Post by on September 2, 2026
With the rise of the e-bike and the amount of route data available online, the number of people who want to book a guided mountain biking holiday on bikes that run on pedal power alone is dwindling. We have been asking ourselves, “why would someone book a guided mountain biking holiday?”. The question prompts us to reflect on what additional value we, as providers of guided mountain biking holidays, are bringing to your holiday experience.
- Reduced mental load. As the Ride the Alps and family Kirkbride Carr chief organiser of trips, I know very well the mental load associated with being the one in charge of making a trip happen. A holiday is supposed to be a relaxing experience when we can forget about the To Do list for a week or so and live in the moment. Having an experienced and effective other, who you trust to make all of the necessary arrangements means that you can start relaxing right from the moment you send the enquiry email to us.
- Local knowledge: riding the best trails. Yes, there is a lot of route data online but does it always showcase the best trails in an area? You know nothing of the riding ability or experience of the person who has shared that data. Does a lot of people riding a trail mean that it’s good or simply that it’s easy to access and people are following the crowds? With a local guide who has assessed your skills and has in-depth knowledge of their riding area, you are guaranteed to be riding the best trails that suit your skills and experience.
- Safety assured. Accidents do happen in the mountains. An experienced guide can not only limit the likelihood of accidents happening due to their knowledge of the trails and your ability but they also know exactly what to do when things go wrong. That might be dealing with a medical emergency, patching you up after a fall, or keeping you safe in bad weather. This kind of knowledge is priceless.
- More riding, less time-wasting. Having intricate knowledge of a trail network means that your guide can take you straight to the best trails with no messing around. That means you’re not only riding the best trails, you’re riding more of the best trails. There’s no scrolling through all that online data, trying to figure out what looks good and then stitching together a day ride that might work. No constant checking that you’re on the right trail. All you have to do is enjoy the ride.
I have point 1 covered. Jamie is your man for points 2, 3 and 4.
Over the coming weeks I’m going to be contacting some of our most loyal Ride the Alps guests to ask them why they continue to book guided mountain biking holidays with us. Let’s see if they agree with our reflections. I will share their thoughts in my next blog post.
If you’re already contemplating a guided mountain biking holiday for next year, please do get in touch. We’re here to help you get the very best out of your holiday 🙂