Pietra Ligure: Come for the beach, and stay for the mountain bike trails! Plus, an epic report from a surprisingly snowy enduro race.
We check out Pearl iZUMi's 2019 mountain bike line up, including rain jackets, bib liners, shorts, and jerseys.
Riders know the obvious dangers of mountain biking, but the woods harbor insects that carry all kinds of diseases. One bite from the lone star tick can cause the victim to develop an allergy to meat.
Matt takes a brief test ride on the Santa Cruz Megatower on the singletrack mountain bike trails just outside Santa Cruz headquarters.
Sea Otter recap: The mountain bikes we tested, the new and wacky products we found, and what Sea Otter means for mountain bike culture.
Jill Kintner shares her outlook on how mountain bike races are won, gives cornering tips, and dishes on her favorite places to ride.
The Axis hip pack from Mission Workshop is a simple, sturdy pack designed to carry just the right amount of trail gear.
The first two races of the 2019 NAES series visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Revelstoke, Canada, leaving all of the celebratory duties to the final event at Snow Summit, California.
This was the weirdest looking new product at Sea Otter. We had to take it for a ride to see what this front end linkage mountain bike is all about.
Brands like Rotor and e*thirteen are finding new and innovative ways to add more range to one-by mountain bike drivetrains.
A stand up mountain bike, full suspension gravel bike, vintage telescoping fork, race day tire sealant, and more from Sea Otter 2019. Or maybe it's 3019?
Remot Bikes are igniting their brand new fire with a carbon trail bike for under $4,000 that looks ready to party.
CushCore has new product with wider applications, and some science they say backs up their claims.
The Raleigh Tokul 3 hardtail mountain bike ticks most of the right boxes on the spec chart and looks great too.
The MRP Ramp Control PRO gives riders even more adjustability than the MRP Ramp Control. We also check out the new Raven mountain bike fork.
We round up 6 notable and interesting hardtail mountain bikes from Sea Otter 2019, ranging from steel to carbon and titanium. Every one of them sports at least 120mm of front travel.
A few new items around Sea Otter including shoes with impact-resistant soles, waterless bike wash, and lights by Knog.
Giant launches a brand new flat pedal mountain bike shoe, the Shuttle Flat. Here's what we know so far after wearing them for a couple days.
Go big or small on your mountain bike rides with these bags from Ortlieb and Evoc.
Walmart's Viathon M.1 mountain bike is a racy, XC bike being marketed as fun, comfortable, and practical which begs a few questions.
US distributor Cycle Monkey brings German Brands Nicolai and Tout Terrain to the states with Gates Carbon Drive and Pinion gear boxes.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk about what enduro is, and why it matters to the sport of mountain biking. From athletes and races to bikes and gear, enduro is a reflection of how many of us approach riding.
This multi-sport GPS watch has a ton of features, but it misses the mark in a couple key areas.
We test out Patagonia's 2019 mountain bike line which includes the Dirt Roamer short, Nine Trails jersey, and Endless Ride bib liner.
Hutchison's pro mountain bikers asked for a faster gravity tire, and worked alongside company engineers to create just that.
The Urge Archi-Enduro RR full face mountain bike helmet was designed by the most qualified enduro experts in the business.
Oak trees are native to six of the seven continents on earth, so chances are you have mountain biked among them. Learn more about this magnificent tree species.
Updated Norco Revolver XC bike comes with 100mm or 120mm of rear travel. Plus, there are new forks from Cane Creek and Marzocchi, moto-inspired MTB rims from Zipp, and tall tires for wet and loose conditions from WTB.
The Vee Flow Snap is an enduro mountain bike tire from the Thai company. It's a little on the heavy side, but seems to be a great aggressive trail tire.
The Mountainsmith Cycle Cube is a bike-specific duffel bag meant to manage lots of awkward and stinky bike gear.
Deborah Meghen and Niall Davie talk about the development of new mountain bike trails all over Ireland.
The Bluegrass Eagle Armour Lite D3O is a lightweight and simple vented spine protector.
A San Diego mountain biker finds a barbed wire trail trap and a rider in Colorado leaves the scene of another trap with several broken bones.
There's a lot of hype about the new WaveCel structure in new Bontrager helmets. Competitor responses came just as quickly, and it's hard to recognize who's right in the end.
