TRAVEL TIPS

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME BEYOND THE BIKE PARKS

abroad before or If you’ve not ridden the much further than haven’t ventured you parks, here’s what big alpine bike like riding in places need to know about

Spain and Italy. WHERE TO RIDE

British and is easy (unless you’re Finding mountains all. pretty tall, after Alps!). They are can’t see past the best trails can be where to find the

Knowing exactly there’s a maze In places like Madrid trickier though. They can take best to hire a guide. of options so it’s shuttles and will often provide you to the best spots, to the top too.

WHAT THE RIDING’S LIKE

parks, you may the big alpine bike

If you’re used to the riding raw, rocky and natural be shocked by how aren’t many and Italy. There is in places like Spain of the trails that’s for sure. Most manmade flow trails, paths or animal lines, old walking are either hand-cut pretty techy, the riding is usual tracks. This means be of tea, then you’ll If that’s your cup and very rocky. the most of these heaven. To make in mountain bike in get wild and rowdy you’re happy to areas it’s best if the rocks.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR BIKE

sidewalls to tyres with reinforced

First up, you’ll need tyres XC and trail-weight help prevent punctures. something like rocks. We’d suggest won’t cut it in the

(DD) casing or Schwalbe’s Maxxis’s DoubleDown go heavier if you’re a minimum, but SuperGravity as good shout too. If inserts can be a prone to flats. Tyre a bashguard, we a chain guide with your bike can run is likely install one. The bashguard recommend you one, those than once. Without to see action more day on the bike. be the end of your rock strikes could

WHAT ELSE TO TAKE

a helmet. that you’ll need

It goes without saying from our gloves are also essential Decent pads and potential only are the rocks point of view – not to be sharp, the vegetation tends skin-peelers, but you. It’s areas job of sticking into and does a great sense. hand guards make like this where AVS tubes, spares too, including

Bring all the usual mech hanger, brake pump, quick-link, patches, a mini are bike shops, etc. While there pads, shock pump, reach as they are so convenient to they’re not always in the UK. trail centre back at a bike park or