Mountain Biking in the Alps - and Uppsala

[Jimbob]

All at Happy MTB - I am after your help and input (and please excuse the English)...

I run a small mountain biking business in the U.K, although I currently live in Uppsala and am enjoying the local trails immensely. So much so that I'd like to bring my fellow Brits over here for some riding next year, as one of our offers. But before I get onto that, I would also like to take this opportunity to ask your opinions on our alpine holidays.

I am trying to figure out whether it is worth my investing some time in trying to sell our holidays in the French Alps to Swedes? Currently we're not really set up to do this as we can't take payment by credit card and we are not promoting it here. I also wonder if there would be any real interest?

In Swedish Kronor our holidays might seem quite expensive at about 5,000 SEKs and this does not include the flight to Geneve. Also we offer fully catered holidays in our chalet along with five days of guided mountain biking. I also wonder if you guys are a little bit more independently spirited than us folk over in the U.K and whether these all-in holidays would appeal?

Any feedback on these points appreciated.

My next question goes back to bringing british tourists to Sweden for biking holidays. I am quite sure the riding around Uppsala would make a great weekend-break, when combined with a visit to Stockholm. However, there are two major things I need to find in order to put together a holiday.

The first is a base, or bases. I need a cottage or preferably a set of small cottages near to Uppsala (within 20kms) where I can put people up. Does anyone know of such a place?

Secondly, I need to track down somewhere to rent reasonably good mountain bikes, which is not too far from Uppsala or Stockholm. Again, does anyone out there know of such a place?

Thanks for taking the time to read this - any help would be much appreciated on both of these issues.

Cheers, Jamie

 

[Markus F]

Hi Jimbob!
I will try to answer some of your questions.
I think your holidays will appeal to Swedes, especially if you have englishspeaking staff. Most Swedish people doesnt speak French or German.

5000SEK is reasonable for a fully catered and guided holiday, but if planetickets for 3000:- or more and maybe car-rental has to be added the holiday gets too expensive. If your chalet is situated close to an airport and you can arrange for a minibus to pick up your guests you will have a bigger chance of attracting customers.

In my opinion, one of the reasons the French and Swiss alps are popular for British bikers are cheap and quick airline-connections. I think the same thing would apply for Swedes.

The idea of bringing British tourists to Sweden is a very good one. However, there are no rentalbikes, not even bad ones. Also there is a problem with lodging. There are many manors and coutryhouses in the countryside around Stockholm and Uppsala that has been converted to hotels and conference centers, but they are very expensive and are concentrating mainly on businessclients and companyconferences. But many of them are nearly empty during the weekends, so maybe some of them could be interested.

 

[Jimbob]

Thanks Marcus,

That's great. We do airport picks up from Geneva with our minibus, so the transfer bit is not a problem and I'll look into the flight situation from here, although I'm sure there must be a number of direct flights to Geneva. That's great, thanks.

With regard to bringing people here, I have experienced just what you say, about places focusing on business/conferences. I will keep searching for a suitable place, I know there is one somewhere. With the bikes, I guess we would just have to bring our owb flleet over, which is quite an expense, but I can't see people flying here for two days riding and brining their bikes.

Thanks very much, that's very useful.

Jamie

 

[Freeskier]

Jimbob skrev:
-------------------------------------------------------

> In Swedish Kronor our holidays might seem quite
> expensive at about 5,000 SEKs and this does not
> include the flight to Geneve. Also we offer fully
> catered holidays in our chalet along with five
> days of guided mountain biking. I also wonder if
> you guys are a little bit more independently
> spirited than us folk over in the U.K and whether
> these all-in holidays would appeal?


You say that you ALSO offer fully catered holidays... I take it the 5K isn´t, if I got this right what does it include?

Have you been to e.g Val D'Isere during the winter? Swedish tourists independent?!
All in deals would appeal to a lot of Swedes, I'm sure


> The first is a base, or bases. I need a cottage or
> preferably a set of small cottages near to Uppsala
> (within 20kms) where I can put people up. Does
> anyone know of such a place?

