Mountain Bike (5)
£799 per person
Friday 30th March to Friday 6th April 2018
Make the most of those cheap Friday flights and the Easter weekend to join us for the perfect early season sunshine training camp.
For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.
- INCLUDED:
- Minimum 6 full days guided riding
- 6 days of Coaching and tips with Ex Scott Racing team Manager Ian and top fitness coach Ben
- Transport including shuttling where needed
- Mechanical support
- 7 nights at the 'Mouli' in ensuite rooms
- Daily continental breakfasts
- 6 picnic lunches
- Daily afternoon tea and cake
- 6 evening meals (one night is your chance to taste the local cuisine)
- All drinks at the 'Mouli'
- Hot tub
- Bike and clothes washing facilities
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Flight to Barcelona BCN
- Airport transfer (we can provide airport transfer)
- 1 evening meal and bar drinks
With Ben Plenge from the MTB Strength Factory
Ben Plenge for those of you not in the know is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the top fitness coaches in the business. Ben trains many of the UKs top young riders including Chris Hutchens, Veronique Sandler and Charlie Hatton amongst a host of top riders. As an integral part of the Enduro Training camp Ben organises the mornings warm up, the evening stretch session and daily talks on a variety of subjects from strength training to nutrition. Some of the best and most current training advice on the planet....
Rider protection normally used for racing is recommended. For these trips we recommend all riders have a high level of natural mountainous singletrack riding ability plus understanding of Bike Park riding and wear rider protection. Full face helmets and back protectors are obligatory in the bike parks. Trail riding protection is strongly advised for natural trail days. This trip is aimed at those already racing or those who wish to race Enduro.
Full face helmet recommended for when practice racing on the Enduro circuits
Overview
Come and join us riding in the spring sunshine on dry trails to give your season the perfect boost.
Profit from our extensive race experience in your preparation for the coming season. With Angela having over ten years racing experience on the XC world cup circuit and Ian having raced at a World cup level in both XC and DH, plus having been the Scott UK team manager for 10 years you can gain hugely from our knowledge base.
Ben from The Mountain Bike Strength Factory is one of the best fitness and strength coaches in the business. He will be giving evening talks on physical preparation, fitness and strength training, nutrition and much more.
We know the local Enduro scene as well as anyone as we still race in the the Catalan Enduro series, the MaxiAvalanche and the Regional Enduro Trophy series. We spend the week riding on two of the local Gravity Enduro race circuits used in the Pyrenean Championships and on other carefully selected trails sure to get your speed and flow going.
Not sure if this is the right area to get yourself up to speed? This is the region where some of the fastest Flying Frenchies from the Enduro World Series live and train, so expect those Strava KOM's to be hard to get. On the other hand what better way to see how you are progressing!
Program -
Friday. Arrrive Barcelona airport. Pickup and transfer to "the Mouli"
Saturday. Acclimatisation day on the local trails. Expect long descents with lots of technical riding. Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Sunday. Switch countries to Spain for some classic Enduro trails in the sun. Only a short drive but well worth it! Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Monday. Video analysis day. We will ride a series of Enduro trails and video critical sections to help you improve your trail flow. Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Tuesday. The Pain Train.... Need we say more. Fun and frolics to put the pressure on! Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Wednesday. Some loooong drops to work on that endurance. Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Thursday. Mini Enduro. Shuttle runs with some timed sections to spice things up :) Stretching session. Evening talk by Ben.
Friday. :( Transfer to Barcelona. Return home.
Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.
What a week, frankly one of the best experiences I've had since starting mountain biking. The Enduro training week proved the perfect blend of fun, holiday, testing trails and a great group. Attitude Adventure put together a week of trails and slick organisation, that I am still getting the buzz from. Ben at MTB Strength Factory proved the icing on an already great cake. His pre-ride flexibility sessions, energy and passion on the rides, pre-dinner stretch sessions (a real benefit and always a laugh) and after dinner talks about energy management, recovery, nutrition etc. I found massively insightful. I would not only recommend this week to anyone who is serious about Enduro racing, but I have already reserved a place next year. Great stuff, well done. - Keven
Video
Winter enduro training:
£675 per person
Saturday to Saturday
Dates:
For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.
