| Mountain bikers don't just like ordinary | | | | it is a bike breakdown or an injury. |
| vacations - they want to take mountain bike | | | | |
| holidays, where they can get out and try out | | | | Self guided tours, on the other hand, are |
| trails that they don't often get the | | | | exactly what they sound like - self guided. |
| opportunity to try out. They also enjoy | | | | The touring company makes all of the |
| mountain bike holidays because they get to | | | | arrangements for you to get to the |
| experience cultures, challenges, and scenery | | | | destination where you will ride - but no |
| that simply isn't common place to their | | | | guide accompanies you. You are not guided on |
| lives. It's no wonder that touring companies | | | | the trails in most cases either. This means |
| have started offering mountain bike holidays | | | | that you need to have the necessary |
| in almost every imaginable destination in the | | | | experience to deal with any situations that |
| world! | | | | may arise, such as injuries or breakdowns, |
| | | | and you need to be able to read a map well. |
| Even bike manufacturers are getting in on the | | | | You may also need to do some investigating to |
| action. Trek has Trek Travel, which | | | | determine where you may and may not ride - |
| specializes in - you guessed it - mountain | | | | especially in a foreign country! Beginner |
| bike vacations and tours. Fisher Bikes has | | | | mountain bikers typically do not have the |
| also started offering tour packages - with | | | | necessary experience, and need to stick to |
| Gary Fisher as your friendly guide! Other | | | | guided tours for the time being. |
| manufacturers are sure to follow in the very | | | | |
| near future - because there is a definite | | | | If you have never been on a tour of any type, |
| market for mountain bike holidays! | | | | it is a good idea to know what you are |
| | | | getting into before booking the tour. Some |
| Travel agents are another good source for | | | | tours consist of only you, your guide, and |
| finding mountain bike vacation packages, but | | | | other members of your party - such as your |
| they usually don't offer what touring | | | | friends or family members. Other tours |
| companies - which are not the same as travel | | | | consist of you, the guide, and other people |
| agencies - can offer. Touring companies | | | | who have signed up for the tour - strangers. |
| typically offer guided tours, but many offer | | | | It is important to know what the arrangement |
| self-guided tours as well. Depending on where | | | | is before booking the tour. |
| you want to go, and what your level of | | | | |
| experience is, a self-guided tour may be more | | | | You also need to know what is expected of you |
| enjoyable than a guided tour. However, if you | | | | on the tour. Most tours provide the bikes, |
| are inexperienced, or if you are going to a | | | | and they are usually top of the line bikes. |
| foreign country, you should strongly consider | | | | Some companies will allow you to bring your |
| a guided tour. | | | | own bike, but in most cases, you will be |
| | | | responsible for your own bike. Your food may |
| The tour guides are usually well trained, and | | | | or may not be provided as part of the |
| they know the places that they will be | | | | package. Again, it is vital that you find out |
| leading you like the back of their hands. You | | | | all this information before booking the tour. |
| won't have to worry about getting lost or not | | | | |
| finding the most challenging trails for your | | | | For your next vacation, you should definitely |
| skill level - the guide has all of that | | | | contact some of the touring companies about |
| information. These guides typically know what | | | | mountain bike holidays to see if there is a |
| is acceptable, and what is unacceptable, in | | | | trip that interests you. Vacations are about |
| the areas that they often ride in, in terms | | | | more than just sightseeing - adventure is the |
| of dealing with the locals - especially in | | | | key to a fabulous vacation that you will |
| foreign countries. These guides are also well | | | | never forget! |
| equipped to deal with emergencies - whether | | | | |