Are you looking for something like this when you say cottages? http://www.fyrishov.se/html/camping.html

 

[jomper]

SAS flies to (and back from) Geneva for about £100.

 

[MangeO]

Boende = Campingplatser? Flottsbro camping har ju en del stugor, finns kanske liknande anläggningar i Uppsala-området? Och stugor... Om det bara är fråga om övernattningar sommartid så går det ofta att knöla in 4 pers i en friggebod. 6 om man använder skohorn. En deal med en markägare för att smälla upp ett antal sådana kanske?

If you don't understand enough Swedish to make out what I meant, then tell me and I'll write it in english. Orkar bara inte tänka tillräckligt mycket för att översätta on the fly just nu. ;-)

 

[Markus F]

Smurfrox and Freeskier:

Rental cabins are not ideal for weekendtrips. The customers cannot be expected to go out and find the nearest supermarket, try to understand the different varities of milk and youghurt and figure out the local currency when they are only staying for two days and want to concentrate on riding their bikes. Also there will be a lot of confusion when British people find that cant get alcohol in the supermarket...

 

[Tobbe Arnesson]

Regarding all inclusive trips to the Alps;

Where do I sign?

Actually, members of this forum has been going to Verbier on all inclusive trips for what? Three summers now? It's been Lucy and Phil at Bike-Verbier whom had the pleasure in guiding the crazy vikings. But a little competition is always welcome!

If you search for Verbier you'll find a lot!

And your other question regarding bringing people here;

I have a vague memory of exceptions to the Swedish Right of Public Access regarding comercial tourism. You might want to read up on that. Here's a link (to an English page): http://www.allemansratten.se/templates/firstPage.asp?id=2058

If all is clear there I'd welcome such tourism.

Good luck!

With best regards,
/Tobbe

 

[Jimbob]

Thanks for all the posts.

Freeskier
> You say that you ALSO offer fully catered holidays...
My mistake, our fully catered alpine holidays are those for around 5.000 SEKs and they include accomodation, all meals, transfers and guiding. That was just my poor grammer.

I had seen the Fyrishov cabins before, but the site/location doesn't look that special. I am really looking for something with a bit of charm about it. We are aiming to offer high quality'ish holidays, which is what we have in the Alps.

Smurfrox
I've had my 'translator' look at this, thanks for the suggestions. As above, I would ideally like to find some cabins or cottages that are something a bit special in terms of the actual cottage and the location. I think I am going to have to start looking at private cottages.

MarkusF
Thanks again, sounds like you have thought this through. The plan would be that we will pre-stock the cabin/cottage with a nice selection of supplies (and beer) before the guests arrive, so they can just focus on having a good time and riding. The person who collects them from the airport, who may be the guide as well, would give them an orientation too. Basically we are there to make their lives easy, that is why people choose these types of holiday.

I have been thinking I need cabins for this as this type of holiday would probably attract quite a lot of couples, rather than groups and I would also like to keep the staffing to a minimum. However, I may be better looking for a house, with four bedrooms or so, although I would then need to staff it and probably provide some catering, unless the guests always ate out.... Hmm, lots to think about (and I STILL get confised between the milk and yoghurts).

Thanks again, please keep the suggestions coming...

 

[Jimbob]

the_TNT:

Thanks alot, I certainly know of Bike Verbier as I've always thought of them as being one of our main competitors, it looks like they also offer very high quality XC MTB holidays from a great base in a lovely area. They are pricey, but I'm sure their offer is worth the money (but after three years, surely it's time for a change of scenery!!). I also spent a couple of ski seasons in Verbier, so know the place quite well, particularly the Pub Mont Fort...

