Unfortunately I am being laid off from work at the end of Jan. I'm going to use it as an oportunity to take a short break and visit some overseas MTB trails/trail centres/destinations. Obviously February isnt ideal as most places at the top of my list (e.g. Whistler, BC, Bellingham, Alps etc) are out of MTB season.
Im therefore considering NZ/Australia but havent read much about them as bike destinations so would be interested to hear any recommendations. Also wondered if there are any other destinations worth considering.
Ideally somewhere with good transport links, somewhere fun/interesting to stay
Somewhere WARRRRRRRRMMMMMMM
South Afirca, Cape Town area. Easy flights, no jetlag. Try Jamie at Cape Velo
Southern Spain will still be mid teens to 20c.
Cheap at that time of year.
Good riding, easy to get to
I did a week with BasqueMTB at Ainsa a few years ago. It was nice conditions rather than hot, but the trails were mint. Some hairy caterpilers though.
Sintra. Well, that’s where we are heading in Feb.
Great riding 🙂
Tassie will be good in Feb. EWS has two rounds in 2023 (March April iirc). Mainland Oz will likely be too warm if you are not acclimated.
Moi Moi Tv recent episodes shows you the gnar. But the whole state is full of mtb locations now and some of the best food, wine, spirits, beer in the world.
Ditto for NZ.
Arizona and moab
This has lots of Aussie MTB stuff, and Will ex of Singletrack
Majorca was nice in Feb, just rode a road bike though.
Oz is very good. Easy once you are there, language is fine, they drive on the proper side of the road, the food is familiar. Very easy to make friends to show you around. Blue Mountains west of Sydney or the area eat of Canberra, Norway, Berry, down to Mogo, are very good.
NZ would be top of my list though if I had the time and funds!
If you can stretch it a bit - this place is amazing 🙂
https://sedonamtbfestival.com/
And of course, you can fit in MOAB whilst you're at it
Bit early in the year for Moab and Arizona - could well still be snow, certainly classic routes like the full enchilada aren’t open until much later in the year. Probably need to be further south than Phoenix to be reasonably sure of dodging the snow, especially if you’re looking at going in the first half of February. It would be a shame to go all that way and only have limited ride options!
Gran Canaria. Beautiful weather all year round!
Moab and Sedona snow riding is an experience I’m very glad to have experienced. Driving between Moab and Flagstaff in the snow less so!
Ride somewhere from your front door. An adventure and doesn’t overly harm the environment.
I'm just back from a week with Ride Southern Spain - https://www.ridesouthernspain.com/
Top riding with a great selection of trail types - dry dusty trails, tight switch backs and rock gardens to mention a few.
Good value and a decent workshop. Accommodation spot on.
There's vids on YT if want to check out the riding they offer.
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I hadnt even considered Portugal or Spain - nor SA which is ticking lots of boxes right now (warm, logistically good, no jetlag etc). May need to leave the US trip idea for another occasion especially if even Moab isnt guaranteed to be fully ridable.
Madeira?
Not done it but is on my list.
The wife and I are booked in for Switchbacks in Southern Spain in Feb, we've not been before but sounds like a good combination of weather and trails.
We've also done Madeira and that rides well most of the year. The island is the perfect size to drive around depending where the best weather is. It's definitely an uplift kinda place though. Freeride Madeira will sort you out.
Be sure to check out price comparisons on Numbeo, I was just reading about Byron Bay backpackers' hostels at £100pppn.
I'd go Canaries (plus cheap ferries between them).
Gran Canaria. Beautiful weather all year round!
Any of the Canary islands will be mid 20's with a nice breeze off the sea. The riding there is bloody brilliant, on and off road. Loads of bike hire places. Having done it quite a few times now, we take our kit and pick up fat bikes. Ideal for riding volcanic ash and beaches.
This was mid-December on Fuerteventura...
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www.ridesouthernspain.com/ looks good. I'm sitting watching helmet cam videos of their trails and I'd kill to be out there now. I'd love to book a week in Februrary but I have to survive Christmas first.
I went to Switchbacks 11 years ago and it looks like a similar thing. Van based shuttles on rough and ready trails. It's certainly not a bikepark.
