台灣 Team Cinelli Ritchey 車隊

This time, as part of my winter training, I am riding my mountain bike (Mtb). Not only it is a lot of fun, but you train different muscles and intensity, the upper body has to work harder and you need to practise short-violent accelerations of just a few pedal strokes to roll over steep hills. It is also good for bike-handling skills, specially when it is muddy and slippery as it is here sometimes.

One of my favourite rides is the Coastal Trail (“Kostako ibilbidea”) on Jaizkibel mtn.

The trialhead is really close to my parents house, and it goes along the coast, constantly up and down short and steep hills that force you to pedal hard uphill and then coast down fast trying to keep your tires on the skinny trail, a lot of fun.

A little break to breathe the ocean air, and admire the waves breaking on the cliffs a few meters below.

The trails twists up and down for many kilometers along the coast. Then, there are many trails going straight up the mountain, to the road on the crest of it about 400-450mts above sea level.

At this point I reach the road, cross it and take the crest trail that goes down back to Hondarribia.  Here I found some horses enjoying the view and the cool air. The mountains in the background are the first of the Pyrinees, in France.

The crest trail (on the left of the upper picture) plunges into Hondarribia, at sea level, by the Bidasoa river. The view is stunning, but need to keep an eye on the trail, is steep and sometimes technical. It is a nice end to a 3 hour Mtb ride, after this I feel toasted but really satisfied. Enjoy your ride!