You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just back from brilliant 3 days riding in Finale. Uplift supplied by Ride on Noli - magic service. Pick up from hotel; guides were excellent - Paolo, Marco and Felipo. Magic places to stop at lunch - well off the beaten track but great great food. Defo recommend this lot. We booked it through MTB beds who couldn't supply our accommodation but also were super helpful on pick ups from airport and general info - including best beer place - San Pedro in the square - free tasty snacks with the beer :)!
Yep off in a few weeks with them. Looking forward to it. 3 days wasmt enough surely?!
Just spent the week with Bobby
Great trip out there, awesome riding and well worth putting some pedals in to get away from the bus laps and the braking bumps 😉
If your not getting free snacks with your beer you did something wrong 😉
Yep couldn't agree more, we went with MTB Beds guides by ride on Noli everything was ace, like a gormet mtb trip.
When my freehub knackered on the 'rollercoaster they had sorted a replacement wheel by the time I got to the of the trail - didn't miss any riding.
Oh and Finale is brill also.
One week next year 🙂
#PartyPaolo
Was Sandra guiding too? We had Paolo and her a few weeks ago. Both fantastic and a great uplift service every day.
Lunch at Aldo's? If so, how's Uma? She was my holiday highlight and can't wait to see her next May. Cutest pupper ever
Looking forward to heading out tomorrow for a week.
Got a few days guided riding before I start EWS practice on the Friday.
Will be a little different to this weekend just gone, freezing cold, sideways rain & mud axle deep at points in the race...
Will be a little different to this weekend just gone, freezing cold, sideways rain & mud axle deep at points in the race…
Forecast dropping to low 20's thankfully for you!! Was a bit of a long day when it was nearer 30!!
We also dropped in through a couple of new things 😉 Looks fun though if they use the traditional last stage I hope the silly badly half built jump is getting knocked down
2 Weeks time i will be there
I am there /here. Leaving in two weeks. 😎
Going down Briga Right and into Borgo after lunch.
Oh, if we're doing recommendations.... Have used ProRide the last three times I've been here this year. Good guides and not your typical lackadaisical Italian style towards timekeeping / pickup times.... 👍
Wonder who we say out there last week then!!
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/30988482438_35420b4eb1_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/30988482438_35420b4eb1_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Pdm5cY ]IMG_20180920_185619788[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1897/44140444034_377e26b733_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1897/44140444034_377e26b733_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2afxjbw ]IMG_20180919_130500[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1902/44811033852_4cf5a23fdb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1902/44811033852_4cf5a23fdb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bgNgaW ]IMG_20180921_104923[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
Im out with just ride after a recommendation - never been to finale so really looking forward to it and the weather will be very welcome !
Loved finale, great place for riding.can recommend freeride finale for guided uplift.
We're off to Madeira on Thursday for 4 days guided uplift with freeride Madeira. Looking forward to it.
We have just parked up for the night enroute from Ainsa to Finale. Probably got another three hours to drive tomorrow. Got a couple of guiding days booked with Freeride Finale, this will be our fourth trip using them and they have always been first class. Looking forward to watching the EWS stages and hopefully a good end to the season for Abigale
Bikini will be in the SWAT box for the end of ride swim.
Going out with the wife and kids for half term . Getting a bit phased!
What proportion of bus loads go full face?
Do they stream the uplift, ie do you need to be a certain level of rider to get on certain tours?
Starting to worry that well be so slow on the first runs that they bin us on subsequent.
Any recommendations for slightly slower groups?
You will be fine, been about 50/50 on the ones we have been on. Tend to have a couple of days guided, a couple using the uplifts and a couple eating the ice creams 🍦👙
Bikini will be in the SWAT box for the end of ride swim.
Bib short swimming for the win
Na it spoils the tan lines
Few faves
Roller coaster
Kill Bill 2
Madonna Del Gardia
Secret trail to Aldo’s
i didnt do DH Men but my mates did and by all accounts it’s pretty crap and borderline unrideable (and my mates are shit hot on a bike)
Not overly looking forward to racing DH men, mainly because it's pretty steep and loose, and it looks like they 're doing the same as last year in making it a dirty pedalfest down the 24hr loop before you get to the fun bit.
Really don't want to crash in front of a big crowd, they get there early, so even us making up the numbers feel the full effect!
Flying this afternoon, weather's looking good. Sat at work now wondering how many things I've forgotten 🙂
Course is out Hob Nob. Looks like a short race compared to prior year
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-and-course-release-for-round-8-ews-finale-ligure-2018.html
i didnt do DH Men but my mates did and by all accounts it’s pretty crap and borderline unrideable (and my mates are shit hot on a bike)
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44140463914_5e4cb0b9bf_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44140463914_5e4cb0b9bf_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2afxq6h ]Thanks to Dan Braund for the pic[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
It's mostly good but the deep gravel in a few parts makes it harder, had a couple of stops when I got sent off route - not saying I did it with any style though
One of the lads did it with more style
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoJFRQ8F4cM/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
Worth it for the photo ops alone!!
San Pedros is a great bar! Lots of good beers to be had there, and of course its in the square. 6pints there and then the monster climb upto our apartment near top of Dolmen, every bl**dy day! I'm not staying at top of San Bernardino again lol! Tough week, on me and my wallet - it was like a stag do!
Definitely going back to Finale. Loads of trails that I didnt do - bit miffed that Finale Freeride wouldnt take us to Karma or Rocche Gianche, yet on our last day we uplifted with Ultimate Bikeshop who said they would have 🙁
Got a mix of loads of trail types. Some super techy and steep stuff, San Michele being one of those. The trails in the woods near Calissano/Garessio were much more UK feel.
Karma is an easy and pleasurable ride from Cafe DIN. Even with a shuttle you'll be riding for 40 mins to reach the hike-a-bike.
The problem is that the trail ends in Loano. A fair trek with a car from Cafe DIN.
Get a single lift from town up to Cafe DIN and ride from there and get the train from Loano to Finale. Not a nice road to ride along. You'll still end up with over 1000m climbing.
Alpin .
Was that aimed at me?
What I meant was that I wasn't sure if your reply was aimed at my question on punters routes or something else. If the former the thanks tell me more. I presume it's a bit longer than most routes?
You threw me a bit there, generalist....
Aimed at no one and everyone..... Not really worth sessioning Karma. The ride up from the coast is about 90mins split between shuttle and riding /pushing.
One of the longest single tracks you can ride in the area. About 1300m of descent.
Not the easiest of trails mind. Quite tech towards the lower section.
Don't worry about being the slowest. That's part of being in a group. It's up to the guide to look after the group dynamic, imo. People are generally happy to have a breather and talk about how stoked they are, etc.
Righto. Sounds good. If there's a bit of uphill then that will gain him some time on most groups (weirdly enough)