ÿþ<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <link rel=File-List href="about_the_holidays_files/filelist.xml"> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="about_the_holidays_files/editdata.mso"> <!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--> <title>BikeVillage mountain biking holidays France - epic xc singletrack in the French Alps, by Les Arcs and La Plagne</title> <link rel=themeData href="about_the_holidays_files/themedata.thmx"> <link rel=colorSchemeMapping href="about_the_holidays_files/colorschememapping.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>FR</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="&#45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-520081665 -1073717157 41 0 66047 0;} @font-face {font-family:Consolas; panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073806591 9 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:windowtext;} h1 {mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:1; font-size:24.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:black; font-weight:bold;} h2 {mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:windowtext; font-weight:bold;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#FFCC00; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#FFCC00; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:black;} pre {mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted Char"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:black;} p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:8.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:windowtext;} span.Heading1Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1"; mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#365F91; mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191; font-weight:bold;} span.Heading2Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2"; mso-ansi-font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#4F81BD; mso-themecolor:accent1; font-weight:bold;} span.HTMLPreformattedChar {mso-style-name:"HTML Preformatted Char"; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted"; font-family:Consolas; mso-ascii-font-family:Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family:Consolas;} span.BalloonTextChar {mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char"; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Balloon Text"; mso-ansi-font-size:8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <meta name=AUTHOR content="Sam Morris of bike village mountainbiking holidays"> <meta name=CREATED content="20061230;12082200"> <meta name=CHANGEDBY content="Sam Morris"> <meta name=CHANGED content="20100329;16251300"> <meta name=DESCRIPTION content="Bike Village Mountain Biking Holidays in Les Arcs, La Rosiere, Saint Foy and La Plagne France. Legendary mountain bike holidays with a cross country emphasis. XC classics such as magic carpet, frozen heiffer, sketchy dismount and the silver darling. Riding across the French Alps, with epic backcountry singletrack guaranteed. The Bike Village mountain bike holiday website has information on all aspects of mountain bike holidays in Europe."> <meta name=KEYWORDS content="mountain bike holidays, holidays in france, mountain biking holiday, holidays in la Plagne, holidays in Les Arcs, Les Arcs, La Plagne, mountain, biking, magic carpet, sketchy dismount, images of France, holidays, mountainbiking, mtb, mountain bikes, mountain bike guiding, mountain bike guides, mountain bike holidays, mountain bike holiday, mountain bike holiday alps, mountain bike holiday les arcs, mountain bike holidayFrance, cycling, bikes, mountain biking les arcs, mountain biking alps, mountain biking France, mountain biking Europe, cycling holidays, mountain biking, tour de france, holiday, mountain biking Alps, Sam Morris, France, Europe, Alps"> <meta name=revisit-after content="7 days"> <meta name=distribution content=Global> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u1:WordDocument> <u1:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <u1:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</u1:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <u1:IgnoreMixedContent>false</u1:IgnoreMixedContent> <u1:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</u1:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <u1:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</u1:BrowserLevel> </u1:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u2:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </u2:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <meta name=robots content=all> <meta name=rating content=General> <meta name="Microsoft Border" content=none> <meta http-equiv=Content-Language content=en-gb> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u1:DocumentProperties> <u1:Author>Ritter lab</u1:Author> <u1:Template>Normal</u1:Template> <u1:LastAuthor>Ritter lab</u1:LastAuthor> <u1:Revision>3</u1:Revision> <u1:Created>1904-01-09T02:44:00Z</u1:Created> <u1:LastSaved>1904-01-09T02:44:00Z</u1:LastSaved> <u1:Pages>3</u1:Pages> <u1:Words>339</u1:Words> <u1:Characters>1934</u1:Characters> <u1:Company>ICSM</u1:Company> <u1:Lines>16</u1:Lines> <u1:Paragraphs>3</u1:Paragraphs> <u1:CharactersWithSpaces>2375</u1:CharactersWithSpaces> <u1:Version>9.2511</u1:Version> </u1:DocumentProperties> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u2:WordDocument> <u2:View>Normal</u2:View> </u2:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u3:shapedefaults u4:ext="edit" spidmax="1028"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u5:shapelayout u6:ext="edit"> <u5:idmap u6:ext="edit" data="1"/> </u5:shapelayout> </xml><![endif]--> <meta http-equiv=Content-Language content=en-gb> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u3:shapedefaults u4:ext="edit" spidmax="1029"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u5:shapelayout u6:ext="edit"> <u5:idmap u6:ext="edit" data="1"/> </u5:shapelayout> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="5122"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=FR link="#FFCC00" vlink="#FFCC00" style='tab-interval: 35.4pt'> <div class=WordSection1> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='mso-cellspacing:0cm;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:134.25pt'> <td width=4 style='width:3.0pt;background:#FF6600;padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt; height:134.