Well it technically was only my bike for the day… but currently my Darl and I are in Bali (with no kids) and we did the Mount Abang to Telega Waja River mountain bike ride. It’s an absolutely fantastic ride where you start at the top of a volcano and ride 40kms of amazing single track and double track with some connecting roads… and although there are a few tough climbs, in the main it is downhill.
Near the top there is a continuous decent section for 9kms, which traverses sheer ridge-lines, dropping down into huge valleys with very steep sections… all with insanely breathtaking views. The track was very sandy/volcanic ash in sections so was very sketchy but in a fun get off the back and just let it hang loose kind of way. Once down into the valleys, it opened out and was more roller coasty, then later on it became rice paddys-ville. There was some great sections of very tight single track through palm oil (I think) plantations with extremely loud cicada type bugs going off.
The bikes were good… we had Specialized StumpJumper Carbon FSR 26” and they were great… I ride a Stumpy, and now my Wife wants one. The guide was a great guy and an awesome rider and made sure we were all sorted. My Wife was very happy when we passed a group of girls who had left the top fifteen minutes before us. It’s 35 years since the last time I was in Bali… and honestly it’s not a patch on what it was… but todays ride was so good, that I can see us coming back.
says someone who regularly see younger guys powering past me on the climbs.
