Beautiful Brasov! Part Three: A weekend of Killer Mountain Biking! (July 5th and 6th)

On Saturday, I found my way to a small bike shop in the center of town, where I rented a mountain bike for the weekend. I had a nice time chatting with Adriana, the young woman who rented the bike to me and spoke perfect English--she lived in the UK for several years. It also turns out that her mother was exactly my age!! But her mother NEVER got on a mountain bike, and would certainly never have even considered the grueling rides that I did BOTH days!

So it was that I left Andriana's shop, following her instructions, and heading--from downtown Brasov--directly for the lovely mountains due south. This destination is VERY popular amongst the locals, who mostly DRIVE to a park at the foot of these mountains, picnic and play near the stream running by. For the more hardcore, there is the dirt and gravel road to follow, which is where I went. AND which is basically impossible to climb without e-assist, as I quickly found out!! I was passed repeatedly by bikes that were the e-assist variety... I myself had to walk a fair distance, pushing my old-fashioned, clunky mountain bike up the very steep climb! 

Adriana had told me the suggested ride to the top of this trail was 3 hours round trip. NOT a chance!!! Not without that electric motor, to be sure! It took me 4 hours--counting my lunch stop by the stream--just to reach the summit, and I thought I would plotz, big time!! Also, sadly, I missed the view that was supposedly at the very top...it was too confusing as to which trail to take to the view point, and I was utterly spent. So it goes... 
Still, it was quite fun--and utterly harrowing!!--flying back down that hill, which I managed in about 45 minutes!

Boy, was I ever wiped out that eve...but I slept well, awoke refreshed on Sunday, and came up with a new plan: to follow a paved road this time when heading for the mountains. My new destination was Poiana Brasov, a ski resort town, 12 km. distant. It was, once again, a "killer" ride, with a very steep incline...but this time, it was at least rideable the whole way. I had to stop and rest a few times... my back, legs and butt were all aching terribly!  But... I am happy report that I was once again triumphant, after another 3 hour climb! What was even MORE gratifying was the fact that I kept getting passed by city buses with bike racks (full of bikes) on the back of them... clearly, VERY few riders tackled that hill, preferring to take the bus up and ONLY ride back DOWN that huge hill!!  And here was I, a "senior", going up and up on my OWN power, unassisted by ANY form of engine!! 

This time, the ride back down was a little less fun: there was a lot of traffic by then, making me quite nervous!  Still, it was worth it...all in all, it was truly a glorious experience! 


I pose at one of the vista points... on the way back down the mountain! You can see the town of Brasov in the background. 




The lavish ski resort in Poiana Brasov...where I reached on Sunday's ride. 


Apparently, it is a very popular destination for skiiers in the winter...but also popular as a resort for hikers in the summer. (And bicyclists!)


                                             More shots of the town, on my way down: 







This was the dirt track I followed on Saturday. Hard to see, but there is a little waterfall in the background here. The forest I rode through was quite cool and lovely! 


Some pretty flowers in the forest, with both bee and butterfly obtaining sustenance from them! 






 

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