2 weekend back we did an awesome ride in Bucegi mountains. It’s a ride that we tried for the first time last year and we like it so much that we included in the must do rides of each year :))).
As you already know by now, or if not you will, Bucegi mountains are a small group of mountains in our Carpathian range of mountains. They are ideal for ski touring and bike trail riding but also for hiking, climbing or trail running. We prefer ski and bike, but, whatever you chose you will have the same beautiful landscape that surrounds you so check out the photos bellow.
We are trail hunters, as we like to call ourself :)), so we wanted to make 3 beautiful descent this day. We started in Sinaia, taking the cabin to 2000m altitude near Furnica peak. From there we descended to Padina on a beautiful technical trail. From Padina we have like 1h pushbike to Strunga cole from were we have a long, beautiful and fun descent to Simon village. It’s one of the most beautiful single tracks in Bucegi, a must do in each year. We will go back there in autumn, hopefully with a drone to catch more of its awesomeness :D.
From Simon we took the road to Bran and then straight to the mountains to reach Long Ridge, a trail that will take us to Busteni city, on the other part of the mountain. It’s an nice retreat with an beautiful raw single track that few know of its existence :D.
Check out the clip ant the pictures bellow to see why we use so much the words beautiful and awesome :D. For track just ask us in email, we have many tracks and we want to give you all the details. Also for more detailed videos and track check out this article from last year: STRUNGA AND MUCHIA LUNGA DESCENT 2017. Enjoy and ride safe!
A SMALL SLICE OF ROMANIAN BULZ @ Ciocanu MTB Trails, Romania
This is a short video edit and some pictures from this weekend, shredding the trails @ Ciocanu MTB Trails, Bughea de jos, Arges.
Beautiful sunny day, with dry lose trails. Perfect for skidding around in every corner. You can find 2 of the tracks here, and here :D. Enjoy and ride safe!
Last weekend we have been to Iezer mountains on our annual ski touring trip there. I think this is the 4th year that we made it here, and it is my 4th year of ski touring :)))… man, time flies so fast…
Each year was similar but somehow different. In terms of snow conditions, this year was a lot more snow and we had some pow in the first descent on the upper part near the ridge of the mountain. Being so hot all of a sudden, I don’t think it was 100% safe to try new lines or spots, so we stayed chill and shred the classic descent from the ridge directly to Iezer refuge. Maybe next year we will try a descent from the peak, that will be cool ;D. I remember last year I was feeling brave and took a climb just beneath the peak. My luck was that fog come and “ruin” my descent :))))
This year the ski party was made by me, Tiberiu, Nicu and Bogdan A. We started touring just directly from Voina Hut, that was a premier because none of the previous years had snow right from the parking lot… What a luck, otherwise we should have walked that stupid forest road until the shepherd’s hut in the alpin area where the forest stops.
It’s a long climb/walk to Crucea Ateneului, around 10 miles or so with at least 1250m elevation. We had great weather, sunny and no wind.
Once we descanted, we had some nice pow at the beginning and some crud later on.
The refuge is looking good, by our standards :D. The guys from mountain patrol are really trying to make it better each year.
We made 3 descents in the first day and then stayed in the refuge, talking and making ourselves some tee and some soup. Nicu had some digging to do in order to get some water. The guys from mountain patrol indicate us the spot to dig for water, thanks guys! It was a nice evening and we took some good night sleep. The sky was full of stars that night and the refuge was pretty warm because of the sunny day we had :D.
We slept like tired skiers :))).
Next day the sun didn’t show his face just until we almost made it back to our cars. We also took 3 descents and then a last one in the fog. At the end of the final descent the sun showed up but the snow was bad, pulling on our knees a bit to hard… it was like we had our skins on our skis :))). In the forest, we just found more heavy snow and sweet our asses off until we reached our car. We stayed to eat something at Voina and then drove our way back home.
The track from the first day you find it here. The retreat was on the same path as the ascent. We leave you some pics and an edit. Enjoy!
This is a small retrospective of the last year in terms of mountain biking. Almost all footage is from Romania, except for a few seconds from Tour do Mont Blanc that we did in September. Awesome time riding here in RO and hope that this year will be at least as good as 2017. Check out this blog for more detailed content. Enjoy and ride safe!
