· Mountain bikers in Patagonia tend to be road tourers. I would advise against it; there are huge distances between settlements, which drag on, and you won't see much - you've seen one Gaunaco (wild Llama) you've seem them all.

The roads are gravelled and well maintained, but they can be arduous because of the relentless wind, and very changeable weather. The scenery is stunning but it will be the same view all day long, traffic won't be a problem though.

The Torres Del Paine National Park, is one of the most beautiful regions of the world, and is a must-do visit in Patagonia. The offroad tracks in most areas are undertrodden or pass over unriderble rocky ground, long smooth descents don't happen. For this reason and to protect the area, the National Park Authorities don't allow Mountain Biking in the parks. Biking in Patagonia will be more hassle than it's worth, go trekking instead, it is, by far the best in the world. The higher altitudes and most stunning views can only be reached on foot or on horseback.
Hope this helps.
Mathew Banks, Essex

· Hola... In January 2000, I embarked on a three month cycling tour of Chile.

Although Chile is a place of incredible beauty, there are a few things that you might want to take into consideration before setting foot to pedal.

Temperature shifts, even in the mild January period, are quite extreme thanks to changes in altitude and the region's prevailing winds. Unfortunately, these conditions are a an ideal environment for piles to develop and I was no exception. Trying to find the Spanish translation for products such as 'anusol' or 'preparation-h' is quite difficult so I recommend that you bring your own.

The quality of Chilean steaks is over-rated to say the least. Thanks to the vile slurry of red meat that I regularly consumed on my travels throughout Patagonia, I contracted intense bouts of the squitters on at least 25 occasions. This was incredibly draining on my system and only helped to irritate my piles further. Thanks to my dietary problems in Chile, I ended up exploring vegetarianism when I returned home to Northampton. The local wines, however, are excellent. If you drink enough, you will cease to be concerned with either your piles or your inevitably on-going case of the shits. Cycling against intense winds with a hangover, however, is unpleasant but a small price to pay for the temporary relief of wine.

Thanks to its dictatorial heritage, Chile's network of roads is quite elaborate. What the roads have in length and quantity, however, is sadly not reflected in quality. Potholes were aplenty on my travels and inherent road conditions helped to increase wear and tear on my mountain bike. My guess is that the conditions of the country's roads will only have become worse since I went on my trip a few years ago.

I hope that the above doesn't put you off. The country has a lot going for it. Splendid scenery, excellent wines, mouth watering fruits, cheap and accommodating ladies of the evening, inexpensive hotels and an elaborate network of paved (but poorly maintained) roads.
Enjoy

· The best months to bike in Argentine Patagonia are from September to April, with January and February being the hottest and driest months (but consequently, the ones with the most dust!).

The coast (east) has amazing wildlife but very few low-lying mountains and distances are enormous. The mountains run all along the frontier with Chile on the west of Argentina. Bariloche town is a horrible tourist haunt but great areas lie near to it and is a centre for communications. There is great mountain biking in the Nahuel Huapi national park.

South of Bariloche, for example, Mount Tronador (thunderer) has some trails and amazing views (although beware dragonflies when very dry and hot).

North-west, there is a great little trail along the Quetrihue peninsula in the Arrayanes national park. It runs for 13 kilometres between Villa La Angostura and the Arrayanes woods. North of here, there are various places along the lakes where you can mountain bike, all the way up to San Martin de los Andes.

Another type of Patagonia, further south and thus more remote, cold and with less vegetation is the province of Santa Cruz. Near Calafate and El Chalten. Glaciers, Estancias and great mountains.
Good luck!
Juan Raymond