This guest post is from the crew over at Crowdstorm. While these are some short excerpts of what is available in Europe, it will give you some ideas if you live in the area or have a trip planned in the near future.
The range of different and dramatic landscapes throughout Europe provide the keen mountain biker with an extensive playground in which to enjoy the sport. Taking a mountain biking trail makes a wonderful holiday for the biker.
There are several good biking trails in Greece. Corfu has a mountainous landscape inland and the trail runs through the region of Dassia, across the highest point on the island, which is Mount Pantokrator. Spring and autumn are the best months to pursue the route, as the high season experiences crowds of tourists and temperatures as high as 100F.
The Forests of Gois are located close to Coimbra in central Portugal. The cross country trail winds through forests around a small village and includes well maintained tracks and demanding up/downhill routes.
Ballinastoe bike trail in Ireland offers the biker splendid scenery and a demanding cross country route. It consists of a 15 km loop, set in the scenic Wicklow mountains, on a single track, as well as being close to Roundwood village. This route is only 40 km from Dublin.
Livigno Bike Park in Mottolino in Italy is a free ride style track, which is open in the summer with use of the chair lift. This route once held the world championships and offers a huge challenge to those who enjoy a more demanding trail. It consists of 600 km of trails and tours, the trail offering several alternative routes, including a single track route.
Les Gets Bike Park is located in the Northern Alps in France and set between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. It is right in the heart of the biggest skiing area in the world, with 650 km of slopes, in Les Porte du Soleil. The bike park offers a jump park, 4 cross, downhill and cross country trails, as well as the use of ski lifts.
Afan Forest Park in Wales is a demanding cross country trail located close to Cardiff. There are 2 main trails, Penhydd which is 16 km and Wall which is 23 km long, the latter consisting of a very steep climb.
Levi Downhill Bike Park in Finland is a free ride trail, with junior, intermediate and expert trails, with 4 gravity trails and Gondola lift services for all trails. There are 3 free ride trails with twists and turns as well as a DH race trail for experts.
Verbier Bike Park in Switzerland is a challenging cross country trail, has 4 runs, 20 kms of runs and 200 kms of XC runs.
The Marguerite Route in Denmark is in Skaeskor, is a touring trail and takes around a full day to complete. It takes the rider through fantastic landscapes including castles, manor houses, alongside a harbour, bird sanctuary and Hans Christian Andersen type views.
When mountain biking, it is important to wear the right gear for the climate and level of activity. Always take bottled water with you to avoid dehydration. If you are planning an overnight stay, Marmot tents offer the perfect instant accommodation solution.
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