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" It never surprises us that each year more people feel 2 wheel trips are the way to go. After having done a few fair miles around the globe ourselves, we believe that the experience from the saddle is worth any hill you may have to go over. The idea for Cycling Country was born on an independent long distance bike trip from London to Turkey, when after passing the small villages of Romania and Bulgaria in this humble form, the realisation hit us about what other tours were missing with their rushed bus schedules and museum breeze throughs. Thus, it was a natural progression to share this slower, yet more fulfilling form of travel with others and create a cycling company beginning in our
favourite area of the world to cycle - Andalucia, Spain."
The Cycling Country Team
Cc was set up in 2003 by the husband and wife team of Maggi Jones and Geoff Norris, both who have travelled over 70 countries - more than a 1/3 of their trip photos being taken from the bike saddle. With their headquarters set in pretty Alhama de Granada’s historic centre in the heart of Andalucia, they are busy developing routes and arranging the behind the scenes logistics to ensure you have the perfect cycling holiday. However, with the stunning landscape around, both still try and escape the office as much as possible and prefer a hands on approach with their tours, joining in on the fun.
Maggi, having a background in art history and education is also a successful travel photograper and writer, and has spent several years living across Canada, her native country, as well as Australia, Israel and England. Geoff, a bike rider since he could walk and ex-business consultant, can boast of having the British school’s club record for cycle-touring as well as the ability to fix punctures across Europe, Australasia, North and Central America.
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At the Movies |
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Maggi Jones of Cycling Country on the big screen
Expedition to Ethiopia (April 2011)
To be premiered at the 2012 International Bike Film Festival, Maggi was chosen to be part of a select group of cyclists to be the first ever expedition to cycle the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia. Called the "cruelest place on earth" by National Geographic due its 50 degrees celsius temperatures and inhospitable landscapes of sulphur pools, volcanoes, salt plains and bubbling mud, this was an adventure of dramatic proportions. See the first cut of the trailer released in July 2011:
Danakil Diaries - Trailer 1 by the Zenga Bros
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Press Coverage |
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The Sunday Times (June 2011)
We made the Travel Supplement´s main cover story, “Light your own Olympic Flame” which picked the best action holidays for those wanting a sporting challenge. Our Lakes, Mountains & Sea tour was featured as being a trip that will bring you up to speed on the bike. A great route through Sierras and Summits to end seaside - it´s one of our favourites too.
Article text below
"You might not make Team GB but you can still be inspired by 2012 to tackle a new sporting challenge. Martin Hemming picks the best action holidays for all abilities."
Cycling – Rising Star – As your pedal power increases, so should the gradients. The smooth mountain roads of Andalusia get the balance between epic and doable just right. The self-guided Lakes, Mountains and Sea tour from Cycling Country (0034 958 360 655, www.cyclingcountry.com) winds its way from historic Alhama de Granada, over sierras, through almond forests, past old castles and classic coffee stops, occasionally joining the route ridden by Mark Cavendish in the Vuelta. As a relief to those throbbing quads and glutes, day six is a long superfast grin inducing descent from Bermejales lake, between the peaks of Almijara National Park, down to the Med at Almuñecar for beers and a bathe. The six-night tour starts at 609 GBP, staying B&B at hotels and inns; bike hire is 100GBP. Airlines flying to Malaga include EasyJet (0843 104 5000, easyjet.com) and Thomsonfly (0871 231 4787, thomsonfly.com). |
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The Vancouver Sun (April 2011) and The Ottawa Citizen (May 2011)
Travel writer Paul Heraty and his wife Mary came on our Moorish Andalusia tour. Read his light hearted take on the trip, having declared "this will be one of the best trips we have ever taken."....Surely not! Read whole article with photos....
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Spanish TV (May 2011)
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We were invited to appear at an olive press in Andalucia to be part of a promotional film for TV to highlight Cordoba as a candidate for the European city of culture 2016. Our Moorish Andalusia cyclists from our May tour were lucky enough to star!