We check out mountain bike multi-tools from top brands like Pro, SIlca, Pedro's, Topeak and Pro Bike Tool.
New 12-speed hub options, alongside a more affordable 4-piston brake and 203mm rotor option, show Shimano's dedication to entry-level riders.
Link your Singletracks and Wahoo accounts to get free mountain bike trail routes on your GPS.
It's easy to let negative externalities ruin mountain biking's moments. Here are a few tips and philosophies to focus on the now.
Pro mountain bikers like Katy Curd know how to adapt and learn a new game. Katy shares her tips for building skills and managing fear.
We test ride the new Revel Rascal trail bike in Moab.
The Clear Creek 10 is Mountainsmith's first hydration pack marketed for mountain bike. It's fairly simple and affordable.
This week we get news on who's dominating the EWS, new bikes from Diamondback and Bold, and another NICA expansion.
Check out the trails, bikes, skills, and good times from the 2019 Singletracks Ride-N-Rally.
The Leatt DBX 4.0 pants are tailored, tough, and ready for the trail.
A Georgia mountain biker takes on the Huracan bikepacking race for the third time, and find new challenges along the way.
Online retailer Moosejaw is now offering complete mountain bikes for sale from brands including Evil and Niner.
The Pisgah Stage Race is already well known for five days of riding the best mountain bike trails in Pisgah. Key changes for 2019 seek to make the 11th edition the best one yet.
The way a rider treats their mountain bike will affect its lifespan. Here are five things you can do to keep your bike healthy for the long haul.
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![[feature]
[caption id="attachment_260023" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260023 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/33677466348_4395aafb52_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> All photos courtesy of Super Enduro, and <a href="https://nicoladamontephotography.pixieset.com/">Nicola Damonte Photography</a>.[/caption]
Pietra Ligure is a seaside destination city on the Mediterranean, with a rich history dating back <a href="https://www.visitpietraligure.it/en/holiday-pietra-ligure-italy/">beyond the year 641.</a> And luckily for mountain bikers, the town has purpose-built trails that stretch from the sea up to the Val Maremola hillsides 1,000 meters above.
In the shred-guide below I will share a taste of Pietra's singletrack story, and the wood-fired pizzas that follow. After that, I'll talk about the epic conditions we found at a recent enduro race in Pietra Ligure.
<h2>The trails</h2>
When compared to its world-famous neighbor over the hill in Finale Ligure, many of the trails in Pietra are longer and equally physical. From the top of Monte Carmo, at 1,389m, you have a number of amazing tracks to choose from that will either take you all the way to the sea, or to a fire road where you can pedal back to the top for shorter loops.
[caption id="attachment_260022" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260022 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/33677466108_84747f93e6_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> The Ancillotti team dialing in suspension settings for the new tracks.[/caption]
Two of the longest tracks in the area, Karma and Bric Tampa, are well detailed in <a href="https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/worldwide-shredlist-finale-ligure-italy-or-whistler-by-the-sea/">our earlier article about Finale</a>. Alongside those grand descents are the likes of Hiroshima Mon Amour and Curve de Livelo. Both of these newer trails were included in this year's Super Enduro, and both are worth a ride when you are in the area. They start from the main climbing/shuttle road called Colle de Giustenice and roll along nicely between the beech, pine, and oak trunks. The tracks are fairly similar, with rocky sections, several belly-dropping compressions, and tight twisty snakes through the trees toward the end. They both last roughly 10 minutes at race pace, and fall into a favored category of endurance descending.
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-260039" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/47554115671_0c0ba078e7_o-1170x836.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="836"> <img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-260035" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46830499774_03b9806df0_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780">
Other medium difficulty tracks include Tittalana, Rock 'N' Rolla, Oltre Finale, Hellboy, Dog Eat Dog, Sentiero del Fieno, and Aleluia. A few of these trails are shorter, many are rockier than the two mentioned above, and all are super fun. Depending on what you are accustomed to, these tracks might provide all of the technical descending challenges you are after. If you want to find the ledge of your skills and guts, hit up the folks at Hot Bikes for a tour of the region's most difficult descents.
