October arrived and finally, the time came to go mountain biking on Karpathos. Those of you who follow us on Instagram have seen that this was planned before, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen until 2 times. The first time because of clouds and the other time, because I was in bed with a migraine.

Alas, but today was the day! With much enthusiasm and a little bit of panic (mountain biking on Karpathos is nothing compared to biking in our flat Netherlands!) we went to Pigadia this morning. First breakfast at En Plo and then on to ION.

Mountainbiking on Karpathos

When you go mountain biking on Karpathos you start the tour at the store of ION Club in Pigadia. We also start here where we meet Jirka and Nick. Jirka is our guide. He knows the most beautiful places of Karpathos and regularly explores the island by mountain bike. Nick photographs for ION and is with us to take pictures. Perfect, because it saves me a lot of hassle and that way I can concentrate on mountain biking.

After picking out the right mountain bike and helmet, it’s time for a lesson in mountain biking. How do those gears work and how do you cycle on such a thing! Fortunately, Jirka knows everything so we can set off safely.

Church route

There are several routes you can choose to ride. We did a bit of a hodgepodge. We started with the Church route. This starts just outside the center of Pigadia to then mountain bike towards Amoopi and Menetes. As the route says you make a beautiful route along about 12 churches on Karpathos. You really pass the most beautiful viewpoints and see Karpathos in a completely different way. Just like hiking on Karpathos, wonderful!

We don’t ride the Church route all the way, because Jirka shows us something else toward the end. Namely, there are also some mountain bike courses for the real pros. Elevation, curves, wooden bridges, you name it! Part of it is already finished, but it needs to be much bigger.

Practical information

Vincent in particular was a total fan of mountain biking. His condition is also a bit better than mine haha! I loved the route, but also found the cycling quite scary. One part you ride on asphalt and another part you ride on unpaved roads. Especially downhill I found this terrifying, because you go super fast. And you have to be careful when braking, because of all the loose stones on the road. Ah fine, I rode quietly behind Vincent and Jirka who didn’t seem to have any problem with it.

It is important to keep in mind that mountain biking is very different from a bit of cycling in the Netherlands. I would therefore also advise most to go for the easiest route or possibly the Church route. This has some tough sections uphill, but you also go downhill several times.

Good shoes and a comfortable outfit are a must. And don’t forget to bring water!

About ION Club on Karpathos

ION Club is a company that has established itself in several parts of the world. The company mainly offers wind and kitesurfing activities, but for some years now they have been engaged in others. Looking for sporting activities on Karpathos? ION Club is the place to be!

They once started with windsurfing, but now ION Club on Karpathos is much more than that. They offer yoga classes, climbing and mountain biking. Weekly they also have barbecue parties, where everyone is welcome.

Want to know more about ION Club? Check out their website here.