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt;height:134.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center'><span style='color:black;mso-no-proof:yes'><img width=565 height=179 id="_x0000_i1028" src="../../../../../images/logo.jpg"></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1;height:738.0pt'> <td width=4 valign=top style='width:3.0pt;background:#FF6600;padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt; height:738.0pt'><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="index.htm" target="_top"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Home</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="../bv%20website"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>About the Holidays</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="whats_new.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>What's New</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="biking.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Biking</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="dates_prices_booking.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Dates, Prices and Booking</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="road_cycling_trips.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Road Cycling Trips</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="hut_trip.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Hut Trip</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><a href="http://bikevillage.blogspot.com/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>BV Blog</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/BikeVillagecouk-Bike-Village-mountain-bike-hols/116385261752272">BV Facebook page</a><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="skiing_boarding.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Skiing + Boarding</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="about_us.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>AboutUs</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="faqs.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>FAQs</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></pre><pre style='text-align:center'><a href="gallery.htm"><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Guest's photos and Comments</span></b></a><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></pre></td> <td valign=top style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt;height:738.0pt'> <h2 style='tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=top></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>About the holidays:</span><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#farm"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The FarmHouse</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="#food"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Food</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#activity"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Other Activities</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="#travel"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Getting Here</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#insurance"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Insurance</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><br> <br> </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>&quot;The trip was nothing short of superb... There can be no better place!&quot; - Andy McCandlish in MBR <br> <br> BikeVillage holidays are a bit different. For starters, we only take small groups. Each week we talk to our guests to see what they want to ride (singletrack, singletrack or singletrack being the main options) and how much/ how fast they want to ride it. </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1070" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" the viaduct singletrack above Bourg St. Maurice, by Les Arcs in the French Alps." style='position:absolute;margin-left:174.5pt;margin-top:0;width:214.5pt; height:147pt;z-index:1;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:7.5pt; mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/graeme.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=286 height=196 src="../../../../../images/graeme.jpg" align=right hspace=10 vspace=10 alt=" the viaduct singletrack above Bourg St. Maurice, by Les Arcs in the French Alps." v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Then the trail leaders draw straws and off we go - everyone riding exactly what they want at the pace they want. Have a peek at the </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="/biking.htm"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>singletrack page</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> for more exciting ride-rant.<br> <br> We've basically found what we think is the best technical singletrack mountain biking anywhere in the world. Around this abundant resource we have spent the last decade creating a mountainbiking holiday with a uniquely friendly and informal atmosphere. Maybe that's why last year over two thirds of our guests had been out with us before or were being brought along by someone who had, in some cases returning to us for the fourteenth time in eleven years!