mountain bike guiding

, ,

New year, new unbeaten adventures

, ,
New year, new unbeaten adventures

In 2021 I want to make mountain biking with Unbeaten Adventures more adventurous. I feel we as a mountain bike community have been too much focused on convenience, with bike shuttles being the main transport to get us to the top of a hill or a mountain. It is time that mountain biking becomes more adventurous again. I want to live up to my company name. Using one shuttle to get us in the back country and have an epic bike adventure back to Ainsa. Or have a big day out on the bike from Usana (Unbeaten HQ) and experience Zona Zeroin all its glory.

,

Where to stay when you are on a bike holiday in Ainsa? Updated for 2021

,
Where to stay when you are on a bike holiday in Ainsa? Updated for 2021

Unbeaten Adventures is not a travel agency and therefore by Spanish law we are not allowed to offer full holiday packages. However we can recommend you beautiful places to stay and we can help you with your booking. Check out our 3 selected places for a good nights rest after a full day of mountain biking. Depending on your budget & needs you can choose a hotel, an apartment or a casa rural.

,

I'm not guiding yet. Why?

,
I'm not guiding yet. Why?

People all over the world are affected by the COVID-19 crisis, us included. It has been and still are intense time for us and the world. After more then three months the Spanish state of alarm was lifted on June 21 and most of the European borders opened again.

Which ment that I was allowed to guide again. When I look at my Instagram feed, I constantly see happy messages of other guides and bikers in Spain and Europe that they can guide again. Not me I am not ready to guide again. There are a few reasons for that

, , ,

Unbeaten Adventures in Up/ Down mountainbike magazine

, , ,
Unbeaten Adventures in Up/ Down mountainbike magazine

it is an honour to be in the mountain bike magazine that helped me become the mountain biker I am today

I am humbled to be in the Up/ Down mountainbike magazine with an article about all the beauty Ainsa & Zona Zero has to offer. And beyond stoked that I am on the cover too, that to me was a huge surprise. Up/Down mountainbike magazine was a huge inspiration for me back when I still lived in the Netherlands and now I appear in it myself.

,

Support your local business NOW! Drink Rondadora beer.

,
Support your local business NOW! Drink Rondadora beer.

Due to the lockdown, one of my favourite local business is also having a hard time. The Rondadora brewery has seen revenue drop to a minimum, because all the restaurants and bars are closed. They sell in supermarkets, but there main market has gone.

, ,

New guiding services, new webdesign, & updated identity.

, ,
New guiding services, new webdesign, & updated identity.

Shall I go ONLINE with the new website or NOT? So I was really excited about the new Unbeaten Adventures website and all the new things we developed for the upcoming guiding season(s). And then Covid-19 happened. Due to the corona virus the the world came to a standstill. Spain went in to a lockdown and it is now forbidden to ride my mountain bike. And the outdoor industry is going to have a massive crisis, just like the rest of the world. But I am releasing my new website anyway. Why? First of all because I am quiet proud of the result after the amount of thinking, designing and work I put into it. Second because it might inspire you to keep on doing what you love. I expect I need to change things because the mountain bike & tourism industry is going to change a lot and I have to adapt my guiding business accordingly. The mountains and its trails will not go away and they are here for you to enjoy in the near future.

,

What skill & fitness level do you need for riding in Zona Zero & Puro Pirineo?  

,
What skill & fitness level do you need for riding in Zona Zero & Puro Pirineo?  

In this guide you can find the fitness & skill level required for joining Unbeaten Adventures rides. We don’t offer rides for beginners. However if you like to learn to ride more technical terrain, let us know and we can offer you a skills clinic.

, , ,

The joy of being a mountain bike guide in Ainsa, Zona Zero

, , ,
The joy of being a mountain bike guide in Ainsa, Zona Zero

What is it like packing up your life and moving everything to a new country to start a new business doing something you love? Just read on

Ever since my studies 20 years ago I wanted to work in the mountain bike industry. I studied Product Design and when one of my fellow students started working at Ghost bikes, I wanted to work in the bike industry as well..