Last ride in many more frames, #ciocanumtbtrails at its best 🤘. Riding, crashing, laughing and having fun, This is what it’s all about, except the second word. Until next time, ride safe! 🚵♂. Foto credit: Cristina Ion 👍
P.S. next articles and movies will include snow ⛷🏔😎
Ciocanu mountain bike trails late autumn ride with beautiful colors, friends, fun trails and a bit of rain. It’s all you need to have fun. We made 4 runs and on the forth one we took some pictures on the main trail. In first video you can see a second best trail :D, a nice one, wit a flow line that ends up between Bughea de Jos houses.
After the 4 runs we stayed in the village for a beer and some trail stories.
There, you can find some nice trails done by the local riders community. There are a sum of 4 tracks there, that average from 2 to 3 km long and with an elevation between 300m and 400m meters.
Are dirt trails, with some nice features done to them, like small drops, switchbacks and some natural roots section. Because of the altitude (starts at 800m), and that all tracks run thru forest, they are a good alternative to a bad weather day.
There is no shuttle there or cable for that matter but there is a forest road that takes you right to the starting point of the tracks.
We did a day and a night descent there. It is nice to descent a track at night. It’s like the track is totally new, like you discover it then, way more fun than the day descent. So, when you get tired of doing a trail, try to do it by night, rediscover that trail :D.
Grohotis XC to enduro and road trip! Acesta ar fi cel mai adecvat titlu pentru tura din weekend. A fost prima tura in care am folosit toate pinioanele bicicletei mele enduro, chiar toate. Nici nu credeam ca pot sa ii dau cu 30km pe plat pe sosea :))) cui ii trebe cursiera :P.
Dupa Resita (Metal Enduro) parca vroiam o tura usoara, eventual ceva nou. Accidental am dat pe calculator peste un track din muntii Grohotis. Nici nu stiu de unde il aveam, probabil ca l-am salvat cine stie cand. Urcand trackul pe bikemap si cautand putin pe net, mi-am dat seama ca este ce trebuie, aproximativ :P. Trackul era clar de XC, o urcare din Valea Doftanei pana in apropierea varfului si apoi coborare inapoi pe un drum putin mai accidentat dar nu carare. Dupa mai multe negocieri cu colegii de tura, in speta Cosmin, am venit cu o derivatie, ceva mai hardcore a acelui track. Uite asa am ajuns sa facem 2 munti la pachet, in aceasi tura, si undeva la 90 de km cu ceva mai multa diferenta de nivel.
Planul final era sa plecam din Homoraciu, sa urcam in muntii Grohotis, sa ii traversam coborand in Bratocea de unde sa urcam in Ciucas si sa ii traversam si pe acestia pana in pasul Boncuta si apoi la final sa bagam si 20km de asfalt pana la masina. Practic incepeam cu ceva XC prin Grohotis, o dam in Enduro prin Ciucas si bagam si ceva asfalt in pluton pana la masina. Zis si facut si asa plecam noi de la masina dimineata pe la 8 in Homoraciu.
De aici se merge mult pe forestier pana aproape de creasta muntelui. Drumul este frumos si foarte putin umblat, ca doar deaia a vazut Alex 2 ursi de am rupt-o la fuga instant cand l-am vazut ca se intoarce in viteza spre noi. Am tras o spaima dar ne-am facut curaj si am continuat urland si facand ca toate cele doar doar sa se sperie ei mai tare decat eram noi deja. Dupa ce am urlat vreo 30 de minute de nu dureau gaturile, ajungem la capatul forestierului si incepe o usoara balaureala pana in creasta. Marcaj este dar se pierde rapid cum iesi din padure. In creasta dam de forestierul ce vine din Valea Doftanei si il urmam pana in Bratocea. Coborarea pe el nu este chiar plictisitoare, ai unde sa ii dai viteza si ai o multime de dropuri micute cu care te poti distra. La un moment dat devenise chiar scary din cauza vitezei :P.
