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Racing in the time of Coronavirus
In 2020, Spanish mountain bike racing has been subject to confusion and cancellation.
Along with hundreds of other hopeful stage racers, Tim from Pure Mountains entered Volcat, La Rioja Bike Race, Asturias Bike Race, Mediterranean Extrem and La Rioja (again!). One by one they were cancelled. He experienced the hope and the disappointment that every person with plans has felt during this exasperating year. Was all his training going to go to waste?
UPDATE: SOLD. For Sale: Canyon Strive 27.5" CF 9.0 Team Issue 2018
For sale: Canyon Strive 2018 CF 9.0 Team Issue, 27.5" wheels, size Large.
Guide Tim is selling his bike, which has been lovingly looked after.
See HD photos here. Watch walkaround video here.
Full carbon frame. Shape Shifter adjustable geometry.
Superb condition, but with some cosmetic marks to paintwork.
What are you looking forward to? By Tatiana Broman from BikepackingOslo
The latest of our guest bloggers is Tatiana Broman. She tells us about setting up her exciting new venture, BikepackingOslo. Over to Tatiana...
"What are you looking forward to?
For me the spring of 2020 brought cancellations in the travel industry where I worked; the planned trips with family and friends were paused; and the bike-races I had trained for were postponed or cancelled altogether. I’m sure you recognize a similar scenario from your own life this strange year.
Time for something completely different. A bike with a gearbox.
The derailleur, cassette and chain have been with us for a very long time. As a system they are light, very efficient and ubiquitous.
However, here at Pure Mountains, we have lost count of the number of rear mechs, mech hangers, chains and cassettes that have faced the rocks of the Sierra Nevada and lost.
I've come to think that we should try something different, starting with my guide bike.
"I don't race". Why mountain bike racing in Spain may change your mind.
"I don’t race”.
For many riders, the idea of entering the world of competitive mountain biking and putting a number on their bike is horrific.
Pain, misery, aggro, crashes, gels, ego, BS and much, much more.
Why on earth would you do that when there is so much to love about the sport without the added hassle of a start line?
All of the above is true; but only if you want it to be.
Here at Pure Mountains we race as often as we can. XC, Enduro and the very occasional DH. We do it for many reasons.
¡España, por favor! Why Spain is the Best Country in the World for Mountain Biking
We think that Spain is the best place in the world to ride your bike. We’re espangelists.
Why? Here are some of the characteristics of Spain that make it such a mountain biking paradise.
Why Not Start a Micro-brand? By Tom Redfern from Broken Riders
The latest of our guest bloggers is Tom Redfern, from mountain bike clothing brand Broken Riders, with an inspiring blog about setting up his business. Over to Tom...
An Intro to MTB Skills Coaching, by Olly Morris from from Pro Ride
Are you considering brushing up your skills?
At Pure Mountains, we offer guiding on all our trips and we are very happy to give technical hints and tips. For more structured, technical instruction, you might want to think about mountain bike skills coaching. We asked Pro Ride's Olly Morris for his thoughts.
Which Mountain Bike Wheels are Best? Expert advice from Graham Stock from Sixth Element
It's the eternal question: which wheels are best for your mountain bike? We asked Graham Stock, director of Sixth Element wheels. This is what he told us.
"Well, of course, this depends on where you want to ride, and what sort of rider you are.
But it is clear that changing your wheels has the single greatest effect, over and above other component choices, on the way that your bike rides.
Its easiest to break the approach to the question into four areas:
Pure Mountains YouTube Channel
If you're looking for inspiration, insight or know-how, have a look at the Pure Mountains YouTube Channel.
We have recently added lots of new content, so we hope that you'll find something to interest you.
Choose from mountain bike holiday videos featuring sunny Spanish skies and dusty, rocky singletrack; interviews with guests; quirky shorts and the useful series called Tim's Tech Tips.
Keep the Dream Alive! Book Now for 2020 and Pay No Deposit.
Give yourself something to look forward to: book your 2020 trip to Pure Mountains now, without having to pay a deposit!
You will be guaranteeing that you get your preferred dates, before the post-lockdown booking frenzy starts up.
