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The history of MTB Tours started in 1994. After working at many
different jobs, I realized that, by organizing bike trips, I was
really going to love my job. I found that I was able to concentrate
in one activity all of the things that I have loved to do since
I was a child: sports, exploring nature, being free from the big
city rhythm, meeting different kinds of people from different
places, sharing with them an outdoor experience, speaking different
languages and helping others to learn about the environment and
sports. I decided to study physical education to improve my knowledge
about the human body while it is doing sports and to provide professional
answers to my clients. That is the main reason why I decided to
start MTB Tours.
It was a beautiful opportunity since there weren't many companies
on the road. I guess that MTB Tours was one of the first bike
tour organizations in South America.
Our philosophy is to provide personal quality and to pay attention
to details. You can travel to many places and with lots of people,
but we think you will remember the trips that were leaded by guides
that worried and took care of you personally. After a bike tour,
you will have made fifteen very good friends.
Customers are used to our professionalism and attention to details.
Every tour includes challenges that will help you reflect back
upon the trip and realize that you had an awesome experience.
Our customers always remind us that they continue to travel with
us because they trust that no matter where we go, they will have
a great experience surrounded by excellent routes, challenging
landscapes, tasty South American meals and a beautiful group atmosphere.
We believe in human quality, organization, creativity, supported
by details to let our clients see how comfortable they can feel
with us. I guess those are the main reasons why they come back.
Professionalism and knowledge with regards to the business and
field aspects of our work is another very important reason why
our guides are considered to be our greatest strengths.
We run mountain bike tours focusing on the average person that
loves to participate in sports on a frequent basis and also loves
to get out of the city and enjoy both nature and sports at the
same time. We don't require the customer to be a professional
mountain biker, but we need him or her to have a decent level
of fitness and to enjoy the adventure he or she has decided to
participate in. We offer different ability levels so, depending
on where do we go, there will be varying levels of fitness requirement.
By the way, our commitment is to give the best mountain bike tours
along Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. All our tours are
lead by local guides and by trilingual guides that will help you
feel at home, all our tours are powered by a local knowledge that
will take you to the heart and spirit of the region by tasting
the food, by meeting with local people, sailing into theirs language,
looking into their culture, and visiting the surrounding areas.
All our tours were selected based on incredibly beautiful landscapes,
culture, scenic and challenging roads and single tracks, and unexplored
beauty. Our South American tours represent areas that cover the
Andes and range from Argentina to Chile, explore the most beautiful
single tracks of the amazing Patagonia, explore the European influence
and rich history, meet the local people, taste the charm of Buenos
Aires, Punta del Este or Rio de Janeiro, and kiss the beautiful
white sand beaches of Brazil.
Mariano D'Alessandro
Owner and Manager
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Mariano
D'Alessandro (Buenos Aires)
We don´t know why he has this reputation of being "The
boss", Mariano started to write MTB Tour´s history
in 1994, without knowing exactly where to go. His principles
were to love his job, meet people and help them live rich experiences
by mixing nature and sports and help them get little but important
personal gains involved by a harmonic and warm atmosphere.
He ´s a Fitness Education teacher and works in the city
at every tour plan and organization and also rides every kilometre
at almost every bike tour. He run more than one hundred bike
trips, including nineteen Andes crossings, that left him a huge
experience.
He has travelled with all over the world bikers, he gave conferences
at Tourism and Fitness Education Universities and also contributed
for local and overseas sports articles. His principles are still
the same.
 Alter
many years of joking and teasing Mariano due to his "funny
Flash
Gordons style" of glasses, he finally decided to put them
on retirement. We reserve our opinion of his new pair of glasses!!
Degree in Fitness Education (2002). Mountain bike guide since
1994.
Languages: English, French and Portuguese.
First aids course at the "Facultad de medicina",
Universidad de Buenos Aires ('94).
Wilderness Advance First Aids course (PAZA)
(2004)
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Oscar
Mendez (Tandil)
He works as a mountain bike, trekking and climbing guide in
Tandil, at Buenos Aires Province. He earned a huge experience
by leading many trips in the South of the Patagonia, he is really
in shape regarding he ´s reaching the sixties, and always
giving organization capability and the necessary share of sensitivity
to detect the group needs at the right time.
We
call him "The old man" we think he had the chance
to see the fall of "La Movediza" a big piece of rock
that was in balance at the top of the sierras, and mysteriously
fall in 1912 breaking in two pieces!!
Mountain and mountain bike guide with accreditation in Tandil
city, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Three climbs and expeditions at the "Cerro Aconcagua (6962
mts.)" and six at the "Lanin Volcano (3776 mts.)".
Planning and logistics on the "Adventure Race"
of Tandil ( 1°, 2°, 3°and 4°) (1200 racers).
"Mountain search and rescue" course, by
Alejandro Randis and First Aids course, by Dr. Iparraguirre.
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Rolo
Benassi (Córdoba)
Basically he has always been a hiking guide and a climbing instructor
when he decided to join MTB Tours at our first trip together
in 1995 in Quebrada del Condorito, an awesome Condor´s
reserve located in Cordoba Province.
He is an excellent cook, organized and responsible, he has the
accurate "group timing" that he learned after many
experiences at the Mount Aconcagua. He always contributes with
a lot of fun by creating an excellent atmosphere while he tells
"local fun stories" and he ´s very professional
and "quick" for the demanding trip times.
If
you wan't him to become mad, please ask him where did he learn
his "Boy Scouts" techniques!!
Mountain Guide (Trekking guide in the Andes Range)
Certifified by the "Asociación Argentina de Guías
de Montaña".
Socorrista para Excursionismo (Certified by the "Red Cross"
and the "Instituto Argentino de Montañismo").