Pe finalul coborarii, Cosmin reuseste sa taie cauciucul spate, exact inainte sa dam in DN1A. Stam sa il reparam si apoi ne indreptam spre celebrul pushbike din Bratocea. Daca exista ceva care ma face sa urasc pushbike-ul, pai atunci asta e. Te chinui sa impingi bicla printre niste braduleti care parca incearca sa te traga inapoi la fiecare pas….
Ajungem morti de sete si fara apa sus in culme. Stiti vorba aia, cere si ti se va da… merge, asa am facut si noi si am cerut apa la drumetii de coborau, altfel cred ca muream de sete pana la cabana :D.
Ii dam constant pe creasta pana la cabana unde ajungem la ora 5, insetati si morti de foame. Bem fiecare cate o cafea, o cola si o apa minerala si mancam ce mai avem prin ghiozdane si off we go spre pasul Boncuta. Distractia continua pe potecuta faina pana acolo, probabil cel mai fain segment al turei, dar deja cand dam in forestier se lasa intunericul si este chiar dificil sa il coboram mai ales ca este presarat cu muuulte crengi si pietre.
Intrun final ajungem la asfalt unde ne asteapta 20km de sosea pana in Homoraciu, de unde am plecat de dimineata. Se pare ca porcii astia enduro (la bicle ma refer :)))) sunt destul de polivalenti, am tras un pluton pe sosea si i-am dat o viteza prin bezna noptii … :D.
Linkul cu traseul, mai putin partea de asfalt de la final, il gasiti aici. In total, conform trackului lui Alex, ne-au iesit cam 93 km cu vreo 2700m elevatie, o gresala pe care nu o vom repeta prea curand :)))).
Va lasam mai jos filmuletul si pozele de rigoare si pana data viitoare, ride safe!
Metal Enduro Resita is the final stage of romanian National Enduro Chanpionship #CNE, and probably the coolest one, but don’t take my opinion for a fact because is the second and the same enduro contest that I took part :D.
As I see it, the stages from our #CNE (national enduro championship) are starting to look more like the stages from enduro contests in western Europe with 8 specials and 2 days of competing and awsome trails. Who wold not want more, more trails, more fun, more riding!
Metal Enduro is held in Resita city in SW part of Romania. It is an old and industrial city that has his charm because of it. At one time it was consider to be one of the biggest industrial centers of Romania with big factories in steel industry and metal processing (Combinatul Siderurgic Reșița) and in motor and train factory (Uzina Constructoare de Mașini Reșița).
That is why, this stage is called Metal Enduro, and the name suits it well.
As I said, this is the first year that metal Enduro has 8 stages and 2 days. There are lots of trails here that are build and maintained by the rider community in Resita, that we are grateful to.
All trails are hand maintained and well build, they are narrow, dirt singletracks that have cool elements like switchbacks, drops, ramps and the best rockgardens ever :D.
All singletracks run from the top of the hills that surround the city thru a beautiful mapel forest and get down near city center where you can stop and have a beer after a nice flowy descent.
There are no chairlifts here, but the scenery is so beautiful and all singletracks have forest roads access that takes you to the top all the way on your bike from where you can brrraaaapppp your way down to beer :D.
The contest in the last 2 years was held in the middle of October, with stable weather and good riding conditions. When it hasn’t rained for over 2 weeks, the tracks are lose, and you can skid your way down easily but be careful.
If it has rained recently the tracks seem to become more grippy and you can ride faster.
All trails are shared between riders, trail runners or hikers. Here in Romania we do not have any grudges sharing the trail, just look up ahead on the trail, slow down if you see hikers, salute them and move on. The trails are not crowded, and there are lots of trails so you will have an nice continues descent.
This time I took one day off from work and reach Resita on Frayday. I managed to ride 5 of the specials then and I was as fit as I could be for the contest, to bad I had a cold that was fed by these 3 days of riding :). The thing is that, when you’re having fun and ride such nice singletracks you kind off forget about the cold and keep on riding. It’s not the smartest thing to do but who wants to miss 3 days of riding :))).
For me was 13th place in hobby category. This contest comes also as a confirmation of my riding skills and level and I get to ride some of the best trails along some of the best riders in RO so it’s an win, win situation for me :D. For contest I teamed up with the guys form BikePoint team, best team ever. They are the guys that organised BAISOARA ENDURO, another stage, and they ware the most fun team to ride along. I had a blast riding with them and lots of fun while transferring from one PS to another! Cheers guys and hope to team up again next year!
