Tours Classification

One of the joys of mountain biking is its unpredictability. For some it is a discovery and for others a test of skill and dexterity. We at Happy Trail MTB realize the importance of outlining the various terrain and technical skills needed to maximize the outdoor experience.
It is important to understand how the terrain can change during any single trip, but this is part of the wonderful experience that comes with a Happy Trail MTB! [...continue]

Athletic Difficulty Rating

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beginners, or for people interested in trying the activity for the first time

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healthy people who feel they are in good physical condition

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athletes who exercise regularly yet not at intense, competitive levels

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cyclists who often ride two or more times during the week and have high endurance

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competitive athletes or cyclists who are very active on their bikes weekly and enjoy challenging themselves when necessary

These criteria are taken in part from the IMBA rating system.

Technical Difficulty Rating

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Dirt or partially asphalted roads with the possibility of some local traffic.
Elevation Gain: 0-800ft
Miles: 15-20
Average Grade: less than 5%

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Some technical challenges in the trail with easier sections along the way. A few bits of asphalted local road.
Elevation Gain: 0 - 1500 ft
Miles: 21 - 28
Grade: less than 10%
Possibility of short sections of trail where walking the bike is necessary.

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Packed terrain with solid adherence yet subject to change according to meteorological conditions. The single track width is 5 ft or more.
Elevation Gain: 900 - 3000 ft
Miles: 19 - 31
Grade: average 5%; maximum 10%
Small obstacles of 3 inches. Small mandatory bridges and narrow sections of trail (minimum of 3 ft). There may be obstacles present from level 4 yet they are avoidable.

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The terrain is more or less stable with some varied sections. Minimum path width is 3 ft or more and at times exposed without fences or barriers.
Elevation Gain: 1800 - 4500 ft
Miles: 32 - 50
Grade: average 10%; maximum 15% or higher. Unavoidable obstacles such as objects 8 - 10 inches in height, catwalks, bridges and bottlenecks from 40 inches and larger. Steps of 20 - 25 inches in height (usually avoidable) and some short sections may include terrain and obstacles found in level 5.

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Widely varied terrain and unpredictable at some sections. Single track width is usually 30 inches or wider with long sections of exposed trail (potentially dangerous without fences or barriers).
Elevation Gain: 3000 - 7500 ft
Miles: 32 - 50 and above
Grade: most difficult is an average 10%; maximum 20%. The ride includes some hike a bike (either pushing or carrying the bike is necessary).
Obstacles of approximately 15 inches in height, sections of trail with loose rocks and stones. River crossings, steep and slippery areas, narrow exposed sections (20 inches and above) with some areas exceeding the descriptions explained herein.

FAMILY TOURS
These itineraries are suitable for the whole family. They consist of pleasant trails and rides with periodic stops along the way for cultural and geographic discussions. Everyone will be able to pedal together and of course there will be snack time!
If desired, other activities for adults and children can be supplemented to the day either during, or at the end, of the bike ride.

CLASSIC HAPPY TRAILS
These tours are aimed at strong cyclists, but also at anyone interested in beginning mountain biking. Some trails are a bit more challenging than others, and the full day is half cross-country, half all mountain mix. In the end you are guaranteed 100% fun! Each departure differs in its organization, such as the mix of wide open trails with sections of unforgettable single track. The trails may have some obstacles and you’ll find a steep climb or two, but always within the biker’s ability level: the possibilities and variety of terrain are endless.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS
If you are a fan of independent travel but you don’t have the time to create an itinerary or reserve your own hotels, then the self-guided option is the solution for you. Allowing light travel, these departures unfold around a central theme that we suggest, or can be custom made focusing on a specific idea that you have for a personalized mountain bike vacation.
Everything from food and wine discoveries for couples, to corporate team-building mountain bike adventures are available. Even if it’s intense training programs for athletic teams or friends hungry for a challenge from the mountains to the sea, Happy Trails has what you’re ooking for.

TRAINING CAMPS
These departures are aimed at advancing your technical ability on the bike and have varying levels of difficulty from young beginners to adult experts. It is a chance to hone skills, discover a new area, or make new friendships with others who share the same passion. Our certified mountain bike coaches will work with you daily on perfecting your movement on the bike over the course of a full week, or week-end. These groups can also be custom organized for kids, women or couples and can focus on cross-country or downhill camps.

EPIC ADVENTURES
Here is the chance to put yourself to the test. Our Epic Adventures give you the opportunity to push yourself while testing your resistance and adaptability along some very challenging and culturally significant countryside through the Alps and Apennines. These stages can be very challenging, even from a logistic point of view: when possible the group will sleep in mountain huts, but there is always the possibility of using tents at altitude. The meteorological conditions will play a significant part in dictating how the expedition moves over the course of a week. As long as conditions permit, the group will continue to bike. Motorized assistance will not always be able to reach the cyclists on every part of the trail and thus it will be a truly epic adventure.

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What is a Mountain Bike Tour?
Participants often arrive at the beginning of an adventure and don’t know what to expect. They are insecure about their abilities: Will they be able to do it? Will they be too slow? Yet little by little, the group becomes cohesive and these concerns - as well as all of the stresses of daily life - are put aside in order to share a passion for the outdoors with others. We don’t attempt to control everything during the tour, but we pay attention to all of the details: biking, relaxing, eating a delicious meal and resting - to get up the next morning and do it all again. This is what a tour with Happy Trail MTB is all about: focusing on the bike. By following the guides, the cyclists don’t lose time wondering where to go and there is no risk of being left behind as a result of a mechanical failure. In this way, our guests enjoy the experience without having to worry about the details.

