umm i fancy that! these are the singletracks that i like the most, dry & slightly rocky terrain with a high gradient.... good job!
My invitation to show you around the Pardo still stands, some great trails there. Today I took the road bike and went to La Pedriza: 3.5 hours pedaling, 97 km, average speed 27.5 km/h. BTW, it really cracks me up when I sense the forest ranger is keeping an eye on me. You know, riding on single tracks there is banned, so what do they think I'm going to do, sneak off into the forest on my road bike and head down rocky roads? ha ha. Well, maybe I'm mistaken and the guy just likes road bikes or something.
Yeah, I'm on holiday but not on Wednesday or Friday morning, just let me know what other morning suits you.
Thursday works for me, barring any unexpected surprises. We'll have to work out a time and a place to meet. I presume you'll be driving there, I'll be pedaling. Perhaps we could meet on Calle Braojos, there's an entrance there, or we could meet in the Complejo Deportivo Somontes carpark. We could meet at 10:00, tho I wouldn't object to meeting earlier if it's more convenient for you. It looks like the forecast for Thursday is sunny, tho it's a bit early to tell. Today I went to Soto and rode with new friends. There were four of us, very nice and we had a great ride. They basically had cross country bikes but did enduro too. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with them at times on the uphills, maybe it's because their bikes are lighter than mine (I had my beefy enduro bike), I was also carrying a backpack full of all sorts of stuff. Two of them had no backpack at all. I suppose all they had was an inner tube, tire irons, and a patch kit. I myself brought along bananas, cereal bars, trail mix, knee and shin guards, elbow guards, chin guard for my Viper MX helmet, tools, and a bit of first aid stuff. We went up La Morcuera and down some very cools single tracks. I only know the name of one, the burnt house trail, but a good ride!
Here's a pic from last Sunday taken on the way up to La Morcuera. You can see a blanket of dense cold fog covering Madrid and surroundings, and el Cerro de San Pedro breaking through. It was really nice pedaling out of the cold mist. I can't seem to get this right ¡<|%!*Ç. Oh well, happy New Year!!
what a beautiful landscape! erm.... thursday perfectly suits me just say when and where the only thing to regard is that i´d better be back at home around 14h but there's time enough for a sweet ride and happy new year as well!
OK, let's meet in the Somontes carpark at 9:30. That should give us plenty of time. So I'll start pedaling over there at 8:30, an hour earlier. The problem with meeting at 9:00 is that I'd have to leave at 8:00 and it's still dark then, tho I have done that before with lights on my bike. Also if we meet a bit later it won't be quite so cold. So if we finish at 1:00 you'll have an hour to get back home and that leaves us with three and half hours to ride, and that sounds fine! :saltador I'm thinking of showing you the most 'typical' places, tho I suppose that term is relative. In any case, I thought we could start off by going up the 'multi-saltos', so that means tecnical uphill, well, it's not really that tecnical, just steep, then down 'the Peraltes'. That's fun! Then we could go to 'El Palomar', some tecnical/steep uphill and then fast downhill with some berms and optional jumps, you just go around them if you're not into that. Then we could go uphill to a sort-of landmark, the Valpalomero Fountain. There we'll be spoilt for choice. If we have plenty of time we can do a fast track (don't know what it's called), then back to the fountain, and then maybe down 'Red Bull 2', despite the name it's not so bad, lots of ups and downs. We can do the variation that ends in the Árbol Seco downhill (I posted a picture of it recently). Then we'll be right by the carpark and can call it a day! I suppose other people might want to come along (Interaptor?). I imagine you're a strong rider so I'm going to try to keep up a fastish pace, but maybe not as fast as you usually go. I'll be on my enduro bike with a backpack loaded with supplies.
omg!! that sounds awesome !! you got me eager for it, 9.30 at Somontes, that's it. Inter are you there??
Hi guys! Frist and foremost, I wish you all a very happy new cycling year. :defiesta So this is for tomorrow… you´re gonna meet up at Somontes car lot. Sounds great!. Sorry to tell you I can´t be there at 9.30 because that´s when I will be back in Madrid. I estimate I will be up for a ride at about 11.30 to 12. Anyhow, since Chain will be unveiling some of the mysteries of the Pardo park to Jorge and there is too much to see as I presume it´s Jorge´s 1st. visit to the park!, I think this will be a perfect day to meet up with both of you at that very place –The Somontes carpark- at about 13.00h in the morning when you end your ride. That way I can go for a ride starting at 11.30-12 in the morning and meet with you at about 13.00 at Somontes since I want to know Jorge personally and wishing both of you a happy new year! So, I will be in the Somontes car lot at about 12.50-13.10 after a quick ride, eating a banana and, I hope, enjoying the morning Sun… See U guys!
Hi inter! take it for granted! we'll meet up there then and , why not? sip a few drinks! You are right it 'll be my first time , one last question.: i've found Somontes street but where's that car park ? i'm an absolute jerk !!