For now I can say that for sure I will be attending Metal Enduro next year to, and hopefully at least 2 other stages form #CNE.
Tour du Mont Blanc Enduro Bikepacking Trip #TMB, an spectacular track that goes around Mont Blanc (4810m).
We biked around the tallest peaks in Europe that rises between green valleys and white glaciers.
We sow marmots all over we looked, big bearded vulture and ibexs.
We biked around 200km (80% rideable and 20% pushbike) in 3 countries and climbed over 8500m elevation in 5 days, 20% paved, 30% forest road and 50% singletrack !!!
If this not determined you to go on an adventure like this, then maybe the video and pics below will: D.
This is the intro that we had in mind from the start, and what we found there did not let us down :D. It was a trip to remember that just opened our appetite more for this kind of enduro bikepacking trips :D.
As we said, we biked little over 200km, between 32km and 57km per day and with elevations between 1400m and 2100m per day. We started in Courmayeur and did the trip clockwise as we advice you to do.
Trip Journal:
First day we passed thru Col de la Seigne and we slept in Les Chappieux near an abandoned house, after 37km with 1800m elevation and an awesome singletrack on descent. First day track here!
Seccond day we passed near peak Tete Sud des Fours thru Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, it was the highest altitude reached in this trip, 2537m. If the first day descent was flowy and very fun, this one was the most technical and challenging one. We could not do it all on our bikes. We biked around 32km with 1400m elevation and finish the day near Le Champel a little higher on the track. We slept in an abandoned treehouse. Seccond day track here!
Third day we passed thru Chamonix where we washed our bikes and bought some tubes. After, we passed thru Col de Balme and into Switzerland. We took a different descent here than the #TMB route, more technical and with lots of switchbacks, it was nice. We biked around 53km with 2050m elevation and stopped in Trient. Third day track here!
Fourth day we passed thru Col de Forclaz and Champex Lac. We slept in an abandoned animal stable near La Fouly, after 43km with 1700m elevation. The singletracks this day ware nice, flowy but with rocky parts. Four day tarck here!
Fifth day we reached again 2500m elevation in Grand Col Ferret and we passed back into Italy. Beautiful view here over Aosta valley and probably the nicest descent in the hole track, technical at start with beautiful alpine landscapes and then with lots of flow and fun. This day we biked 43km with 1800m elevation. Last day track here!
The hole track as we had it at the start of the route you will find in here, #TMB FULL TRACK, but we slightly modified it along the way.
580 EUR for gas and road taxes from Bucharest to Courmayeur and back (4000km)
50 EUR for camping and car parking
270 EUR for food, beer and other small stuff 😀
Equipment and stuff:
1 enduro/trail bike – recommended 150m travel for more trail fun 😀
1 backpack evoc fr trail 20L
1 mattress foreclaz 550 gr
1 sleeping bag milet baikal 750 gr
1 bivouac bag 110 gr
1 knife
1 multi tool cranckrbrothers 19
1 gas cylinder and burner
1 fork and spoon
1 knee protectors
1 gloves
2 spare tube
1 sun cream!
1 first aid kit!
Electronics:
2 powerbanks in total 15000mah
1 headlight
2 GoPro cameras session 4
1 garmin fenix 3
1 phone with good camera (lg g6) and viewranger app having track uploaded
1 mp3 player
Clothes:
1 pair of bike shorts
2 fast dry short sleeve T-shirts
2 fast dry long sleeve T-shirts one wool for sleep
1 wind stopper
1 rain jacket
1 light feather worm jacket
1 pair of long trousers for sleep
2 neck tubes (Buff)
3 pairs of socks and underwear
Food from day to day:
sandwiches
4 energy gels for entire trip
chocolate and energy bars
1L of water in 2 bottles
coffee and tea for mornings and evenings 😀
*Not all fitted in the backpack so I had a bike bag on my top tube and the mattress was tied up beneath it.
Good to know:
Try to do this track off season, around the end of September. In season is very crowded by hikers and you may as well get a ticket for riding the hiking trails… do it in September and watch for good weather!
Wild camping is not generally encouraged, but is tolerated so be discreet.
