The winter of 2024 is not very snowy even in Poland. On the second weekend of February I’ve managed to have a very nice ride in Polish mountains near Bielsko-Biała. But what if You want to ride your bike in more favorable temperatures and less muddy conditions? Below I’ve prepared a list of few places where you can ride well before the bike park season starts in most of Europe.
Where to ride in winter? Italy – Elba island
Most people’s first thought when it comes to Italy is probably the most famous Finale Ligure region. My suggestion is the island of Elba, located a bit more south than Finale. I was attracted there mainly by the map on Trailforks, which was densely packed with bike trails. I visited the island in May, and local guide Alessio helped me discover the best trails over there. His report shows that thanks to the mild island climate, you can ride there in nice conditions, practically all year round. This is also confirmed by the social media of local bikers. The island is divided into 3 different trail areas, the vast majority of which are in natural style. However, there are plenty of interesting obstacles and beautiful views around. I used an e-bike for exploration and it seems to be the best option to reach all of the most interesting trails. Of course, it’s also great on analog bike, but you have to take into account interval routes and a lot of elevation gain. There are so many trails on Elba that my visit resulted in two articles describing different parts of the island: Enduro on Elba – 1/2 – Cavo and Elba Trail Area and Enduro on Elba 2/2 – Elba Ovest, Il Semaforo, Lacona and Portoferraio . A very interesting option for a pre-season start, both in winter and early spring, when other places may still be drowning in mud. The only time to avoid Elba is August. Firstly, because of the temperatures, and secondly, because Italians themselves come here in such large numbers that the place loses its charm. It was absolutely perfect here for May 2023.
Where to ride in winter? Italy – Natisone Bike Arena
Another nice and practically year-round place in Italy is the little-known Natisone Bike Arena. Interestingly, it is located relatively closest to central part of Europe. It is at the Italian-Slovenian border, and more precisely, the Natisone valley. These area is not located right by the sea, so the views here will not be as spectacular as on Elba or Finale, but the local Natisone team very efficiently takes care of the entire network of interesting enduro trails. If you have a group of riders interested, you can also easily organize a shuttle bus session here. I visited Natisone Bike Arena in May 2023. However, the local team claim that they ride here almost all year round. Most of the trails are located along a deep valley, only about 100 meters above sea level. Only the highest route from Mount Matajur can be covered with snow. The trails are an interesting mix of rocks, dried soil and roots. In many places, the paths have been improved to make riding smoother, but most of the descents have great natural feel, and winds pleasantly through the local forests. Most of trails are medium-difficult and it will be a good place to catch your flow and start riding after or during the winter break. More information about Natisone Bike Arena can be found in the article: Natisone Bike Arena – Italian shuttle-enduro and on the official website: Natisone Bike Arena.
Where to ride in winter? Croatia – Enduro Perun i Omis
Croatia is mostly favorite holiday destination, but maybe it’s also worth giving it a chance outside the summer season? There is practically no snow in the areas along the Adriatic coast, and the very rocky surface of Dalmatia also guarantees that even if it rains for a while, there is no mud. I visited Omis and the Perun Enduro trails at the turn of March and February in 2023. Riding conditions (apart from the head-breaking wind) were very good. Interestingly, the local Coast Riders team was able to mark and build pretty smooth trails in this rocky terrain. But of course You will encounter there also a lot of interesting obstacles. The absolute cherry on the top is the long, natural descent called Imber, which is my favorite when it comes to mtb enduro in Croatia. The area around the towns of Omis and Split has several smaller places with trails that operate all year round, except for the summer season. In all other periods, at weekends, you can join the local team that organizes trips up the mountains by shuttle bus. More of my impressions from this region can be found in the article: Enduro Perun and Omiš – Croatian enduro trails.
Where to ride in winter? Croatia – Bike Center Rabac
Bike Center Rabac is located in the northern part of Croatia, more precisely on the Istrian peninsula. A small resort town, located on the coast of Adriatic Sea is a bit deserted outside the summer season. Right next to the Valamar hotel complex, you can find a whole network of official enduro bike trails. There is an easy, smooth flow trail and some more challenging rocky enduro descents. Interestingly, there is also a very nicely made skill park there. It is an ideal place for the first warm-up runs of the season. The whole is complemented by 2 pumptracks, a rental shop and facilities with hotels prepared to welcome bikers with their gear. You have to take into account the fact that the local downhill variants do not offer large elevation or steepness, but some trails are very interesting. You can get to the beginning of the trails using marked uphill routes, but for groups there is also the option of a shuttle bus or, alternatively, renting an e-bike on site. The last time I was there, was around May of 2019 and since then the place has been expanded with another 2 new enduro routes. My first visit to Rabac was the last day of 2018. Even in winter, the conditions were surprisingly good and it opened my eyes to winter riding in the pleasant Croatian climate. A more detailed description and impressions of my visits can be found in the article: Bike Center Rabac – Update 2019. An updated map and a short description of the routes and possible services can be found on the website: bike4you.hr.
Where to ride in winter? Croatia
Overall, Croatia can be an interesting cycling destination outside the summer season. Although there are no very large bike parks or trail centers, there are many smaller places that can be combined into one interesting bike trip. In addition to those two places mentioned above, you can also visit the suburbs of Šibenik city, where there are several interesting enduro routes: Pisak Trails. Another interesting and typical for Croatia is Groznjan, located in Istria, around which there is also a network of enduro routes. On the island of Losinj there is a downhill train known from the round of DH World Cup and the IXS European Cup competitions held there. A lot of trails have also been recently created on Mount Sljeme, which is located right next to Zagreb city and offers entry via a new gondola lift. If you are interested in riding in Croatia, I recommend browsing the map on Trailforks and start to follow a local rider and guide Ivo Jaric, who is riding Croatian trails thru all year round.
Where to ride in winter? Greece – Athens
If you are looking for a place with an even more pleasant winter climate than northern Italy or Croatia, Greece may also be an alternative. In total, I visited it twice with my enduro bike, checking three different riding areas. For those who want to ride some great trails, I definitely recommend the Athens area. The Imittos and Parnitha mountain ranges that surround the Greek capital offer plenty of good trails. There you will find both, fast DH with bike park style jumps and also more natural enduro single trails. Local teams like All Mountain Adventures often organize shuttle bus asisted rides, so you can have a lot of fun on one of the many trails in the region. Of course the trails are good to ride thru almost whole year. I spent a month alone in Athens and didn’t manage to check every trail I wanted to. I can confidently say that riding in the area of the Greek capital exceeded my expectations and was a very positive surprise. You can find more about my stay in Greece in the article: Enduro riding in Greece – Athens.
Where to ride in winter? Summary
Of course, there are many other cool options for some good riding in winter or early spring. Here I’ve listed those places that I have visited personally and I know that you can ride there at any time of year. I also hope that I will eventually be able to visit the mostly known Italian Finale Ligure, but of course I don’t want to limit myself. Especially since I personally like to discover new, less known places. Or maybe You can recommend me an interesting place for the winter ride?
