Written by When we launched Bike Ranch Snowdonia back in 2022, there would have been some pretty ambitious goals thrown around – and having world cup winning riders and a downhill team come and stay was almost definitely one of them.
Then last October, Pip opened an email from Muc-Off asking if they could bring the Commencal Muc-Off Downhill Team for some off-season riding and content creating. Nonchalantly, she responded and then neglected to tell me for 2 days! I should probably mention Pip has been working with professional athletes in other sports her whole career and is not the fan girl that I am. So, when this dropped casually into conversation one evening that the COMMENCAL MUC-OFF team are coming and we’re hosting them I could only be described as ‘exploding’ and ran off to tell my mate in our workshop who I knew would be equally as excited over this.
Additionally, we were told there was a new rainbow rider joining, but it wasn’t – and couldn’t be announced yet. Not quite the NDA, but a promise to not shout about it until the official announcement. Anyway, here we are – Loris has officially joined Commencal Muc-Off and we can now tell you all about the teams visit!
Both the Commencal and Muc-Off team arrived after dark, piling in with vans and minibuses, riders and all the 2025 bikes, not to mention a year’s supply of Muc-Off products.
Commencal team manager Thibaut steps out – a legend, Max and Till – the twins and straight up awesome riders, then Myriam – DH biking royalty but so kind and down to earth. And finally out steps Loris. I would have shouted ‘I knew it!’ had I not been trying to look cool and less like my 16-year-old niece at a 1D meet and greet. Amaury couldn’t make it due to injury and didn’t want to sit and just watch the fun – we can understand, and Dylan missed his flight (LOL) so rocked in the next day.
The whole team of riders – mechanics – Muc-Off crew were awesome, super friendly and it was a genuine pleasure to host them.
So how did we deliver it?
Truthfully, no different to how we deliver every fully-catered Bike Ranch stay.
They had evening meals over the 3 days prepared by our friend and award-winning chef, who has some rather amusing stories about the celebrities he’s cooked for if you get the opportunity to ask him. His food and stories were a definite highlight for the whole team over their stay! As the team were in off-season, they were allowed to enjoy a glass of wine or two all supplied and selected from our local expert, Gwin Dylanwad Wine. Breakfast was also prepared by us for a time to suit the team, and when they needed to leave each morning.
Each day was a private uplift day at Dyfi Bike Park with lunch from their awesome café. A definite perk to knowing the right people, but not sure it makes life any easier for the maintenance crew so big up to them for putting up with the team ripping it up all the time!
Getting to follow world cup riders down the tracks at Dyfi Bike Park and witness first-hand how insanely fast they were. The team were gracious and would wait for me (I have obviously recounted this many times since) but one time in particular I catch them up at the bottom of the Oakley line, and we head off together – not a pedal stroke in sight and they leave me for dust. Obviously, these riders are the best in the world at the top of their game but seeing it from behind the bars was another thing entirely.
The team then returned to the ranch, for cake and beers while they decompressed, sorted bikes and generally chilled out before dinner. The firepit was ready for them had the weather behaved.
Our mini ranchers also got onboard with our guests and managed to interview the team (hopefully to be on YouTube at some point) and hangout like they were old friends. The biggest tip from our 5-year-old was of course to make sure his dinosaur stickers were prominent on their bikes (and then proceeded to hand them out) because they would in-fact make them ride faster. The team were fantastic with the kiddos, kept those stickers safe and presented them with personalised signed jerseys. Honestly, these kids don’t realise how good they got it!
We would like to thank the whole Commencal Muc-Off team for choosing Bike Ranch. It was a pleasure to host you all, and we look forward to having you back here in 2025.
If you’re interested in having a catered, supported, and/or guided stay like the Commencal Muc-Off team, then fill in our enquiry form and we will be happy to build you a custom package. We’ll also make sure we have a full stash of dinosaur stickers for your arrival.