[Closed] Switch-backs based at Bubion (Spain)

I've been to that area with Ciclo who were great, in fact I want to go back as I found some of the trails rather challenging and i think I'd be better able to handle them these days. After an infamous thread on here I'd dodge Sierra MTB but I have no personal experience

The organisation at switchbacks is a bit Spanish, but Mike's a great guy and the riding is tippy-top. Very different to the stuff around Malaga. Good amount of uplift and rocky-rocky trails. I used to go there a lot before other obsessions took over my life :).

I did a few holidays with Freeride Spain many moons ago, when they were still in business (what happened to them?), and Switchbacks were seemingly the main competition...and had an EXCELLENT reputation. The fact they are still going when many others have fallen by the wayside would suggest to me they know what they are doing. I'd have used them myself, only the Alps kinda took over.

I've been to Bubion with them twice and Malaga once. It's a great set up and there's loads of riding. Accommodation is self catered and slightly more rustic than Malaga.

I went solo with them many moons ago. Met some lovely characters and had a great time. I was on a hardcore hardtail and it pushed me to the limits, I've been keen to go back ever since.

The days stared slightly later than I'd have liked (loading bikes in the van at 9:30 or 10?) but I really enjoyed living in Bubion for a week sampling the beers, tapas and local restaurants.

Went for a day when we were on hols. Mike is a great guy.

There's a little bar mid stop on one of the rides - just don't get tanked on the Mojito's...

I went in September 2010, I had a good time. If you've done the Malaga trip you'll know the general vibe.

Transfer takes about 1.5 / 2 hours from Malaga.

Trails were dusty, rocky singletrack.

We had one day of total deluge rain but still rode.

Most days involved some van uplift and at least 30 minutes steep fireroads to start, so leave the full face at home.

Everything was spiky or rocky, pads were good to avoid the vegitation as much as crashes.

Have fun.

I did a few holidays with Freeride Spain many moons ago, when they were still in business (what happened to them?)

Si moved back to deepest, darkest Yorkshire. They had three kids and ultimately, I think, wanted to bring them up in the UK, plus the whole guiding scene round there had got very, very crowded and it's hard work running mtb holidays pretty much 24/7.

But... he's still running Freeride Morocco doing guided week-long trips in the Atas mountains. The riding there is pretty similar to the stuff they used to do in southern Spain, but the dust is redder. They ride point to point rather than from a fixed base staying in gites and it's really cool. Great riding with some added cultural interest, really recommended and just across the water from Spain.

Going back to Spain, I never rode with Switchbacks, but they use a lot of the same trails as Freeride Spain used to - same area - brilliant riding in a rocky, loose, exposed sort of style.

Went last year as a group of 3. Awesome riding, cheap living and sunshine. Needless to say, the trails were dusty, so much so that any slabs of rock (of which there are plenty) were like riding on sheet ice. Made it fun and challenging as I needed to focus on different aspects of riding than I usually would have. I would definitely recommend and I will definitely be returning. Mike and the team are a great bunch. Just one point. As we were a smaller group we joined a larger group for one half of our stay and another for our second half of stay. This meant we were riding the harder trails (which first group had built up to and progressed during week) straight off the bat and then the easier trails on the second half ( when we joined the newcomers). All was good and it worked out fine in the end as we were tired towards end of week anyway so the easier/more flows trails were welcomed. When we return we shall definitely look to take a larger group so that we can dictate riding though.

Do it, you won’t regret it. The other spot I’d recommend for similar riding (with a bit more vegetation) would be Lake Garda from Riva but not sure of weather in October as it’s bordering Dolomites. Michaelcycle now works in Liteville Demo Center out of Riva and can sort out guiding around this area.

I've been 3 times with Switchbacks. As above really. Uplift first thing then bit of a climb (the amount of climbing has decreased over the years). Then lots of descent (loose and rocky). Finish in a bar for beers about 3 ish.

Check out  http://rivierabike.co.uk/ also. Similar vibe but I would say better trails.

I went solo with them many moons ago. Met some lovely characters and had a great time. I was on a hardcore hardtail and it pushed me to the limits, I’ve been keen to go back ever since.

The days stared slightly later than I’d have liked (loading bikes in the van at 9:30 or 10?) but I really enjoyed living in Bubion for a week sampling the beers, tapas and local restaurants.

I agree with Jon, there were some right reprobates on that holiday. And I need some more of that roast marinaded goat leg (which turned out to be a whole leg with a couple of token baby carrots). <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">And the Thai place run by the Scottish couple.</span>

The accommodation was pretty much a 4 bed house which you shared with whoever else was there for the week (so you won't get a room to yourself unless its quiet). The fridge was stocked with beer, cheese, meat, milk, eggs, etc for breakfast and snacks but other than that you're left to your own devices. Which usually meant getting pissed on 1euro beer and tapas in the sunshine from about 4pm in the sunshine until the restaurants opened.