Thanks for the link too, very interesting, my girlfriend translated the Swedish version of this for me a week or two ago. There is one page specific to Organized Outdoor Recreation (http://www.allemansratten.se/templates/Page.asp?id=2073) which makes things quite clear. There don't seem to be any massive hurdles, but it seems like I will need to consult with the authorities. Hopefully tourism isn't seen as all bad!

Thank you.

Jamie

 

[Jimbob]

I have just noticed that my Signature link was pointing to our prviate gallery here, our main website is on this link by-the-way;

http://www.outbreak-adventure.co.uk

 

[Freeskier]

Thanks for the clarification...

5K sounds like a great deal for a trip like that!

On the Swedish lodging problem, keep looking! There has to be something out there...

I just put them there to get a reference point of what you are looking for.
In that case maybe one of the places offering 'spa week-ends' would be interested in welcoming small groups of tourists from the UK?

 

[Jimbob]

Freeskier
> 5K sounds like a great deal for a trip like that!

It is, it's extremely good value at the moment as we're trying to build a name for ourselves.

Take a look at the real gallery on our website;
http://www.outbreak-adventure.co.uk/gallery/index.php

 

[Muerto]

Hmm, I'm not sure whether or not Uppsala is the best place for setting up this kind of tourism... If you, for example, look att Åre you have a whole mountain to Freeride on, plus quite a lot of XC riding I suppose. In addition to that you have quite a few cabins that could be rented. In only the Åre area there are 5-10 small villages with just rental cabins. Also Åre may be a bit more tourism-friendly as they have much experience in ski-tourism and nowadays also MTB.

If you find Uppsala to be the place for you, fine, It's just that I as a Swede find it more appealing to go biking in Åra than in Uppsala - Lunsen etc. But that's just me...

About the trips to the Alps, 5000 SEK seems like a good price, adding 1300 for the planeticket that makes 6300 for 5 days of great biking? Sounds like I'm going to tha Alps instead of to Åre next summer...

 

[Jimbob]

Muerto
Thanks for your view. I know what you mean about Åre, I am sure it's a lovely wild place to ride. However, it's probably not all that convenient or accessible (partly why it's good too). What I think we can offer here is something that is REALLY convenient and really accessible. There aren't many places in the U.K you can ride out of town and spend five hours riding on lovely, technical wooded trails.

I've ridden quite a few places and compared to the UK, Uppsala has plenty to offer in the way of trails, to suite all abilities. I also see it as a great base for an active city break, with a day and night out in Stockholm. If it were only two days riding and a night ride I think there is more than enough to put a smile on faces of my country folk.

Cheers though. Jamie

 

[Muerto]

Sure, Uppsala is probably great I've read good things about the mountainbiking possibilities there. Never been there nor in Åre, what I said before was based on what I've heard and have seen on photos and in videos etc.

The concept you're writing about seems great with 3 rides with one in darkness, and some city nightlife I suppose? Also you should know that there are som great bikeshops in Stockholm, I've been to one of them (Dr. Spoke which is run by a Scotsman...) but I've heard good things about some of the others as well. Check the shop reviews for more on that ("Butiksrecensioner").

I wish you good luck!

 

[Jimbob]

Muerto
Cheers, a good bike shop is always handy to know.

 

[kevlar]

5K is definately a reasonable price, look at a ski weekend without ski passes.

Do you have any plan for transfer from Arlanda as I guess there aren't no direct flights to Uppsala?

As I reckon it ypu have a few different possibilities of accomodation:

