Exploring the trails of Bali was really opening my eyes to the amazing and varied riding on the island. Our next adventure took us to the inland region of Bedugul. Again, we drove the wild Bali roads past captivating scenery with motos and trucks whizzing by in every direction. We were headed towards a popular riding spot with a shuttling trail. We had our crew from the Chillhouse with us to ride and check out the track, and later in the week we planned to meet a large group of riders at the same spot for a group ride. I was really excited to get a chance to experience the local mountain bike culture.
We left the Chillhouse early in the morning and stopped by a Bali market on our way into the mountains. After stocking up on snacks, we piled into the truck and drove through small farming villages.
Eventually, the road became narrow and overgrown as it started climbing into the jungle to the top of the track. We geared up and dropped down the first section of trail. The dirt was wet and slick and the turns swooped through tall grass.We dropped down into farmland and the scenery opened up to expose a beautiful Bedugul lake. Iwan stopped and picked us some tamarillo fruit. I had never tried tamarillos before- they were sour and delicious! I loved the opportunity to pick trailside snacks. The trail crossed through a quaint farming village before entering back into the jungle. Once at the bottom, we boarded the shuttle vehicle and made our way back to the top for another lap on the ripping track.The mud of the wet season was slick, but totally rideable and super fun. We were getting pretty wild and sliding around with huge smiles on our facesDescending one of the more technical steep rooty sections of the trail, I was overwhelmed with the vastness of the forest. The high noon light was beautiful though the trees. After riding a few more laps, we ended the day watching a beautiful Balinese ceremony in town.In between rides,
The Chillhouse continued to be the perfect home base. I was able to relax and recover with yoga, daily massages, and delicious food. I continued surfing, exploring, and loving the atmosphere of the small village of Canggu.
The day came for the group ride and we returned to the trailhead in Bedugul. There we met two mountain bike clubs, the Ubung Cycling Community and the Tunon Cycling Community. All the riders gathered to chat and eat breakfast before the ride. The atmosphere was friendly and laid back. It was great meeting the riders and talking to them about mountain biking. Many of them were relatively new to the sport and really excited about the growth of mountain biking on the island. It was inspiring to think of all the different opportunities for the culture and sport to grow in a place where mountain biking is still new and developing.
By the time we were ready to take off, we had over 30 riders in our group.On the trail, we met another group with downhill bikes and gear. They were equally stoked to be out there riding. The trail network offered different routes through the forest - some more suited for XC bikes and some with jumps and drops for the DH riders.
It was awesome being out there with other riders in love with the sport of mountain biking. It's a passion that connects us across continents. As a fellow rider, I was immediately treated like an old friend as we all enjoyed riding the trail together. Even with a language barrier, it was easy to connect over bikes.
At the end of every ride, I was in awe of how awesome the experience had been. Riding excellent trails with the best company in a tropical paradise - what could be better? A huge thanks to Alex and the Chillhouse for hosting me and making the trip happen. Bali is an unbelievable place to ride bikes and I'll be heading back for sure. Cheers!
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Previous Posts -
Part One -
Part Two
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If only there had been bikes like the ones these guys were riding,would have been perfect!