European Member Check In

[Jerk_Chicken]

I figured just so we get to know one another here, one of these threads could be useful.

This thread can help us find other riders in our area, military bases, or those familiar with the areas.

I'm out in Dresden, but go back and forth monthly to NRW. From the US

[Dazed]

Checking in from Sarpsborg, Norway.

[serfur1]

Northeast Italy, Vicenza to be exact.

[Jonesy33]

I live in Heidelberg right now, but will soon move to Kaiserslautern.

I'm in the US Army, married with kids, pets etc. etc. I ride mostly 29er, tyhough I do still have a 26er... for the time being. I ride SS, geared fully rigid, full-suspension... whatever, just ride.

[crisillo]

I am Costa Rican and checking in from Saarbrücken, Germany (about 1 hour away from Kaiserslautern )

[perttime]

Tampere, Finland.

no mountains here, but lots of forest trails with smaller ups and downs.
I've been mainly riding SS, recently, but should really take a look at my Big Bike too...

[-Calvin-]

Norwegian in Vicenza, Italy

[hbakken]

Checking in from Hokksund (near Oslo), Norway.

[Corvette]

Slovenia, check.

[marty_hd]

Riding in and around Heidelberg, Germany on SS 29ers.

[dropadrop]

Helsinki, southern Finland...

[cxfahrer]

Leipzig Eastgermany - look here for our local thread.

[boredwitless]

Lausanne, Switzerland, next to the Alps, Jura...

[Taylor_Made]

Zaragoza,northeast Spain....close to the Monegros desert.

[Bomber70]

I check in from Vicenza...and I see that we are at least three checking from here...

[dbarrett]

I'm American, in Vienna...getting to know the area better by riding in local XC races and various marathons around Austria.

[Cholopolitan]

Sintra to be more precise.

[rinseflow]

Pori, Finland checking in.

Nothing resembling a mountain here, not even close, but at least we have small dunes that are frozen solid in the winter.

[Bomber70]

Pori, Finland checking in.

Nothing resembling a mountain here, not even close, but at least we have small dunes that are frozen solid in the winter.

Hi,
Do you have up there some MTB race like the "thousand lakes rally"?

[rinseflow]

Hi,
Do you have up there some MTB race like the "thousand lakes rally"?

I'll need to think about that. I don't think anything compares. Definitely nothing that big exists.

Päitsi is the closest thing I can come up with right now, but that's mx not mtb. Hmmm..

[Bomber70]

I'll need to think about that. I don't think anything compares. Definitely nothing that big exists.

Päitsi is the closest thing I can come up with right now, but that's mx not mtb. Hmmm..

Being yours a country of GREAT drivers, I hope sooner or later a couple of interesting international MTB competitions should come out!

Paaitsi

[rinseflow]

Being yours a country of GREAT drivers, I hope sooner or later a couple of interesting international MTB competitions should come out!

Paaitsi

I sure hope we do get big weekend long MTB events. That'd be awesome.

Some pics from Päitsi last year. If only we had something similar for MTB... damn.

[perttime]

This may well be the biggest Finnish MTB event:
http://www.tahkomtb.fi/index?page=5
an endurance race that some take seriously, some less so. 25, 45, 60, 120 and 180km races. The English and Estonian pages only have contact information...

... I am sick at home today. Let's see if I can translate some samples from the Tahko MTB FAQ...
1. My neighbor says I'm an awsome rider. Can I take on the 180km distance?

- What the neighbor says doesn't actually prevent you from entering the 180km race. For the Full Distance, you have to write an application stating adequate facts to convince us you can survive such madness. Agreement from your SO (in writing) also has an important role in deciding whether you qualify or not.

2. My friend says that it is impossible to make Tahko MTB on the bike I have. He says I need to buy his old bike.

- Sounds like he needs money for something. Tahko MTB 60km route has been done on 32" monowheel, kickbike, garden variety trekking bikes. One couple did two laps on a rigid tandem (but don't plan to repeat the experience). It is not about the bike. Attitude... you may need an attitude.

[rinseflow]

Yeah, Tahko is probably the biggest.

Then there's Lohja 24hrs, but that's much easier trails I believe. Never been there so no first hand experience. Riding it solo would still be tough for sure.

[Sunnmax]

From france for my part,

Paris and Saint Tropez are my loops