BasqueMTB Ride Report: Autumn Sunshine

Earlier this year I finally got myself organised enough to sign up with an ex-GMBC’r, Doug MacDonald at BasqueMTB and opted to do his Back Country Pyrenees trip which included a week of skills coaching with Ed Oxley from Great Rock.

It’s one heck of a road trip and, as Doug said, it crams a month’s worth of riding into a 6 days.  My Garmin reckons it was 8,300ft of climbing and over 26,000ft of descent over only 96 miles.  The trails were a mix of dusty, dry desert, bedrock, alpine switchbacks and pine forests.  They were frequently steep and sometimes off camber and some had a fair degree of exposure with big drops off to the side if you screwed it up.

It was great to be coached and pushed beyond how I normally ride and the guides and other guests were a great crowd to hang out with.  If you get a chance then I’d recommend the Back Country Pyrenees trip.  It’s got me wondering what other trails Doug has to offer.  In the meantime, here’s a wee blast of Autumn sunshine, Basque-style.  Sadly, now a distant memory.

 

More photos.

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