<br> <br> With BikeVillage you come to stay at our own French farmhouse by Les Arcs, not just a rented ski chalet, so you really can make yourselves at home. You'll be enjoying home-cooked and often home-grown food. If you want to learn how to nail switchbacks, tweek your gears or even build stud partition walls (grrr!) we'll happily give you some pointers. What's certain is that by the time you go home you'll have a totally new concept of what makes a truly great mountain bike trail and, luckily, some good new riding friends to help ease you through the post-holiday UK riding blues! <br> </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#top"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>top</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style='tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=farm></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Landry and the Farmhouse </span><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>'BikeVillage Towers' is a lovely 280 year-old farmhouse in a village called Landry in the French Alps, nestled in-between the ski mountains of Les Arcs and La Plagne. Landry is a traditional Savoie village, complete with a beautiful baroque church, a couple of (in one case comedy) local bars, a friendly local restaurant and a wide selection of toothless octogenarians chasing all sorts of farm animals around the streets with walking sticks. We're still not</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1069" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="The BikeVillage farmhouse in Landry, by Les Arcs in the French Alps" style='position:absolute;margin-left:260pt;margin-top:0;width:300pt; height:225pt;z-index:2;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:7.5pt; mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/houseandlimetree.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=400 height=300 src="../../../../../images/houseandlimetree.jpg" align=right hspace=10 vspace=10 alt="The BikeVillage farmhouse in Landry, by Les Arcs in the French Alps" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> sure why they do that. Being at the bottom of the valley is something you will come to appreciate - it's always downhill at the end of the day's mountain biking! Bourg St Maurice is just a pootle along the bikepath if you ever fancy a slightly more cosmopolitan drinking/eating environment, as is the swimming lake, a top spot to swim, eat, sunbathe and people/mountain watch after a ride.<br> <br> Sitting on the edge of Landry, with our garden backing onto the singletrack-packed forests below Les Arcs, the farmhouse is a very nice place indeed. It really does have everything, from the basement with full workshop, bike storage and now a new compressor for tubeless time saving to the large open plan lounge with comfy chairs and an open fire for night-time loafing. </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1068" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="mountainbiking holidays in the French Alps, Les Arcs la Plagne, with BikeVillage" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:217.5pt;height:282.75pt; z-index:3;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:0; mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/jazzroom.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=290 height=377 src="../../../../../images/jazzroom.jpg" align=left alt="mountainbiking holidays in the French Alps, Les Arcs la Plagne, with BikeVillage" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>There are plenty of bathrooms and the five guest bedrooms (three twins and two twin/triples) are all clean and comfortable, enabling us to cater for single travellers, groups and couples alike. Outside you'll find our lovely (and huge) back garden stretching from the patio, past the ping pong table, to the lawn and out to the shade of the fruit trees and the veggie patch. We get a stunning view of the sunset over the mountain peaks each evening so pull up a deck chair and a cold beer and enjoy...<br> </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-no-proof: yes'><img border=0 width=755 height=333 id="_x0000_i1027" src="../../../../../images/new-bathroom-pics.jpg" alt="spot the light pulls in the first floor bathrooms! At Bike Village, mountainbiking trips to Les Arcs, French Alps"></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'><br> The farmhouse is much more homely than your average chalet and when we get in from riding you'll have the run of the place. You could pour a cup of tea, eat some home baked cake and fettle bikes on the patio in the archetypal post-ride &quot;did you see that bit where my back wheel kicked out and then this badger appeared out of nowhere...&quot; fashion or perhaps slink off with a book and lie in the hammock, under the shade of the cherry tree enjoying a late afternoon alpen-glow kind of moment.<br> </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#top"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>top</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style='tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=food></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Food</span><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1067" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="eating indoors" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:250.5pt;height:188.25pt; z-index:4;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:0; mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/images/eatingindoors.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=334 height=251 src="http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/images/eatingindoors.jpg" align=left alt="eating indoors" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>One of the best things about mountainbiking is the appetite it gives you! Here at BikeVillage the emphasis is firmly on using local and home-grown ingredients to create delicious meals tasty enough to have led many guests to request a BV cook book. If Sam ever picks up a long-term injury then it might just happen... Our fruit and veg comes from the market in Bourg St Maurice and our meat comes from the local village butchers, sourced from their own farm about 1km from the BV farmhouse. It's about as 'organic' as rural France can get without knowing what the word means!</span><span lang=EN-US style='color: black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>A typical day's scoffing at BV might look something like this:</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1066" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="some home made bread and jam in the BV kitchen" style='position:absolute;margin-left:247.25pt;margin-top:0;width:287.25pt; height:221.25pt;z-index:5;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/jamandbread.