I’d been out with Marco and Jackie about 10 years ago, but not at their current location. What a brilliant setup and what superb hosts. Just lovely people. Riding is amazing, lots of uplift but also some big climbing days. So well organised, leave at 10, com back about 6, knackered and ready for a beer and then shower and downstairs to be fed.

I’ve ridden in this area a bit before but not on all these trails. Hard to name a favourite but the 71 switchbacks above Orgiva is pretty amazing. And the Elephants tail is something that’ll live with me especially as I’d just smacked my hand [AndE today, cracked bone, damaged ligaments, ho hum]

Mojo3 was amazing out there. Probably had my best days riding (before the crash) in years. Chubby tyres survived no problem at 16 PSI. Bike took a beating and came back for more!

Anyway.. pics

Elephants tail. Don’t fall there. Long drop into the bottom of the gorge.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UaPPmm]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Elephants tail. You do get very good at switchbacks!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TbiUJi]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Elephants tail. Don’t look left!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TbiUCM]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Slippy/Glide-y goodness
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UpSUjk]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Janet Street Porter where I crashed 10 seconds later
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UmccbL]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

There was an awful lot of this
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Umcck3]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

And this
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UaPTUj]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/UdkuTr]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Some fast stuff too
[url=https://flic.kr/p/T8unaJ]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/TNCDDm]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Back to the steeps
[url=https://flic.kr/p/UaPX4A]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/UaPT3Q]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

And a bit of climbing

[url=https://flic.kr/p/T8ufqb]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/T8ufHq]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/TbiTag]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Views weren’t bad
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Udkx98]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Udkyyc]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/UpSX2e]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/T8utbw]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

More here if that’s not enough: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/albums/72157680104051483/with/33558965214/

So in summary, awesome. We’ll definitely be back. Very tempted by the Moroccan trip.

😀

Git, BTW.

*mashes Like button*

One of my all time best holidays was with Ciclo Montana, great company! 🙂

Ah I loved those trails. Marco still looking good! 😮

Marco still looking good!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/UaPSMj]Ciclo Montana MTB – April 2017[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Still quick too!

I wanna go!

Fab! Booked in for September. Can’t wait to revisit Arthur Scargill, the Valeta and all the other lovely stuff.

I’ve never really noticed any climbing with Ciclo, just the odd ‘undulation’. 🙂

I’m wary of Marco’s ‘short traverse’ 🙂 We did Arthur Scargill and then that b****** climb to the top of the trail that has the 49 switchbacks on it. I made it up without stopping for the first time ever but I was a broken man at the top. Determined to clean the switchbacks but had to stop about 40 in as couldn’t hold bars just to busted hand. Clearly needed to MTFU 😉

We also did a trail called ‘Cobblers’ which somehow I’m sixth on (even tho my mate was quicker than me by seconds and ended up below me, Strava eh?) – 7 mins long and that’s not a particularly massive trail out there. We’re lucky to get 90 seconds in the Forest!

Totally recalibrates the way you ride I reckon.

Ah I remember one of those ‘short’ 2hr climbs…. 😆

Marco still doing that pretending to be struggling on climbs? When he’s actually not even trying!

I bet you just missed the Swedish female beach volleyball team as well….

We had hardly any climbing, just a bit of contouring….

I don’t know how they do it for the money! 😀

t missed the Swedish female beach volleyball team

\

Only by a week damnit 🙂

I don’t know how they do it for the money!

This. Jackie is a bloody star too, amount of legwork she does is unreal, dropping van at bottom of descents and climbing miles to next bit, and never misses a smile or a kind word.

Great people, the 3 of them.

They are great, just remember that we were the best group they’d had that week 😉

Do the Morocco trip, it is indeed excellent…

Many likes

Yup done that too!

Looks terrible, not jealous at all, no not one bit 😀

Great pic’s, brings back many happy memories. I’m hoping to get back for my 40th next year 😀

These types of thread shouldn’t be allowed on a MTB forum. I’m back off to the Corbyn thread to cheer myself up.

I don’t know how they do it for the money….! 😉

I bet you were the best group they’d had that week….

Not been for years now. Would love a trip out there but can’t see it happening for a while…

Looks great. We’re heading out last weekend in May… Can’t wait!

Marco was saying mid to end may and all of sept are the best times as they can get all the way to 3200m and it’s not bonkers hot.

Agree about jackie… no wonder 70% of their business is repeat.

Fantastic… perfect timing as well as it’s just 1 month until we’re in the same(ish) location.

Thanks for the pics.

Looks ace. I’m heading out that way today. 4 nighter with Switchbacks in Bubion. Is it ok that a tiny bit of we escaped me after seeing how awesome it looks out there?

You’ll love it. Make sure they guys take you up to the highest village in Spain, Trevelez, amazing (and cheap) Jamon, and awesome descending.

Trevelez is a cool place. And yeah lots of dead animal hanging up 🙂 Ciclo do a shuttle day up there so it’s basically 6 runs including Cobblers which is my favourite and Junior Joker which definitely isn’t!

We drove through Bubion a few times. Got a decent bike shop there as well now. Lots more bars than where Ciclo is.

Going for my 3rd time in Sep. It’s ace. The amount of fat bikes going has grown each time, I’m wondering how that trailer will cope this next visit as there will likely be 5 fattys.

I was thinking the same. Would love to take my Stache 29+ there.

Hope Marco is getting another trailer to take the extra girth….

Looks like Marco took you on all the good stuff there Alex. 😀
Did you also do the trail off the back of the masts above Orgiva?
Think that’s one of my all time favorite trails.

I think Marco said 1 fat bike on the trailer and the rest of you have to ride up 🙂

The Stache would be fun but I reckon I’d take a beating after a day or so. Feels like FS territory to me. But I’m a wimp 🙂

@SSTu – we did the 71 switchback one which was amazing and then went up a b****d road climb under a bridge and then back into Orgiva on a very dusty/slidey trail Not sure I remember any masts tho.

up a b****d road climb under a bridge and then back into Orgiva on a very dusty/slidey trail

That’d be the Ivan Mauger then. Named after a speedway rider on account of how sideways you can get on the trail. 😀
The one I’m talking about goes from the masts above Arthur Scargill and heads towards the coast. You can see the sea from the top*.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/AGsZVd]2016-11-13_09-32-56[/url] by multispeedstu, on Flickr
*Or not if the cloud comes in.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/p8Gtgh]Bit chilly at the mast.[/url] by multispeedstu, on Flickr

Just to piss you off sat having dinner on the terrace whist posting this! Mark and Jacky say hi.

Sun has been out and looking forward to riding danger of death and Arthur ScarGill tomorrow!

Bad part is got to go home on Saturday.

We are definitely the best group this week

Bolt

Bastard. 😆

Ah, happy memories!

Been with Ciclo four times, was hoping to go back this October, but, alas they’re booked up for the week that I wanted.

Next year perhaps.

The one I’m talking about goes from the masts above Arthur Scargill and heads towards the coast. You can see the sea from the top*

No didn’t do that one. Next time hopefully….

I saw the forecast for this week as we were leaving. Wondered if I could get away with another week 😉

I am amazed to see those pictures. Morocco is best place for biking or motor biking. I had also done dirt biking in morocco while i was riding towards atlas mountains. How you guys manage to go on those steeps ?