Savage commute to work // 53 km each way!

I had this special idea in my head for a while and it was about time to make my move: cycle to work to Budapest in the morning and then cycle back home in the aftrenoon. It was definitely the longest commute by bike I ever done!

It's a nice 53 km long trip each way. It is flat enough and mostly on good roads. Luckily I picked a nice day for it, so it was a pleasant journey I have to say. 

Back home after work

Now, the 53 km isn't an impressive distance at all I think but to have it done twice...on my XC bike...and both ways just under the 2 hours barrier definitely felt like something that I would call "a productive day". :) 

It was a good cycle and I would love to do it again some time!! 

Thursday evening staff spin // HHH, Budapest

It's nice to finish work, get up to the mountains and go for a mountain bike ride with you colleagues. This is exactly what happened this evening: we had a nice MTB spin with the lads from the office. 

The destination was the well known and famous HHH in Budapest. It is a lovely spot indeed and on the top of that riding there was a blast from the past for me. Have been racing so many times on these trails and it was absolutely brilliant to ride them again!!

Luckily the weather was good also which was a gift considering the crazy weather that we've seen lately. Nice to be lucky, isn't it? :) 

Sunset in the Pilis mountains

So, I'm only back home and still buzzing after this short but fun spin. Great mountains, savage trails, cood company...what more you could wish for? Oh, I know! A dinner would be nice, so I'm off to grab something nice to eat! Happy out!! :)

Back to the old trails // XC spin around Budapest

 

 

I'm spending 10 days holiday back in Hungary now and after 8 years I managed to have a proper mountain bike spin with my old racing buddy Gergely Torma. Luckily my family home is only about 45 minutes drive from Budapest, so I hopped in to the car and off I went on Friday morning to meet him at his workplace.

 

 

My machine for the day: Giant Anthem - massive thanks to Alpinbike for this brilliant bike

 

Old friends catching up, it's always great indeed. After we got everything ready we were on our way to hit some of the coolest trails around Budapest and to re-live many of our 10 years old racing memories together.

 

 

The Dudes :)

 

 

As an experienced tour guide my mate knew all the local trails & all the hidden shortcuts. It was absolutely deadly! Rocking on the old XC race course, getting all the 'aul rocky climbs done and havin' great fun on the super-mega-uber steep descents! And as a bonus we did all this in about 25 degrees! Can't beat it! :)

 

 

The best view on a Friday morning

 

The machines are resting whilst we picked up some fresh water

 

Little bit of a climb

 

On the top of the climb

 



Another great spot, was slippery though

 

There was a wooden door behind me, next time we should check it out what's behind it :)

 

The Two Pedros AKA. The Skinny Ones :)

 

 

So, there is only one thing I can say about this spin, or... actually there's loads more than only one thing! It was brilliant!! Simply amazing to ride on all those trails and visit all those places where I haven't been for so long. I used to do my training spins around these mountains and to visit and recognise the trails, the climbs, the drops was just simply priceless to me. And to be able to do all this with an old friend made the spin even more special! I hope we can do spins like this in the future! 

 

I'd like to say thank you to the Aplinbike bike shop ( www.alpinbike.hu ) for the demo bike for the day, I really appreciate your help guys! Also massive thanks to my mate Gergely Torma for sorting out all this for me!

 

We had a great Alpinbike - Team ThinkBike spin around Budapest and I'm hoping to pull an even better Team ThinkBike - Alpinbike spin together in the Wicklow Mountains some day soon!