Hi Steve

It is an absolute privilege to be able stay on the beautiful Balloch farm, NE Cape, South Africa. In my travels, I have never come across such a beautiful valley with the stunning rock formations, crystal clear streams and the tranquillity that comes with it. On the rides in the Wartrail area there is a crisp freshness to the air that only comes with the higher altitudes. The vast open expanses of rolling hills give you such a sense of freedom, but at the same time placing you in perspective with the big world. Riding through the remote farms you realize how tough the pioneers were in the rugged hills.

The day trip via Tiffendell and Tena Head to Rhodes was such a great challenge but done in such a relaxed manner that when it was finished, I wanted to do it all again the next day. The part of the ride at Dangershoek is so remote and peaceful with a tremendously relaxed atmosphere. Nothing like a great days’ riding and then sitting high on a ridge watching the changing colours and light in the valley below with a beer in hand. Whatever you do, don’t tell Steve that a rocky ridge looks interesting to ride, the next thing you know is a way to ride it is worked out and the challenge is set. This is what mountain biking is about without the stresses of multi day racing.

Thanks Steve. Can’t wait to go back.

Anybody who is looking for a fresh experience riding a bike would do well going to Vietnam.

After discussing various options we selected Vietnam mainly because I wanted to ride the Ho Chi Min trail! Any way we didn’t get to ride the trail but had a wonderful 7 days right up in the far north, close to the Chinese border. Our guide Thia was a gem. Always pleasant, most helpful and ever willing to please he guided us out of Hanoi by bus and after a short drive we got the bikes out and set off.

The riding was over a variety of surfaces: gravel paths, quiet tar roads, steep mountain passes and some excellent downhill track. The Vietnamese walk a lot and the others ride small mopeds, even on the gravel trails, so there is ample selection to ride.  A typical day for us was about 80km that took from 8am till mid afternoon. This might have included a tar transition in the following bus but with ample time to stop, look and eat.

We travelled a loop via SaPa, very special and a must, past Loa Cai up to Bac Ha and back to Loa Cai for the train back to Hanoi. On the last day we rode some of Hanoi city in the very early morning. This was a great way to see the city and with the volume of moped traffic I wouldn’t do it in rush hour.

The boat trip in Halong Bay was fantastic and must be included.

Our wives spent 4 days shopping and having fun in Hoi An, near Danang and were very happy. Initially they felt that they might be missing out but were more than happy with their clothes buying, cooking etc.

I would really recommend this as a riding holiday. The Vietnamese are very friendly, it’s still cheap and there are great options to keep everybody happy.

Ride Away Tours created a great trip that easily exceeded our expectations and the service was faultless.

Hi Steve

Well done from all our gang for the tour to North Vietnam you organized. Everything was excellent and our guide was brilliant – we are all trying to find a way to bring him to South Africa. He was really amazing in character and service with his anticipation of our needs and his/our favorite reply: “anything is possible”. The country was stunning and the people wonderful. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour and I feel it is on one of the best countries and tours I have ever been to.

1. While in Bac Ha, we had probably our best days riding down into the valley for 25 km on excellent single track. At the bottom we had an awesome lunch but some of us normal people were not looking forward to the 25 km back up the hill. We asked Thai if we could hire mopeds and with in 6 or so minutes we had 5 moped arranged at a reasonable price which we rode back up the mountain – making a really fun day and I would recommend this as a standard option.

And that’s about the only suggestion I can come up with. The rest was pretty much faultless.

Again from our gang – well done.
Regards
Nic

Back from Nepal and had a great time. Just some recommendations…

QATAR AIRWAYS were very good, the service excellent and the food the best I have ever tasted in economy. Don’t hesitate to use them.
Nepal was a culture shock for us but wonderful.

• On day one we all were carried on the backs of Royal Enfield motorcycles through Kathmandu to the various interesting sights and temples. Cannot recommend it enough and a quick and exhilarating experience of the traffic in the city whilst at the same time a much faster mode of transport. We all had Nepalese guides who were members of the local Royal Enfield club.
• We only saw the Kathmandu Valley but stayed on the mountains around the valley at different destinations most nights and circumnavigated the valley.
• The biking was good but tough and not for the faint hearted. We descend into the valleys during the day and then climbed out at the end of the day. This gave us the benefit of the culture during the days and the views of the Himalayas in the late afternoons.
• We had a Nepalese guide from Ride Away, Prayesh who owns his own bike shop, is a qualified bike mechanic and who was wonderful and we would really recommend him. Cannot endorse him enough. We did spend considerably at his store which is a material benefit for him as well.
• Our guide, a Dane in his 30's, has been in the city for 13 years and him and his partner are working with Ride Away. Young, interesting, hugely knowledgeable on Nepal and Tibet. A very keen mountain biker but he has trekked the Himalayas for months on end, he is passionate about Nepal and was energetic about imparting his knowledge on Nepal which is considerable. They arranged the Royal Enfield motor bike tour... "the viking" has two of these motor cycles himself and he was one of the guides. He also rode with us for the duration of the trip.
• Claire is a darling and does much of the administration but gave of herself to us as a rowdy bunch on no less than four meals.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Ride Away Mountain biking and Cycling Tours. As I said above, seven rowdy, brash, holidaying South Africans aged 45 to 60 on an endorphin overdose was pretty much the worst that they could have expected and I promise you, Ride Away were wonderful. Patient, interesting, humorous and above all, everything that we could have wanted from them.

