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!
Vertical Riding Romania 