I am going to add some mountain biking excitement for when the corona crisis is over and we can welcome you back to Ainsa again for some epic mountain biking. Here are the 5 best things about mountain biking in Ainsa, Zona Zero that are waiting for you when you are allowed to travel to the Spanish Pyrenees again.
1. Over a 1000 km of all natural singletrack and counting . . . .
In 2005 some locals started cleaning overgrown ancient hiking paths their ancestors used to walk form village to village, to hermitage, to church, to a castle. A lot of them now abandoned. And year by year a intense network of all natural mountain bike trails, excellent for enduro riding, appeared. They named this Zona Zero. Acces is often good via double track/ fire road (called “pista” here) Today there is over 2000 km of trail (> 1000km singletrack) spread out over an area of 250 square km (50 x 50 km) over 80 routes. The biggest concentration of trails is found around Ainsa/ Boltaña and in the La Fueva valley.
2. Drinking beer to support trail maintenance
A group of friends from the area started the Rondadora brewery a few years ago and they make excellent craft beer. When you order their Tronzadora beer you support the maintenance of the trails. 10 cents of every beer sold goes to Zona Zero. Each year they sell enough to support ZZ for around 5000 euro.
3. Amazing views always everywhere
It doesn’t matter where you ride or which trails you ride, the views are mind blowing everywhere you ride. You can see for km’s on end from basically every corner in Zona Zero. Often a climb ends at a old church, old (abandoned) town which are generally situated on top of a hill or mountain in such a way that they can see another town/ church/ monastery or castle.
4. Plenty of water points along the way to keep you hydrated
One of my favourite things about riding here is the amount of water points called fuentes in Spanish in the area. Mostly every village that is still habited has a fuente with good quality water. Only in summer it is best not to drink from the ones that don’t have a tap. Often I plan my guided rides around the water points when it is really warm, there is just nothing better then cold mountain water.
5. Mixing mountain biking with nature and culture
If you are only coming to shred down the trails day in day out, you are missing the point of Ainsa. It is the raw nature, the medieval abandoned villages and the local culture that make an mountain bike trip so amazing here. Enduro mountain biking in Zona Zero is an adventure an extraordinary experience. Insane trails, with stunning nature and marvellous culture.
Part of this sometimes alien nature are the badlands (margas) you have to see it for yourself. The margas happened after Spain collided into France millions of years ago and then got eroded. Some people say it is like a moon landscape.
(bonus). All year round mountain biking in shorts
Ok one more. I have been riding her for more than 2 years and I think I only rode in long pants twice. Yes I layer up in the winter for the cold mornings, but I always ride in shorts, because the temperature rises to a mild 12-15 degrees on most winter days just around Ainsa.
See you all back soon!
Author: Jeroen Spoelstra
Pictures: Jeroen Spoelstra (Beer picture)
Harm Spoelstra (Picture with the views)
Video: Jeroen Spoelstra
Did you like what you just read? Fancy a visit to Ainsa, Zona Zero? We are happy to guide you around in this magnificent place.
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