Steve, a great trip, with huge laughs and all three of your guides were bloody stars. Keep us in the loop on developments in South America...would love to go there.

David Evans from Durban, South Africa
Kathmandu Valley
Nov 2009

Hi Steve

Thanks for introducing me to Ride away tours which allowed me to have an absolutely awesome time in Nepal with seven cycling mates. The tour exceeded my expectations in every possible way and I will definitely be back to experience another  mountain bike trip to another country - as I have already mentioned to you. Your attention to detail from beginning to end made it very easy for an "inexperienced traveler" like myself.

Sonam was an excellent guide who was always on hand to share in his incredible knowledge of the country. His experience with fixing bikes was very useful with a number of technical issues experienced. His pleasant nature and jovial personality bought some good laughs to the group. The riding was tough but very rewarding with the spectacular views we experienced. Riding in remote areas not often seen by tourists was a very special experience and made all the climbing worthwhile.

Thanks again to you Steve and Ride Away Tours I mean it sincerely when I say you have ignited a desire in me to travel more now that I know what is out there and the fact that I can do it on my bike!

Regards
Dave Bure, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Pokhara to kathmandu
Oct 2009

Sorry for the late e-mail! It has been all so busy since I returned from our amazing trip to the other side of the world!

Maedes and Claire were the ultimate hosts. They made a huge effort to accommodate everyone, and the cycling was wonderful! It was challenging in some areas which suited me well. The only recommendation I would make is that there is more communication about the type of technical difficulty we were to expect. Perhaps more info on the weather. All in all it was really a phenomenal experiences with so many highlights. A recommended way to see any country, it gave me a whole new perspective on Nepal and its people.

Thank you very much. Next time I will be going with my children! Lhasa – Kathmandu looks good!

Regards

Mariota, South Africa
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
December, 2009

Hi Steve

Wow that Nepal trip was fantastic. I was so impressed with your Nepali guides and the services they provided. Highly professional and world class. The country is stunning, the rides were great and the people are fantastic. I look forward to doing another Ride Away tour as soon as possible.

Kind Regards
Nic Jordan, Ballito Bay, South Africa
Oct 2009

I had the most awesome time in Nepal. To be pefectly honest , it would not have been on my list of must see places but the group was going so I went along and I was so pleasantly surprised.  I fell in love with the place and can’t wait to explore further. Your guides were wonderful hosts and did everything to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. I also loved that Ride Away prides itself on taking you off the beaten tourist track.

Thanks also to you for your patience whilst putting the tour together - it paid off as we all had a really great time.

Sue Cardwell, South Africa
Kathmandu Valley
Nov 2009

The trip with Ride Away Tours to Nepal in October 2009 was a trip in a lifetime and made very special by the organisation and the people who managed the entire trip. It was run very professionally and was great value for money. What was enjoyable was the interaction with our local guide Sonam, his approachability and friendly nature was most welcome.

I would sincerely recommend anyone contacting Ride Away Tours to put together a trip for them.

Andrew Taylor, race organizer Hill2hill and Golivane MTB, South Africa
Pokhara to Kathmandu Oct 2009

Just got back from India and our trip in Nepal. I wanted to thank you for organizing everything for us. It was absolutely fabulous and our hosts were exceptional. The organization was superb and they were totally accommodating and adaptable to suite our needs. I was very impressed with their patience, organization and efficiency. I will definitely recommend Ride Away again.

I guess my only slightly negative feedback was that I would have prefered to have been more in the actual mountains. I loved the national park and the accommodation in the mountains...

Thanks for your effort and for making it such a smooth, enjoyable tour.
Georgie Carter, South Africa
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Nov 2009

COMMENT FROM STEVE:
Thanks Georgie, yes riding right up in the Himalayas would be awesome but difficult. More extreme mountain biking, narrow very technical trails, very steep, long climbs and heaps of portaging. A suggestion for future rides would be Lhasa to Kathmandu as an option although it is not really off road or the Annapurna circuit which is for very advanced riders with a high level of fitness. To really get into the mountains, trekking might be a better option than mountain biking.