- INCLUDED:
- Minimum of 5 full days guided riding
- All transport/ shuttles within the trip
- Mechanical support
- 7 nights at the 'Mouli' in ensuite rooms
- Daily continental breakfasts
- 5 days picnic lunches
- 6 evening meals (one night is your chance to taste some of the local cuisine)
- All drinks whilst at the 'Mouli'
- Hot tub
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Flight to Barcelona BCN
- Airport transfer (we can provide airport transfer)
- Night out meal and bar drinks
Depending on flight times it is sometimes possible to ride on the arrival or departure day.
Wednesday is a day off from guiding. Clients are welcome to make the most of our home "Enduro" tracks, built by ourselves and waymarked for your pleasure right behind our base at "The Mouli" or you can use the day as an opportunity to try canyoning, via ferrata or just relaxing in one of the local hot springs!
10% discount for bookings of 8 or more riders.
INTRODUCTION
From 2018 onwards the format for our "Adventure Trails" trips have changed a little. We have taken the best of the old "Adventure Trails" and blended it with the best of the old "Gravity Enduro" trips to bring you this new and awesome format. Enough climbing to remind you that you are "trail riders" but with more uplift than before to get even more value from the incredible trail network and mountains that we have available to us. Not a shuttling holiday, just more access to bigger and better descents!
Check out this short video of the "Cami Ramader" one of the classics of the area...
This area which takes in the Cerdagne and Capcir valleys is singletrack heaven and lends itself perfectly to classic trail riding with about 400km of marked VTT trails and endless unmarked trails - that's where our local knowledge comes in. We live here permanently and work with the locals on developing the trail network. We know routes to suit everyone from short steady rides to epic downhill adventures adventures. Due to the shape of the valleys and the height of the plateau we have an amazing variety of trails on offer, from singletrack descents of awesome proportions, alpine bike parks and all day rides which are truly epic. With singletrack descents of over 20km available to play on, you are sure to finish every day with a huge grin.
We tailor each week to the group's desires and capabilities. To get the most out of our trips we recommend that a good standard of mountain biking skills in natural rocky singletrack terrain is needed. An ability to comfortably ride red and black Welsh and Scottish trail centre trails is good, but we are riding natural singletrack! You should be comfortable riding all day for multiple days to get the most out of your trip. This venue is not ideal for beginner riders.
We recommend that riders wear knee pads as a minimum on the descents as the trails are rocky! other protection is at the riders discretion.
Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.
THE TRAILS
What we do on our guided rides is up to you. We use our transport to give you the most "funtime" we can riding a selection of the best trails in our local area. We don’t set out with a specific plan at the beginning of the week. We will make the best use of the massive variety of trails available to us to ensure that each day gives great riding and a different perspective on the area. Our aim is simply to take you somewhere you may not have found without us. We know the area inside out, where to stop for lunch, where the good views are, where the next drinks stop is. Whilst on the trails we often use our years of experience to help clients improve their riding skills in real world situations. For example if you would like to know how to really attack hairpins/switchbacks then we have the knowledge and trails to help you perfect them.
To give a flavour of what is on offer below are details of a few of our favourites.
The Madre Madness
The definitive "all mountain" epic. To give you an idea of the locals’ view of this mountain, the Madre translates as "the murderer". To us it provides an all-day ride of epic proportions. Climbing 700m on both fire road and mountain singletrack (with a couple of portages thrown in for good measure) gets us to the summit of the Madre at 2469m. An exciting "passage" gives us access to the lunch spot with incredible 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and all the way down to the Mediterranean. We then start the 25km of trail back down into the valley with over 2200m of descent to reach Olette. The trail varies from rock strewn mountainside to buff flat out singletrack on an old packhorse trail and really is something not to be missed.