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=383 height=295 src="../../../../../images/jamandbread.jpg" align=right alt="some home made bread and jam in the BV kitchen" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Wake up to the smell of warm, fresh bread baked in the BV kitchen. Roll downstairs and chomp as much cereal, porridge (go on, it makes you strong!) and fresh fruit as you can. Then move onto a boiled egg and soldiers followed by some still steaming bread and home-made jam. Wash the whole lot down with plenty of fresh coffee or tea and some early moring banter as you start to get excited about the day's riding...</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>As if by magic, your lunch is waiting for you to pop into your pack. Today it might be goats cheese, ham and quince + chilli jelly in a flute, which is a bigger version of a baguette. There'll also be a banana and/or some cereal bars, along with the stash of fig rolls, choccy biccies and madeleine cakes that one of us always carries. We'll stop twice for lunch, partly 'cos we love eating in beautiful alpine meadows and also so that our legs don't feel too heavy when we have to get moving again!</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>When we get back from riding we'll pop the kettle on and you can tuck into a mug of tea or maybe a sly cold beer from the beer fridge and some home-made cake or flapjack or whatever has tickled our fancy that day.</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1065" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="eating outdoors" style='position:absolute;margin-left:218pt;margin-top:0;width:258pt; height:310.5pt;z-index:6;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/images/eatingoutdoors.JPG"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=344 height=414 src="http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/images/eatingoutdoors.JPG" align=right alt="eating outdoors" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>By the time you've showered and had a drink and a post-ride natter in the garden, dinner will probably be on the go. Tonight it might be roasted feta and wild mushroom stuffed chicken breast wrapped in parma ham served up on ratatouille made with courgettes from the garden and quinoa, a 'miracle grain' from South America that tastes bloody good and happens to be mightily healthy to boot. The veggies in the group would see the chook replaced by one of our favourites  roasted stuffed aubergines a la Bonifaccienne - a great recipe we picked up on our honeymoon in Corsica. A bit of rocket, lettuce and pine nut salad in a walnut oil and garlic vinaigrette and we're almost there...</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>...All that remains is the wine! Sam used to work in a nearby wine shop during the winters and is pretty into the grapey stuff. We still get our wine from his old boss and the inside knowledge shows  it's a Vaucluse that we drink which is essentially a Cotes du Rhone, light enough to quaff every night but with a complexity and depth of flavour that would put a lot of new world wines to shame. We're not exactly shy with it either so get stuck in!</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Luckily pud goes into a diffent space to all other food (Sam calls it the 'cheesecake stomach') so there's always room for some! It could be an oaty crumble made with apples and plums from the garden and served with a simple dollop of cream or maybe Lyndsey's slightly famous dark chocolate mousse  it has been known for guests to check this is on the menu before re-booking!</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>All that remains is a tea or coffee to finish things off whilst you sit back and look at the stars over the moonlit mountains.<br> </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="#top"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>top</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style='tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=activity></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Rest Day Activities:</span><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>The holidays start on a Saturday, and by Wednesday your legs will need a little rest from the mountain biking, we promise (Tuesday's ride is usually a whopper!). If you do have legs of iron then you are, of course, more than welcome to ride. If you are of mortal constitution, however, you might want to indulge in a b</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_s1064" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="hammock swings in breezeat Bike Village, mountainbiking holidays in Les Arcs, France" style='position:absolute;margin-left:233.75pt;margin-top:0;width:273.75pt; height:3in;z-index:7;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:7.5pt; mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/hammockswingsinbreeze.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=365 height=288 src="../../../../../images/hammockswingsinbreeze.jpg" align=right hspace=10 vspace=10 alt="hammock swings in breezeat Bike Village, mountainbiking holidays in Les Arcs, France" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_8"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>it of extra-curricular fun. All of these activities are available locally every day of the week so if you're being dragged out by a slightly more bike-crazed friend/partner then you can mix and match riding with other jaunts as you fancy.</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Massage those woes away:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><br> Mountainbiking on singletrack every single day can leave you feeling a mite stiff. That's where Anna from </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="http://www.massage-me.co.