[john horscroft]

Help     need some sun on my back.  Can anyone suggest a winter riding venue?  I'm thinking Spain, but open to suggestions.  I want a proper holiday, so minimum climbing, maximum uplift please.  Basically looking for miles of singletrack with some freeride lite.  Don't ask much, do I.... 

[Palomides]

How about Morocco?
http://www.marrakechbikeaction.com/ or http://www.vtt-maroc.com/

Not that I've been there or anything, those are just the first results from googling "vtt maroc"

[fatkid2000]

Fatdoc and I went to Spain a couple of Febs back. The weather was great. We went with Switchbacks spain - did some DH in and around Malaga, and some AM stuff in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

I don't think I would go with the company again - disorganised, and the Sierra Nevada accomodation was awful. I think Fatdoc has done further research on the Spain options - I'm sure he'll give you some ideas.

[Fultonius]

Just back form the Sierra Nevada - it was chilly!

We went out with Simon from Freeride Spain.

Plus points of the week - The trails, pretty damn awesome switchbacks, rocky singletrack, blasting down rough doubletrack etc. etc. Accommodation - nice wee house in Lanjaron no pool or anything fancy, but reasonable basic accom.

So so points - lots of climbing! (this could be a plus, or a negative, for me it was so-so as I wanted to get fitter, but I felt we lost too much of our height gained, on roads and uninteresting paths.) It should be noted that we were off season and there some logistical difficulties that would make it very unfair to mark down for. Food - nothing to get excited about. Breakfast was cereal & toast, lunch was baguette & filling and dinner was pasta/rice and curry/chilli etc. etc. dinners were plenty big enough but we supplemented day food by the end of the week as there wasn't quite enough.

Negatives - weather! I think we were unlucky as we were there during the recent pan-European cold spell - it rained the first few days and was sunny the last few. Generally ~10c but were above the snowline sometimes (fun ) 

So, bottom line - if you want big days under mainly your own steam with simple accom food - it's a winner. If you want more uplift look elsewhere, although, I've heard the Malaga trails the Switchbacks use in winter are not very exciting!

[john horscroft]

How about Morocco?
http://www.marrakechbikeaction.com/ or http://www.vtt-maroc.com/

Not that I've been there or anything, those are just the first results from googling "vtt maroc"

Now, I do have a bit of a problem with Morocco.  If I never see another tagine in my whole life, it'll be too soon.  I know, I'm shallow... 

Thanks for the suggestion though 

[john horscroft]

Fatdoc and I went to Spain a couple of Febs back. The weather was great. We went with Switchbacks spain - did some DH in and around Malaga, and some AM stuff in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

I don't think I would go with the company again - disorganised, and the Sierra Nevada accomodation was awful. I think Fatdoc has done further research on the Spain options - I'm sure he'll give you some ideas.

Bugger, I liked the look of Switchbacks too  .  They seem to do the right kind of riding and not too much climbing.  I can do that all year in the Peak, I want a holiday 

[john horscroft]

Just back form the Sierra Nevada - it was chilly!

We went out with Simon from Freeride Spain.

So, bottom line - if you want big days under mainly your own steam with simple accom food - it's a winner. If you want more uplift look elsewhere, although, I've heard the Malaga trails the Switchbacks use in winter are not very exciting!

Thanks Fultonius.  Not very inspiring by the sound of it!  I'll keep looking 

[SA Chris]

http://www.basquemtb.com/

Shamelss plug for Doug, a mate who has escaped the rat race and set this up with his Catalan girlfriend.

He has good knowledge on climbing and surfing in the area too. No idea about uplift.

[Yossarian]

John - when are you thinking of going?  For a long weekend, or a week?

I've been thinking about the former.  Maybe with these guys in Portugal - http://www.nobrakesportugal.com/

[john horscroft]

http://www.basquemtb.com/

Shamelss plug for Doug, a mate who has escaped the rat race and set this up with his Catalan girlfriend.

He has good knowledge on climbing and surfing in the area too. No idea about uplift.

Good plug Chris - looks superb    And I get a chance to surf too, a definite contender.....

[john horscroft]

John - when are you thinking of going?  For a long weekend, or a week?

I've been thinking about the former.  Maybe with these guys in Portugal - http://www.nobrakesportugal.com/

I'm keen to go for a week and Portugal looks good.  Surfing too..... 

[gingerninja]

theres loads of other places in spain try these guys, http://www.mountainbikingspain.com/
the area is nice and a bit warmer that switchbacks as its closer to the cost. ive seen it at 20degC in feb.
there are also loads of old mining tacks you can ride, tho one i went on had an open mine shaft or two lol.
i also have a mate out there i could put you in touch with for some of his local dh and fr tracks if you want.
hes go a bike shop so good for spares and repairs.

[ianv]

I went with Switchbacks downhill last year, it was ace. All uplift and proper technical riding. Most of the other Spanish setups are a bit more AM/XC orientated. It is also based near Malaga so will be warmer than up in the Sierra Navada.

Other options are Freeride Portugal ,who do a similar thing on the Algarve just outside Faro, or Lavatrax in Tenerief.