Circuit of the Galbe
A classic big mountain day which defines the term "Mountain Biking". This ride has it all. Fantastic scenery, a big climb and an amazing 1100m singletrack descent. We start at the Ski station of Formigueres and climb up and over the Serra de Mauri (2412m) before descending to a well-earned coffee stop at the beautiful Refuge de Camporells. Another climb then leads to the famous Estany de Diable (the devils lake) where we stop for lunch and then start our descent. 1100m of the finest mountain singletrack you will ever ride leads us back down to the valley floor and a well-deserved beer at the bar in Formigueres to finish. An epic day out!
The Border Crossing
Possibly the hardest one-day ride you will ever do! A true epic in every sense, the border crossing starts with a very tough two hour climb followed by a portage to reach the summit of the highest mountain on the border ridge (Puigmal 2910m). That is the easy part done, now for the descent. 2000m of all mountain trail descent to test even the best riders’ bike handling skills and nerve. The trail descends for 23km back into France passing the famous mountain sanctuary of Nuria before plunging into the ravine of Llo. After approximately 3 hours of descending we bottom out at the town of Saillagouse for a well-earned beer and a van transfer back to the Mouli. Due to the nature of the descent which is at least extreme and more, we do not offer this trail to everybody.
The Border Crossing 2 Aka "The Ying and the Yang"
This trail has rapidly become our firm favourite. Only accessible when the telecabine at La Molina is working it is well worth the effort. After a spectacular uplift to 2400m we crank up the last 150m under our own steam and at this altitude and steepness this small section packs a punch. That done the stunning view from the summit of the Tossa De Alp makes it all worthwile and the knowledge of what is to come gets the adrenaline pumping. From here we fly down an ever changing trail of your fantasies. Plummeting and flowing towards the valley floor 15km below with 2000m of drop gives you plenty of time to reflect on the majesty of the mountains we are in. But just remember, it is always better to be stopped when you are admiring the scenery to avoid becoming part of it!
The Descent To Olette
Check out the video of this descent below.
This is the classic local ride with our own special trail added on to make it even better. We start the ride from "the Mouli" crossing the valley to Mont Louis and then climbing up through the Commando firing range (keep your head down!!). Once up we stop for lunch with a spectacular view across the valley towards the border ridge, before starting the descent. What a trail! The descent starts at just shy of 2000m at the Serre de Clavera and we drop 1400m (about 12km) all on amazing singletrack (including our own cleared trail named 007 as it is a well kept secret) to finish at the bar in Olette. This is a favorite of everyone and people come back again and again just to ride it.
Black Dog
Named after one of the local Pyrenean semi-wild sheepdogs which took a liking to one of our friends (if you know what I mean), this trail cruises up hill and down dale through some stunning scenery giving a 3ish hour ride on trail which leaves you amazed at its quality. A steady climb from the village of Angoustrine gets you up to the start of the first descent which is a technical affair weaving its way down through rounded granite boulders until your arms are as pumped as your legs. You pop out into the village of Dorres with its Roman hot baths before starting a challenging singletrack climb to the “Chapel de Santa Maria”, perched in a beautiful location overlooking the Cerdagne valley. From here we cruise on some wild singletrack past ancient farmsteads to the top of the descent down to La Tour de Carol on the pass to Andorra. This descent is a mixture of hairpins and flowing trail letting you really open it up. When we hit the bottom we pick up one of the many irrigation canals that traverse the hillsides for some exciting riding back to the awaiting van.
The Cami Ramader
Once the drovers way up the valley of Evol this trail now offers an incredible one hour, seat of you pants descending trail. The "Cami Ramader" is just the last piece of this big day out which features big climbs, amazing scenery and a heap of singletrack. We normally run this trail from an uplifted start to reduce the climbing required from 2 hours to 1, but it is still a beast of a day out and worth every ounce of sweat!
The Roca Foradada
The Roca Foradada translates from Catalan to "the rock with a hole in it ". On this day we jump in the vans for a quick hop over the border into Spain and head up into the Sierra de Cadi range. A change of rock gives us scenery made up of huge limestone cliffs littered with old drovers and miners trails. A climbing start gets us warmed up for a fun rolercoaster trail to and past "The Roca Foradada" then under the spectacular headwall of the "Cadi". The second part of the day traverses under the cliffs climbing to our high point before we connect into the highlight of the day. Over an hour of undulating then descending singletrack sees us flying along one of the spurs coming out from the main cliff and descending back down to the town of Bellver over 1000m below.