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Massage Me</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> comes in. A bit of a master in deep tissue sports massage, Anna strikes the perfect balance between pain and, well, less pain (should that be 'relaxation'? ;-) Anyhow, she'll certainly leave you feeling limber for the next singletrack sortie. She usually pops down to the farmhouse on a wednesday morning and sets up her table in the garden, under the cherry tree. We get special BV rates of ¬ 30 for half an hour (long enough to work your legs over), ¬ 40 for 45 mins (back and shoulders too) and ¬ 50 for an hour, which gives her time to do some nice relaxing stuff at the end. Anna can also pop down any other day after the ride is finished so let us know if you're feeling sore!</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'><br> <b>Sploshing Around:</b><br> Bourg St Maurice hosted the world kayaking championships in 2002 and the World Cup kayaking final in 2004 and is a bit of a white water mecca. Whilst the world championship rapids may be a bit much for you, you could try a spot of whitewater rafting on the same Isere river which runs, conveniently enough, only a couple of minutes walk from the farmhouse. ¬ 45ish for half a day of sploshing around and jumping off bridges it really is a great laugh. Whitewater swimming is the same idea but without a raft, just some knee pads in your wetsuit and a death wish. Whitewater drowning is cheaper still and dispenses with luxuries such as wet suit, buoyancy aid and conscious thought...<br> <br> A little bit more relaxing is the picturesque swimming lake, just 5 minutes down the bike path. This is the perfect spot for some still water swimming or just sunbathing and beer drinking on its banks!<br> <br> <b>Fly like a bird!: </b><br> Quite a few people have tried (and loved) </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_9" o:spid="_x0000_s1063" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Paragliding above Les Arcs, French Alps. Photo (and many others) by Rod Burns" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:207pt;height:136.5pt; z-index:8;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-top:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-right:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:7.5pt;mso-position-horizontal:left; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/Intotheblue.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=276 height=182 src="../../../../../images/Intotheblue.jpg" align=left hspace=10 vspace=10 alt="Paragliding above Les Arcs, French Alps. Photo (and many others) by Rod Burns" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>paragliding, taking off from the mountain slopes above the house and floating around on the thermals over the valley. Make sure your insurance cover includes it, as it is a couple of groups higher than mountainbiking. At around ¬ 80 it is a really amazing experience, you could even attempt a sneaky landing in the Bikevillage back garden if the instructor isn't concentrating!<br> <br> For those who don't want to get quite so airborne, there are plenty of options. Sam's favourite is the ridiculously good fun Parcours course, which features 200m tree to tree zip lines, rope swings onto cargo nets and even a snowboard ride on cables between trees. It's basically heaven for anyone who ever liked climbing trees as a kid, or as an adult...</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Hiking is a bit less scary and </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1062" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Rod by a waterfall near Les Arcs with Bikevillage, mountainbike holidays in the French Alps" style='position:absolute;margin-left:158pt;margin-top:0;width:198pt; height:148.5pt;z-index:9;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:7.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:7.5pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:7.5pt; mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="../../../../../images/rodandflood.jpg"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=264 height=198 src="../../../../../images/rodandflood.jpg" align=right hspace=10 vspace=10 alt="Rod by a waterfall near Les Arcs with Bikevillage, mountainbike holidays in the French Alps" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_10"><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>still a lot of fun, be it a romantic wander through the wildflowers of the alpine meadows or a stomp up to the Lac de Plagne, via the fantastic ice cream at La Porte du Rosuel and a few beautiful waterfalls and glaciers.<br> <br> <b>Road Rash:</b><br> The road riding in the Tarentaise Valley is so stunning that we offer dedicated </span><a name="road_cycling_trips"></a><a href="http://www.bikevillage.co.uk/road_cycling_trips.htm"><span style='mso-bookmark:road_cycling_trips'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>road cycling trips</span></span></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'> . You could just have a dabble on your day off however. Two Tour de France stages passed us in 2002, another in 2005, one more in 2007 and then in 2009 Bourg had a stage start AND a stage finish! Every single route out of the valley has been used in a previous Tour, which means you can ride the same climbs, albeit a smidge slower than Lance and Co.<br> So if the names Col de la Madelaine, Col d'Iseran and Courmet de Roseland make your sphincter pucker, just wait untill you've ridden them, it only gets worse! So borrow some of our slicks and go hurt yourself! <br> <br> <b>Just Loaf!</b><br> Why not grab a massage in the morning, mooch down the bikepath to the swimming lake for lunch , a sun-bathe and a bit of a swim and maybe pedal into Bourg for a few beers at a cafe as you watch the world go by... </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <h2 style='tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=travel></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Getting Here: </span><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Landry lies in the Isere valley, between the ski resorts of La Plagne and Les Arcs, about 15 miles south (as the lesser-spotted alpine crow flies) of Mont Blanc. The 1992 winter Olympics at Albertville have left behind a fantastic transport network, so Landry is a cinch to get to whichever way you choose to travel.