Mountain bike fanatics like to wrap summer vacations around clinics and race events at ski-turned summer resorts. If you want to learn how to ride, compete in single track to freestyle races, or just have a good time riding a lift uphill and pedaling on your bicycle back down, here are a few all-day or longer clinics and special events around which to plan a trip. These trips are for the summer of 2007, but if what a resort has to offer sounds appealing check next spring when these resorts will start listing clinics and events for summer 2008.
Most of these resorts have many miles of mountain biking trails and links to other trails in the region, plus clinics ranging from short ones for first-timers testing out the sport, to riders comfortable on single track and in bike parks. Bike rentals, for either downhill/free ride or cross-country riding are available at most of the resorts.
Whistler Blackcomb's Mountain Bike Parks Are Primo
Heli-Bike Adventures, Classic Single Track Getaways, and Bike Park Adventure weekends are all in the mix at Whistler Resort in British Columbia, Canada. With trails like Rock City and Freight Train, plus skills centers and terrain parks, this resort gets kudos from avid mountain bikers. There's a variety of packages that include lodging, such as Whistler's Ride & Stay package starting at CD$203 per night, and the Classic Single Track Getaway, starting at CD$238 per night.
Winter Park, Colorado is a Mountain Bikers Heaven
More than 600 miles of mountain biking trails thread the resort and the surrounding Grand County. Winter Park Resort Mountain Bike Madness packages start at $217 for two nights' lodging, two days' bike rentals and an all-day Zephyr Express lift/bike transport pass for rides to the mountaintop. The "sickest riding on the planet" takes place during the annual Colorado Crankwork Freeride Festival. It's scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3, 2008. For details about the festival and packages valid into early September, visit Winter Park.
Copper Mountain, Colorado Hosts the 157-Mile Courage Classic
Copper Mountain delivers mountain bike weekends, races and activities all summer long. One of the best bets: Cycling for charity is the reason, but the activity is pure fun during the annual three-day Courage Classic hosted by Copper Mountain Resort to benefit the Children's Hospital in Denver. The route meanders up to high-mountain towns and around the local cities, but every night participants overnight in Copper's Base Camp Village. You don't have to join the ride, however, to join in the party with street performers on unicycles and bicycles and watch exhibitions from pro bike stunt teams, July 25-27, 2008. For details visit Copper’s website.
Where to Go for More Information
If you want to see a list of equipment and clothing experienced riders take on a trip, visit Gear and Clothes for a Bike Trip. If you're looking for lifts to take you bike uphill these resorts let you take a bike uphill on a chairlift or gondola.
If you want to learn more about planning a bike vacation visit Planning a Trip. If you want to learn more about bicycling up and down mountainsides and in bike parks, before heading to a resort, visit About.com’s mountain biking website for information about how to get started where you live.
