In November Peter and Nick came to Montecorto for a five day mountain bike endurance training camp with the Andalucian Cycling Experience. In March 2009 they are off to South Africa to participate in the Cape Epic, a seven day mountain bike event covering over a 1000 kilometres. Whilst in South Africa they will be riding 100 kilometres with at least 1000 metres of climbing per day. My brief was to replicate this in terms of distance and metres climbed and to also help Peter and Nick become stronger riders in terms of technical ability.

Last week Julian came over to Andalucia for a mountain biking mini break based in one of our townhouses in Montecorto. We started our riding with an epic XC (Cross Country) ride visiting the beautiful white village of Setenil de las Bodegas, where we stopped at one of my favourite tapas bars in this area ‘La Tascas’. You can find La Tascas in the centre of Setenil set in one of the famous cave houses. This traditional bar does amazing tapas thus making a great refuelling pit -stop for the hungry and thirsty cyclist. The village name Setenil de las Bodegas originates from the Latin term 'Septem nihill' meaning seven and nothing as it took Isabel and Fernando 7 attempts to recapture Setenil from the Moors in 1482 and "de las Bodegas" due to the cave houses which also make excellent cellar type storage houses for the local wines. We then followed the Bandits Route back towards Ronda, via the Roman ruins of Acinipo at "Ronda la Vieja", before dropping 500m over the last few kilometres as the ride finishes on a rapidly descending jeep track all the way back into Montecorto village.

Early this morning I set off on my mountain bike in search of some more quality single track trails on the Sierra de Lijar. This is an area that I've ridden many times before but always taking the same singletrack route down into Algodonales. Recently, whilst out on my road bike cycling towards Algodonales from Montecorto, on the A374, I have noticed a zig zag path down the Sierra de Lijar which I have been meaning to get out and discover. Today was the day.

The majority of cycle hire companies in and around the Sierra de Grazalema have mountain bikes and/or hybrids for hire and in the cost you would usually get your bike, obviously, a helmet, a pump, puncture repair kit and/or spare inner tube and a lock. Pannier or handlebar bags are usually available for Hybrid bikes. Generally the Hybrids and Mountian Bikes would have front suspension and V-brakes as standard.