Switchbacks offers the best singletrack in the world. With as much as 17,000
vertical metres of descending per week all on lush singletrack you will not find a better riding
holiday experience than Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains. If you don’t want to waste time on fire road descents or geriatric trails then
Switchbacks is for you.
Our trails, like those for skiing, are internationally coded by Blue, Red and Black.
The majority of days will include all three levels with a steady development to red/black runs
as the week progresses. For those worried about the black runs we can show you a few simple
techniques that will get even beginners riding the most advanced trail conditions by mid-week.
(Skills coaching)
BLUE
Super fast and flowing singletrack with the odd rock to clear and multiple line
choices.
RED
Steadily more rocky singletrack with a few switchbacks and the odd steep rock garden.
BLACK
Steep to very technical singletrack highlighted by rock gardens with tight switchbacks
combining small step-downs.
Finish with the longest descent in Europe - 70km of flowing singletrack
from the peak of Spain's highest mountain to the sea.
Our policy on protection
As you can see from the pictures we ride with knee/shin and arm/elbow pads.
This is not to suggest, like in magazine photos of freeriding,
that we are ´extreme´ oriented. It is more that due to the nature of our trails.
The rock is very abrasive if you land on it unprotected.
Hence we insist on riding with pads which you can borrow to wear if you haven’t any of your own.
We also wear full fingered gloves, open-faced helmets and baggy shorts.
Example Days
´L´Plate includes 'L', The Million Dollar Trail, Pooh Corner &
Moody French B@stard.
Climb from the door on road/ fire road for 40mins. Pad up at the top and drop
your saddles before descending on a 6km flowing, bermed singeltrack which
gets steadily more technical as you go down. Another 15min climb before heading
back down on probably the fastest funnest singletrack you will ever ride.
Still more descending takes you down to the bar for cold beers and tapas
where the waiting van will take you back up to the casa. An all-day ride
encompassing about 1,600m of descending.
´57 Switchbacks´ (actually 68) includes 57 SBs, Finn´s Fiend, Dangly Bits and Head Dab.
Load up the van which takes you up to the one and only big climb of the day.
From the top descend for the rest of the day on a combination of steep
switchbacks and long rock gardens totalling nearly 2,300m of vertical
descent. An awesome day which will leave you shattered but very, very smiley.
Finish at the bar for more cold beers and tapas then load up the van for the
lift back to base.
Other named trails include:
Blue - Crusty Dropouts, The Don Juan, the Demoraliser and Punctured Lung
Red - Rock Garden, Cresta Run, Bryan Adams and Village Idiot
Black - Hysterectomiser, Stinky Billy, For 6" Only & Maple Syrup and Rattle & Hum
Drops and jumps:
At no point on ours trail will you have to ride any jump or drop of more than a foot high.
However, for those inclined or those who wish to learn we have plenty to choose from.
If you have never done drops of more than a few feet or are afraid of getting your wheels off the ground,
we can get you riding up to 4 to 5 footers comfortably by the end of the week - if you're daring enough!
Of course there will be no pressure to ride any if you don't wish.
Our drops include:
- Queen's Cowboys
- Journey's End
- Mr. Hankie
- Puck Bunny
- Head Dab
- Rolling Plummet
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