These are just a few of the trails you might try in any one week. There are many more on offer - we estimate we could ride for 3 weeks without repeating a trail!
Video
The descent to Ollete:
£950 per person
Saturday to Saturday
Dates:
- INCLUDED:
- 6 full days guided riding
- 6 days of uplift assistance to get the maximum descent time possible
- 3 nights accommodation at our own boutique hotel "The Mouli del Riu" in ensuite rooms
- 4 nights accommodation in carefully selected hotels and refuges to get the most out of our time
- Mechanical support
- Daily continental breakfasts
- 6 days picnic lunch and 6 evening meals
- All drinks whilst at the 'Mouli'
- Hot tub whilst at the ‘Mouli’
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Flight to Barcelona BCN
- Airport transfer (we can provide airport transfer)
- Bar drinks whilst not at "The Mouli"
- 1 evening meal
- Cablecar uplift at La Molina
This is our flagship trip. Only the best of the best from this immense region make it onto this trip!!! Spectacular trails, incredible scenery....
To get the most out of our trips we recommend that a good standard of mountain biking skills in natural rocky singletrack terrain is needed. An ability to comfortably ride red and black Welsh and Scottish trail centre trails is good, but we are riding natural singletrack! You should be comfortable riding all day for multiple days to get the most out of your trip. This trip is not for inexperienced riders.
We recommend that riders wear knee pads as a minimum on the descents as the trails are rocky! other protection is at the riders discretion.
Backcountry Tour of the Pyrenees Orientales
Are you looking to ride some of the best singletrack on the planet?
The Pyrenees Orientales were recently described as "Massively underrated as an MTB destination" and in the opinion of the US Editor of Singletracks magazine Greg Heil "Better than the Alps" where he was blown away by the quantity of "high quality singletrack". High praise indeed! Danny Milner from MBR magazine stated after his visit, that a trip here was like "a journey through the world’s best singletrack" and based this opinion on the variety of types of trail brought about by the changes in rock type and vegetation as we move from alpine, to sub alpine, to mediterranean scrub areas available to us.
Check out what Swiss rider Tina Gerber has to say about this trip in her report on PINKBIKE. CLICK HERE
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you might say and why is that? Well the answer lies in the history of the region which has a tradition going all the way back to prehistoric times as being traversed in all directions by its population for many reasons which has led to a trail network of incredible proportions. This plus a long history of subsistence farming and smallholdings or hamlets dotted all over the valley sides gives us a mix of natural mountain trails and manmade cobbled packhorse type trails to choose from.
On top of the quality of trails the region has had very little modernisation or large modern industrialisation to change its feel of really stepping back in time.
With all of this in mind we have been scouring a larger area than we would normally ride in a trip based solely at our boutique hotel "The Mouli del Riu" to bring you the opportunity to taste the best that the region can offer in a week of uplift assisted riding. We say uplift assisted because, rest assured, to access the most spectacular trails you will still have to put some effort in. But this trip is really about getting to grips with those long mind blowing singletracks.....
Our home base is on the French side of the border in Saint Pierre dels Forcats, but on this trip we will spend time in both Spanish and French Catalonia as the Pyrenees Orientales make up the dividing line between the two countries. This gives us the opportunity to explore not only trails in two countries, but also two different cultures during our weeks riding. With excellent cuisine and wine featuring highly in the lifestyle on both sides of the border we eat and drink like kings of old as a reward for each days efforts.
If you like your riding to be a mix of "steep and techie" and "fast and flowing" all on natural trails then this trip is for you!
Weeks program
Saturday- Arrival in Barcelona. Airport pickup and transfer to "The Mouli del Riu" roughly 2hrs drive to St Pierre dels Forcats. Bike build up. Welcome dinner at "The Mouli".
