How experienced are the guides of OPOLUM?
All our guides are experienced, English-speaking, and enthusiastic mountain bikers. Besides technical advice they can provide you with information about the culture, history, as well as flora and fauna of the areas visited.
Does OPOLUM book the flights for me?
We do not book flights.
Can OPOLUM give me advice on biking grounds or interesting destinations in Europe?
We will gladly share our knowledge and experience of which we have acquired on the trips around Europe. We can give you tips on where you can go before or after the tour, and on interesting sites of culture, good places for biking and anything else.
Can I enter the first hotel of the tour before the tour begins?
It should be possible to check into the hotel before our trip starts. Of course, this depends on the hotel having free rooms. We can arrange this with the hotel for you.
Can I extend my stay at the end of the tour?
The destinations are selected as to favour longer stays afterwards. If you are wishing to extend your stay we can arrange the accommodation with the hotel for you.
Can I continue individual travelling from the destination of the tour?
Distances in Europe are much shorter than in Australia, Canada, or the USA. Interesting destinations are very often just a few hours away. We are happy to give you tips on where to continue your journey.
How do I get cash on the way?
All our trips take place in countries whose currency is in Euros. The only exception is Switzerland, where Swiss Francs are used, but Euros are accepted almost everywhere in Switzerland as well.
It is recommended that you get a certain amount of cash in the local currency before the trip starts. Even in remote areas ATMs are available. Credit Cards and Traveller Cheques are not accepted everywhere.
Is there access to telephones and internet on the way?
To use a mobile phone in Europe it must be GSM-compatible. Special country-dependent phone-cards can be used in cell phones are a low priced alternative. Most of the hotel rooms in which we stay are equipped with telephones.
In remote areas it might be difficult to get internet access. You can check your emails in some of the hotels or internet cafes in towns we visit.
How do I register?
Please use our registration form. Once we have received the form we will send you details with information about the booked trip and a contract for participation.
When should I book?
The earlier you book, the more certain you will get a spot in the desired tour. Due to the hotel bookings that we have to do, we are grateful if you could book the trip as early as possible before the trip starts.
I cannot make it and have to cancel the journey - what am I supposed to do?
A cancellation must be sent to us in written form. We will charge our incurred expenses and transfer the rest of the money back to you immediately. Please check the documents sent to you after you have booked for the amount of the cancellation fee. We strongly recommend a travel cancellation insurance.
I travel alone - do I have to book single rooms?
No, you don't have to book single rooms if you don't want to. You can share a double room with another participant. There are a limited number of single rooms available on every tour.
Do I need insurance?
To avoid additional costs we recommend you take out a travel cancellation insurance. A travel health insurance is obligatory.
Do I need a visa?
At the time, citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA do not need a visa to visit the European Union or Switzerland. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days you should acquire a visa for the according country. To be on the safe side we recommended that you ask the respective embassy in your country if any formalities are necessary.
Can I rent a bike?
The best and safest ride is on your own familiar and well-proven bike. For this reason we recommend to do longer tours with your own bike only. In the case you cannot bring your own bike we can gladly arrange the rental of a good bike for you. Your own pedals and shoes, however, are indispensable for a familiar and secure feeling on the bike.
What kind of pedals and shoes do I need?
Clipless pedals are suited best. Clipless pedals provide more security and save energy on the long run. If you are not accommodated to clipless pedals and have no experience with them, you should use your old pedals. Pedals with toe clips are not suited for mountain biking, as the danger of getting hurt on tracks with obstacles is too big.
The shoes should have good tread patterns and be comfortable. Good shoes are necessary when you have to push your bike through longer, stony passages in the Alps. There are several mountain biking shoes available on the market now, which have been especially developed for Alpine Cross.
What kind of tyres and brakes are recommended?
Our choice is fat, nobby tyres, even though they slow you down on tarmac roads. Our routes involve mostly forest tracks and single-tracks, where the good grip of nobby tyres is important to grant safety and a nice feeling. Whether you use tubeless tyres or conventional tyres is up to you. The same is true for disc brakes and V-brakes. Both systems have upsides and downsides.
How can I prepare myself? Am I fit enough?
Every day an average of 1200-1500 vertical meters and about 40-70 km have to be done. All tours presume that you are in control of your bike, even on stony and steep single-tracks. You can find details in the respective tour descriptions. The principle is: the higher your level of training, the more fun you will have on the tour.
The best preparation, of course, is regular biking in different terrains. If you have any questions, please let us know. We will also gladly advise you on choosing the right tour.
What should I take into account when selecting clothes?
When it comes to sports, functional clothes and practical accessories like arm warmers and leg warmers have replaced cotton clothes quite some time ago. There are also some comfortable and light-weighted backpacks for mountain bikers. When crossing the Alps, some warm clothes (like gloves, for instance) must not be missing. A detailed list of equipment and a packing list will be sent to you after you have registered.
What can I expect from OPOLUM before I go on the trip?
OPOLUM is always ready to answer your questions.
How big are the groups that go on tour with OPOLUM?
Groups can range between 5 to15 people depending on demand.
Who does OPOLUM have in mind for their tours?
Our tours are suited for everyone who loves getting off the main tracks and enjoying an adventure on previously unknown or rarely used trails which cover some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. If you have some interest in the cultural and historical significance of the area you are visiting and an enjoyment of good food this will make you an ideal OPOLUM customer. Of course, you are required to be fit enough to ride your bike for over a week and get in excess of a thousand vertical meters behind you. Please check out the detailed descriptions of the respective tours.
What is the right tour for me?
Not the dates but rather the fitness is the deciding factor for which tour you should register. Please check out the detailed descriptions of the respective tours. We will gladly help you to find the right tour.
What kind of accommodations will we use?
All accommodations are clean hotels with a good level of comfort and the character of the region, or clean mountain inns. All accommodations are carefully researched and selected.
How are the provisions? Will I get enough to eat?
Every biker needs sufficient food in order to keep his level of performance. Each morning you will be supplied with a healthy rich breakfast followed up each evening by a multi course dinner. The support van will carry supplies for us whenever they are needed. In the case that the van cannot get through to us, we have organised provisions at mountain inns or huts. In the morning, fresh vegetables, bread, cheese, cake and much more are prepared for everyone to stuff their backpacks with. We can also take care of special food requests. On the journey Single-Tracks and Fairy Tail Castle only Breakfast will be provided.
Can I get vegetarian food or other special provisions?
We can certainly provide vegetarian food or fulfil other requests. Please inform us before the trip if you are vegetarian or would like any special kind of food.
How much luggage can I bring?
As a principle every participant should not bring more than 20 kg of luggage, because the capacity of the support van is limited.
What happens to my luggage?
The fact that our support van takes the luggage from one hotel to the next clearly increases the comfort. When you arrive at the hotel in the evening, your luggage will be there already. There is no need to worry; your luggage is in good hands. Biking without a heavy backpack means a lot more fun, and more importantly a much higher degree of safety.
What happens if I feel sick and cannot take the ride on any given day?
The support van can take you to the next hotel whenever you want.
What happens if I fall in a remote area, get hurt, or if my bike gets damaged?
Everyone should bike in a way so they don't crash. You need to judge your ability accordingly and not take the risks of difficult passages if they exceed your ability. In case of doubt, you should rather get off and push the bike.
If somebody gets hurt the guides can provide First Aid. In the case of a more severe injury the local rescue service can help. A health insurance is obligatory for such cases.
The guides provide tools to repair minor damages on the bike. In more problematic situations, the support van can pick up the bike and the biker and take him to the next bike shop. If the accident happens afar from a road, the bike will have to be pushed to the next road where the van can pick you up.
