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3am start last Friday. 3 1/2 days riding on fantastic dry and dusty trails. Apart from the first 1/2 day we did the ‘enduro’ routes (i.e. you had to pedal 500-700m a day). This involved some carrying and an amusing if slightly worrying cliff-traverse-carrying-bicycle event.
The riding is varied. Lots of loose over loose, some big fixed bedrock rock gardens, a lot of (ahem) switchbacks, a frankly terrifying steep descent on sand over rocks, and quite a lot of steepness. We had a great guide and were always last back to the accommodation and also last out of the bar!
I’ve ridden up the valley with Ciclo Montana and wasn’t expecting this to be as good in the ‘foothills’ above Malaga. It was tho. Many ‘can I ride that bit’ moments and a few ‘no I’m walking it’ 🙂
It would not be hardship to go back. And to ride dry trails in short sleeved tops after FIVE MONTHS OF RAIN was just brilliant.
Love it there, its brilliant, their base at bubion is really good too
Its a bit of a ‘MTB Commune’ 🙂 But it was cool meeting loads of riders from other places. We met the EMBN guys at Bristol. Apparently we’d ‘nicked’ their accommodation as they normally stay at Switchbacks.
I’m back in September but this time with Ciclo. My memory is that is more bedrock and less sand!
Bloody hell just realised it's about 9 years since I went there and promised to go back. I went out and did the downhill week using a Stumpjumper with DH tyres! I was under gunned all week but still loved it.
It's the first time I'd been anywhere hot in the winter. We flew out of Newcastle airport in horizontal sleet and 3 hours later I was basking on a sun drenched balcony. Just what you need in February.
I'd love to go back now and see some of the longer trails and do a bit of exploring rather than just shuttle runs. My current bike would eat it up. Unfortunately my only riding partner at the minute is my girlfriend and from what I remember the trails are rough as hell, I don't think she'd enjoy it.
And I spot reuben "the flying wombat" in that last photo.
Looks amazing. It's on the list..🤙
@sharkattack - about 15 years ago we went to Ciclo in early Feb. Left Gatwick in the sleet. Arrived Malaga in the sleet! Ended up doing a lot of street riding as too much snow everywhere.
Last week tho - same. Left UK is horrible wet windy weather at 6:30am. Riding bikes under blue skies at 20 degrees at 2pm. And on dusty trails.
I’d say the trails are about as hard as I can consistently ride. There’s not a lot of let up. I was definitely having to commit to stuff I really wasn’t sure about quite a few times. I also walked a few bits that I really wished I’d ridden. But having had one nasty crash (on an easy bit as usual) I decided it was better to enjoy the craic, the scenery and the sunshine and get home in one piece!
There were a couple there riding the shuttle trails on old SC’s. One was a 2004 super light! I’m not sure they were enjoying it that much according to the guides.
@julians Ruben - the flying wombat - is such a cool character. Looks like a pirate, rides like a god 🙂 He’s probably the best guide we’ve ridden with. His switchback tuition was kind of strange until you try it. Revelation!
I’m going out in the mud tomorrow. It’s not going to be the same...