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Mountain Bike Trips

What is a Mountain Bike Trip  The most rewarding part of our work at Western Spirit Cycling comes from the guests themselves. They arrive the morning of their trip excited about getting away from the phone, the e-mail, the fax, and the freeway. We all lead such incredibly busy lives, often entirely insulated from the land, the weather, and the natural cycles of the environment. On our mountain bike trips you will have the chance to leave it all behind for some well deserved relaxation.  What to Expect  A week of mountain biking in the backcountry gives everyone new perspective. Imagine rolling along through the vast desert landscape or gliding through an incredible grove of golden aspens, to arrive at camp where you are greeted by a magnificent vista and a delicious Dutch oven dinner. A guided bike trip means you will have the opportunity to think about nothing, while contemplating everything.  Controlling the Challenge  Whatever type of cyclist you are, everyone is usually a bit apprehensive on the first day of riding. Will the group be too fast? Will the group be too slow? Will the terrain be too technical? Will the terrain be too easy? Some of our trips are perfect for those new to cycling, while others will be challenging for even the most experienced riders. Give us a call, 800-845-2453, and we can help you choose. Once you begin your trip you can find your own pace, with just the right amount of challenge.  The Menu  The Western Spirit menu is healthy and abundant. All our ingredients are fresh and plentiful, and we are happy to accommodate special requests. Just let us know on your registration form prior to your departure. After a great day of riding, you deserve some serious meals. Breakfasts involve blueberry pancakes and sausage, eggs and potatoes, French toast and bacon, steel cut oatmeal, and our now famous Western Spirit Breakwiches. Fruit salad and cereal are also available. Lunches include sandwiches with cold cuts, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, and red onions plus a lunch salad of Asian slaw or our famous sun dried tomato couscous. We also serve turkey grape wraps, cashew chicken pitas, taco salad burritos and a greek lunch spread with tabouli, hummus and feta balsamic salad. Dinners include grilled salmon with pesto pasta, spinach lasagna and Caesar salad, steak fajitas with all the fixin's. One of our new favorites is Chicken Diablo, a delicious curry with lots of vegetables. Desserts include chocolate fondue, hot carrot cake or Dutch oven brownies. We make it all right there in our camp kitchen before your very eyes.  Picking a Trip  If you are just getting started, and we mean right out of spin class, we have trips that are right for you. A mountain biking vacation is a great way to improve your skills and your fitness level. Visit our Choosing a Trip page to help you find a trip to match your riding style. We also offer tours that can only be described as epic singletrack. If your local rides have lost their thrill and you long for new switch backs, stout climbs and endless descents, meet us in Durango, Telluride, Brian Head, Tucson, Sun Valley or Bend. We have put together routes throughout the US linking our favorite rides, views, and natural wonders. Many trips include side hikes to historic sites like Indian ruins, ghost towns, or lighthouses. Others include incredible geology, like slot canyons or even natural hot springs.  Group Sizes  Most trips are limited to 13 guests and two guides, giving us one of the best guide to guest ratios in the business. On custom trips we can add guides to accommodate larger groups. Our typical trip includes several people who have come on their own; a few friends who managed to coordinate their schedules; and a few couples. Ages are all over the map! You may have a group of friends who want to join you on a trip, or you might find it is easier and more fun to make some new ones. Western Spirit guests come from all over the country and the world. In many cases people who have met on one of our tours will get together after the trip and coordinate the following year's trip to include the same group.  Guide Support  Western Spirit's guides are not only fun to be around, but they are also experienced outdoors people, excellent backcountry chefs, and skilled cyclists. They will be happy to give advice on riding technique, identify plants and wildflowers, or discuss geologic theories. Most of all they love being with people. If you're lucky, Mark will bring his guitar, Heather will teach you to hula hoop, Angela will sneak edamame into the cooler, Johnny will make ice cream on the spot or Pete will keep your kids entertained by a cereal box for hours.  Camping  Camping Western Spirit style is truly cushy. Our trucks carry all the gear and our guides do all the cooking. We arrive at camp, and while the guides set up the kitchen and prepare hors d'oeuvres, the guests set up their tents and are free to explore the area, take a nap, or have a cocktail. Plentiful fresh food, solar showers, and our Maine loungers make the starlit nights both comfortable and unforgettable.  Lodging  On a few select mountain bike tours we spend a night or two at an inn or lodge. We have picked hotels and inns for their food, location, and hospitality.  Let us Help  Read about our trips, send us an email, or, better yet, call us at 800-845-2453 when you are ready to start to plan your next mountain biking adventure. We will be happy to help you determine which of our trips is best for you.  MAKING A RESERVATION  When you make your decision, call us to confirm your choice and reserve your spot with a credit card deposit of $400. The deposit for south of the border trips is $550. You may also book a trip on-line.

"I sure did enjoy the trip. I felt so privileged not having to do anything. I am so used to planning the menu, shopping for it, packing it, setting up camp, tearing down camp, and negotiating when, where, what, why and how with other trip participants. So to let Jane and Tim handle ALL of that was really special for me."

Bob Swintz, May 2006
1st Western Spirit trip