Sunday- Warm up day! A nice climb to get your legs moving followed by 9km of singletrack downhill from the Valley of Planes to St Thomas les Bains (1300m drop). After a late lunch by the hot springs we shuttle up for another 1000m of descent before the van picks us up to head home.
Monday- Heading out! A shuttle up to 2200m gets us to the start point for the climb. Another 500m of uphill gets us to our start point at 2700m. We cross the border and head down into Spain, 1500m in the first descent.
Check out this early season short video of "Dino" the lower section of a very full day out...
And on it goes like this..... On this trip there is no rest day! We keep it coming until you beg us to stop.....
![Vallcebre by Ian 8888 Panorama[1]](/images/Vallcebre_by_Ian-8888-Panorama[1].jpg)
On average we will ride around 12500m of descent during the week with around 4000m of climbing. All on natural singletrack!!! To put that in perspective it would be like riding down Mt Everest one and a half times! ;)
For avalable dates please check the top of the page. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.
We look forward to showing you around a very special region....
Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.
£695 per person
Saturday to Saturday
Contact us with your ideal dates.
We can also accommodate long weekend trips.....
For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.
- INCLUDED:
- Minimum 6 full days riding and sking/snowboarding
- Fatbike rental 2 days and 2 nights
- 1 or 2 night rides on Fatbikes (lights included)
- Option of 2 winter day rides either on Fatbikes in the snow or on "Dry" trails in the valley to mix up your week
- Transport within the trip, including van uplift
- Mechanical support
- 7 nights at the 'Mouli' in an ensuite room
- Daily continental breakfasts
- Daily afternoon tea and cake
- 4 evening meals (two nights out to taste the local cuisine)
- All drinks at the 'Mouli'
- Hot tub
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Flight to Barcelona BCN
- Airport transfer (we can provide airport transfer)
- 2 evening meals and bar drinks
- Lift passes and ski rental
- Ski lessons
Mix the Ride and Slide to make your perfect winter trip
Minimum 5 riders, 10% discount for 8 or more
Introduction
So, you thought it was all over for the winter... Think again!!
How about a unique winter holiday mixing up some of the most fun you ever thought you could have. Skiing/Snowboarding, mountainbiking, night riding and Fatbiking all in one action packed week.
You can bring your own bike/fatbike or rent one of ours. We can Ride or Slide in a mix to suit your group and we offer 2 nightrides per week using Fatbikes for the ultimate in "Enduro" fun.
Here in the Pyrenees Orientales we can even ski in the morning and spend the afternoon riding on dry, dusty (yes!! Dusty!!) trails only minutes from the "Mouli"
We tailor each week's riding to the group’s desires and abilities. How many days do we spend on trails and on the snow? How many days on Ski or bike? We'll help you decide!
For these trips we recommend all riders have a high level of natural mountainous singletrack riding ability Trail riding protection is strongly advised for night rides and natural trail days. You will also need clothing adapted for riding in cold environments (if you are unsure contact us for more information).
Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.
The Ski Stations
We have an immense variety of skiing available to us spread over 3 countries, France (Neiges Catalanes ski area 300km of pistes), Spain (La Molina and Massella) and Andorra (Grand Valira ski area 400km of pistes) with the nearest lift only 300m from our base at the Mouli. We know these ski stations well having skied and borded here for over 10years and can advise you on where to go for the best conditions each day.
The Trails
From completely snowed up singletrack packed down by snowshoers to give the perfect rolling surface to dry trails we have it all...
How about the all time favourite 'Descent to Olette' in winter! (1300m of singletrack downhill) starting in the snow and finishing in T'shirts. Check out the video below.
The Ridge of Doom, the Descent de Yann and the Scorpion Tail uplift linked (1800m of super technical singletrack descent).
The Garrotxes trilogy of the Noissetiers, the Apache Indian and Auiguatibia (translates as "hot water" and is pretty apt!) then finishing with one of the Oreilla trails giving 2200m of singletrack descent in the day.
Videos
Some secret trails perfect for winter Enduro training... (published 8th Jan 2015)
The Descent to Ollete
£950 per person
Saturday to Saturday
Dates:
For booking forms and deposit payments please click on the "Info" menu at the top of the page.
