Mountain Biking in the Alpujarras: A Short Guide for Renters
Mecina-Fondales is situated at a height of 1000m on the northern face of the Trevelez gorge, a deep river valley covered in a latice of goat tracks, mule tracks, dry river beds, forest tracks, drover's roads and the occasional stretch of tarmac. In this valley, the neighbouring Poqueira valley, over the Pico Veleta (3400m) to Granada and through the hills leading down to the Costa del Sol you will find literally hundreds of mountain bike trails. Ascents are often steep and descents technically difficult, precarious and exhilerating. As the terrain is rocky in the main, cycle helmets and body armour are advisable when descending. The sky is usually clear and bright and the sun strong in the thin mountain air, making water, sun shades and sun cream must-have items. Unlike road routes and most UK mountain bike trails, many of the tracks are unmarked and can be difficult to locate on maps of the area. Although there are no mountain biking route maps or guide books covering the Alpujarras, walkers' maps do go some way to illuminating the choices available. A British company called Discovery do a walking route map of the area which is considered to be pretty reasonable, and there are two Spanish maps, Instituto Geografico Nacional (IGN) and Servicio Geografico del Ejercito (SGE), available locally. One of these, the green one (IGN I think!), comes with a booklet containing mountain bike routes, although I have been told they can be difficult to follow. Both maps are available in English. The sign posting that exists is usually easy to spot and will be marked with red and white flashes for the GR7 (pan-European route) or yellow and white for local routes, both of which are indicated on maps of the area. The tourist information centre in Pampaneira may have other information of use. And the Spanish Cycling Federation (Real Federacion Espanola de Ciclismo) have a website, www.rfec.com , which may or may not be useful. That said, all routes, tracks, trails and roads are available for mountain biking, unless clearly indicated otherwise, but watch out for local farmers, walkers, pony trekkers, shepherds and goat herders. With a map detailing the numerous local villages, a clear day and fair sense of direction it is pretty hard to get lost, the worst you might do is drop too far into the valley at the wrong point and be faced with having to carry your bike to regain lost height. Here are a few routes to be going on with:

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