go: June for perfect climate, snow capped peaks, early summer sun, cheaper flights and great white waters if you fancy rafting.  July and August if you like it hot and don't mind hitting the trails early to avoid the hottest part of the day.  September for the most stunning, spectacular, breathtaking scenery.  The autumn colours are amazing and the climate is perfect for riding. Flights start getting cheaper again in September too.

What to bring with you: 
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), 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 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 and towels will be provided for you.

Itinerary
Please note that this may not be an exact itinerary since we may have to change the order of the days according to season, climate, weather conditions and riders' abilities.

Day 1 - Saturday (arrive in the USA and transfer to Breckenridge)
Either you will have booked your own flights or you will have let RMA take the hassle away from you and we will have booked your flights for you. You'll depart the UK from your chosen airport, destination Denver international airport, Colorado USA. There you'll be greeted by your RMA staff and hosts for the 2 weeks who will help to load your luggage and bikes into our own minibus and trailer. Once all of your fellow guests have arrived we will transfer you to our chalet in the centre of Breckenridge, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains (transfer time is approx. 2 hours). There's just about time to give you a guided tour of the chalet and show you to your room before you crash for the night.

Day 2 - Sunday (welcome meeting, tour of town, Sallie Barber trail)
You get up to find a continental breakfast on the table already prepared for you. After breakfast we'll hold a welcome meeting to talk you through what you've let yourself in for! Then if you've brought your own bike, it's time to crack open that bike box and restore it to it's fully working state. Next we'll give you a quick tour of the town of Breckenridge pointing out all the good bars and restaurants and visiting the bike shops. This gives you chance to pick up some bargains or buy any bike parts or accessories that you might need. Plus if you haven't brought your own bike this gives you the chance to choose your hire bike. Lastly we'll take you to the local supermarket so that you can stock up on energy bars, electrolyte drinks and get some lunch.

After a leisurely lunch break it's time to get ready for your first guided ride. We'll go out as one group today with at least 2 RMA guides, giving us chance to gauge everyone's ability levels. We take it easy today whilst you acclimatise, as we take you out on the Sallie Barber Trail.  This little gem of a trail has a steady climb up a scenic jeep track which peaks at an old Gold mine, the Sallie Barber mine. Then it's all downhill from there as we hit the excellent singletrack which sweeps you in and out of the trees and over a few small rock gardens and rooty sections that will make you smile from ear to ear. The singletrack takes you back into town, less than half a mile from your chalet.

Tonight we put on a welcome meal for you all to give everyone chance to get to know one another better.

Day 3 - Monday (Summit Cove trail)
Another guided ride today; the Summit Cove trail. We ride out of town on the scenic bike path alongside the Blue river. Your guides will point out some of the historic remains from this old gold mining town as we pass a dilapidated dredge boat, and from here the singletrack starts. This steady undulating trail meanders down one side of the valley and will later bring you back up the other side of the valley, giving you fantastic views of the mountain ranges around Breckenridge. This predominantly smooth and fast singletrack has plenty to keep you interested; from open alpine meadows to sections meandering through the forest, from boardwalks over creeks to Kodak moment river crossings. The few climbing sections are gentle on you whilst you're still finding your legs (and lungs!) whilst the short and fast downhill sections act as a teaser for the bigger descents that are yet to come! Just before the end of the ride, for those of you who still want more, is an optional extra to attack a steep and demanding hill climb. This lung-busting ascent rewards you with an excellent rocky and technical downhill that will make you want to go back and do it all over again!

Day 4 - Tuesday (Day off the bike or self-guided ride around Breck, drive to Fruita)
Today you can either take a day off from the bike and amuse yourself around Breckenridge or take one of our trail maps and route descriptions out with you and do a self-guided ride. Amongst the numerous things to do in Breckenridge you could choose from hiking, white water rafting, golf, shopping, horse riding, scenic chair-lift rides, fishing or venture out onto nearby Lake Dillon to name but a few.

Later on in the afternoon we pack up and get in the van for a drive to the fantastic up-coming biking destination of Fruita. En route we take you to a restaurant where you can buy your evening meal. Tonight we spend the night in a motel in Fruita in preparation for...

