Think of mountain biking and many people have a vision of a tall guy wearing a crash hat and body armor, hurtling at break neck speed down a mountainside. Total insanity and definitely only for extreme sport enthusiasts!

It might, therefore, surprise you to know that the vast majority of mountain bike enthusiasts are Cross Country mountain bike lovers. They just like to get out and about in the countryside and use their mountain bike as a fitness tool. Cycling is certainly great for stamina building and it is kinder on your joints than say, running on the road. It also helps that you can cover far greater distances on a bike than you can on foot, which makes

cycling a great activity to choose for exploring a new place when on holiday.

The growing popularity of mountain biking is evident in the huge number of companies now offering cycling and mountain bike holidays. Many people considering a cycling holiday will probably choose a large company as they presume they will have more experience and their booking will be more secure.

Whilst this may be true, prices are often far more expensive with a larger company due to large marketing and staff costs. Smaller companies usually only have a handful of staff and will place personal service as a priority to give an edge over their larger rivals. They will almost certainly know your chosen destination better as they

are often based there and their prices will often be cheaper too as a result of lower overheads. If in doubt, give the company you are considering a call. There s nothing better than talking to a company owner direct to give you a good idea of their personality and fit with what you are looking for.

But talking of fit, I m not fit enough to cycle uphill is a common worry.
Whilst many mountain biking holidays require a good level of fitness and experience, there are many companies now offering Beginner weeks where, as long as you can sit on a bike and balance without falling off, you can learn to mountain bike! And they will probably

have you climbing a fair few hills by the end of the week too.

If You ARE considering a mountain bike holiday, think carefully about your destination which may be restricted by your experience level. The Alps, for example, is better suited to advanced mountain bikers due to the extreme gradients, whereas the Greek islands or Cyprus have flat coastal trails for beginners as well as mountains to test the more experienced rider.

The climate of your chosen country should also be considered as many hot places like Morocco are only suitable in the cooler Winter months, whereas Mediterranean islands like Cyprus have a virtually year round perfect climate. Great for that last minute Winter get-away when the cold weather

at home is getting just that bit too much.

And coming back to the vision of mountain biking as an extreme sport, just imagine meandering along a pine scented forest trail with the scent of wild herbs in the air and the turquoise sea shimmering in the distance several hundred metres below your mountain trail. Okay, so you worked quite hard to get up there, but the view is awesome and the downhill descent is something to be savoured, as fast or as slow as you want.

Now that s what we call cross country mountain biking and not an extreme sport enthusiast in sight.

For the perfect year round destination, Cyprus is a well kept secret from the mountain

bike world. With hundreds of miles of unspoilt, deserted goat and donkey tracks and wild forest trails, there is something for everyone on this magical island at the far end of the Mediterranean.

For further information. Take a look at [http://www.wheeliecyprus.com]http://www.wheeliecyprus.com, a specialist mountain bike company based on the west of the island. Beginners and Experienced mountain bikers welcome.

Helen Smeaton is a keen cross country mountain biker and has an extreme fear of going downhill too fast! She set up a mountain bike business with her husband to share her love of mountain biking with anyone else who wants to discover a new country the healthy way.

Life is a rocky road…so ride a mountain bike!