Do not worry about food and water. There are many rivers along the way where you can refill your water tanks so don’t carry more then 1L of water. Regarding food, there are many locations (towns and villages) where you can buy food so carry food to last you the hole day and next morning.
We recommend to do the trip clockwise. It seems more fun and flowy but you can do it the other way around to :D.
Check your break pads before you leave. Long descents and heavy bikes will eat them alive 😀
Cum ar fi sa te trezesti de dimineata, sa iti bei cafeaua si sa mananci o ompleta buna, sa te sui pe bicla si sa ii dai la vale… suna cunoscut?! doar ca de data asta nu am dat la vale, ci la deal, pushbike vreo 2 ore :))). Hai nu 2 dar 1.5 ore tot am impins la ele, dar ce a urmat dupa, doar noi stim si voi o sa va faceti o idee din filmuletele si imaginile de mai jos :D.
Weekendul ce tocmai a trecut am facut o vizita la Cabana Suru si de data asta am si dormit acolo, fain loc, atat cabana cat si cabnierul nea Popa care ne-a cinstit si ne-a cantat la chitara pana tarziu in noapte :D.
Pana seara ne-am dat pe cararea de coboara de la Cabana pana in Sebesul de Sus, marcata cu triunghi rosu. Este una dintre cele mai faine coborari, portiunea de final, ultimele 5 minute is deliciul, un canion cu multe contrapante numai bun sa iti creasca adrenalina. Toata coborarea iti ia cam 20min cu tot cu opriri dar merita tot efortul. De urcat inapoi la cabana am urcat pe bulina rosie ce merge pe un forestier pana undeva sub cabana si apoi vine mama tuturor pushbikeurilor sau mai bine zis carrybike caci poteca devine dintr-o data foarte abrupta.
Ajunsi la cabana am inceput in a ne cinsti la un paharel de vorba cu nea Popa si apoi ne-am pus pe basculat ciorba si tocana proaspat date jos de pe foc. Am stat pana tarziu ascultand acorduri de chitara.
De dormit am dormit intr-o camera noua ce arata cel putin bestial :D. Dimineata ne-am bucurat de ompleta Suru care este de asemenea bestiala, am baut ceai cat am putut si o cafea buna si am fugit spre creasta.
Pana in creasta dar si acolo, vant puteric dar si soare cu putini nori. Odata ajunsi in creasta Fagarasilor am urmat traseul de creasta, dunga rosie, pana am dat de cruce rosie, chica pietrelor. Toata coborarea mi s-a parut bestiala, atat cararea care alterneaza intre tehnica si singletrack cu flow cat si privelistea ce ti-o ofera. Fiind capatul crestei, ai o priveliste bestiala pe un unghi de 180 grade cel putin! Poteca are si portiuni foarte grele, una chiar imposibila de abordat pentru noi, poate o fi cineva dispus sa o incerce dar nu noi, nu acum :))).
Este si lunga si te scoate intr-un forestier ce duce la manastirea Turnu Rosu. De aici inca 6-7km pana inapoi in Sebesul de Sus. Bestial traseu, recomand, mult mai ciclabil decat ultima bucata de creasta pe care am facut-o in Fagaras desi si aceea a fost cel putin spectaculoasa. Regasiti acel articol aici.
Mai jos va lasam materialul foto video iar linkurile cu traseele celor 2 zile le gasiti aici: traseu ziua 1, traseu ziua 2. Pentru gpx, just ask!
Cum ar fi sa te trezesti dimineata, sa admiri rasaritul de la altitudine, sa mananci o omleta si sa bei o cafea buna, sa te suii pe bicla si sa ii dai la vale pe o super carare?! in fine, si sa nu faci 2 pene in primele 5 minute :)))). Suna perfect nu-i asa? si este total posibil, noi asa am procedat si o sa repetam experienta asta prin mai multi munti de pe la noi, pentru ca se poate :D.
Weekendul asta ne-am dus in Piatra Mare ca sa verificam cat de faine sunt cararile de pe acolo. Indoieli nu existau dar pana nu incerci nu stii ce te asteapta. Cert este ca Piatra Mare este super faina de bicla si ofera 2 coborari super faine si distractive. Daca combini tura si cu dormitul la cabana care este de nota 10, iti iese un weekend super fain.
