Meet the guides

Meet the staff that make Ride the Alps what it is, including the guides you'll be riding with on our trips.

Jamie Carr

2010 will be Jamie’s 25th year of riding mountain bikes and 18th year of guiding mountain bike trips all over the world. Jamie’s vast experience means that he knows what can turn a good trip into a fantastic trip. Jamie’s career in mountain biking began as the youngest member of the first British mountain bike racing team in 1987. Following 4 years of professional racing, in 1992 Jamie took on possibly his most gruelling challenge when he participated in the worlds longest mountain bike race . The route was from coast to coast across the dry, dusty interior of Australia - a hot 3,330 miles in one month. Since then Jamie has been travelling independently, exploring the world’s remotest places on his bike, including 3,200 miles from Beijing to Kathmandu across the desolate heights of the Tibetan Plateau. Since 2000, Jamie has been working for KE Adventure Travel and has guided a range of bike trips in Ecuador, Nepal, Tibet, India, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Outer Mongolia. Personal adventures to Canada, Alaska and New Zealand make Jamie one of the UK’s most widely travelled and experienced mountain bikers. Following his adventurous spirit, Jamie has found the best biking area in Europe in which to establish Ride the Alps. Adding to his mountain guiding experience, in 2004 Jamie gained his International Mountain Leader award. This is a professional qualification which ensures that Jamie and Ride the Alps are insured and have the skills and expertise to keep you safe. Jamie is now one of the select few British guides working in the French Alps who has IML and British Mountain Bike Leader qualifications.

Mary Kirkbride

Mary runs Ride the Alps with Jamie and mostly works on business management. Whilst she is not involved with the guiding of the trips Mary is also a mountain bike enthusiast. She has ridden all of the Ride the Alps trips on offer and will be able to answer any questions you have regarding our holidays. 2010 will be Mary’s 9th year of riding mountain bikes and she lives in the Alps all year round.

Neil Mottershead

Neil is Jamie’s second in command on some of our trips and has the OTC level 2 qualification and an up to date first aid certificate. He’s always on hand to drive the van, mend bikes using his wealth of mechanical knowledge or step in for Jamie in case of an accident or emergency. Neil has been biking for 21 years and will join in as much of the riding as possible on point-to-point trips. Neil has endless enthusiasm for all things bike-related and is undoubtedly a great asset on every trip.

Cheri “Lardy” Mills

Cheri joined us in 2007 as a driver, assistant and mechanic. Cheri has been biking since the mid 90s. With 20 years experience as a motor mechanic, an up to date first aid certificate and Welsh good humour, it’s always a pleasure to have Cheri on a trip.

Jules Fincham

Jules Fincham, director and coach of Cycle Wild Scotland, is a senior tutor for the Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Association (SMBLA) having worked closely with the association since its foundation in 1997. During 12 years at Glenmore Lodge, Sportscotland’s National Outdoor Centre, Jules created and developed the centre’s MTB syllabus. Jules, a passionate mountain biker and trail builder, is a member of the International Mountain Bike Association. One of the UK’s top adventure coaches, through his lifelong passion with adventure sports and the wild places of the world, Jules has developed his coaching repertoire to include national coaching qualifications in mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing and paddlesport. Find out more about the work Jules does at Cyclewild Scotland.

Chez Frost

Chez is our first female leader for Ride the Alps and certainly one for the speedie riders to try to keep up with. In 2008 Chez won the gruelling mountain X 5 day adventure race across the Alps, Mountain Mayhem, the Helvelyn mountain triathlon and the Borrowdale fell race. She is a fully qualified International Mountain Leader and also holds the SMBLA mountain bike leader award. Chez has worked periodically for KE Adventure travel since 1999, leading adventure biking, trekking and climbing trips around the world. Chez is another great addition to the Ride the Alps team, bringing a vast amount of experience and expertise. You can be sure of a great trip with Chez’s humour, laid back leadership stlye and confident approach.