Get Paid (badly) To Ride Your Bike

Postby GravityBolivia on Fri 5/Sep/08 7:34am

Gravity Bolivia Needs A Mountain Bike Guide

*Come to the Dark Side:* An invitation to work for Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking in La Paz, Bolivia, South America.

The bulk of our work is guiding 1-day downhill mountain bike tours, and this means that we have to head out into the hills for Day after Day after Day of 40+ mile downhill mountain bike rides more than 11,000 feet of vertical descent every time! I guess it's one of the hazards of being a mountain bike guide on the edge of the Andes. Damn it, someone has to mountain bike down those huge trails!! (NOTE: Before you get too excited, 90-95% of this guiding is of beginner-level mountain bikers on dirt roads; only some of the time do we get paid to rip it up with more experienced riders on single-track.)

If the idea of this kind of riding doesn't get you down, then read on.

TEAM GRAVITY, the employees and racers of GRAVITY ASSISTED MOUNTAIN BIKING, is NOW looking for suitably crazy individuals to join us for Season 2009 for a full-on, action-packed year of guiding, mechanicing, racing, selling, adventuring and partying in the downhill mountain biking mecca that is the area around La Paz, Bolivia. Check out photos of the kind of riding we do in the galleries on our web page http://www.gravitybolivia.com/gallery/.

GRAVITY ASSISTED MOUNTAIN BIKING is the premier operator of 1-day downhill and multi-day adventure mountain bike tours in Bolivia. To learn a bit more about us check out our web site http://www.gravitybolivia.com. You can also join us on our facebook group (Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking) or check out some of the videos about us on Youtube. We are also mentioned and highly recommended in EVERY SINGLE DAMN guidebook to South America and Bolivia! We have been featured in more than 70 magazine and newspaper articles in publications around the world... not to mention five television programs and one movie!!

For 2009 we are looking for several multi-talented individuals who are interested in working for a full season (mid-February until mid-February) or longer. Extra consideration will be given to individuals who are interested in starting as a guide, learning more about the broader aspects of the business and growing to be a Gravity Manager in any of many positions within Gravity's rapidly growing business empire.

We are looking for people with PERSONALITY, PATIENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS, plus a SENSE OF HUMOUR and ADVENTURE. Oh, and you have to be able to ride a mountain bike, have good mechanicing skills, be First Aid qualified, and have rope rescue skills. Having some basic Spanish language skills would give you an advantage, but it's not essential (although anyone interested in growing to be a Gravity Manager should dedicate themselves to mastering the local language!).

As a guide you get all the privileges of racing downhill at ridiculous speed, risking life and limb on rough, rocky roads, on a flimsy two-wheeled out-of-control thing. All this just for the love of doing it; you didn't come here to make your fortune, did you? We can promise to abuse your body with as much work as you want to do, although a work day is pretty long, so much more than four days a week is hard for most.

Pay is not big, but you should be able to save a little money -- if you aren't too much of a party animal (although we do get special Gravity Guide deals at many of the best restaurants, bars and clubs in town). The basic week consists of guiding and recovering (from the guiding and partying). On average you will be required to guide 3-4 times a week, typically guiding days run from 6 am until 10 pm!

We certainly wouldn't suggest that you see coming out to work for us as a money-making exercise, but more a chance to pay-your-own way while exploring a beautiful part of South America. The area around La Paz is blessed with incredible geographical and cultural variety, including 6000m+ mountain peaks, hot and sweaty jungle, rock-climbing areas, the world's highest navigable lake, and of course Machu Picchu and the Inca ruins just around the corner.

Interested? Then Email us NOW at info[at]gravitybolivia.com.

Note: /Top Secret Update:/- Gravity will soon be expanding to Peru! Guides who sign up to work in Bolivia will soon have the opportunity to do one or more 3-month stints guiding trails around Cuzco, Peru right next door to world-famous Machu Picchu. This doubles the number of trails you get to hit!

HERE'S YOUR HOMEWORK: Once we receive your answers to the three questions below we will send you more information about how badly you will get paid, how hard you will have to work, and more nitty-gritty info, plus a more specific questionnaire regarding your experience and skills. Please jot us a couple of paragraphs each on the following topics:

1. Why do I want to come to Bolivia and work for GRAVITY?

2. What do I hope to get out of working for GRAVITY?

3. What do I love the most about Mountain Biking?

Cheers Alistair Matthew
"El Jefe"
Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking, Bolivia, South America.
http://www.gravitybolivia.com
GravityBolivia
Member for: 5 years 1 month

Postby ThingOne on Fri 5/Sep/08 8:00am

If I where 15 years younger without a wife and kids, id be in!
Awesome opportunity.
ThingOne
User avatar
"www.bushloveracing.com"
Member for: 2 years 4 months

Postby Mr_Bob on Fri 5/Sep/08 8:23am

Ask me in another year or two, I'll be over :cool:
Mr_Bob
User avatar
"Dig mode:"
Member for: 4 years 2 months

Postby Grumpyoldman on Fri 5/Sep/08 8:43am

ThingOne wrote: If I where 15 years younger without a wife and kids, id be in!
Awesome opportunity.


