I apologise for venturing into the bike forum with useful information rather than just pontificating on the chat forum. However, if you are planning a trip to one of Spain's best mountain biking areas then you really need to know you can't ride a bike or even walk through the best bits anymore. The same happened to bits of Aragon a few years back and the policy is forcibly policed so being cheeky isn't a good idea.
Edit: you might need to refresh a couple of times to get the full text
Hardly a problem as there are so many other excellent areas to go riding.
Not really going to be missing much either, by the looks of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUE9G4C1KFo
I've waited so long to get this in, but it's a question of PORN.
Por lo que se refiere a la medida ahora adoptada, el biólogo de la Comunidad de Bardenas recordó que el paso de vehículos y bicicletas a esta zona ya estaba prohibido desde que se aprobó el Plan de Ordenación de Recursos Naturales (PORN) del territorio bardenero. "Desde 1996 existen unos recorridos para bicis y vehículos a motor, que es por los que pueden transitar", explicó.
Looks crap that. Hot, dry, dusty bet the foods awful foreign muck no pub in sight. 
Also seems to be full of teenagers doing stupid stunts instead of actually riding their bikes. 
Having actually been to the area (unlike most people on here) it's a very unique environment and TBH even though I ride bikes I don't have a problem with the ban. Plenty of other good riding in Spain, it's lovely and warm out here at the mo. 
Most people? Well I've been and Don Simon has spent a significant part of his life in Spain so "most" must mean Elfin in this case. I'll be there in a few days but on a tourer.
banned you say? So shortly to appear in Sierra Cycling's itinerary then 
Don't start all that up again for God's sake.... 
(No actually go on then, it'll be a laff! 
)
"most" must mean Elfin in this case
Woohoo! No longer a minority!
ctm - let it go
Quite right. I actually thought that biking was banned already on anything but the prescribed (i.e. wide) paths. There are plenty of better places in Spain to ride your bikes, and many (many) close to Bardenas.
You're right about the biking already being restricted Doug but the banning of pedestrians even on the the main tracks and the signs going up means there are no excuses when you get caught now. Anyhow, our club trip is off.
As for better places, I agree, I'll leave you to popularising them. (Edit: even if there is better riding nearby the Bardenas landscape has something of the Far West or a spaghetti western that made it exceptional even by Spanish standards).
Don't worry Edukator I'll only popularise a select few 
And the ones I take people on have been shown to me by local people and I treat them with the highest respect. I certainly won't be taking groups into restricted areas and causing problems.
I'll also say to you what I've said to other local(ish) people, if you want to ride over winter then just give me a shout and I'll show you some of the real, unknown trails in the Basque Country.
Edit: Sorry, just saw your edit. I agree about that, I really wanted to take photos there but didn't think it was appropriate.
elfin, TM, seeing spanish trails and banned in a subject line was like leaving the lid off the biscuit jar.... 
I've moved on literally as just confirmed my annual leave for a trip to verbier, and sorting jabs out for Kerala India in the new year.
Don, PMSL, I'd be dropping that into every trail regulation thread!
Thanks for the offer, Doug, the club organises the odd trip in the Basque country (though I missed the last one because I couldn't face the drive back from BAB after a sunny weekend - the tail back from the Pau exit went back to Artix). We did the Roc d'Euskadi in 1997 which took in the Rhune classics.
Most people?
Yes. Most people. Of the 1000's of forum members most probably haven't been. ( that swanky hotel they built on the site of the old farm will up the visitor numbers though). For those who don't know the area the film lost in la mancha is a good watch.
Ah, you mean the whole forum, not just this thread, Mr Smith. How silly of me, I'd have never guessed that a forum run by a British magazine would attract people that hadn't visited the Bardenas.
You insinuated the people on the thread before you didn't know what they were talking about when they do and jumped in to add what? That you live in Spain and therefore feel obliged to contribute? And contribute what exactly? That it's warm and sunny maybe, because I can't see anyone else complaining about the ban either.
For the sake of coherence it might be nice if the Spanish authorities asked NATO to stop low flying and shooting up ground targets in the area too. I'm sure the birds would appreciate that more than a ban on ramblers.
The Bardenas is picturesque but the biking isnt all that. (been 3 times).
Still, it's a shame, I've used the place to introduce people to mtbing.
Hang on a sec. Any insinuation is just your intepetetation, most people on singletrack have no idea where the area is or what it's like there. I didn't insinuate anything regarding those that have ridden there just offered my opinion ( that I didn't have a problem with the ban) you can take my post any way you like but it's just an opinion which is as valid as anyone else's who knows the area not as just some place in Spain.
You could also argue that deforestation to build an armada was raping the countryside but I guess that would fall on deaf ears as well.
FWIW I don't live in Spain just happen to be here at the mo. And if you have a problem with any other voices on the thread why start it and respond to any posts.
I worked in Navarra a few years back and it´s true, there are tons of places to go. The bardenas is a unique looking spot, seems a shame to ban access.
I don´t quite understand how hikers/bikers can affect the hawks and vultures in the area, they certainly don´t nest on the ground. Anyone care to enlighten me¿
AKAIK the Bardenas area hasn't supported significant forest since the last glaciation and wasn't deforested to build the armada. NATO jets are a real and current issue though.
I started the thread as a public information thread, Mr Smith. Personally I wouldn't write "very unique environment" unless I were trolling.
You are so right.
Sorry to be such an obvious troll.
I will contact the mods to remove my offensive posts.
banned you say? So shortly to appear in Sierra Cycling's itinerary then
You must log in to post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
