that marked the end of the ride. It had been a fantastic day, just what I’d asked for. I just wish it could have
been longer. But I didn’t want to get in trouble with my wife. She was pregnant and couldn’t ride, so I was
happy for the day I’d had. Not only was riding great but I shared the day with two really nice people, Al and
Kirsty, who had gone out of their way to make sure I’d had a good time. After being given a taste of the
riding that Cyprus had to offer I was already making plans to come back. The Troodos Mountains are meant
to contain a lot of quality singletrack but as there was still some snow on the ground I’d just missed out. I
will be back though and when I do I will definitely be giving Al and Kirsty a call.
been longer. But I didn’t want to get in trouble with my wife. She was pregnant and couldn’t ride, so I was
happy for the day I’d had. Not only was riding great but I shared the day with two really nice people, Al and
Kirsty, who had gone out of their way to make sure I’d had a good time. After being given a taste of the
riding that Cyprus had to offer I was already making plans to come back. The Troodos Mountains are meant
to contain a lot of quality singletrack but as there was still some snow on the ground I’d just missed out. I
will be back though and when I do I will definitely be giving Al and Kirsty a call.
During my phone call to Al, half of the husband and wife team who run Mountain Bike Cyprus, confirming
directions to the start of the next day’s ride I was informed that he had badly pulled his back. The ride was
still on but he was going to be a little slower than normal. That was ok, I was on holiday and we had a
technical route planned so the pace wasn’t going to be high anyway.
I arrived early in the village of Kouklia where they are based, a village where they still bake bread in the
square, old men sit on the porch watching the world go by and you can leave you front door open without
worry. Kirsty, Al’s wife, greeted me with a warm welcome and cup of tea while Al busied himself with final
preparations for the day. After giving me a run down on the days activities Al presented me with an ’07
Marin full-sus, perfectly set up using the details of my height and weight previously supplied by email.
directions to the start of the next day’s ride I was informed that he had badly pulled his back. The ride was
still on but he was going to be a little slower than normal. That was ok, I was on holiday and we had a
technical route planned so the pace wasn’t going to be high anyway.
I arrived early in the village of Kouklia where they are based, a village where they still bake bread in the
square, old men sit on the porch watching the world go by and you can leave you front door open without
worry. Kirsty, Al’s wife, greeted me with a warm welcome and cup of tea while Al busied himself with final
preparations for the day. After giving me a run down on the days activities Al presented me with an ’07
Marin full-sus, perfectly set up using the details of my height and weight previously supplied by email.
| Me riding the double track on the ridge, deceptively tricky at speed with ruts, dust and loose gravel to keep you on your toes. |
On our drive to the start of the
ride the views disappeared was
we climbed into the clouds
covering the peaks of the Akamas
Peninsula. I was informed that
usually there were fantastic views
of the sea on either side. The lack
of sun also had Al complaining
about leaving his windproof
behind. I’d done the same but,
coming from the UK, it was
definitely shorts and T-shirt
weather for me.
We set off on double track following the crest of the ridge while Kirsty, who was doing back up duties for
the day, drove the support vehicle. Even though Al’s back was bad he still had to ride as Kirsty guides the
endurance rides not the technical stuff. However, he wasn’t that slow and I was enjoying the leisurely
pace for the opportunity of seeing the sights as the mist lifted.
This first trail, although double track, was far from boring. It doesn’t rain often in Cyprus but when it does it
rains hard. The water doesn’t soak into the baked sandstone earth easily but runs quickly over the
surface wearing deep channels. Combined with dust and loose gravel, that made grip in the corners
unpredictable, there was no opportunity to stop concentrating.
By the time we reached the first climb the temperature was starting to rise and Al’s reduced pace became a
real blessing. The heat was starting to sap my energy and it would have been all too easy to tire myself
out.
| Tackling the rocky and rutted start of the technical descent |
Big rocks (left) and spikey bushes (above)
but thankfully no snakes!
but thankfully no snakes!
With the promise of more descending than climbing we soon reached the top of the technical singletrack
descent Al had recently found. An easy start on a winding trail through the trees soon gave way to a steep,
rocky plummet down the side of the hill. Weaving from side to side through loose rocks was made more
difficult by a new rut that had appeared since Al’s last visit. This led on to some tight corners where grip
and line choice became more difficult. It was here I remembered the warning I’d been given, ‘If you fall off
you will usually hit a big rock, then a very spikey bush and then there are the snakes!’. We were also
relying solely on the back up vehicle as there wasn’t air ambulance cover like in the UK. I managed to
make it to bottom safely and it was so much fun I went back up for another go.
descent Al had recently found. An easy start on a winding trail through the trees soon gave way to a steep,
rocky plummet down the side of the hill. Weaving from side to side through loose rocks was made more
difficult by a new rut that had appeared since Al’s last visit. This led on to some tight corners where grip
and line choice became more difficult. It was here I remembered the warning I’d been given, ‘If you fall off
you will usually hit a big rock, then a very spikey bush and then there are the snakes!’. We were also
relying solely on the back up vehicle as there wasn’t air ambulance cover like in the UK. I managed to
make it to bottom safely and it was so much fun I went back up for another go.
| Me playing on the drop at the bottom of the descent |
After a rest it was time to tackle
the technical climb out of the
valley. It started off steeply over
rounded, stepped slabs before
flattening off for a pleasant climb
through the forest. A fallen tree at
the halfway point had to be
negotiated. Fortunately nobody
saw me looking stupid while
making noises to scare the snakes
away. The vipers, which are the
most venomous, are sand coloured and look like sticks. With lots of sand and sticks about I wasn’t taking
any chances!