Who are the Guides?
We are as passionate about mountain biking as you are.We have over ten years of experience as bike guides and decades of customer service. Our guides are specialized in any one specific tour: knowing the ins and outs of the territory, the itinerary and the countryside (such as the food, the culture, the traditions, and the flora and fauna). One of us is always traveling with the group on a bicycle, solving the problems that may arise along the way. The guide is also available for technical tips and advice, to help improve your technique and better maneuver the terrain along the way.

How do I know if a given tour is right for my athletic ability and skill level?
Read the written description for the tour that interests you. If you have any questions, please contact us and we can discuss your concerns over the telephone/skype. Being honest about your own skill level is the best start, but having the desire to tackle mental and physical obstacles will help your progress as a mountain biker. Each day will have a regular pace in order for all the participants to appreciate the countryside, especially on a multi-day trip.

How do I go about reserving and paying for the trip?
Contact us and we will send you the reservation and sign-up forms. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to reserve the spot, with the remainder of the payment due 20 days before the trip’s departure.

Are there any discounts?
We apply a 10% discount to pre-organized groups (6 or more participants) who book together. We aim to keep our costs relatively low in order to cover expense, yet still guarantee exceptional customer service. Some trips are intended for families with small children who bike together. In this case, children will share a room with their parents, and their pricing is indicated on the page specific for each tour.

Where do we sleep?
The hotel accommodations change depending on each individual trip. Usually the accommodations are 3 star hotels, mountain huts, hostels or “agriturismo” depending on the departure. Single rooms are typically not available and prices reflect a double occupancy stay. Other accommodations (such as the gîte d’étapes in France) will have 4 or 6 rooms with a common bathroom. Additional reservations are available (but not included) in every arrival and departure hotel.

And the Food?
Dinners and breakfasts are served wherever we are lodged for the evening (except in a few cases). The Happy Trail MTB staff takes care in having adequate, ample and varied food options. We pride ourselves on focusing special attention on simple, delicious local fare. During your booking, make sure to indicate any allergies or dietary restrictions (vegetarian, for example) so we can formulate an alternative menu for you. Lunches are not included, yet they will primarily consist of sandwiches, restaurant stops or other options as indicated by the guide.

How does the luggage transfer work?
The luggage will be transferred to the following accommodation by a member of the Happy Trail staff, and will be delivered between 3 and 4 p.m. Ideally each trip participant should limit himself/herself to one large bag with all necessary articles such as changes of clothing for the evening, other bike kits, sneakers, etc. You can keep anything you may need during the day in your backpack such as rain gear, sunglass lenses, or anything else you would require immediately. Twenty days before the departure of the trip, we will send you a list of all the necessary items you should pack before leaving home.

What about the bike?
We would recommend making sure your mountain bike is in perfect condition. Have an overhaul done at least a month before the trip at your local bike shop to be sure the components are in top working order. Make sure to bring an extra derailleur hanger specific to your bicycle frame along with you on tour. For some tours bike rentals are available.

What does the trip price cover?*
One guide for the full duration of the trip (two guides for groups of seven or more).
Accommodation stay in half-board for each evening of the trip.
All dinners and breakfasts.
Luggage transfer for the duration of the trip.
Reservation assistance before and after the trip dates.
Guided rides for each trip as indicated per tour.
An “emergency repair” lesson on tour, to make sure you always make it out of difficult situations.
Happy Trail ASD membership for a (calendar) year.
Happy Trail T-shirt and helmet bag.
Motorized assistance (“sag-wagon”) for those trips that allow for it.
Repair kit & tool box (we also carry a few spare parts available at wholesale price, just in case you need them during the trip).
What doesn’t the trip price cover?
Travel to/from trip departure/finish.
Transportation during the trip such as trains and chairlifts.
Lunches.
Gratuity for the guides.
Beverages at meals (except for water).
Insurance
*for Self-Guided trips, please refer to the details on the trip’s web page.

Will there be a Sag-Wagon?
Not all itineraries we have designed allow for motorized assistance (or a “sag-wagon”) to drive along the route. Often enough, the presence of a support vehicle or van depends on the difficulty of the tour: the more remote the area, the more unlikely it is to have motorized assistance. In any case, our van will be as available as possible (at trailheads, for example) and as close as can be allowed depending on the circumstances. The van will have your luggage along with spare parts, tools and a first aid kit. The van will also give those cyclists who are not interested in biking for a day the option of taking a shuttle to the next accommodation.

Is there any insurance provided?
No insurance coverage is provided on a Happy Trail MTB excursion. Happy Trail MTB strongly recommends getting insurance before taking part in any adventure vacation. There are many agencies that provide accident coverage (travel insurance) specifically for active travel vacations.

What is the cancellation or modification policy?
Happy Trail MTB reserves the right to modify or cancel certain departures for any reason. We will notify any registered participants immediately, and other dates or departures will be suggested. If the participant cannot make the new dates/destination, Happy Trail will fully refund the initial trip price.

If the participant decides to cancel the trip, a 50 euro retainer fee is withheld up to 60 days before the departure of the trip for administrative purposes. For cancellations past the 60 day limit, the full deposit will be withheld with the possibility of applying 50% of it to a future trip of your choice, or to a friend’s departure.

More questions?
Contact us. If you are looking for updates to our events, itineraries and promotions, sign up for our newsletter via email and stay in the loop with Happy Trail.

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The military strongholds of this Alpine area (also known as the Alpine
Watchmen) already held a rather strategic importance during Napoleon’s reign and even earlier. In fact, this region in the High Alps between France and Italy was always [...]