Day 5 - Wednesday (Loma trails in Fruita, drive to Moab)
... getting up early this morning for a short drive to the amazing Loma trails area of Fruita where we'll ride the Horsethief Bench loop and Mary's loop (or choose a ride more suited to your ability). The early start is intentional so that we can get off the trails before the hottest part of the day in this arid desert environment. These trails are radically different to the ones you've just ridden in the Rockies and give you a little taster of what's to come in Moab.  We'll ride out to the dramatic Horsethief Canyon overlooking the Colorado river, riding numerous transitions amongst the hard-packed singletrack that will certainly test your technical ability; rocky ledges, drop offs, steps and slabs that unfortunately distract you from the jaw-dropping views. You can either call it a day after the Horsethief bench loop or if you're confident of your technical ability and not afraid of heights, then you can go on to ride Mary's loop which follows the rocky rim of the canyon. After riding out here, you'll understand why the locals nickname for Fruita is Fruitopia!

After you've stopped enthusing about the ride we get back in the van and start the scenic drive into Moab where we check into our motel on Main Street in the middle of all the action.

Day 6 - Thursday (The Slickrock trail in Moab)
We set off early to avoid the possible scorching heat in Moab and guide you on the legendary Slickrock trail.  Slickrock's friction is quite unbelievable and you'll find yourself riding at angles you never thought possible.  There is a choice of a short practice loop if you are at all worried about what Slickrock is really like, or the main loop that will quite simply blow your mind, as one of our past guests said "it's just indescribable".  This rollercoaster ride is unlike any other trail in the world and you could fill your camera's memory card up on this route alone. A trail to look forward to! 

You then have the afternoon off in Moab to take in the bohemian atmosphere around town, get tempted to spend your hard-earned cash in the world renowned bike shops, explore the boutiques or just chill out. If you've still got a surplus of energy then you could sample some of Moab's other adventure activities such as white water rafting or a 4x4 tour.

Tonight we take you on an evening excursion to the nearby Arches National Park where we you can gaze in amazement at the beautiful natural sandstone arches, spires, pinnacles, pedestals and balanced rocks.

Day 7 - Friday (Porcupine Rim or Gemini Bridges in Moab)
Today we drive you up to the start of Porcupine Rim, where we then guide you round this quite stunning route that will finish with a short ride back into town.  Porcupine Rim climbs steadily up jeep track with enough lines to challenge the best if they so wish, and tops out with the view of Marlborough country (remember those old cigarette adverts?).  The downhill is just fantastic - smooth, rocky, technical in places and goes on for long enough.  You finish through Jackass Canyon, which has great camera shots along the singletrack, with enough exposure to keep you concentrating right to the bottom.  Should anyone prefer a technically easier option, we ride the picturesque Gemini Bridges trail - a jaunt through smooth rock and more open terrain, mostly downhill and a short ride back into town.

Again, you'll have most of the afternoon off in Moab to do anything you missed doing yesterday. This evening we take you to a jaw dropping lookout point over the nearby Canyonlands National Park to watch the sunset. Don't forget your cameras for these stunning views!

Day 8 - Saturday (Book Cliffs trails in Fruita, Glenwood Springs, return to Breck)
We pack up and leave Moab early this morning, heading for Fruita once again to ride something a little different... a guided ride around the Book Cliffs trails. This network of hard-packed singletrack trails are so much fun that we could spend days playing here! At the foot of the Book Cliffs these fast and flowing trails will have you riding along dramatic ridge lines, swooping down bobsled style chutes and looping you around like a roller coaster on this spectacular and lovingly crafted singletrack. The Book Cliff trails are one of the major reasons why Fruita is ranked in the IMBA's top 10 riding destinations.

We leave Fruita and head off to Glenwood Springs where we chill out in the world's largest hot spring thermal pool before finishing the ride back to Breckenridge.

Day 9 - Sunday (Day off the bike or self-guided ride)
After 4 days of adrenaline-packed riding in Fruita and Moab, you might well be ready for some time off the bike. Today's another day where you call the shots. Either chill out around Breckenridge or if you still can't bear the thought of sitting still, take on a different adventurous activity or borrow one of our maps and trail descriptions and head out on a self-guided ride.

Day 10 - Monday (The Peaks Trail)
Today we guide you on the local's favourite, the Peaks trail, right from the chalet door.  A gentle climb out of town soon brings us to a singletrack through the woods that takes us to the base of Peak 8 and the start of the Peaks trail proper.  More gentle climbing through the woods tops us out with a great view back over the hills behind Breck, then it's all down hill into Frisco, and what a downhill.  There's something of everything in this ride, mainly singletrack, smooth and fast, riding atop small dykes and man-made boardwalks, then roots and rocks with small ledges and drop offs, what more could there be to a ride.

