After some ideas for a long weekend (4days ideally) in May for some warm weather XC riding (mostly wheels on the ground, 100-120mm FS). Don’t mind big ish days (6-8 hours riding).
Have been to Pure Mountains before in Andalusia, and considering it again, but any left field options I should consider? Other option is a road based trip- Mallorca, Gran Canaria etc.
Will be travelling solo if that makes a difference, happy to DIY or be guided/ full package- more interested in good areas to go with lots of varied trails, and decent weather.
You could do this one (or follow its route): https://vueltamadridnonstop.com/
I second Madrid. Loads of XC goodness around here.
I´m planning on doing this at the start of June - http://www.madridsegoviamtb.com/
Did that one a (fair) few years ago, done it running a few times too.
Very XC! Lots of wide "via pecuaria" - fast, sandy fireroads basically. Fairly flattish for the first 45km or so with just the one technical section, then the slog up to the Barranca carpark, over to Cercedilla for the main feed station. Then it's the climb up to the Fuenfría which is the only really significant climb on the route. A fast downhill towards Segovia where the main risk comes from the speed, rather than anything particularly complicated. And a final 10km flattish ride into Segovia.
Or at least it was like that when I did it, which was admittedly getting on for 10 years ago... bikes are definitely more capable now so they might have made it a bit more technical. Then again, these days we have the National Park which massively limits the trails they can use.
I did it with some friends, and it was a good day out. As long as you don't go into it expecting some major Red Bull style enduro action...
I'll be doing it on my Transition Spur so XC is fine. Not going to be overbiked or anything. I´ve checked the route out and could probably do the whole thing on semi-slicks.
The plan is for the family to have a day out to Segovia and pick me up on the way back.
Pennine Bridleway? 😀
Montañas Vacías in Spain is on my bucket list. 6 days XC bike packing in a remote region. The higher bits should be warm enough in May.