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USA Today (April 2011)
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Under an article on Adventure Tourism in Europe, our Olive Trails bike tour is chosen as a cycling highlight:
"Bikers with less experience can check out the seven-day Olive Trails tour by
Cycling Country. Breeze past the sprawling cathedrals and small villages of
Seville, Spain, stay overnight in a monastery, enjoy a cheese tasting and try an
Arabic hot bath. ...Meals, hotel accommodations and guides are included." See article....
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The Sunday Times (May 2010)
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We are proud to be recommended in the Travel Section of the Sunday Times as number 4 in their guide to 50 Summer Adventures for 2010.
"What gives this 10-day, 250-mile transit through the Andalusian sierras a moderate rating, says Cycling Country (00 34 958 360655, cyclingcountry.com), is the comfy support vehicle, in which you can happily sprawl when you simply want to admire the scorched landscape of olive groves, cork forests and dazzling pueblos blancos..." Read more....
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Food & Travel Magazine (October 2009)
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"Pedal Power. Cycling Country - Guided and self guided tours of Andalucia, Spain and Alentejo, Portugal. Taking in historic buildings and beautiful countryside, with a strong emphasis on each region´s cuisine."
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Spanish Television (September 2008)
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Geoff Norris of Cycling Country being interviewed by a local Andalucian camera crew for a programme on cycling in Spain and the Rail for Trails (Via Verde) network.
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Living Spain Magazine (August 2007)
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"Combining their love of cycle friendly Spain and the outdoor life, Geoff Norris and Maggi Jones have built up a successful business that also puts something back into their new community...." Read more....
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Costa Del Sol News (Feb 2007)
"I begin our gentle ascent. Past almond trees and patchwork fields and sandy scrub, purple hills behind us and the snow capped Sierra Nevada ahead in the distance. At last we reach the brow of the hill and the views of the turquoise lake, and then its a fabulous downhill freewheel......
.....with their determination to do things properly, their sheer hard work and their passionate idealism, they have created a successful and ethical tourist business that foments understanding and genuine interaction between the visitor and visited."
Spanish Fiestas (Jan 2006)
"Freewheeling through Southern Spain’s almond and olive groves is like a religious experience for a cyclist, from the African infused winds to the pulsating warm vibe of the Mediterranean coast, this captivating landscape makes any hill worthwhile. In fact, most of the routes you ride in Andalucia will convert you to two wheel trips forever - it’s that inspiring." Read whole article....
Where 2? (Nov-Dec 2005)
"If you prefer two wheels to four, take in the spectacular countryside of the Poniente Granadino and join a guided cycling tour run by Cycling Country. It's a great way to see this area and they 'promote responsible and sustainable tourism. pushing pedals and putting the brakes to your hectic pace of life'.
Tours range from a 'Quiet Paths Weekender' to 8 or 10 days cycling through hills and valleys further afield. The weekend trip takes in four days of unspoilt landscapes, including thermal baths to soak stiff joints, Alhama de Granada's gorge, Loja, Montefrio, the Alhambra and a quiet stroll through the Albaicin quarter."
In Madrid (July 2005)
"It's a great holiday option - a healthy active break with a dose of culture and some tasty Andalusian food. When I gave it a go, despite it being my first time on a bike since childhood, I was soon freewheeling off into the sunset, leaving behind all the stresses of the city." Read whole article....
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Testimonials |
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Testimonials from previous cyclists are always available. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a reference to talk to.
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"Geoff,
A huge Thanks to you, Dean, Toni and Maggi in her absence who was there in spirit!! An absolutely brilliant experience and managed by Cycling Country to perfection. Roll on next year."
John Dunford, Dublin, Ireland, April 2011 (Custom Tour, Umoza Challenge 2011) |
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Dear Dean and Geoff, Thanks very much for a great week with you, which I really enjoyed. You were professional, well organized and extremely pleasant. If you want to put this up on your website you are welcome to do so, and I would encourage anyone who reads this to do a cycling tour with you. That includes not particularly fit 56 year olds like me!" |
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Terence Matzdorff, Cape Town, South Africa, March 2011 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"Dear Maggi, Jeff and Dean: A brief note of thanks for our terrific adventure in Andalucia. We truly appreciated all your efforts to make the cycling and accommodations first rate. Our cycling pals are quite envious and you may be hearing form them (and us) in future.
