We see it more and more often: groups of mountain biking friends coming for a week of riding our trails in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains in search for an alternative to the tried and tested TransAlps experiences.
Sometimes there is a more personal reason, like in the case of Gabriel who left Romania as a teenager, but always wanting to come back to experience the Carpathians on the bike. He lured his mtb buddies from Germany into a leap in the unknown, and here they were. End of July, six brave German mountain bikers ready to start the Bucegi Circuit tour.
There are similarities and there are differences between a classic TransAlps tour and the kind of mountain biking we do here in Romania, and more specifically the tours I design and guide here at mtbtours.ro.
Like in the Alps, we ride here in Romania mainly on old hiking paths, with some sections of recently built bike trails. Forrest and alpine pasture flow trails, with sections of rock and root gardens. We reach altitudes up to 2500m, which is also highest in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains. Each night is spent at an accommodation offering hot showers, cozy beds and generous breakfasts. Local restaurants available for dinner, plus home made meals prepared by the host in the last two days of the program.
Each of the six days of riding gathers 25 to 45km in distance, with altitude gain ranging from 800 to 1500m. It might not seem much, but the numbers hide the real intensity of the experience. The percentage of single trail riding is quite high, including the climbing sections. To properly enjoy it we ride with only a small backpack, as the main luggage is transferred by car.
There is plenty of literature available for self organizing a TransAlps crossing. Not the case here, in the Carpathian Mountains. While rather vast in terms of land coverage, our mountains are less touristic, with significantly smaller specific infrastructure. The wild parts rarely have functional trails or paths, but rather never ending forestry roads that are mud fests for most of the year. The remote alpine pastures are intensively used by sheep and cow farms where the guarding dogs are a significantly bigger problem than the bears for the unaware hiker or mountain biker.
Using local knowledge around here is highly recommended, and this is what Gabriel’s group of friends did when coming to Romania, unlike in their previous TransAlps explorations. A new experience for them going on a fully guided tour, one they thoroughly enjoyed. Not having to reach for the map every other turn or junction, not being sure what is the right trail for the group’s level, not having to worry about the next accommodation or where to go for a meal. Last, but definitely not least, maybe getting some bike fitting and skills drills along the way.
Fancy a change from your regular TransAlps ride with your friends? Get in touch here.
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