Mountainbike Bulgaria 2014

[ozy.ba]

Before I introduce myself I'd like to say Hi to the forum members!

I represent a small group of three guys from Bosnia and Serbia and we have plan to visit Bulgaria in a month.
The plan is to reach the highest peaks of Rila and Pirin if we have enough time, and of course, ride as many trails as we can!
We have made preliminary plans that include climbing Musala from Sofia and Borovets and descending to the south, towards Bansko.
From this point, Bansko, we have some doubts regarding reaching the South of Bulgaria and reaching Thessaloniki in Greece.
I will probably have more than few questions, but for the beginning here are two for the beginning:
How about crossing Pirin mountains? Has anyone crossed Pirin in the North-South direction and is ther any suggestion about the path we should take?
If this is too complicated (I have previously stated the time is not on our time), what are the possibilities for transfer from Bansko to Thessaloniki by some kind of public transportation, train, bus shuttle...?
OK, this is the third one: are railways in Bulgaria mountainbike-friendly? Is it possible to enter the train with a mountainbike and wide handlebars?
I forgot to emphasize: we travel by mountainbikes, helmets and backpacks only! Carying a bike is not an issue since we have already climbed many rough peaks with the bikes on our backs.
I also invite you to visit http://www.mtb.ba, our home website where you can find detailed information about mountainbiking in Bosnia and Herzegovina!

Thank you in advance!

[4getcredo]

Hi Ozy,

Welcome to our forum and congratulations for the idea. First of all you can take a look at the http://bgmountains.org/en/maps/category/4- BGMountains Garmin compatible map. Up to now this it the most accurate and detailed tourist map of Rila and Pirin. It is a good starting point for orientation.

As for your idea to cross Rila and Pirin there are a plenty of small details to be clarified, especially in Pirin - its highest parts are very difficult if not impossible to ride with a bike - mostly you will carry them in both directions. You will need very careful planning to arrange some truly meaningful routes there. I did not understand one thing from your explanation: do you intend to ride the transnational route E4 which follows Rila and Pirin's crest and which is mostly suitable for hiking while some of the most interesting places to ride bike in Rila and Pirin are off of this track. To me it will make more sense if you spend 1 to 2 days in the higher mountain and a night low, then go to another low starting point with public transport and so on... This way you will be able to get more riding and less torture

For most of the time you will not have problems with the trains. It depends but most of them are ready to transport bikes. The same is valid for the bus lines.

There are lot of other things to be said, but we can start from here.

[ozy.ba]

Thank you, 4getcredo!

We had no clue there were such detailed Garmin maps for Bulgarian mountains! Thanks for the link!
I can see maps are well-detailed and routable, how accurate and reliable are they?
Since we plan also to reach Mt. Olympus in Greece there is not much time and we are looking for the way to spare few days. It would be stupid not to go sightseeing Sofia as well as Thessaloniki...So, are you trying to point out that Pirin is maybe more suitable for hiking? In this case we'll probably set course to the West after descending Rila and try to catch train to take us South.
I am going to ask for few more answers, hope you do not mind.
I can see there are many shelters, huts and mountain houses in the mountains. Are they crowded, or, shell I say, Is there a chance that we do not find the place to sleep during the summertime because huts ale full? I believe water in the mountains is not the issue?
What's the mobile networks' coverage in the mountains?
I forgot to mention, we will enter Bulgaria from Serbia after climbing Serbia's highest peak. Then we'll ride to Sofia and It would be great if we could visit some famous bike parks around. Any suggestion which one? Just for a day so we can relax, ride some trails around and have few beers.

Cheers!

[4getcredo]

Thank you, 4getcredo!
I can see maps are well-detailed and routable, how accurate and reliable are they?

As I said this is the most accurate and detailed map of Rila and Pirin I know. You can count on it. However it is conceived as a hiking map not for mtbiking and once you make your choices you can consult it with us. There are marked paths which are perfect for riding and others which are not so much.

Usually huts and shelters are crowded in the weekends. There is quite a big chance to have no problems if you ride during the working week. Mobile coverage in the high and open areas of the mountains is not a problem.

Around Sofia there are plenty of mtb routes - from difficult DH courses to nice and scenery XC rides. http://www.mtb-bg.com/index.php/other/o ... sha-routes Especially on the northern slopes you can spend 2-3 days riding different paths and routes. The descend from the Black peak of the Vitosha mountain is a must (http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fnshbchnqyoerjyr or http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=gyiynoiklzdssswd.

There is another bike park close to Sofia in Borovets: http://www.borovets-bg.com/bg/map/

[ozy.ba]

What's the weather like these days in Bulgaria?
We have recently experienced some unusual occurrences in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia. A lot of rainfalls, floods, even snowfalls. The highest peaks in Bosnia still have snow caps.
Can we expect similar occurrences in Rila or Pirin during first days in July? Can we expect snow on the trails maybe?

[4getcredo]

The same as in your parts - raining everyday - not so hard (as in Bosna and Serbia) though. If you plan to cross Rila via Musala, there still will be snow for sure. There are forum members who live in Samokov and they can tell more about the present situation.