Several clims and expeditions to "Cerros Rincón,
Aconcagua, Plata, Pico Vallecito, Bonete and Lanin Volcano".
Learning course for guides aplying at the "Quebrada del
Condorito" National Park. Córdoba, Argentina. 2002.
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Fede
D'Alessandro (Buenos Aires)
Federico is starting Universityl, he ´s the number eight
of nine brothers and sisters, and even he ´s very young
he earned his place in silence by collaborating with so much
effort at all MTB Tours´s bike trips.
He ´s very responsible and smart, he has the ability to
anticipate and preview the different travel times, he is always
very kind and always a great partner to attend the bikers that
want to take theirs own pace.
If
he comes please bring one or two alarm clocks!!
Wilderness Advance First Aids course (PAZA)
(2004).
MTB Tours assistant since 2001.
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Lelo Beli
(Sierra de la Ventana, Pcia de Buenos Aires)
He is a pro-mountain bike racer and now mountain bike guide
at his hometown Sierra de la Ventana, in Buenos Aires Province.
He shares his time between bike competitions, his excursions
guide work and all his loves in the area.
He has a deep knowledge of the geology, geography, flora and
fauna of the local parks, and he ´s the local expert
about the best single tracks and dirt roads. He is always
very kind, he leaves sympathy wherever he goes but we always
suggest you to avoid coming with your wife or girlfriend!
If you ever see him, you should ask him about the time when
he was pretending he was an expert mountain biker in Bariloche
and while crossing a tiny small stream, he fall on his "low
back parts" and killed his cell-phone!
Outdoors nature guide at the "Provintial Park Ernesto
Tornquist", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ex-mtb racer and local MTB guide.
First Aids course at Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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Carlos Schüller
(Malargüe, Mendoza)
He ´s the father of 5 beautiful boys and girls, and
we met each other almost by chance during the 2002.
During the winter he works on his business renting ski equipment
in Los Molles, close to one of the most important ski resorts
in South America. He knows Malargüe, the Andes crossing
starting point, and its geography very well, and he's also
a fly cast specialist.
He's also part of the quiet team that takes care of a silent
but great job: He'll work on the tents setting, snacks and
dinner for you when you finish riding your Andes cross stage.
We think he has any type of allergy to the mtb, but don't
worry, he'll always be helpfull with his 4x4!
Due to a strong religious conviction the support team always
have a lot of fun during the Andes crossing, guess who found
a hen in his tent while sleeping a nap??
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Juan Manuel
(Piripi) Rodríguez (Buenos Aires)
Almost a Fitness Education Teacher, almost an ex- rugby placer,
Piripi works at the less observed job at our bikes trips:
He ´s the one that will host you with the dinning tents
and tables already set up, an aperitive and the dinner in
the process of being cooked, when "the bunch of bikers"
arrive tired and hungry at our camp in the middle of the Andes.
He ´s very practice, has an awesome ability to get things
done where elements are limited like in the Andes. He has
a great sense of humor and he ´s very kind even what
the others could say! and he ´s very good for planning.
Never sit by him at dinner´s time at the Andes trip,
usually he feels satisfied alter the aperitive, the fourth
plate, three desserts and the coffee!!
Degree in Fitness Education (2002).
"Training and fitness" course and "Massage"
course (2003)
Languages: French.
MTB Tours assistant during the "Andes crossings 2001
and 2002".
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Jorge
Ascani (9 de Julio, Pcia de Buenos Aires)
He was born in 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires province, came to Buenos
Aires city and became a fitness eduation teacher. He's one of
the teachers in charge of the weekly bike training we give in
Buenos Aires, and he´s a great host, passionate about
biking and sports in general, and loves travelling with people
and helping them when having problems.
Ok,
ok he looks like a great sportsman, he has an excellent body,
he ´s really in shape but girls if you keep on staring
at him like this, we ´ll have to ask for an appointment
every time we need to talk to him!!
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Gabriel
(Elmer) Leal (Córdoba)
He worked many years for an international bank until he decided
he wanted to switch some things on his life and he became a
trekking guide. He's the father of a son and a daughter, and
we also think he might have any type of allergy against the
bike, he only uses it for shopping! But don't worry, after his
experience on the trekking and hiking field, he achieved an
official place on the Andes crossing staff. He has an excellent
humor and always give practicity, speed, organisation and helps
creating a great atmosphere.
During
the last season, he and Carlos where responsible for the camp
setting. When they finished they realized they set the camp
surrounding an inmense horse shit field where it smelled terrible!!
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Marquitos Uriburu
(Salta)
Marquitos was raised up in a ranche in Salta povince, up north
in Argentina, where nature and outdoors where part of his
normal life. Marquitos`s dad is a local horseback riding outfitter,
so his destiny was already marked up: Today he has a degree
in fitness education, and he's an excellent horseback riding,
mountain bike and trekking guide in his beloved province,
Salta.
He has "carisma" and he's fully of energy, probably
due to the hard training he must follow to suceed in his adventure
races.
ergio contacted us for thel problem to solve and he´s
always very kind and pleasant and gives the best of him.
He has some pararell business to adventure travel, he raises
hamsters at his home!!
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Daniel
Orellano (Buenos Aires)
He´s the official transport for MTB Tours since 2002.
He´s a fitness eduation teacher, great driver, helpful
and nice with every biker cycling in our tours. He combines
the "art of driving" in the mountains + tons of patiente
with the last bikers of the day. He owns a Mercedes Sprinter
and a very clever made trailer, which can be fast load and unload
and where bikes travel safely and never receive a bad treatment.
Dani,
doesn't know anything about DVD, CD, IPODS, but don't worry
he´ll always have some romantic 80's hits displayed in
his old tape cassettes to make your drive nice!
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