- INCLUDED:
- 6 full days guided riding
- Transport & baggage transfer
- Mechanical support
- 3 nights at the 'Mouli' in ensuite rooms
- 4 nights at hotels/gites
- All breakfasts
- 5 days picnic lunches and 5 nights evening meals
- All drinks whilst at the 'Mouli'
- Hot tub whilst at the ‘Mouli’
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Flight to Barcelona BCN
- Airport transfer (we can provide airport transfer)
- Friday lunch at the beach
- 2 evening meals (at Ceret and the final night out from the Mouli)
- Bar drinks
Total Distance - 220km
Total Climb – 7000m
Total Descent - 12,404m, 100% on epic singletrack!!
INTRODUCTION
Probably the most incredible point to point mountain bike trip you will ever do! From the heart of the Pyrenees to the beaches of the Mediterranean, six days of riding in jaw dropping scenery on gobsmacking singletrack. Take a look at the day by day video series shot by Maxence Cabrie at the bottom of this page.
A mountain biking holiday with a difference. Have you ever fancied going on a journey knowing that every descent is going to be a classic and that every day will be full of amazing trails and sights. We did too! Luckily for us we can see the Med' from our base in the mountains and it gave us the idea of a multi-day trip through the mountains to the sea. After a number of voyages of discovery we have come up with a journey which will challenge you physically and technically all along its route. We've even added more uplift! This guarantees you the maximum 'buzz' for minimum grind on some of the most amazing singletrack you will ever ride!
This trip is a multi day singletrack trail ride adventure on a point to point basis and requires a high level of fitness and technical riding skills. We recommend that you are comfortable riding a minimum of red and black Welsh and Scottish trail centre trails and comfortable in mountainous natural singletrack. You should also be comfortable riding all day for multiple days for up to 50km minimum distance and over 1500m of ascent per day. This trip is not for inexperienced riders!
We recommend that riders wear knee pads as a minimum on the descents as the trails are rocky! other protection is at the riders discretion.
OVERVIEW
This multi-day trip is part of a week long holiday. A Saturday arrival is followed by a Sunday warm-up ride and equipment check. For the next 5 days we climb and descend (always descending on very testing singletrack) to finish at a beautiful beach at the end of the mountains.
Each night is spent in a comfortable hotel except the last night where we are located high up in a mountain refuge (with a great restaurant). Evening meals are included and are eaten in the hotel or at local restaurants (imagine sitting out in the evenings warmth in a town plaza enjoying your meal with a glass of the local wine) to fill you up ready for the next day’s epic instalment.
On Friday evening we return to our mountain base for a celebration dinner.
Check out the additional information for our summer holidays.
Day 1 - St Pierre to Prades
49km with 3820m of descent
We set off from our base in St Pierre and drop into the "Ridge of Doom" trail to Fontpedrouse to ensure you are wide awake before climbing to the mountain hamlet of Llar and riding the second half (5km and 750m drop) of the "Descent to Olette". After a quick break for coffee and a snack we head up the big climb of the day past the picturesque village of Jujols to the incredible passage through the "Roque Fumade". Once you have removed your blinkers we pick up the start of a 1000m descent to Villefranche passing along the way some beautiful open mountain singletrack, the "machine a laver" (washing machine) and a section of switchbacks that go on forever. After a well-earned drink in Villefranche we roll down the valley to our hotel in Prades.
Day 2 - Prades to Ceret
55km with 3080m of descent
We roll out of Prades and warm up with a climb and descent to Sahorre before attacking a 45min hike and ride climb accessing an amazing balcony singletrack to the village of Baillestavy. This trail mixes some flowing but rocky descent with tight switchbacks and short climbs leaving you wondering how hard-core the ancient inhabitants of this area were. A road climb/shuttle leads to another favourite feature of the trip, the disused mineral railway to the Col de Formentera. For a flat piece of trail it really is special! At the end of this we return to our favourite direction, down... Known locally as "Omlette 3" as you don't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs you can only guess how good this trail is. From Amelie les Bains we cruise down another disused railway to the beautiful walled town of Ceret (famed as the home of the artist Picasso) for dinner in a tree lined plaza and a beer in one of the many colourful bars.