Day 11 - Tuesday (Bakers Tank Loop)
Straight from the chalet door once again, we head up the road towards Bakers Tank.  We soon hit jeep road and many of you will stop to take photos of the picturesque mountain range above Breckenridge.  A large red tank and shaft from the old mining days signals the turn off to our singletrack and once again your climb is rewarded with a great descent through the woodland on more of that fantastic singletrack that your tyres just love to eat up. We've had past guests who have enjoyed this singletrack trail so much that when they've got to the bottom, they've turned straight back round to go back to do it again! Once again, the singletrack takes you all the way back into Breckenridge, about half a mile from your chalet.

Day 12 - Wednesday (Day off the bike or self-guided ride)
Day off or self-guided ride.  Another chance to go back and redo some of those great routes you've done, pick a new one or go for something different, you choose.
If you want to do something different, then you could hop on the free bus to the nearby resort of Keystone which is renowned for it's amazing downhill mountain biking. Buy yourself a lift pass for the day and amuse yourself in the new drop zone, blast down some of the best technical downhill courses in the USA, or ride some of the numerous XC trails there.

Day 13 - Thursday (The Colorado Trail)
Guided ride on the Colorado Trail - one of our past guests favourite rides and one the locals describe as simply the best!  A longer day out that takes you onto a long section of the Colorado trail (something you can follow more of on our Grand Tour of the Rockies).  After riding through town we join singletrack through the woods and some of the millionaire's houses to take us to the start of this beaut.  After three short climbs you start a grin-inducing, switchbacking and tight-fitting downhill.  Don't forget to take some photos before you start enjoying that downhill!

Day 14 - Friday (Day off the bike or self-guided ride)
Another chance to have a day off the bike or head out on your own self-guided ride with the help of our trail maps and route descriptions.
If you choose to take it easy today then perhaps you might fancy a trip to the Silverthorne outlet shopping malls which are just a short free bus ride away from Breckenridge. Here you can find great brands such as Pearl Izumi, Nike and Timberland where you can treat yourself to a bargain or splash out on presents for your friends and family back home.

After you've finished packing, we put on a goodbye meal for you all to give you a good send off and chance to say goodbye to your new found biking friends from your holiday.

Day 15 - Saturday (Return home)
Unfortunately it's home time today. It's a sad day as we load up our minibus and trailer for the last time and transfer you all back to Denver international airport where we go our separate ways and say goodbye. No doubt you're going home after a fantastic holiday that you will rave on about for years.

Accommodation

10 nights are spent in our chalet in the centre of Breckenridge. Everything in town is within walking distance so you don't have far to go to find dozens of great bars and restaurants. Here you'll have the use of the following facilities: - Fully equipped kitchen - Sociable lounge with TV, video, video library and stereo - PC with wireless broadband internet throughout the chalet - Telephone (can phone home with the use of a phonecard) - Skype headset for phoning home over the internet - Washing machine and tumble drier - Massage table complete with fully qualified sports therapist! - Hot tub 1 night spent at a motel in Fruita 3 nights spent at a motel in the centre of Moab. All rooms are air conditioned with 2 queen size beds, phone, fridge, TV and of course an en suite bathroom. The motel also has free internet use if you've brought your own laptop and a small swimming pool to chill out in.

What's included

Airport transfers to and from Denver international airport* 14 nights accommodation in our chalet in Breckenridge and motels in Fruita and Moab Continental breakfast supplied whilst staying at chalet in Breckenridge (10 breakfasts) Welcome dinner on the second night of your stay Goodbye dinner on the last night of your stay Transport to and from all trailheads where necessary 5 fully guided rides in Breckenridge 2 fully guided rides in Fruita 2 fully guided rides in Moab Trail maps and route guides available if you choose to do any self-guided rides Evening excursions to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks whilst in Moab All entry fees to recreational areas and National Parks Entry fee into Glenwood Springs thermal pools * 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) Lunches Dinners (apart from a welcome dinner and a goodbye dinner which are included). With dozens of great bars and restaurants to choose from in Breckenridge and Moab, we prefer to let you choose whatever takes your fancy instead of being tied to set meal times and menus Bike hire (see our links page for bike shops offering hire bikes) Extra activities that you choose to do (e.g. white water rafting, horse riding, lift pass for downhill mountain biking at Keystone etc.)