If you fancy something different why not consider getting you and your trusty stead over to sunny Bansko Bulgaria.
The organisers have this year got 2 cross country style races on the menu.
Each being planned to start earlyish at 9.00 am (ie before the hot hot sun rises high in the sky)
I advised the organiser to do this as last July it was touching 35 in the shade when the races kicked off at 2.00 pm!
I also told him to make them harder - well a little longer really.
Dead dog is a cruelling climb, last year this was 2 laps, this year only one but then connecting to Perfect Day circuit which is easier but with more single track sections. This gives the route a lot more interest without knowing you have to do another circuit of Deaddog! Also as the circuit is a figure of 8 going back through the town, if you are suffering you can pull out easily
The afternoon is basically a free for all downhill. The ski lift will be open to take riders up to the top of Chalin Valog (mid station) - I suppose then it is blast down as fast as you can to the finish to record a good time!
I am sure the ski lift will allow you to go up and down as many times as you want, so you can find different routes an trials off the mountain - nice
Day 2 is Foxy Lady route over towards the little village of Banya - looks easy - my souces say deceptively hard.
Again the afternoon after this race is open to use of the ski lift and honing your downhill technique
The entry fee - a massive 50 leva equals about £ 23.30 what a bargain
Here is the website - scroll down to botton of page to find link to 2010 registration.
Fill its in - click send and my mate James from the Avalon Hotel will no doubt email back with a thank you.
www.bansko-mtb.com
Note registration is free - you pay in resort at signing on.
There are loads of apartments for rent and accomodation prices are very reasonable in the summer months.
Many airlines fly direct to Sofia or via hubs like Frankfurt.
easyjet from Manchester
wizzair from Luton
lufthansa from Manchester via Frankfurt
Food and Drink is really cheap in Bulgaria, and Bansko has everything from local village style restaruants to 5 star hotels - you can spend what you like.
Check out Avalon Hotel - sometimes has deals on FOC accomodation for mountain bikers - how good is that!