The days could have been longer and there was a break day in the middle of the week (which we rode anyway after getting a lift to the top of the first hill) but I was knackered by the end of the week (TBH I was unfit) so overall it was about right, if I'd been fitter I think I'd have wanted more riding but there's nothing stopping you cycling up the hill from bunion and doing the runs on that side of the valley in the afternoon. It is a big hill though if you were to ride right to the top then right down to the lake!

Most days involved an uplift followed by a climb of varying length, descent, lunch, uplift/climb, descent, then uplift back to Bunion (or perhaps to the top to do the run back into town).

Went last October. Had a great time as long as you like dusty loose techie trails. Lots of uplift and fab downs. The accomodation in Bubion is a house in the old part of town it was fine for us. Breakie is DIY but bread, cereals, bacon eggs etc all provided. We ate out every night at the restaurants in the village.

Had a great week and will go back

+1 for Rivierabike.  The trails just seemed a bit more varied to me.

Freeridespain is now FreerideMorocco.  Which I'd also highly recommend if you fancy a bit more culture with your trails.....

I noticed there is also Sierra MTB, interested in hearing what they’re like as well

Trip Advisor reviews  https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowUserReviews-g315915-d2540144-r569322916-Sierra_MTB-Fuengirola_Costa_del_Sol_Province_of_Malaga_Andalucia.html

Just had a great 4 days with Sierra Cycling - couldn't recommend enough. Accommodation is good with a well stocked fridge (beer and Soft drinks) and a beach within a minutes walk. Loads of bars and restaurants nearby, but still quiet if you want to avoid. You will probably share the accommodation and riding, but that's part of the whole thing I reckon. Breakfast is outstanding and starts you off for a great day in the mountains. The guides I had were just brilliant (John and Clive) and I learnt a lot from them both. The riding was varied and tailored to your ability and I rode different trails each day and pushed my limits,and beyond. Great value in my opinion and will definitely be going back.

just had a butchers at that Freeride Morocco. looks great!! pricey tho, esp considering you are staying in a mountain gite most nights. for less money you can stay in a fancy chalet with whiteroom with unlimited bevs. be hard to convince the lads to do the morocco trip...

I'm put off going anywhere where you have to share the bedroom with someone else.

Don't mind sharing the rest of the accommodation.

Sierra MTB do mention that you can get a single room for £10 a day extra while no single room guarantee seems available with Switchbacks etc so might try Sierra MTB

Only trouble is with Sierra MTB is that a group of people I know went with them recently who are very mixed ability, and they kept them all together all week, and the very slow people held up the faster ones, reducing the amount of riding getting done considerably. Whether this is the norm, and whether I can expect this to happen to me if I go with them, is completely unknown. But the extent that they were held up is shocking, for example, one of the faster riders' strava had an extra 45 minutes of 'elapsed time' on a descent, with only about 10 minutes 'moving time'!

At least with Switchbacks I know I can expect a faster pace, but the lack of a single bedroom guarantee is off-putting.

I would also take a look at Ciclo Montana. It's 20 years this year since we started going out there, so there's more than a little bit of bias involved, but they really do have a great set-up.

Dunno how busy switchbacks would be in October, that's around the time I was there and had a room to myself, think there were only 8 of us split between the two houses that week.

There's always fast and slow riders in a mixed group, unless you're going somewhere really busy where they can guarentee big enough numbers to split the groups its always going to happen. Realistically the climbs/decents are pretty big, two hills would be the same vertical distance as 6 at BPW so you'll always get to the bottom and and go for a coffee between runs, you couldn't shuttle all day unless you're super fit!

just had a butchers at that Freeride Morocco. looks great!! pricey tho, esp considering you are staying in a mountain gite most nights. for less money you can stay in a fancy chalet with whiteroom with unlimited bevs. be hard to convince the lads to do the morocco trip…

What Morocco has going for it is a proper sense of adventure. It might be geographically not that far from southern Spain, but it feels really different. Stuff like hearing the call to prayer while you're staying in Marrakech and the flat-roofed villages and terraced fields, that look like something out of Nepal kind of underline that.

The accommodation's quite basic - or it was when I went a few years back - and my top tip would be to take your own comfortable Therm-a-Rest or similar mattress. And Si is good value for on and off bike entertainment. And finally the riding's ace in a southern Spanish, technical sort of way.

I guess it all depends on your priorities, but if you want something that's accessible, but a bit different, it's a good call.

BWD describes it well!  Depends if you perceive the experience outside of the riding to be worth it.