Each week the Guardian website produces a round up of what’s hot, and what’s not in the travel world, and in their new year’s edition…
H&I Adventures and our new worldwide tours have made the ‘what’s hot’ section!
The picture used in the feature is of our local guide riding deep in the heart of the Mustang region of Nepal in the deepest valley in the world, the Kali Gandaki Valley.
If you have ever dreamed of riding in Nepal, or Mexico, or the Sierra Nevada in Spain…
Join us this year!
Mountain biking in Oaxaca, Mexico
Happy new year mountain bikers!
We hope you had a fantastic night and made some interesting and exciting resolutions over a glass of wine. We had a great 2011 and enjoyed the company of many fantastic customers, worked with lots of very professional people, and rode our bikes in some of the best locations around the globe.
We are looking forward to working hard in 2012 to continue offering you world-class mountain biking tours, and the challenges and awesome adventures that come from that.
If you have been considering a tour with H&I Adventures then 2012 might be the year for that trip. We have our Scottish favourites: Torridon and Skye, and Coast-to-Coast tours; and two new adventures aimed at the beginner to intermediate rider: the Cairngorms adventure tour, and our Tastes and Trails of Scotland tour. To add to that we have introduced some amazing tours in Spain, Mexico and Nepal – exciting new countries, but the same high quality and life-affirming experiences that we have been delivering in Scotland for the past five years.
We always love to hear from our customers and followers, and you can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and Google+, and of course, via email or on the telephone: +44 (0)1463 239716 and toll free from US/Canada on 1 888-228-50-35
We look forward to riding with you in 2012!
Here are our top five images from 2011. We felt these were the most inspiring and thought-provoking mountain bike adventure photos of our year. They’re not professional photos, but pictures take during real tours with real people on some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. Why not tell us your favourite in the poll below the pictures!
Number 5 – Mexico, Oaxaca region, Number 4 – Scotland, Isle of Skye,
Number 3 – Scotland, Torridon region, Number 2 – Spain Alpujarra region,
And number 1 goes to – Nepal, and the Mustang region,
[contact-form] [contact-field label="Which is your favourite?" type="select" required="true" options="Photo 1 - Nepal,Photo 2 - Spain,Photo 3 - Torridon, Scotland,Photo 4 - Skye, Scotland,Photo 5 - Mexico" /] [contact-field label="Comments" type="textarea" /] [/contact-form]
Here at H&I Adventures we have been delivering exceptional mountain bike tours in Scotland for the past five years, and now we’re spreading our wings and launching into the worldwide mountain bike tours market with three truly mind-blowing destinations: the Sierra Nevada in Spain, Oaxaca in southern Mexico, and the Himalaya of Nepal.
H&I Adventures owner Euan Wilson says, “The main driving force behind our decision to expand is our customers; they’ve been suggesting for a while that we add other countries because they want to explore the world on their bikes, but they also want guaranteed level of service that only comes with a trusted tour operator. Now we can give them both!
“We have been very careful to select destinations that offer a choice of skill level and budgetary options for our customers, and support our commitment to responsible adventure travel. We work closely with the local communities in each of the remote areas we experience to ensure that our adventure tours provide revenue for the people and environments that give us so much pleasure along the way.”
To find out more on mountain biking in the far reaches of the Mustang region of Nepal, or the culinary heart of Mexico, visit our new website at www.mountainbikeworldwide.com or contact us on info@mountainbikeworldwide.com
And we look forward to welcoming you on one of our amazing new tours!
Dutch magazine ‘Up/Down mountain bike’ has just gone to press with our Steve Peat, Danny MacAskill and Hans Rey feature 
that we shot on our Torridon and Skye tour. If you missed this feature you can watch the video here and read the trip story here.
If you would like to join this trip in 2012, you can see the trip information here.
This is the second installemnt in our meet the guides feature, so take it away Kevin….
Kevin (aka Digger)
Name: Kevin Henderson
Home town: Abernyte, Perthshire, Scotland
Bikes: Cove Hustler; Cove Handjob; Kona Big Unit 29er singlespeed
Favourite trails: for chasing down friends, definitely Torridon, Drumguish and Laggan Wolftrax in the Cairngorms National Park
Most known for: composing poetry while riding alone, which often ends ‘wheels up’!
“My first mountain bike was a red one. I got that first bike in the summer of 2004 when I lived on the Carse of Gowrie in Perthshire, and I rode it between the farmers fields, through all the mud I could find. I soon discovered the mountains of Highland Perthshire and big days out exploring in the Cairngorms. Enduro race events followed, and somewhere on this short timeline I began running mountain biking, visual art and literacy clubs for primary school children in association with an Active Schools group.
“Today I still live in Perthshire, but up on a hill now. I ride nearly every day. And while the bike has changed (it’s white, a bit lighter) and I’m a bit better at staying on it (mostly!) my love of riding in Scotland, and in the Highlands in particular, has only got deeper with time.”
It was early October and we set off on an adventure, heading for the Central America and in particular the Oaxaca and Chiapas regions of the south of Mexico. This is a place that we had never visited and not heard a great deal about; little did we know that this area is classed in Mexico as their cultural heart.
We were in this corner of the world for the Adventure Travel World Summit, which was taking place in the 
very picturesque colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas. Each year the ATWS takes place in a different continent with over 600 delegates from over 50 countries taking part, last year we hosted it here in Scotland.
This gives us the opportunity to learn from others, position ourselves in the market and make fantastic contacts from around the world.
The week prior to the summit was spent mountain biking around the Oaxaca region, best known for its culinary delights, not for its mountain biking! But after a week of riding around on their ancient Zapotec singletrack, sampling the food, enjoying the warm mountain sunshine and tasting the local Mescal, we are sure that this region will be a mountain biking and adventure travel mecca! Watch this space!
Here are a selection of our pictures from the trip enjoy, and let us know what you think!
We thought it was about time that we introduced you to the team behind our company, so first we shall introduce the guides starting with Alex!
Take it away Alex:
Aka ' Cheshire cat'
I’m probably not the only one who disputes the claim that mountain biking started in the hills of California, but the real truth is that it began in the early ‘80s in the woods behind my house, a stripped down red shopping bike with the fattest tyres I could fit through the frame. There began my life long love affair with bikes. Through my 20’s I went touring for 3 years – the Middle East, the length and breadth of Africa, the Himalayas; a free agent with my tent and my mountain bike.
I was well in my 30’s by the time I discovered the joys of competitive Cross Country racing and succumbed to lycra. Now it’s my burning passion, and recent results have been getting better – British Veterans Champion in 2009 and 4th in the World Masters Champs.
I ride a lot, and am lucky enough to live in the heart of the rugged West Coast. From my back door I can ride straight onto the trails, I’m less than an hour from the Cuillins and from Torridon, both with superb natural trails, and a classic Coast-to-Coast starts from right here. This is my playground, and I am very happy to show you the toys.
Vital statistics:
Name: Alex Glasgow
Home town: Plockton, west coast of Scotland
Family: wife Lauren, kids Ash and Poppy
Bike: Santa Cruz Nomad (really wants a Cove Hustler!)
Riding since: early 1980s
Mtb triumphs: British veteran XC champion, and 4th in world 2009
Favourite trails: other than my own backyard; Torridon
Most known for: constantly grinning like a Cheshire cat