Far out in the Atlantic Ocean there is an archipelago called the Azores Island. The biggest of them, Sao Miguel, is also called “Ihla Verde” – the green island. It is overgrown by thick, rain forest like, vegetation and known for its waterfalls, hot springs, and gorgeous views. For the Alpinebiking Crew all that was promising an unforgettable trip with some beautiful mountainbike trail riding.

Well, “unforgettable” in a few ways… not acclimatized to jungle-like conditions the constant rain and the extreme humidity was a challenge itself. Also, the trails suffer a lot fromthe water – slippery roots all over, deep ruts and mud holes deep enough to swallow an entire wheel asked for controlled and cautious, yet brave and committing riding. However, they found a few real gems: Beautiful single trails winding through the jungle and ridges above the cost providing fantastic views over this remarkable place.

In the end a tuna steak or a dip in one of the many bathing sites along the cost always compensated for the harsh riding conditions.

Crew: Liz Zimmer, Debora Seger, Fabian Spindler, KonstantinSeger, Max Draeger

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