[milestone]

View from Tashmandra peak (Rila, 2162 m.) from last saturday - northern slope of Kabul peak (2531 m.) in the right and Zeleni rid in the middle.

DSC05449-531.jpg

(486.88 KiB) 292 пъти

http://webcams.bg/bg/webcam_vrah-musala-_2925-m.69.html - webcamera on Musala peak - you can rotate it with the yellow arrows.

[ozy.ba]

Since you said mobile networks coverage was good, I'd like to know what's the procedure for obtaining the most affordable SIM card that can provide us with mobile internet? Any recommendations? What's the cost and what do we get for the price?

[Ивайло]

Since you said mobile networks coverage was good, I'd like to know what's the procedure for obtaining the most affordable SIM card that can provide us with mobile internet? Any recommendations? What's the cost and what do we get for the price?

That's easy! You can buy a prepaid mobile internet SIM card for peanuts . Once in Sofia, just take your passport and go to one of the numerous offices of the mobile service providers. Check some of them here or here.

[buran]

well, about mobile coverage in the mountains - note that there are large areas with poor or no coverage. Also in some areas in th mountains there may be coverage from one mobile operator, but not from the other(s). Also even if there is voice service, mobile internet may be slow or missing (i.e. so slow that there is no real use of it except maybe check your e-mail).

that's just my two cents.

[ozy.ba]

Great!
What I was looking for was the simplest and the cheapest way to stay in touch with the rest of the world.
This Globul's Service GoWeb500 for 9.90 BGN sounds OK. It doesn't matter if the reception is low somewhere in the mountains. We only expect to have stable connection once we are in populated places which is, I believe, not to difficult to have.

Thanks!

[ozy.ba]

We also plan to visit Sofia and go sightseeing. In case we spend more time sightseeing than we planned is there a possibility to climb Vitosha by cable car? I have seen this lift in the part of the city called Simeonovo. Is it functional? What are the working hours, do they accept bikes on board? We plan to spend night somewhere on Vitosha. Any recommendation for a mountain hut to stay at Vitosha?

[Vatman]

I have not used it recently but according to the operator's site the Simeonovo cabin lift works 9-17 hrs
http://www.skivitosha.com/index?id=1685&lang=bg

the one-way pass for adult is 8 lv (4 EUR) plus 4 lv (2 EUR) for bike or dog

The lift reaches Aleko ski centre where you can find accomodation easily during workdays.

[ozy.ba]

I am checking Sofia-Thessaloniki train schedule and wondering if this schedule is reliable? We plan to catch this train in Blagoevgrad and then go South. What's the chance that we have problem getting our bikes on board? This will probably be a working day, hope train won't be crowded...
And, by the way, is this rain going to stop finally so we can have a decent summer?!!

[outfaced]

Bus will be a better choice i think. Or at least you can try it before the train ... Will be faster and comfortable if there is a place for the bikes.
Bus station - http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=42.01 ... 5&z=18&m=b
Buses to Thessaloniki are in 09:45 and 21:45 but to be sure must check on site.

[ozy.ba]

Thanks for the tip!
We were also considering buses, but how we can put our bikes with wide bars in the bus? Do they have additional compartment for such cargo?
To be honest, train travelling produces more stress as you always have to keep eye on your bike....Maybe we should go for bus.

[outfaced]

Its not a problem to fit down there a bike ... even more then two.

But is not officially regulated. You must first be lucky that is not already full with luggage and then its up to a bus driver (can ask you to pay few more for the bikes).

[ozy.ba]

I always wonder what are those used for!
To be honest, I have never had good experience with bus drivers when we talk about fitting the bike in the luggage compartment. They always try to make more money from poor cyclists
Hope this won't be a scenario on our journey...

[Ozzie]

Sometime drivers may be very kind to foreigners.
But not many of them speak english, so better use your language. It's very similar to our.

[ozy.ba]

That's great to hear!
I meet Bulgarians very often during mountaineering trips in Montenegro and we always use our own languages with no difficulties
I know we won't have any issues in Bulgaria, Greece might be interesting regarding language barrier. But, we'll see.

[ozy.ba]

Can anyone give us some recommendation regarding where to sleep in Vitosha? Is there a decent hut or shelter that can be used to sleep? We have sleeping bags so we are not looking for luxury if you know what I mean.
How about Rila? Any recommendation for similar accommodation on our way from Borovets to Musala and further, to the south?
I have seen this Grunchar hut. Looks nice. Is it open on workdays? Can we stay there for a night and for what cost?
Thanks.

[outfaced]

In Rila all major Huts are open in the high season and you will get hot meal and a bed. On workdays is even better - not so crowdy.

[4getcredo]

For Vitosha I would recommend you Edelweiss hut (http://www.tourism-bg.net/hiji/251_hija_edelvais.html) - very nice place with kind hosts and delicious food. They know and like bikers. For Grunchar I can say the same. They both work non-stop The prices are around 10 leva per bed in all tourist huts.

[ozy.ba]

We have arrived to Sofia, currently sightseeing...
Anyone knows working hours of Simeonovo cabin lift?
I have found different info regarding working hours, one site says the lift is on only on friday, saturday and sunday, other site says it works every day...So, does it work on tuesday?