De urcat, am urcat pe Drumul Familiar. Daca sunteti puternici puteti sa ciclati destul de mult pe el… noi nu :P. Cu siguranta veti scoate un timp mai bun decat pe marcajele turistice. A fost fain ca am facut si un fel de trackwalk caci urma sa facem o coborare si pe familiar, si cu ocazia asta am si vazut pe unde se rupe poteca 2 din familiar a.i. sa dam in bulina rosie si in poteca tiganilor (familiarul este marcat cu dunga rosie).
Ambele poteci sunt super distractive si usor diferite. Poteca tiganilor este mai plina de radacini, putin mai scurta si cu portiuni mai abrupte.
Drumul familiar are de toate, de la rockgardenuri, la radacini la portiuni de viteza si multe contrapante pe care te poti suii in voie. Poate devenii foarte distractiv daca ai si putina imaginatie si stapanesti si bicla, la tot pasul gasesti chestii pe care sa le hop-uiesti :D, plus ca are tot felul de linii si variante pe unde o poti lua. Eu cred ca te poti da lejer pe oricare din carari de 2 ori in acelasi weekend si nu te vei plictisii… picioarele sa te tina. Noi am dat cate o coborare pe fiecare si ne-a placut maxim. Am si pus in caledar tura asta pentru to do-ul de anul viitor.
In rest, mancarea a fost super buna si cabana este asa cum imi aduceam aminte, foarte ingrijita, chiar una dintre cele mai dichisite cabane de pe la noi.
A 2-a zi, asa cum am inceput postarea, am mancat si ne-am dat, nu am stat prea mult pe ganduri :D.
Totusi, dupa 2 pene in primele 5 minute ne-am cam molesit. Am reusit intr-un final sa ajungem jos cu zambetele pe buze si fara nici o alta pana. De aici am fugit in Leaota sa mai cautam o mica carare care se zvonea a fi faina rau. Intradevar, este un segment interesant acolo, ce pleaca de la un schit, aveti trackul AICI, si care te scoate in forestiereul pe care ai urcat. Este cam cat o speciala de enduro si poti ajunge cu masina pana unde se termina coborarea, sau si mai sus daca vrei. Ca si recovery ride, eu zic ca a fost ok si daca o legi cumva cu o tura mai lunga pana pe varful Leaota, chiar merita!
Va lasam mai jos traseele (pentru .gpx just ask :D), materialul foto/video, cate un filmulet cu fiecare coborare si pana data viitoare, ride safe!
Nu am putut sta departe de Papusa noastra asa ca si weekendul ce tocmai a trecut am revenit aici pentru o tura de 2 zile de bikepacking de cea mai buna calitate. Am zis sa ne pregatim putin pentru planurile viitoare 😀 asa ca am facut brigada de 3, eu Petre si Bogdan Andora si am dat o fuga in Iezer sa facem potcoava intreaga cu dormit la refugiu.
Am plecat pe la ora 10 si ceva de la cabana Voina unde am lasat masina si am urmat drumul clasic pe Portareasa, deja celebrul forestier de te urca la curcea Ateneului la aproape 2300m altitudine. Nimic spectaculos, poate numarul mare de masini 4×4 care ne-au umplut de praf si rudarii multi cu masini ARO sau Dacii papuc care tot coborau de pe munte si cum ne vedeau incepeau sa urle in toate felurile sa ne zica ca vine ursu sau sa ne intrebe daca ne-am oparit la oo :))))). Oricum, parca a fost fain ca am dat de ei, am mai ras putin.
A si era sa uit, ciobanii cu oile si magarii lor de ii tot vezi pe drum. Fara de ei peisajele nu ar fi asa de … mioritice :P.
Tragem agale la deal, mai impingem de bicle pe scurtaturi si uite ca deja la ora 5:30 suntem la refugiu.
Coborarea de la crucea Ateneului la refugiu este grea. Speram sa o putem da pe toata pe bicla dar, no way! sunt sigur ca merge dar tre sa stai sa o analizezi mai mult si iti trebuie ceva mai mult skill, mai ales la swithback-uri ;).