[caption id="attachment_260033" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260033 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46830499444_a142638b57_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> This corner was one to session during practice, as the fast line was somewhat hidden. As usual, the quickest route was to start high and outside, dip squarely to the apex, then charge toward the exit.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_260029" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260029 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46638647275_f4e72ca360_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> Stages 1 and 2 were not quite twisty enough to require a nose press, but the dirt was so good that a lot of riders decided to play around in front of the camera.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_260028" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260028 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46638646835_3359284973_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> From these rocks, you can see the sea! Not that anyone stopped to look around during their single practice run. Fortunately, we can all come back and enjoy the view on a warmer day.[/caption]
<h2>Brief details</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pietraligureoutdoor.com/percorsi/">Trail and builder info</a></li>
<li>Bike shop, rental, and shuttle service: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hotbikes_pietraligure/?hl=en">Hot Bikes</a>, Via N. Sauro 46 Tel. +39.340.4574928</li>
<li>Best season: The trails are open year-round, with far lower prices and fewer tourists starting late autumn through early spring.</li>
<li>Free beaches on the sea: <a href="http://www.rintinbeach.com/">Rin Tin Beach (Dog friendly)</a>, San Pietro Beach</li>
<li>Camping: <a href="https://www.campingdeifiori.it/eng-italy-camping-liguria/index.php">Dei Fiori</a>, <a href="https://www.piandeiboschi.it/">Pian dei Boschi</a>, <a href="https://www.campingparkmara.it/">Park Mara</a></li>
<li>Food: Good luck finding bad food. Trofie al pest is a regional favorite.</li>
<li>Beer stop: <a href="https://www.ristoranteiguana.com/">Ristorante Iguana</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Superenduro Pietra Ligure</h2>
The Superenduro Pietra Ligure is what initially brought our attention to the trails here.
[caption id="attachment_260037" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260037 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46830502704_d8accfe2fc_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> Much of the older city is closed to automobiles, making it a great place to stroll around on your bike or feet.[/caption]
Italy's Super Enduro is one of the most well-attended gravity events in the world, and the 2019 opening event held in Pietra Ligure was no exception. The kickoff race for the series' 11th year in action hosted 405 riders from 16 nations around the globe. Track practice was appropriately limited to the Saturday prior to the event, and racers had a blast testing out the long and tricky ribbons on offer. It rained the evening before practice after almost two months of dusty trails, making for supreme tread conditions.
[caption id="attachment_260027" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260027 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46638646545_7d152d2fbd_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> Italian national enduro champ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexlupato/">Alex Lupato</a> testing the stone grip on practice day.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_260038" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260038 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46835882714_8c529a0877_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> Chilly race day rains had most racers taking shelter until their turn on the start platform.[/caption]
Race day brought a turn of events, with spring deciding to remind us all that it was not yet summer by dumping a few inches of snow atop the ridge throughout the morning. Riders shuttled to the saddle between Finale and Pietra Ligure and climbed west among the frozen flakes. The ride from the shuttle dropoff point to the top of stage 1 could be pedaled in 40 minutes or less on a warm day, but racers had 1.5 hrs to make the transition in the snow. Many spent part of that time huddled in a fortress above the dropoff point.
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-260040" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/47559613211_39f76681ce_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780">
[caption id="attachment_260021" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260021 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/32616984087_42ed348348_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> The long and slow transition quickly showed who came prepared, and who needed to descend directly to their cars.[/caption]
After the first few categories had slid into their places at the bottom of stage one, all of the riders were called back to the race paddock for a change of plans. The original call was to get everyone back to town, and riders who wanted to continue could race the final two stages which started well below the snow line.
By the time everyone returned to town, four racers had already been taken to the hospital with hypothermia, and the rescue team was growing thin. The organizers, race officials, and medical staff decided to call the first-ever race cancellation in the 11-year-long Super Enduro legacy. A good number of pro riders who had traveled to the event with EWS qualifying hopes were quite perturbed by the decision, but the team in charge made the right call for the health and safety of everyone involved. We will all live to race another day.
<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-260024" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/33677466488_14ff08dc66_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780">
[caption id="attachment_260031" align="alignnone" width="1170"]<img class="wp-image-260031 size-large" src="https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/46830498324_faa2048470_o-1170x780.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="780"> Super Enduro founder Enrico Guala sharing all of the info. Look for our interview with Guala on the history of the European born race genre in the coming weeks.[/caption]
[/feature]](https://images.singletracks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Barb_Wire.jpg)