Hotell 

Akademihotellet Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-15 51 90, 070-425 00 97 
Atrium Konferens & Bankett Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-17 25 40 
Augusts Värdshus Hotell och konferens Uppsala 0174-202 13 
Eklundshof Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-55 01 00 
First Hotel Linné Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-10 20 00 
Fyrishov Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-727 49 50 
Grand Hotell Hörnan Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-13 93 80 
Hammarskogs Herrgård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-38 21 00 
Hotel Uppsala Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-480 50 00 
Hotell Muttern Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-51 04 14 
Hotell Wittulsberg Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-32 70 00 
Hotell Årsta Gård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-25 35 00 
Krusenberg Herrgård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-18 03 00 
Länna gård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 0174-225 40 
Noors Slott Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-38 05 00 
Nova Park Conference Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-34 90 00 
Odalgården Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-66 66 00 
Oscar II KonferensCenter AB Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-50 03 20 
Park Inn Rezidor SAS Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-68 11 00 
Radisson SAS Hotel Gillet Uppsala Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-68 18 00 
Ramada Hotel Svava Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-13 00 30 
Samariterhemmets gästhem Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-10 34 00 
Scandic Hotel Uplandia Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-495 26 00 
Scandic Hotel Uppsala Nord Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-495 23 00 
Sunnersta Herrgård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-32 42 20 
Särsta Wärdshus Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-34 94 00 
Uppsala universitets aula Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-471 57 30 
Upsala Stadsteater Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-16 03 00 
Viktoria Hotell & Konferens Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-13 22 60 
Vårdsätra Sätesgård Hotell och konferens Uppsala 018-32 42 08 


Rum och frukost 

Bed & Breakfast Agency Uppsala Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-42 10 30, 070-603 96 96 
Kroksta gård Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-35 71 48, 0709-18 01 15 
Kvarntorp Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-34 35 52 
Skäggesta Gård, Börje Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-36 92 37, 0705-79 62 80, 070-598 51 98 
Svista Värdshus Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-36 76 70, 36 73 01, 0708-95 85 42 
Wiks Slott & Konferens Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-56 10 00 
Åby Gård Rum och frukost Uppsala 018-38 82 18, 073-783 27 67 


Rumsuthyrning 

Abels rum Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-26 29 29 
Brogård lägenhetshotell Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-36 10 17 
Jälla Gästhem Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 070-695 06 70 
Klangs gränd lägenhetshotell Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-50 50 41 
Paprikan Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-26 29 29 
Uppsala Rumsförmedling Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-10 95 33 
Övernattningsrum med pentry vid Mora stenar Rumsuthyrning Uppsala 018-38 42 96 


Stugor 

Destination Roslagen/Stugor i Uppland Stugor Uppsala 0173-215 80 
Fjällnora friluftsgård Stugor Uppsala 018-727 06 10 
Fyrishovs Stugby Stugor Uppsala 018-727 49 60 
Fyrväpplingen fiskecamp Stugor Uppsala 0174-600 42, 070-342 34 25 
Gyntersbäck Stugor Uppsala 018-39 12 05 
Längan och Bagarstugan Stugor Uppsala 070-645 32 44, 018-34 17 01 
Siggefora bad & camping Stugor Uppsala 018-39 30 32, 39 31 14 
Sunnersta camping Stugor Uppsala 018-727 60 84 


Vandrarhem 

Gammel-Gränome Vandrarhem STF Vandrarhem Uppsala 0174-131 08 
STF/HI Vandrarhem Uppsala City Vandrarhem Uppsala 018-480 50 55 
Sunnersta Herrgård STF Vandrarhem Uppsala 018-32 42 20 
Uppsala Vandrarhem City Vandrarhem Uppsala 018-10 00 08 
Vandraren STF Vandrarhem Uppsala 018-10 43 00 

IMO the best way if you want people to make dinners themselves is in their booking they include a shopping list and you buy and put the food in their cabins and charge them later.

The list above I stole from a reggae festival's home page :)

 

[Muerto]

Kevlar: Now you're just showing of your English skills just because your an IB graduate, but wait, ehm, so am I as of next summer, d'oh, 8 months to go. Dunno if I'll survive...

;)

Edit: Stupid me, forgot the ";)"

 

[Markus F]

kevlar skrev:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Do you have any plan for transfer from Arlanda as
> I guess there aren't no direct flights to
> Uppsala?
Arlanda Airport is situated very close to Uppsala..

 

[kevlar]

Lalala, exilstockholmare och geografi...


Muerto: "Bilingual diploma awarded"

 

[Muerto]

kevlar: Me too, or hopefully I will be...

