| The first time I had decided to go mountain biking | | | | conjure up an image of an impoverished country with |
| was, believe it or not, at the tender age of 23 years | | | | dusty plains and bumpy rough roads. Far from this |
| old! It is unfortunately true that during my childhood I | | | | misconception lies a colourful history, friendly people |
| had missed the fun and joys of riding a bike down | | | | full of pride in their country and living in a country, |
| the streets and even more thrilling doing the paper | | | | which has some of the highest plateau peaks in the |
| round! Furthermore, I had never experienced the | | | | continent. As well as the 6500m of descent, there is |
| joys of going on mountain biking holidays with my | | | | still an awful lot of climbing and the odd rocky road |
| family, more so because no member in my family | | | | tracks and mountain trails to keep you busy. |
| (with the exception of one or two) could ride a bike! | | | | The French Alps is famous for all it sporting |
| Now, this is not to say that I had a deprived | | | | versatility, more specifically skiing. However, when |
| upbringing. Far from it, I was simply always afraid of | | | | the snow melts down and the sun beams through it |
| doing something that will risk breaking or injuring my | | | | is a relaxing yet stimulating mountain biking haven. |
| limbs - thus my family opted for safer sports such as | | | | The high mountain peaks caters for bikers of all |
| golf, badminton and (contrary to fears) swimming! | | | | levels, from avid professional mountain bike |
| However, this never did stop me from learning to | | | | enthusiasts to first time free riders. There are chalets |
| ride a bike, and then fifteen years later actually begin | | | | nearby that accommodate for people of all ages and |
| to ride a bike - all in an attempt to prepare myself | | | | these offer French and English speaking guides to |
| for the dreaded first timers' mountain biking holidays | | | | provide people with a tour of the land. |
| experience. | | | | For those looking to relax on the beach Spain, try |
| Until a few years ago, I did not know that such a | | | | taking a trip to the Marina Alta Mountains in Valencia |
| holiday existed. In fact, other than skiing, | | | | whereby people can spend a week following the |
| snowboarding, bungee jumping and skydiving, I was | | | | winding trails whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery |
| not aware of any mountain biking holidays in France - | | | | beside them. These mountain tracks were originally |
| nor was I aware of the mountain biking | | | | carved out for donkeys and over the years, these |
| championships held every year. Clearly, mountain | | | | side trails became over grown. However, this |
| bikers' right now are probably thinking I had not yet | | | | mountain trail is almost hidden from tourists; thus |
| lived until I have at least been involved in one biking | | | | making this an uninterrupted riding experience. |
| holiday! | | | | People planning a holiday should consider the |
| However, I did learn that places like Les Gets | | | | prospects of mountain bike holidays, this is not |
| (France), riding the Andes (Chile and Argentina), Cuba | | | | something that should be approached hesitantly but |
| and even as far as Ethiopia accommodated space for | | | | more for the joy of experiencing something new. Not |
| mountain biking. An adventure like this seems too | | | | to mention a cheaper and ideal way to keep fit whilst |
| good to be true for avid biking fans; many would | | | | enjoying a relaxing holiday abroad. Holidays does not |
| place this on the same par as bungee jumping or | | | | need to involve copious amounts of alcohol and |
| skydiving. This is the thrill junkies dream, but also a | | | | beaches; the option for taking part in something is |
| sightseer's experience of a lifetime. This is certainly | | | | thought to be uplifting, stimulating and even |
| something I am looking forward to experiencing. | | | | refreshing. |
| Holidays in places like Ethiopia for some people, may | | | | |