IBP INDEX

What is IBP index?

The IBP index is an automatic valuation system that scores the hardness of a mountain bike, road bike, hiking or running trail.

This index is very useful to know the difficulty of different trails by comparing them.

It is very important not to confuse the difficulty of a trail with the effort that will take us to realize it: an IBP index of 60 will be a very hard trail for a debutant, normal for someone with a medium preparation and very easy for a professional.

  Suffering or efforts of a trail = fitness + race pace + climatologic conditions + IBP

The index is obtained by analyzing the latitude, longitude and height data registered by a GPS device. The distances done in the different sections of ups and downs (1%, 2%,3%,4%,etc..), the total ascended and descended meters, average ratios of climb and descend, the mileage of height and the ramps’ distribution are taken into account.

Applying a standardized mathematic formula you obtain a punctuation between 0 and infinite. This punctuation is 100% objective because it doesn’t take into account subjective values such as climatology, the fitness or the race pace.

The system detects automatically how the trail has been made. Therefore, the difficulty index that is going to be obtained will be followed by the following abbreviations: BYC for cycling trails, HKG for hiking trails and RNG for running trails.

It is also possible to obtain de IBP index of a trail drawn in a map manually, as long as the trail points contain the height. In this case the index will be followed by the abbreviations DRW. However, the index obtained this way won’t have the same reliability, due to the precision mistakes when marking the points or altitude mesh’s mistakes.

Information retreived from 
http://www.ibpindex.com/index.php/en/

AITANA ACTION VIDEO

Hi again mates...!

As we did at the begining of this week, today we're bringing you a new action video.

This one is filmed in Aitana during our last route over there. You can remember it in this link, and don't forget that we also posted another Aitana's route on the hiking section that you can see here.  

The video shows the path that goes from "Font de L'anouer" to Aitana's lunar landscape, right on top of Partagat recreational area.

I can only say that it's an amazing feeling enjoying this privileged environment with friends and your lovely bicycle ;-)

Don't hesitate to discover Aitana either by MTB or hiking, both are splendid choices. 

From marinabaixamtb&hiking we encorage you to spend a day in Aitana.

Enjoy the video and remember you're part of this blog with your comments.

MAS DEL OFICIAL; MAS DE LA CARRASCA; COVA MOSCARDA; PONOIG; COLLADO DEL LLAMP; COLL DE POUET

Hi you all...!

There're many possible routes at Puig Campana and surroundings. You can connect trails, pathes and adjust the route to your likes.

In this occasion I offer you a circular route which is formed by joining different trails and pathes.

We start at Mas del Oficial where you can park your car (there is enough space to park 5 o 6 cars).

Mas del Oficial

CIRCULAR ROUTE IN SELLA (FONT DE L'ARC; GOLERÓ; FONT DE L'ARC)

Hi hikers...!

Today we're going for a walk in Sella crossing Pas de Goleró, an spectacular mountain pass. The route is about 2 hours long and its suitable for all levels.

We start the route at Font de L'arc, a place where many people meet: climbers, hikers, bikers... or people who just go to spend the day with family or friends.

The ascent trail lead us to an area locally known as La Sirventa, where we'll walk among climbing areas and beautiful landscapes.

Sirventa

View of Puig Campana from sirventa

View of Puig Campana from sirventa

On top of the trail we'll be close to Pas de Goleró. If you have some time left this is the right place to stop to have lunch (you must be very quick if you don't want to run out of shadow). From here you will enjoy the great views of the entire valley, climbers into action and hikers doing the same route as we or connecting with other routes by Pas de Goleró.

On top of Pas de Goleró

Pas de Goleró

Pas de Goleró

Climbing area (views from Pas de Goleró)

Once we have rested we'll go across Pas de Goleró, an spectacular zigzag pass which goes trough the mountain.

Pas de Goleró

Pas de Goleró

Watch out with the stones on the path and enjoy it.

After Pas de Goleró we'll cross an old house which is close to the main and the return trail.

Near to the main trail to return

Beautiful rock formations

The return goes by a wide trail until Font de L'arc, of course with spectacular landscapes.

Here you've some additional pictures and the usual track picture.

Sirventa views

Panoramic views of the valley

Track's picture

A short route but is worth to do it slowly.

LINK TO THE TRACK

MOUNT PONOCH

Good evening readers!! 

Today I'm going to show you a fantastic route to enjoy these Easter days with your family and friends. I'm talking about Mount Ponoch, in Polop. 

To start the route you have to go to Sueño Kiosco Bar, near Polop (to found how to arrive from your address click here). 

Mount Ponoch from topwalks.net

Once you're at Sueño Kiosco Bar, you'll see an information poster with the route you'll follow, the signals you have to follow are the yellow and white ones on the trees, rocks... which indicates that this track is a small travel. 

The difficulty of the route is easy because it has a small ramp until you start since you reach the top. 

Mount Ponoch from topwalks.net

The complete route will take you 5 hours and a half, but it depends the stops you want to have. I recommended wearing boots, cap, sunglasses, camera, a bag with water and some food like nuts, energy bars... Even though there are some water points during the track. 

When you reach the top of the mountain you will see a view like this: 

View from the top of Mount Ponoch by topwalks.net

 Do you dare to see it in live? I encourage you!!

 

AITANA; SELLA AND FINESTRAT (75KM)

Hi again biker!

Today I'm showing you a route longer than usual but it's worth enough. We are talking about circular route of Aitana.

In the hiking area my mate Ana talked about Aitana but in this case we're doing it on an mountain bike.

The route starts in Finestrat, on the usual point. I meet my friends near to Orcheta and we go to Aitana through Sella.

Orcheta

El CANTAL; PLAYA DEL CHARCO AND VILLAJOYOSA

Hello bikers!!!

How to describe "El Cantal"... mmm It's like a gruyere cheese!!!

Well, our route don`t go straight to Cantal, before we cross an area named "Los Noruegos". This area prepare us for Cantal... Is an small hill with funny paths where warming up while enjoying it.

"Los Noruegos"

MAS DE LA CARRASCA; BUDAS AND OMBRÍA DE LOS CASTELLETS

Hi guys, let's continue discovering Marina Baixa...

In this route some friends have joined us to spend the morning doing what we like...

We've started on the main roundabout in Finestrat (we have started others routes on this place before). From here we've left to Castellets, a well-known place to connect other trails. Here it comes the new part of today's route.

It consists in a loop that takes us to visit "Mas de la Carrasca", an old hamlet where all the bikers stop to re-energize ourselves and to look at the incredible landscape

Mas de la Carrasca

ORCHETA, SELLA AND SURROUNDINGS

Hi bikers!!!

Today's route starts at "Rio Anchero" where there is enough place to park 2 or 3 cars. 

"Rio Anchero"

  

MAS DE LA MONJA AND CAUTIVADOR'S HILL

Hello again guys!!!

Today we come to Cautivador Hill in La Nucia. 

In our tour we'll cycle  along the "Mas de la Monja" area, visiting "The oncle Roig's cave", a great point where you can recover eating something.

Trail to the Oncle Roig's Cave

LLAMP'S HILL AND NORTH FACE OF PUIG CAMPANA

Freshly baked!

Let's continue with the Puig Campana sorroundings. This time we we'll cross Castellets' crest and Llamp's Hill. This route isn't very long but full of extras. You'll find tough climbs, technical pathes and spectacular views.