:withstupid:
Grumpyoldman
User avatar
"Hood Ornament"
Member for: 4 years 7 months

Postby Mr_Bob on Fri 5/Sep/08 8:46am

Hey they forgot to mention about the growaridiculoiusmoustache clause :paranoid:
Mr_Bob
User avatar
"Dig mode:"
Member for: 4 years 2 months

Postby Trail on Fri 5/Sep/08 8:59am

Mr_Bob wrote: Hey they forgot to mention about the growaridiculoiusmoustache clause :paranoid:


and the drinklotsofbeerbutnotsomuchthatyouaretoodrunktoguideagainthenextday clause ;)
Trail
User avatar
"Concentrating on technique"
Member for: 10 months 2 weeks

Postby mjc on Fri 5/Sep/08 10:44am

Mr_Bob wrote: Hey they forgot to mention about the growaridiculoiusmoustache clause :paranoid:


I have no idea what you're on about!!
P9020124.JPG
mjc
User avatar
Member for: 4 years 2 months

Postby mitch7 on Fri 5/Sep/08 11:35am

Grumpyoldman wrote:
ThingOne wrote: If I where 15 years younger without a wife and kids, id be in!
Awesome opportunity.


:withstupid:


me too...If I was "young,dumb and full of cum"...I'd be applying... :p
sounds to good to be true...
mitch7
User avatar
"Brass,Grass or Ass..No-one rides for free"
Member for: 3 years 3 months

Postby swtchbckr on Fri 5/Sep/08 11:43am

i'd be there if i wasnt shacked up with a missus and a coupla kids... and didnt have job i really like.
swtchbckr
User avatar
"Freaking mellonfarmer"
Member for: 4 years 3 months

Postby Trail on Fri 5/Sep/08 11:56am

Yep. Definitely a good option if you are younger and want a different bus load of tourist girls to go out drinking with each night...

There are also options for those who have partners who are not into biking. Alistair has a brew hostel (a hostel with a brewery in the basement) that needs staff, and there is the office that needs looking after as well. There have been a number of couples head on over for the experience... so even if you are shacked up, it is possible you could still head on over. Basically email Alister at Gravity and talk to him. He is a kiwi and wont bite!
Trail
User avatar
"Concentrating on technique"
Member for: 10 months 2 weeks

Postby ryda on Fri 5/Sep/08 12:12pm

mitch7 wrote:
Grumpyoldman wrote:
ThingOne wrote: If I where 15 years younger without a wife and kids, id be in!
Awesome opportunity.


:withstupid:


me too...If I was "young,dumb and full of cum"...I'd be applying... :p
sounds to good to be true...
yes! makes me wonder what Mr Bob is waiting for?
ryda
User avatar
"www.CYCL1N.com"
Member for: 3 years 5 months

Postby ThingOne on Fri 5/Sep/08 2:40pm

ryda wrote:
mitch7 wrote:
Grumpyoldman wrote:
ThingOne wrote: If I where 15 years younger without a wife and kids, id be in!
Awesome opportunity.


:withstupid:


me too...If I was "young,dumb and full of cum"...I'd be applying... :p
sounds to good to be true...
yes! makes me wonder what Mr Bob is waiting for?


Would just be a root fest , all those american tourist chicks... What you waiting for Mr Bob?
ThingOne
User avatar
"www.bushloveracing.com"
Member for: 2 years 4 months

Postby evilknieval69 on Fri 5/Sep/08 5:23pm

The fact that they ride konas would put most people off :D
evilknieval69
Member for: 1 year 6 months

Postby Philthy on Fri 5/Sep/08 7:31pm

Very tempting: I'm on my way to Bolivia in December. We're taking our bikes for a two month cycle tour. Maybe i'll stay a little longer.....
Philthy
Member for: 1 year 3 months

Postby inzane on Fri 5/Sep/08 7:53pm

Philthy wrote: Very tempting: I'm on my way to Bolivia in December. We're taking our bikes for a two month cycle tour. Maybe i'll stay a little longer.....


I used to work for them... if you want a bit more of a low down I will send you my number and we can have a chat :thumbsup:

They usually shut in December for the rainy season, open again in February sometime...

Actually if you want some info on where to go, what to see in Bolivia... give me a yell as well :) I can give you some where to go see's etc.

Cheers

Zane
inzane
User avatar
"'The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.'"
Member for: 4 years 4 months

Cycling | Mountain Biking | News - Latest Posts

Who is online

155 Users browsing this website: -Reaper-, 4-stroka, Al_Bushman, avantibill, Baidu [Spider], banga, bigmig, bikemac, bugle, campervangogh, Chickie, dented, DH-Rider, dill_mullit_man, duzall, Fergie, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Desktop, Google Feedfetcher, harorider, IamTOAD, jnumbaz, JohnnyC, katipobikes, Mattus, Mel, Mr_Bob, Mr_Jolly, MSN [Bot], nagem, Nandyhand, Nick_K, nigelp, noel_whiteside, OliverBendix, pb, po0tang, psc38, pushbikerider, rather_be_ridin, rjh141, RussS, Scotty, sneezy, stuart_rv, The_Quinsta, tomypg, tylersdad, wachtourak, WayneG, XCguy, XCrazy, xr8atd, Yahoo [Bot], znomit and 93 guests

VORB SUPPORTERS


  • NZ Health Food Co
  • Puresports NZ Ltd
  • Push Bikes
  • Revolution Products
  • Ride Cycles
  • Seventh Wave
  • Sportspro Racing
  • SRAM
  • Sticky Date Pudding
  • The Bike Hutt
  • Yeti Cycles
  • YHA New Zealand
  • 2Stage Bikes
  • Adventure Multisport Options
  • Basic Bikes
  • Bike Barn
  • Burkes Cycles
  • Capital Cycles
  • Chain Reaction
  • Cyclexpress
  • Ezi Grip
  • Ground Effect
  • GT Bicycles
  • MTB Skills Clinics