This was followed by the most technical part of the climb, where the grassy singletrack became littered
with lumpy, eroded rocks. It was satisfyingly difficult and I managed to clean it all but not without having a
second attempt in a few places. The wildlife had a hand in one of these. Just as uttered ‘ooh a lizard’ I
caught my front wheel and went down. Fortunately my body kept the bike off the ground. It was down to
me to pay for any damage, which was fair enough, Mountain Bike Cyprus’ prices are low and their fleet of
’07 Marin full-sus’ have to be kept in top condition for the next client. To save myself I was wearing the
knee pads Al told me were necessary, as the ground in Cyprus is good at removing skin.
any chances!
This was followed by the most technical part of the climb, where the grassy singletrack became littered
with lumpy, eroded rocks. It was satisfyingly difficult and I managed to clean it all but not without having a
second attempt in a few places. The wildlife had a hand in one of these. Just as uttered ‘ooh a lizard’ I
caught my front wheel and went down. Fortunately my body kept the bike off the ground. It was down to
me to pay for any damage, which was fair enough, Mountain Bike Cyprus’ prices are low and their fleet of
’07 Marin full-sus’ have to be kept in top condition for the next client. To save myself I was wearing the
knee pads Al told me were necessary, as the ground in Cyprus is good at removing skin.
| An action sequence of me riding one of the many technical sections on the climb to the mine |
| At trail littered with rocks |
| My bike at the kiln |
No snakes or wives in the mine
| My sticky knees |
We reached the kiln at the end of the trail and poked round an old mine. According to Al it’s a favourite
place for snakes and unwanted wives, not that I saw either. It was then back to the double track as we
climbed to the top of the ridge again. We hadn’t been riding for long when a herd of goats came into view.
Up until then I had seen nothing bigger than sparrows and lizards. The reason for this wasn’t too hard
figure out given the number of shotgun cartridges littering the ground.
At the top of the climb the support vehicle came into view. After asking how I was enjoying myself Kirsty
enquired after Al. She said he always huffed and puffed on the uphills but no, the grunting and groaning
wasn’t normal. I was very thankful he’d agreed to show me the trails. As a guide myself I know what it’s
like when you’re injured but still have to ride.
place for snakes and unwanted wives, not that I saw either. It was then back to the double track as we
climbed to the top of the ridge again. We hadn’t been riding for long when a herd of goats came into view.
Up until then I had seen nothing bigger than sparrows and lizards. The reason for this wasn’t too hard
figure out given the number of shotgun cartridges littering the ground.
At the top of the climb the support vehicle came into view. After asking how I was enjoying myself Kirsty
enquired after Al. She said he always huffed and puffed on the uphills but no, the grunting and groaning
wasn’t normal. I was very thankful he’d agreed to show me the trails. As a guide myself I know what it’s
like when you’re injured but still have to ride.
| Al soldiering on near the top of the last climb |
The great trails weren’t over as we had a long final descent to the sea.
It started with a wide, fast and loose trail with lots of criss-crossing
eroded channels, which really got the adrenaline flowing, especially
when flying over the odd blind crest. A right turn brought us to the
second half of the trail where the rocks reappeared. This gave rain
water less choice and increased the size of the channels, making all
too easy to go over the bars, something the previous week’s group of
journalists had done quite often.
I managed to get through the difficult parts without incident but it
didn’t last. Near the bottom the trail opened out for some fast swoopy
corners where I got a bit over confident. Coming into a tight corner I
hit a patch of deep dry dust, something I’m not that accustomed to
living in the UK. After my wheels disappeared from beneath me I was
dumped onto a slab of rock. At least it wasn’t followed by the spikey
bush and snakes.
It wasn’t a fast crash but I managed to rip the levers off the rear shifter
as well as putting a pedal shaped hole in my leg. I knew I would have
to pay for it but that didn’t really matter, I just felt bad about damaging
one of Al’s bikes. It was even more annoying that there was only a few
minutes riding left before meeting Kristy at the bottom of the descent.
| The return of the rocks on the last descent |
Big ruts (left) and
heading towards
the blue, blue,
sea (below)
heading towards
the blue, blue,
sea (below)
While Al got on with repairing the broken shifter I went off to
take in the beauty of the coast. It had nothing to do with
escaping Al’s sarcasm about a certain qualified mtb guide being
rubbish at riding bikes. Yeah, Yeah! Once the bike was fixed Al
got into the support vehicle for the final
part of the ride. His back was shot and the
undulating track along the coast line would
do him no favours. I didn’t mind. I got to
enjoy riding at my own pace along the top
of the cliffs looking at the bluest sea I have
seen, safe in the knowledge that they
would be following behind once his bike
was strapped to the Pajero.
Unfortunately I soon reached the car park
part of the ride. His back was shot and the
undulating track along the coast line would
do him no favours. I didn’t mind. I got to
enjoy riding at my own pace along the top
of the cliffs looking at the bluest sea I have
seen, safe in the knowledge that they
would be following behind once his bike
was strapped to the Pajero.
Unfortunately I soon reached the car park
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