Best wishes and good luck down the road"
Ron and Cheryl Matthews, Langley, Canada, June 2010 (White Villages) |
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"Maggi and Jeff, Thanks so much for a wonderful experience in Spain.
If you ever need a testimonial for your website, just ask! I've got only positive things to say about Cycling Country.
Will be off to the bike shop this week to ask about a road bike!!"
Claire B, London, UK, August 2010 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"Hi Maggi, we are back at work now. Thank you very much for the cycling holiday. The route was wonderful. The information package you gave was very good and we did not get lost. The bikes worked well and we did not have any problems with them. The weather was almost too good. We had a fantastic week in Spain. Thank you very much!"
Suvi, Erkki and Sirpa, Finland, June 2009 (White Villages of Al-Andalus-Self Guided)
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"We found the day trip extremely enjoyable and by far the best way to experience Andalusia, particularly as our timeframes in the region were limited. Aside from the tranquillity and beauty of the Granada region, a further definite plus was our host Geoff - he is encouraging, knowledgeable, personable, and above all patient with us as novices! Highly recommended."
Saranjit & Sunny Dhoot, Newcastle, UK, November 2008 (Granada Explorer Day Trip) |
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"I am now inspired to forget the breakfast mess still in the kitchen and go for a bike ride this sunny afternoon"
Helen Watler, Vancouver Island, Canada, September 2008 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"Hiya Geoff and Maggi, Just a note to thank you for the trip you guys put together for us in Portugal. I must say I had a wonderful time ... I really appreciate the effort that was put forth by you all to make it a first class outing. Seeing the country on a bike really puts it in a different light as one would see it thru the resort type of holiday. Also a great find in Dean there as he is a great support for your team. so if I had them I'll be giving Cycling Country 5 stars for being a great outfit to book a cycling holiday with. Thanks so much and will be seeing you all soon I'm sure."
Keith Gorman, Vancouver, Canada, June 2008 (Custom Tour of Romantic Alentejo, Portugal) |
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"Dear Maggi and Geoff, Thanks for posting the photos. I had a great holiday. You don't really notice when somethings are well organised but looking back everything went so well, hotels, food company and of course some easy and more challenging cycling on a comfortable bike"
Paul Randall, Yorkshire, UK, December 2007 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"Just a quick e-mail to thank you so much for such a good week's cycling. I had an amazing time....it just didn't last long enough! It was a really nice taster of the real Andalucia - The touring was amazing and the hotels and food just set it off perfectly. I would be happy to recommend the trip to anyone who is unsure"
Emma Page, Kent, UK, November 2007 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"Phillip and I wanted to thank you for the wonderful cycling tour...the only thing we had to worry about was to get to breakfast on time with our bags packed! Everything...was taken care of – the hotels, the routes, the lunch stops – it all made for a very relaxing experience. Your evident love for and interest in the area we traveled through also added to our overall enjoyment, as you were always a source of interesting information and local lore. If you ever need a recommendation for your tours, we would be more than happy to laud you!"
Lorna Poplak, Toronto, Canada, October 2006 (Rustic & Royal Routes) |
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"We want to thank you both for the great ride we had.
It certainly was the highlight of our two week trip. The equipment was very good. You took the
time to make sure we were fitted well. We can't say enough good things of
the time you spent pointing out the local history to us from the beginning
of Columbus' expedition to the 2 BC Roman bridge."
Dennis Lemieux, USA, October 2006 (Alhama Explorer, Guided)
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"Thank you so much for our tour! We enjoyed it immensely and found the service and organisation to be of an exceptional level. The bikes were in excellent condition and we also thought that your choices in accommodation were spot on. We would recommend Cycling Country without hesitation to anybody who has a sense of adventure and a love of cycling!"