Ajunsi asa devreme la refugiu nici nu stim ce sa facem asa ca ne punem la masa apoi ne deschidem berile de le-am carat pana aici, dupa ce le-am lasat putin la rece si apoi bagam un pui de somn pana pe la ora 19 cad ne trezim fresh, gata sa fugim sa tragem o sedinta foto pe poteca :D. Super poze ce au iesit asa la amurg, stati sa vedeti.
Apoi mai stam la un foc si la un pahar de vorba cu colegii de refugiu si ne bagam la somn. A 2-a zi suntem matinali, la ora 7 in fata refugiului gata de pecare. Ne luam larevedere de la co-locatarii refugiului si de la catelul nelipsit si ii dam la deal direct prin caldare (nu mai urcam la cruce) ca este mai rapid si destul de ok pt. impins bicla. Dupa 30 min suntem in creasta si impingem mai departe pe langa vf Iezer si apoi pe vf Rosu de unde incepe oarecum si parte din coborarea noastra.
Pana acolo am avut ceva experiente, Petre a avut chiar una la limita 😛 din seria bails & fails sau mai bine zis demna de #failarmy :D.
De la Rosu pana la papusa tot cobori si urci si iara cobori fie pe singletrack fie pe pasune fie pe teren accidentat unde nu mai poti sta pe bicla. Cand ajungem la Papusa ne asteapta iara un ultim pushbike pana aproape de varf si apoi se intrevede coborarea noastra pe poteca pe langa stana pana pe Gradisteanu, Gainatu Mare si apoi dreapta pe marcaj prin padure pana inapoi la Voina.
Toata coborarea de pe Papusa pana la voina prin Gradisteanu si Gainatu Mare este super tare si destul de tehnica.
Daca sus iti permite sa ii dai viteza dar te iau mainile destul de rapid de la toate denivelarile, in padure terenul devine foarte tehnic bolovanii fiind foarte mari si trebuie sa ai grija. Are 2 portiuni de flow maxim, 2 portiuni abrupte si in rest teren tehnic si accidentat. Am facut-o integral pe bicla, ne-am mai si oprit sa ne odihnim mainile, dar, coborarea chiar e tare, merita si simti ca muncesti cu tot corpul ca sa o faci :D.
Mie unul mi-a placut maxim si am trecut-o in lista de coborari de dat in fiecare an… da, am o lista :)))).
Altceva nu ar mai fi de spus despre aceasta tura, merita facuta si daca sunteti mai pe zvac o puteti face chiar intr-o singura zi caci per total nu are mai mult de 60km cu 2500m elevatie. Se pierde destul timp cu pushbikeul dar daca nu mai coborati la refugiu, castigati ceva. Totusi, este mai fun asa la 2 zile si esti mai fresh pentru coborarea care chiar este faina. Aveti aici track1 din prima zi si track 2 din a 2-a zi iar mai jos materialul foto/video.
Pana data viitoare, ride safe and have fun while doing it! 😀
Weekendul acesta am fost in Muntii Macin, pentru prima data si chiar ne-a placut. Am vrut sa incercam un loc nou iar Macinul a iesit repede la iveala. Stiam de la prieteni de traseele de bicicleta din Macin si stiu ca se tine si un concurs de XC aici, dar sincer am dat si peste niste coborari ce nu semanau deloc a XC :D.
Noi am ales sa stam in localitatea Greci, exact la poalele macinului, pe partea mai arida si mai putin impadurita a acestuia. Am stat la pensiunea agroturistica Matetovici pe care o recomand cu incredere. Este modesta dar isi serveste scopul, ieftina dar cu mancare super buna, legume din gradina si vin din productia propie si este chiar la inceputul a 2 trasee super faine, triunghiul rosu si cel albastru, pe care le recomand pentru coborare, asta pentru impatimitii de enduor ;).
Totusi, o mentiune importanta de avut inainte sa uit, sa va luati neaparat multe camere de rezerva sau kit de pana sau mai bine, sa va faceti rotile tubeless, caci fara 2-3 pene de aici nu scapati, garantat, si asta de caciula ;).