<br> <br> <b>Flying:</b> Geneva airport is close by and is very cheap and easy to fly to thanks to Easyjet. Tickets are cheaper the further in advance you book, so the particularly well organised can find return flights for as little as £32.50, rising to around £100-150 nearer the time (</span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.easyjet.com/" target="_blank"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Easyjet</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>, tel 0870 6000 000). All of the usual airlines also fly there, so have a look at </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.expedia.co.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Expedia</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> (0870 050 0806) for a quick comparison of fares as sometimes the traditional carriers are actually cheaper once you get closer to the time.<br> <br> Just make sure you arrive at Geneva on a Saturday before about 4pm local time and that your return flight departs after 12.30 and we'll pick you up and drop you off in the Bikevillage minibus (¬ 25 each way). If you need to fly outside these times then pickups can usually be arranged but will cost ¬ 75 per person each way as we have to get someone else to do it, something to remember before you save 50p booking the 5.30 a.m. departure! <br> <br> As for your trusty steed, a bike bag or box is best. Bags are a good investment if you'll do a few holidays over the coming years whereas cardboard boxes can always be blagged for free from bike shops - just ask nicely. See the FAQs page for tips on bike packing. Once you land at Geneva, the trollies take ¬ 2 coins or (don't tell them we told you) good old 2p coins, which you're probably more likely to have jingling around in your pockets.<br> <br> <b>Driving:</b> More and more guests are now driving out to us in the summer. If there are a couple of people to split the driving it really can be a good way to avoid the stress of the airport. Landry/Les Arcs is a steady 10 hours from the channel ports and this is a good way to travel if there is a convenient group of you. Autoroute tolls will be about ¬ 60 each way and fuel is a little cheaper than at home. We usually find the cheapest ferries (and the best fry-ups!) can be found at </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="http://www.norfolkline.com/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Norfolkline</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>. </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>If driving from Calais or thereabouts, just aim for Dijon, Lyon, Chambery, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime and then Landry. It's easy! Once you get to the village, give us a bell and we'll guide you in. For those with GPS type action going on, we're at N45 34.167' E006 44.349' altitude 790m.<br> <br> <b>Train:</b> With the new Kings Cross Eurostar terminal up and running, it's never been easier to get the train here. Just book a Eurostar service to Paris and then the TGV to Bourg St Maurice. The train actually stops at Landry, about 2 mins from the BV farmhouse! Train is by far the most relaxing way to travel. The only complication is switching between stations in Paris (Gare du Nord to Gare du Lyon) but if the metro with a bike scares you then it's only a ¬ 15 cab ride. If you are interested in this option then visit </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.raileurope.co.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>RailEurope.</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><br> </span><span style='color:black'><a href="#top"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Top</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><a name=insurance></a><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Insurance:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Us mountain bikers do like to crash from time to time. As such, Insurance is vital, along with your EHIC (new E111) card. Just make sure the policy covers you for mountainbiking in the Alps and that you bring out both your policy details and your EHIC card with you  they're no use at home on the kitchen worksurface! Two decent companies to try are </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.dogtag.co.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>Dog Tag</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> insurance (they give you dog tags, yay!) and </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.sportscoverdirect.com/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>SportsCover Direct</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>. If you want to insure your bike then it's probably best done under your house insurance or via </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>British Cycling</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> or </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><a href="http://www.ctc.org.uk/"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>CTC</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'> membership deals.</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:2;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:47.25pt'> <td width=4 style='width:3.0pt;background:#FF6600;padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt; height:47.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style='background:#FF6600;padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt;height: 47.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;tab-stops:45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'>e-mail us on </span><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; color:black'><a href="mailto:info@bikevillage.co.uk"><span lang=EN-US style='mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>info@bikevillage.co.uk</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black;mso-ansi-language: EN-US'> or call/fax us on 0033 615 719 932</span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><span style='mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js"> </script><script> _uacct = "UA-890061-1"; urchinTracker(); </script></span><span lang=EN style='mso-ansi-language:EN'>&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </body> </html>