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MTB Ainsa! XC & Enduro Riding at "Zona Zero" in the Spanish Pyrenees.

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MTB Ainsa! XC & Enduro Riding at "Zona Zero" in the Spanish Pyrenees.
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flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Dec 10, 2018 at 14:29 Quote
This thread is aimed at covering everything to do with XC MTB and Enduro Riding here where we live in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains.

I'll also post details of local events, attractions and points of interest....

We've been living here in Ainsa, Spain, for 3 years now and we're loving it.

I spend my time working as an MTB Guide riding the trails of "Zona Zero" and I enjoy showing people around the beautiful area we live in. I've had the pleasure of guiding people from all over the world.

For now, here's a picture from Sundays ride:

photo
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Dec 15, 2018 at 7:34 Quote
On yesterdays ride I stopped in for a nice chat with Russel from Fox at the Fox Factory workshop support van.

The guys were carrying out product testing on the Zona Zero trails near my house.

Russel is from Cape Town but lives and works in Germany now. Was nice to talk about stuff we had in common.

RIDEFOX
#RIDEFOX

RIDEFOX
#RIDEFOX
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Dec 21, 2018 at 7:12 Quote
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of riding XC with Kevin from the UK and his dog Bella.



Kevin - @trailguru on Instagram - has been living in his beautifully converted van for the past two years. He works on-line, so can work from anywhere, and spends his time surfing and mountain biking. He's also the guy behind the "https://www.trailguru.co.uk/" website, which covers dozens of trails in Wales.



Our ride was based on Zona Zero route ZZ-019 - "The Route of the Arraclan" which we adapted slightly to suit us.

Starting from the village of Santa Maria de Buil we quickly got into some nice quick singletrack, which this route has lots of. Aside from the flowing singletrack, there's Jeep Tracks, Fire Roads and the route goes through several nice stretches of forest. It has a couple of quiet tough but not too long climbs and of course the amazing "Balcony of Sarrastano" section, with its views of the Pyrenees mountains. Throw in a couple of short technical descents and a quick food-stop at a Hermatige of Santa Waldesca on route and you have a perfect morning of riding.

We only saw 2 other riders all day - a couple from the south of France who said they come here every chance they get because the riding is so good!

A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.

A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.

A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.

A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.

A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
A XC trail with some nice little technical sections.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Dec 27, 2018 at 13:08 Quote
2018 is nearly over and 2019 is just around the corner.

It’s been an exciting year for us. Not without its challenges - but we’ve had some great experiences. We’ve met some nice and interesting people, we’ve helped and been helped, and we’ve had lots of fun on the way.

In 2019 we’re aiming to put the plans we’ve been making over the last few months into reality.

We will be offering a host of services aimed at people who want to visit the beautiful area we live in.

Whether it’s to ride MTB on the trails of Zona Zero, Road Ride through the valleys and over the passes on our quiet well kept roads, hike the footpaths and caminos of our hills & mountains or simply chill out and enjoy our amazing scenery with its castles & churches, rivers & lakes and its villages – inhabited or abandoned . . .

We think you will love it here as much as we do!
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Dec 31, 2018 at 5:16 Quote
For anyone wondering what the Winter weather is like here where we live in the Spanish Pyrenees - this was taken at lunchtime today on a ride with friends. . . .


#livin' the dream



For anyone wondering what the Winter weather is like here where we live in the Spanish Pyrenees - this was taken at lunchtime today on a ride with friends. . . . livin 39 the dream
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 1, 2019 at 4:01 Quote
Climbing up the back of the Pena Montenesa on the route the Enduro World Series used back in September when they held Stage 7 of the Championship here.


We climbed just over 800m in 8km of fire road. None of it is steep, it’s just a nice gradual climb.


Climbing up the back of the Pena Montenesa on the route the Enduro World Series used back in September when they held Stage 7 of the Championship here. We climbed just over 800m in 8km of fire road. None of it is steep it s just a nice gradual climb.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 2, 2019 at 8:39 Quote
Over last year I've ridden with people with a variety of different abilities who have come here to visit the "Zona Zero MTB Trails" from all over the world. New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France, Argentina, Germany, Costa Rica, Scotland, England . . . even Boulder in Colorado and of course lots from Spain.