The 20% deposit will only become due once the coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted.
The Mulhacén XC Lockdown Challenge
11 April 2020
Mulhacén, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is mainland Spain's highest peak, at 3479 metres.
In the grounds of the Pure Mountains farmhouse, we have a cross country (XC) course, that has a total 31 metres of elevation.
One Saturday in April 2020, during the coronavirus lockdown when we could only exercise outdoors on our own land, Pure Mountains' Tim Kirkus 'climbed' Mulhacén, by bike, on the XC course.
The 112 laps took 12 hours, more or less non-stop.
Pure Mountains Coronavirus / COVID-19 Situation Report. Update 13 June 2020
Update 26 July 2020.
After a super-strict lockdown and carefully-managed de-escalation stages, Spain has now entered "la nueva normalidad", or new normality.
International visitors from nearly all European countries, and 15 other countires worldwide, have been welcomed back, with big smiles and warm hearts, since 1 July 2020.
Enduro Mountainbike Magazine Visits Pure Mountains
We were delighted to host Enduro Mountainbike Magazine, Europe's leading online MTB magazine.
Felix and Sarah enjoyed riding some of the best trails of the Sierra Nevada. The fantastic, early-spring sunshine was perfect for taking photos, too.
You can read the article in English and in German, but the takeaway quote has to be:
ALL SOLD. 2019 TREK REMEDY 8s FOR SALE. Price €1999 / £1750 including EU delivery.
Price: €1999/ £1750 including EU delivery
Retail price for these bikes is €2999 / £2700
A fantastic, full-suspension, 27.5” trail / enduro bike
New Look Website
You're looking at our re-launched, re-designed website. It's got a whole new look with a more contemporary theme and fresh photos.
We hope that you like it! Let us know.
Enduro Race Trip, November 2019
Join us for two days of guided enduro preparation riding at Pure Mountains. Then race at the weekend!
Ride Sierra Nevada Enduro is an awesome event in the spectacular scenery of the northern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Pure Mountains is on the southern side of the range, so you'll be well into the groove of riding the local terrain by race day.
The trip runs from Wednesday 6 to Monday 11 November 2019 (five nights' accommodation, four days' riding). Price €795 / £695 per person, excluding flights and race registration.
Skills Coaching Trip with Pro Ride's Olly Morris: 24 to 29 October, 2019
Join this trip to become a better, faster, safer all-round rider, while enjoying the best of the trails of Spain's Sierra Nevada.
New Trek Remedy Hire Bikes for 2019
We've just taken delivery of the fantastic new 2019 Trek Remedy 8s. You can hire one of these beauties to ride on your Pure Mountains trip.
Nati, the Stray Puppy, Finds a Home!
Nati turned up on the terrace at Pure Mountains one evening, earlier this summer. She was just a young puppy: about eight weeks old and covered in ticks and fleas.
It turned out that a nearby farmer had got her to be a guard dog, but decided that she was unsuitable.
Nati stayed with us for a few weeks and turned out to be a real sweetheart. Through the wonder of Facebook, a lovely family in the UK decided to adopt her and she is now happily living in Liverpool.
Go Nati!
Pure Mountains Trip Blog, by Andy
If you would like to get a taste of the Pure Mountains experience, have a look at recent guest Andy's blog.
Andy and Heidi are experienced mountain bikers from Colorado, USA who are currently resident in Rome.
The Perfect Mountain Biker's Breakfast
Napoleon Bonaparte said that an army marches on its stomach.
Fellow Frenchman, Frederic, clearly feels that the same is true of mountain bikers. He was a big fan of breakfast on the terrace at the Pure Mountains farmhouse during his recent stay. Thanks for the photo, Fred!
New Short Video: Riding the Valley of Death in Spain
Give us 2 minutes and 35 seconds of your time and we'll give you singletrack heaven...
Enduro Racing is Fun!
Last weekend, Team Pure Mountains headed off to Cercedilla, in the hills near Madrid, for our first ever enduro format race.
Now we see why enduro is all the rage. It's fantastic!
