mountain bike guide

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New year, new unbeaten adventures

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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.

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I'm not guiding yet. Why?

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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

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How to create a dream bike shed for free during Spanish lockdown?

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How to create a dream bike shed for free during Spanish lockdown?

Ever since last September I wanted to re-do my barn and turn it into a proper bike shed. Only until the Spanish government locked us up due to corona mid March I had time to really start thinking, designing & working in the re-construction of my bike shed.. The goal was to use recycled material only , not spend any money and create a space that really is a sanctuary for my mountain bike passion. Have a look to see if I succeeded.

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Bike review - my new Commencal META AM 29 TEAM 2020

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Bike review - my new Commencal META AM 29 TEAM 2020

I choose the Commencal enduro bike over their trail bike, because I wanted a bike that gets me down some of the hardest trails in Zona Zero and Puro Pirineo with more confidence. Commencal nailed it in terms of designing the well balanced looking META AM 29 and a great paint job. This bike makes me a better mountain bike guide. This is the best bike I could possibly ask for as my next guiding bike. It makes me a more confident mountain biker, which is important because that gives me more energy to focus on guiding clients.

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Unbeaten Adventures in Up/ Down mountainbike magazine

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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.

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Support your local business NOW! Drink Rondadora beer.

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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.

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New guiding services, new webdesign, & updated identity.

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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.

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

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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.

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Ainsa, Zona Zero through the eyes of a client.

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Ainsa, Zona Zero through the eyes of a client.

2019 marks the first full year of guiding for me. So far it has been an amazing year of guiding mountain bikers from all over the world. I showed more people around than what I had hoped for in beginning of the year. They came from all corners of the globe and they all loved this place.

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Becoming a Kona Ambassador for 2020 part 1

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Becoming a Kona Ambassador for 2020 part 1

Ok I am doing this. Applying for a Kona Ambassadorship for 2020. I am doing it in public by writing this as a blog…This part 1, if I don’t become an ambassador it stays part 1 otherwise we are going to have a series of blogs as a Kona Ambassador. Let’s see. Wish me luck!

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

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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..

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The different types of trails in the Pyrenees, Zona Zero

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The different types of trails in the Pyrenees, Zona Zero

Since I moved here over a year ago I have been riding outside of the Pyrenees only ones. And until recently I didn’t go and ride into other valleys. I am sure that is because I never get bored of the trails in and around Zona Zero. There is so much to ride here, so much to explore and there is such a diversity in terrain. Aragon just keeps on throwing epic trails at you.

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The 5 best trails around Ainsa, Zona Zero

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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.  

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

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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.”

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The mountain bike weather in Ainsa, Zona Zero

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The mountain bike weather in Ainsa, Zona Zero

Spring and Autumn are the best and most beautiful seasons for mountain biking in Zona Zero. With temperatures around 20 degrees or a little hire it is a bliss on the trails here. The colours of the fresh green leafs and the blooming flowers in spring are stunning. And you just can’t beat the autumn colors of nature in Sobrarbe.

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

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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!

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Video : An Unbeaten Mountain Bike Adventure by MacTrail Rider

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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.