, ,

The 5 best trails around Ainsa, Zona Zero

, ,
The 5 best trails around Ainsa, Zona Zero

A while ago I shared the 3 best trails for beginners , now it is time for some more hardcore Enduro trails. Therefore I present you with what I think are the 5 best Enduro trails you can ride straight out of the front door of your hotel, tent, caravan or camper in the Ainsa and Boltaña area.  

, , ,

What I learned so far as mountain bike guide, and What is next?

, , ,
What I learned so far as mountain bike guide, and What is next?

It has been a little over 6 months since I showed my first clients around Zona Zero. And really like guiding mountain bike enthusiasts around in this magical area. As as a designer, the other part of my brain, I am accustomed to reflect on the things I make and improve them when needed. So it was time for an iteration of the guiding business so far.

“ One part of my brain is wired towards mountain biking and the other part of my brain functions as a designer. They are an inspiration for each other and sometimes they meet.”

, ,

Video: My Bike Takes Me To Amazing Places! by McTrail rider

, ,
Video: My Bike Takes Me To Amazing Places! by McTrail rider

It is always amazing to feel when things click. Andrew and I really connected on our first ride together. So on his last day in Ainsa we went on another bike ride. We explored the El Confesionario trail also know as the ride to the pussy of the world/ El coco del mundo. This trail was new for the both of us.

Of course Andrew filmed it all and he threw in some amazing drone footage of Morcat and the Confesionario as well. Enjoy watching!

, ,

Video : An Unbeaten Mountain Bike Adventure by MacTrail Rider

, ,
Video : An Unbeaten Mountain Bike Adventure by MacTrail Rider

Andrew also known as the McTrail Rider was in Ainsa, Zona Zero last month. Together with his girlfriend Alix, he travels through Europe to ride as many cool trails as possible and share his experience on his McTrail Rider YouTube channel.

A few weeks ago I contacted him via Instagram and we went out for a ride together. I showed him the la Caparra trail - ZZ-011 (Trailforks) and he showed me how to do proper switchbacks on my hardtail mountain bike.

,

Why hire a mountain bike guide in Zona Zero?

,
Why hire a mountain bike guide in Zona Zero?

Imagine arriving to a place were there are more than 1.000 kms of amazing mountain bike trails. All the trails have something to please all the biking tastes, rocky, fast, flowy, technical, forest…you name it we have it here. The views, the trails, the experience will have you wanting for more! If you want to have the best mountain biking experience in this paradise, getting the maximum out of a day… riding with a guide is a smart and fun decision. 

A mountain bike guide can show you the best trails suited for your needs, your ride will be enchanted by the history of the trails and you will learn more about the local customs. As a bonus, you will see the best views and get all the tips about food and drinks! 

How to deal with hunting season in Zona Zero, Ainsa?

How to deal with hunting season in Zona Zero, Ainsa?

Autumn is slowly taking over the landscape here foothills of the Pyrenees with its beautiful bright colours. With autumn an annual tradition returns to the area, Hunting Season. The battue or batida in Spanish, is a way of hunting where beaters drive the game towards the hunters who are waiting with there shot gun. The hunters are after wild boar and corso, a small dear. These batidas are both tradition and a necessity as there are way to many boars and dear due to a lack of predators aka wolves.

Read the 6 tips to avoid bumping into hunters in Zona Zero.

,

Where to stay when you are on a bike holiday in Ainsa?

,
Where to stay when you are on a bike holiday in Ainsa?

Unbeaten Adventures is not a travel agency and therefore by Spanish law we are not allowed to offer full holiday packages. However we can recommend you beautiful places to stay and we can help you with your booking. Check out our 3 selected places for a good nights rest after a full day of mountain biking. Depending on your budget & needs you can choose a hotel, an apartment or a casa rural.