The majority of people I've ridden with have stayed in touch and become friends. Without fail they all want to come back here to ride again.

Here in the foothills of the Pyrenees there is something for everyone. From a leisurely family ride along one of our rivers, to full-on "Enduro World Series" Stages descending the sides of mountains, and including everything in between.

There are even decent roads to ride for those of us who also like to frequent "The Dark Side".

There are around 1000 kms of official marked out routes that the Zona Zero organisation have put together. There are dozens of Long Distance "GR" (Gran Recorrido) and Short Distance "PR" (Pequeno Recorrido) routes marked out that form an extensive network of Caminos (Footpaths) traversing the countryside. There are Fire Roads up into the mountains. Ancient Footpaths and "Sheep Trails" link up our many deserted villages with their Castles and Churches and we have a multitude of Hermitages and Refuges in case the weather suddenly changes. In the summer there are dry river beds to ride in and wide slow rivers to swim in.

It certainly is a pleasure Living, Riding and Guiding in this part of the world.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 6, 2019 at 14:50 Quote
Ready to descend Maxi Avalanche 1 at Zona Zero in the Pyrenees . . .

Ready to descend Maxi Avalanche 1 at Zona Zero in the Pyrenees....
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 14, 2019 at 0:56 Quote
Zona Zero Route 47 - Top of the first Climb -The Church of San Salvador.

Top of the first Climb -The Church of San Salvador.
flag b1rdie
Posted: Jan 20, 2019 at 9:46 Quote
Hi Bonus-e, I will travel by car from Nantes to Barcelona on the end of april, and plan to stop for one or two days on some riding spots on the south of France and in Spain close to the border. Your place looks just fine since we already know Andorra and are looking for something more like small town experuence.
flag cust
Posted: Jan 21, 2019 at 1:59 Quote
Hi, Bonus-Espana!
I`m going to Ainsa too, but in 20-s of March. Do you offer uplifts?
Thanks.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 23, 2019 at 2:04 Quote
Did a ride last week called the “Ruea de Piojos” - The Lice Route.

Only 34.2km long but included 1296m of climbing - the joys of living in the mountains!

The route is named after an old Inn “el Meson de Piojos” whose ruins still sit up in the mountains just off the trail. The story is that in the common bedrooms, the beds were so close together that if one traveller arrived with lice, by tomorrow morning everyone had them!

The ride starts out of Boltaña on a nicely maintained track towards the village of San Pietro with a 50minute climb that rises around 600m in 7km, so you need to pace yourself. After that the climbs are spread through the ride, so not too hectic. There are sections of very nice singletrack along the ridge, then comes some fast sweet singletrack down through the woods and then some “Black” descents down towards the village of San Vicente. Filled up my water bottles there at the natural spring and then it was up and over the last hill back to Boltaña.

A great day out!

Monte Perdido The Lost Mountain in the background
Monte Perdido (The Lost Mountain) in the background …

The abandoned village of Muro de Bellos down below me
The abandoned village of “Muro de Bellos” down below me …

Last Climb . . .
Last Climb . . .
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 23, 2019 at 2:24 Quote
b1rdie wrote:
Hi Bonus-e, I will travel by car from Nantes to Barcelona on the end of april, and plan to stop for one or two days on some riding spots on the south of France and in Spain close to the border. Your place looks just fine since we already know Andorra and are looking for something more like small town experuence.

Good to hear from you b1rdie - I've sent you a private message.

Best wishes.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 23, 2019 at 2:26 Quote
cust wrote:
Hi, Bonus-Espana!
I`m going to Ainsa too, but in 20-s of March. Do you offer uplifts?
Thanks.

Good to hear from you cust - Yes, we can help with uplifts etc. I've sent you details in a private message.

Best wishes.
flag Bonus-Espana
Posted: Jan 27, 2019 at 11:20 Quote
Up at the Muro de Roda Castle on route ZZ 047 “La Natiella Hacia Arriba” last week before the snow arrived.

The descents are well worth the climbs!


Up at the Muro de Roda Castle on route ZZ 047 La Natiella Hacia Arriba last week before the snow arrived. The descents are well worth the climbs
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