 

[Tobbe Arnesson]

I second that Lunsen is one of the top places in Sweden to ride a bike.

You could also look at Hellas in Stockholm, quite the same terrain but less roots.

If you get downhillers as guests your best bet is to shuttle them to Mora and Gesundaberget. There are a Vandrarhem, a lift and several great runs (and as a bonus there's also Santa Land! ;). For weekendtrips it's way better than going to Åre. And to be frank, the runs are as fun albeight not with the same length and scenery as Åreskutan can offer.

 

[Jimbob]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it seems that the general consenus is that MTB weekends here in teh UK would be a good idea, once I can find a base and that our alpine holidays woudl appeal to Swede's, so I'll definetely invest some time in promoting them over here.

Thanks alot. If you have any more good ideas, please let me know.

Jamie

 

[Per]

the_TnT skrev:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I have a vague memory of exceptions to the Swedish
> Right of Public Access regarding comercial
> tourism. You might want to read up on that. Here's
> a link (to an English page):
> http://www.allemansratten.se

Yes, for events that are repeated regularly you need permission from the landowner. With regard to the area around Uppsala both Nåsten and Lunsen are "wilderness areas" (naturreservat), i.e., they are under special legislation and additional local municipal rules which are rather restrictive.

The land ownership is complicated. There are various private owners but also the "peasant church" (helgatrefaldighet), the agricultural university, and other institutions.

With regard to Lunsen the municipaliy first proposed to bann MTB completely, and only relented after energetic lobbying. I strongly doubt that the authority that is in charge would grant permission for commercial organized MTB-tours. The same goes for Nåsten.

Per

 

[Jimbob]

Thanks Per,

I'll have to contact them and put a case forward. I would epxect thier only being eight or so people per trip and this being two or three days riding per trip, so the impact would be very small, although I appreciate they may well not want to set a precident or upset any of the powers that be.

I can only ask.

Cheers, Jamie

 

[MacBear]

You have discuissed MTB trips for UK residents to Sweden and MTB trips for Swedes to the Alps, but what about MTB trips for Swedes to the UK?

What I should love to see is an all-inclusive MTB trip for Swedes to 7stanes in Scotland. The ideal should be; picked up by the airport, some days riding on the best trails in the 7stanes area, arranged with somewhere to stay on the different 7stanes villages, good food (haggis) and drinks, Ceildh (Spelling?, Anyway it's Scottish dancing + some drinks), visit to a Whisky destillery or two and then dropped off by the airport. Basically it should be good craigh!

 

[jomper]

Iain på Trailtours (http://www.trailtours.co.uk) är en supertrevlig kille som gärna fixar mountainbikecykling över hela UK för oss svenskar!

Rekommenderar honom gladeligen både för att han är oerhört trevlig och gör ett väldigt bra jobb!

 

[42Hz]

Talking about Haggis... :)

---

Horace Poem

Horace

Much to his Mum and Dad's dismay
Horace ate himself one day.
He didn't stop to say his grace,
He just sat down and ate his face.
"We can't have this his Dad declared,
"If that lad's ate, he should be shared."
But even as he spoke they saw
Horace eating more and more:
First his legs and then his thighs,
His arms, his nose, his hair, his eyes...
"Stop him someone!" Mother cried
"Those eyeballs would be better fried!"
But all too late, for they were gone,
And he had started on his dong...
"Oh! foolish child!" the father mourns
"You could have deep-fried that with prawns,
Some parsley and some tartar sauce..."
But H. was on his second course:
His liver and his lights and lung,
His ears, his neck, his chin, his tongue;
"To think I raised him from the cot
And now he's going to scoff the lot!"
His Mother cried: "What shall we do?
What's left won't even make a stew..."
And as she wept, her son was seen
To eat his head, his heart, his spleen.
And there he lay: a boy no more,
Just a stomach, on the floor...
None the less, since it was his
They ate it – that's what haggis is.

---