So sorry for not having enough time for a sip, just for knowing you and have a chat!!! Anyway, As far as I know, Somontes is not a street but kinda sport facilities complex near by an entrance to the Zarzuela Palace, so if you´re lucky enough you can see Princess Letizia on her royal bike!. Another convenient way to gain access to El Pardo for us in Madrid is Braojos street. Take a look at these photos to know where those spots are located: Please, confirm to us you are sure of locations!!!. See U!
aye! prety easy , isn't it?? So there i'll be at 9.30 to meet Chainring , we´ll pick you up at 13h or so, hope i won't get lost, i pm my phone number to him just in case and now it came out crystal clear at Somontes so! Looking forward to meet you!
That´s correct Jorge, but remember: A GPS device could well also be your friend! ;-) See you tomorrow and don´t hesitate to phone any of us in case you´re lost in Madrid!!! ;-) Have a blast!!!
Inter, good to hear from your again! After we see each other at about 1:00 tomorrow I'll be pedaling home. If you want we can ride together for a while. Hi Jorge! Inter's right, we'll be meeting in the carpark for the Compejo Polideportivo Somontes, it's a very well-known place and so should be easy to find. See you then!
Very pleased to know you, Jorge!. A little bird told me you´re good on a bike man!, really good… But even before your ride along with Chainring and Judging by your posts I had no doubts about it. Congratulations on being such a good cyclist and an excellent and witty person as well. Hope you enjoyed our tracks in El Pardo. From now on you´ve got new friends in Madrid, so give us a call whenever you wish or drop by here, not only in El Pardo but whatever place in Madrid!. :chinchin
thanx if you go on that way i' ll blush!! Anyway, really pleased to meet you two, i enjoyed a sweet and beautiful winter morning . I'm still recalling those trails which meant such fun. David is an amazing Sherpa, and he deals with every jump he meets on his way and aye, it's really nice to see him taking off . At first i got a bit scared, as he came wearing all that warfare gear... shin and elbow guards, platform pedals, his beefy bike and so.... it gave me the creeps as i was wondering that we would ride the most wicked trails in town but apart from a couple of them it´s all smooth as silk, and quite enjoyable. It had to be weird, the lycra clad fag and the darkside enduro rider coupled trailing up and down! i love that Rallon of yours ,it has to deal easily with rock gardens and challenging stuff there at la Sierra. Furthermore, it was the first time i've been speaking in English for such a long time and besides making some stupid mistakes -aye, making pics is an idiot one i noticed it !!! - i appreciate your corrections very much ... you're as good teacher as rider! Well summing up, it won't be my last drop by,i'm looking forward to see you soon, cheers!
Yep, Jorge's passed the Pardo Test with flying colors. I dished out pretty much everything its got and he took it all, no matter if it was uphill, downhill, this way or that, he was always right there, right behind me, asking for more, in fact he was saying, 'Go ahead, show me what you've got! Go on!' Ha ha We finished the route I set out above in an hour and a quarter! Amazing, and I was thinking it was going to take twice as long. I suppose the last times I was there was with a large group and there were mechanical difficulties and a crash, so that slowed things down. This time we were moving right along and saw much more of the Pardo than planned. We went up the Multi-saltos, down the Peraltes, up and down el Palomar, up to the Fuente de Valpalomero, and down the fast track. I think Jorge was getting pretty excited at this point, I heard joyful noises behind me Anyway, then we went down to the main road and rode along side it to the railroad track, then up up up to to the Valpalomero Lookout (by the fountain). Here Jorge showed that he's no slouch going uphill, just sailed right up, made it look easy (I hate him, ha ha). Then we went down Red Bull 2 and through the tunnel where I did some quick jumps, then back to the trail with ups and downs till the Árbol Seco downhill, which was no problemo. At this point it was only 11:15 I think, way before our get-together with Inter, so we pedal back up to the fountain, this way via La Quinta. I was realizing that Jorge was going to eat up el Pardo and spit it out,so I thought it time to get out the heavy artillery: the feared RED BULL RUN, not for the faint-hearted, in fact it's a good way to prove your masculinity (if you're having any doubts about it, ha ha). So down we go and at one point I here Jorge say in Spanish, 'ahí va', which is strange because we were on the English channel, but I figure he's stopped to think about things or regain his balance or whatever, so I stop on a flat section and wait, but it turns out he fell a bit, but apparently is fine. So we continue on and Jorge's pretty worried about his bike, I think I heard him saying, 'my precious', you know, like Gollum, ha ha. I said, 'just be glad you're OK', and he's like 'my bike, my bike'. I don't think there were any problems with it. In any case, we go on to 'Suicide Hill of the Pardo' (La Cuesta de la Muerte del Pardo). Jorge once again was the first down. Cool! So I think it was only 1:00 at this point, way before out get-together with Inter, so we do the Peraltes again, and part of the Mult-saltos. Then back to the carpark where Inter is early and waiting for us. I think Jorge has earned the Pardo Biking Award, for facing the Pardo and covering himself with glory. Yay! Seriously, a fun ride. We'll have to do it again sometime. Also like to mention Jorge's really good English. He's as confident in English as he is on the bike!