Damon Hunt, London, UK, September 2006 (Moorish Andalusia) |
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"As we sit here having bottles of cava and reflecting on the last 7 days, we are absolutely overwhelmed with the experience and can't get over what a perfect operation you run. We were hopeful that we would get good tour guides. We had no idea we would meet such special people."
Fran Theriault, Ottawa, Canada, June 2006 (Custom Tour) |
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"Having returned to our go go go life, I
often reflect back on the mile after mile of rolling
Spanish countryside and find a moment of peace and
calm. For anyone interested in a trip to Spain, there
is no better way to get to know the land and its
people than by bicycling across its territory. You
will not be a passive tourist but will emerse yourself
as an active participant in a vibrant and colorful
landscape. My wife and I were most impressed by the
facility and professionalism with which Maggi and
Geoff were able to guide 10 cyclists of varying
ablilities across 200 miles of Spanish countryside.
Their knowledge of the route is intimate. Moorish
Andalusia is, afterall, their home. Hats off to you
both Maggi and Geoff, we look forward to our next
adventure together!"
Hemant Vankawala M.D., Texas, USA, June 2006 (Moorish Andalusia)
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"Geoff, we are back in the States and catching up with work, family, etc. Thanks for a delightful day cycling around Alhama...You were an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about Spain and the local area where we biked. Hope to be your way again and we will definitely look you up. Thanks."
Allison Wear, Colorado, USA, May 2006 (Alhama Explorer) |
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"I'm having a great time telling everyone about the trip. Basically I'm in raving mode! So thank you both for a great time. The holiday could hardly have been better. It certainly met every expectation and I really feel like I had a great tour of Andalucia."
Dave O'Connor, Dublin, Ireland, May 2006 (Moorish Andalusia)
"Just a quick note to say a very big thank you for our holiday earlier this month. The whole holiday was just what we wanted – the bikes, the route, the food and hotels all superb. We were all really knocked out by the well chosen routes, your personal attention to detail and superb support. We were also really impressed at how welcoming the locals were despite our non-existent Spanish. So many thanks."
Dick Gill, Jackie and Alex Burman, Aberlady, Scotland, April 2006 (Quiet Paths)
"I was cycling today and thinking about you guys. The organization of the trip, the attentiveness and flexibility of the leaders, the routes, and the accommodations were all top notch. The variety and the overall high quality of the hotels were a pleasant surprise. All of this in the beauty of Southern Spain's ancient cities and breathtaking countryside. That was a great vacation. Maybe I just need to get out more, meet more people, and take more great vacations!"
Eddie Flayer, Berkeley, California, USA, April 2006 (Custom Tour - Granada to Seville)
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"Maggi & Geoff: Thank you for a wonderful ten days of adventure, encouragement, and expert guidance. The andalusian tour exceeded all our expectations! Best of luck in all your endeavors!"
Nicole, Kathy, Annie, David, Frank, Karla, USA, April 2006 (Moorish Andalusia)
"Just a little note say thanks for a fabulous time travelling through Alhama de Granada. It was such a great experience made special by you both. So many thanks. I hope all goes well with the business and we hope to see you again soon."
Tom and Nicole Woodrow, Hong Kong, China, March 2006 (Quiet Paths)
"It
was a fabulous experience; we both loved it!
Maggi & Geoff are just delightful, both complement eachother very well.
Extremely helpful and sensitive to client wishes....they
have an in-depth knowledge of the region and provided wonderful insight,
sight-seeing, cuisine etc through quaint towns and villages."
Annie Lurie and Andrew Crawford, Melbourne, Australia, January 2006 (Moorish Andalusia)
"I can really recommend the Moorish Andalucia tour. I would happily give a reference."
Paul and Barbara Martin, Chicago, USA, August 2005 (Moorish Andalusia)
"I was a little nervous of joining one of your tours having not cycled much for a while, but couldn't have been more wrong. You gave a me a warm welcolme and I felt safe on my bike knowing support was never far away."
Roberta DeLose, London, England, May 2005 (Quiet Paths)
"Thoroughly enjoyable holiday. We'll be back."
Mark Hackney, Tim and Vicky Selter, Guildford, England, April 2005 (Lakes, Mountains and Sea)
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