Day 3 - Ceret to Macanet De Cabrenys (Spain)
Fontfrede descent - 7km with a 920m drop
Fontfrede to Macanet - 17km with 1795m of descent
The fun day! After two pretty hard days we set off in the morning in the van to the summit of the Pic de Fontfrede. From here we descend nonstop for 7km (920m drop) on an array of technical trail that leaves you as breathless as if you had just done the 7km climb. After a refreshment break in Ceret to recover we load up again and head back up to be dropped at the end of the road for the climb to the Col de Salines on the French Spanish border. Lunch is eaten on the ridge with a foot in each country and views in all directions is followed by another technical masterpiece heading down towards Macanet de Cabrenys. After what seems like forever twisting round, over and through granite boulders we pick up the second half of the Macanet Enduro circuit for some groomed descents leading to the village.
Day 4 - Macanet to Coll de L'Uillat
33km with 1150m of descent
Macanet was one of the last villages to fall to the facists at the end of the Spanish civil war and in the morning we cruise a bit more of the enduro circuit before tracing the steps of the fleeing locals to the Coll de Ill were the last remaining generals on the side of the Communists escaped into France. We follow the border ridge on fireroad and then another nice and technical singletrack to the modern border town of Le Perthus passing first a Roman and then a Napoleonic fortress to show how contested this area has been. After refreshments in Le Perthus we hit the road for the final climb/shuttle of the day to the Refuge at the Coll de L'Uillat for our final night on the trail and fantastic views all the way back along the chain of the Pyrenees. The accommodation here is basic but the atmosphere more than makes up for it.
Day 5 - Coll de L'Uillat to Racou Plage
25km with 1655m of descent to the sea
From our mountain eyrie we head out along the ridge of the Alberes range on a jeep track with fantastic views of the sea getting closer and closer a thousand meters below us. At the Coll de Trois Hetres the trail changes and we start down. Open ridges change to granite rock fests and we pass sections of trail with names like "Two fingers and an ankle" and the "Placa des arms" to drop closer to our goal. Just when the arms and legs are starting to really complain at the constant assault we drop out onto a short section of fire road to link us to "The last drop". This trail has been built to persuade you that you are, after all, a mountain bike god! Enjoy... Half a km of road and a sprint for the sign gets us to the picturesque seaside village of Racou Plage and the Med'. The "Summit to the Sea" is truly done.
Videos
Sometimes it is better to let your guests explain a trip.
This wonderful day by day account from Maxence Cabrie.
This is Sarah and Alans take on their trip. Beautifully done. (published 3rd Oct 2012)
From the heights of the Pyrenees to the Med beaches in 4 days of epic trail riding! (published 20th Jan 2011)
REVIEWS
I thought the agreed strap line was: Pack your knee pads, chamois cream and a packet of ibuprofen. Although, 'We provide the mountain, you provide the screaming' might also work ;-) Beate
Yo dudes & chicks, Now back home, my face slowly beginning to droop as I look up at the sky that looks like something out of a futuristic doomsday film. Glancing over at my bike box that holds my broken and beaten Spes, thinking she's wanting to be fixed and reunited with the Bentley engine for a thrashing. The bottom line is, the pastures have moved on, along with the sun and motivation is on empty. Anyway, the great times in the Pyrenees will not be forgotten and will be held in my heart until the circle starts again. Absolutely brilliant S2S trip, amazing trails, great weather and fantastic company. Many thanks to you all for coming. Massive thanks to Ian (keg) Pendry and Ange (grip shift) Pendry for having me along. It's been a blast. Until we meet again. Dave
Customer comments
Just a quick note to say thank you once again for a memorable holiday last week. The trails are truly amazing and the overall mountain biking experience was topped off by the fantastic hospitality you extended to us. There were a lot of glum faces on the plane home!
Alan and gang
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Mouli del Riu, 66210, St Pierre dels Forcats, France.
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