Noi nu am facut cine stie ce traseu ca si lungime oricum era o caldura infernala, iar in prima zi am plecat pe la 13:30 de la pensiune, adica exact cand cuptorul ardea cel mai tare. Am plecat pe traseul de la Macin XC si dupa scurt timp cei 2 litri de apa ni s-au terminat. Tragedie maxima caci aici nu prea gasesti apa. Sunt vreo 2 izvoare in tot muntele si nu sunt tocmai in drum. Traseul este fain, rural, mi-a adus aminte de zilele din copilarie de la bunici cand mergeam pe camp fara un scop anume. Asta pe partea insorita, partea cu localitatea Greci. De partea cealalta, o padure faina si racoroasa, pacat ca nu mai aveam apa.
Desi vroiam sa facem tot traseul de la Macin XC, am ales sa il scurtam ca sa ajungem mai repede la o sursa de apa. Astfel, cand ne-am intersectat cu marcajul triunghi rosu, am facut stanga spre culmea muntelui si am inceput coborarea spe Greci. Si ce coborare a urmat si mai ales ce priveliste, vezi campia cat cuprinde, cred ca vezi si Ucraina daca este senin, cel putin telefonul nostru in Ucraina se vedea la un moment dat. Ca tot venii vorba de telefon, sa aveti o harta downloadata cu voi caci semnalul nu este la el acasa pe aici.
Revenind la coborare, aceasta este cel putin provocanta la inceput, are cateva treceri foarte grele, la una chiar mi-a dat cu virgula grav. Iar terenul este foarte putin aderent, cum ciupesti frana cum pietricelele de sub roti incep sa se creada bile si se rostogolesc odata cu tine de parca luam viteza cand punem frana :))). Daca doamne fereste dai o tranta aici, sa sti ca pietricelele astea nu vor fi prea blande cu pielea ta :D, se si vedea pe cauciucuri cat au avut de suferit, ma mir ca nobby nic-ul performance de pe spate nu si-a dat obstescul sfarsit, ma asteptam sa sacrific si ultima camera pentru el :D.
Am ajuns relativ repede in sat, cu una din bicle pe pana… Ne-am oprit fix la cofetarie unde am servit o super savarina si o cola rece la 0.25 :D.
La pensiune seara am mancat bine, saramura, salata de rosii cu branza, pepene si am baut un vin alba binemeritat.
A 2-a zi am ales sa facem cealalta bucla a traseului, sa urcam pe varful Tutuiatu (recomand, super priveliste) si sa coboram pe triunghi albastru.
Zis si facut. Parca a mers mai bine jumatatea asta a traseului mai ales cand stiam ca aveam 4 litri de apa la noi :D. I-am dat cu calm si cu veselie pana pe varf. Aici am bagat o dobrogeana, si asta bine meritata si apoi am inceput coborarea pe triunghi albastru. Primele 2-3 minute sunt cel putin challenging, iar apoi drumul se lateste si merge serpuit pana in localitate. Pe margina din stanga a drumului se va contura spre final un singletrack bestial, pacat ca a inceput sa ma lase nobby nic-ul exact pe ultimele cateva minute de am ajuns in sat aproape pe janta.
Legat de coborare, sincer, poti parasii oricand marcajul si sa ii dai drept spre sat, ceva mai freeride. Totusi, daca nu ai rotile tubeless, mai bine stai lejer, coltii babei nu te vor ierta ;).
Am ajuns in sat destul de devreme si ne-am oprit iara la cofetarie. Prea multe nu mai avem de zis despre tura, dar va recomandam cu incredere un weekend de bicla sau de hike in Muntii Macin, chiar sunt frumosi, diferiti sau mai bine zis deosebiti. Se simte varsta in pietrele ce le poarta si privelistea este cel putin uimitoare.
BUCEGI ENDURO SINGLETRACKS IN CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS
This one is from last weekend. We went to Omu peak made the ridge of Bucegi mountains, then decent to Simon from Strunga saddle. As I said before, this is one of the most beautiful singletrack in Bucegi and Ro. From there we made another climb to Diham mountain hut and then a descend to Busteni on so called Long Ridge. We made this track before in this bike season, without the ridge, you can see that trip in this article here. We just can’t get enough of Bucegi singletracks :P.
Vertical Riding Romania 