Technical fundamentals session on forest track
Closed morning session on posture, foot position on the pedal, eye line, two-finger braking and basic cornering on wide track. No committed lines: this is where the rest of the week is built.
Camps
Mountain bike
MTB School in the Sierra de Madrid
A one-week MTB immersion with a fixed base in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Progressive technique, real trails, and terrain where you measure your progress day by day.
From 690 € /person
No commitment · We design it with you
§02 — The place
Learn to ride the lines that used to scare you
A week in the Sierra de Guadarrama lets you literally see yourself improve. On Monday you brake nervously down a pine-forest descent; by Friday you flow through the same section without thinking. The range gives nothing for free: La Pedriza's granite, Cuerda Larga's punchy climbs and the forest tracks of the Valle del Lozoya teach you, step by step, what a wheel does when you trust it.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Fixed base one hour from Madrid
It's not a stage raid with different accommodations every night. You arrive at the base, unpack, and sleep in the same place all week. Body recovers better, head too.
- 02
Regulated and respected terrain
The National Park caps groups at 15 bikes in high-protection zones and requires authorised trails only. That kills crowding, hiker conflict, and the bad taste of riding where you shouldn't.
- 03
Real progression, not stand-alone rides
Each day builds on the previous one: technical fundamentals, cornering braking, weight on the pedal, terrain reading. By Friday you automatically solve things that blocked you on Monday.
- 04
Variety of terrain within 30 km
Clean granite in La Pedriza, dense pinewoods in Valsaín, long forest track in Lozoya, broken pitches on Cuerda Larga. Four different surfaces without leaving the base — unmatched teaching material.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Adventure Ecotourism
Right fit if you already handle the bike (you can set off rolling, brake with two fingers, descend a forest track) and want to step up to singletrack with criteria: posture, weight, eye line, cornering braking. Also if you're coming back to MTB after years of road and need to reset your technique.
Not for you if this is your first time on a mountain bike — for pure beginner immersion, look for a short guided ride with a local, not an intensive week. Also not if you're chasing shuttled enduro and pure downhill: the Sistema Central has mellower, flowy profiles than the Pyrenees or Picos de Europa. If you want long technical descent, look at hubs in the Pyrenees or Asturias.
No commitment · We design it with you
§05 — What you can live
What the camp includes
An editorial showcase of what the destination offers. Nothing to book here - we shape it when you write to us.
Adventure
— The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.
Introductory singletrack in Valsaín pinewood
First contact with narrow singletrack on compacted pine duff. Short distances, repeats, focus on sustained speed and reading soft obstacles before stepping up to granite.
La Pedriza ride: granite and rocky corners
A day in the Manzanares Regional Park. Clean granite surface, defined lines and corners where braking and eye line decide. Capped to small groups by regulation.
Long climb to Puerto de la Morcuera
Endurance and effort-management session. Mellow climb on road/track to the pass and technical descent by trail. Heart-rate work rather than pure technique.
Long forest track in the Valle del Lozoya
Multi-hour ride on wide track and firm surface between Rascafría, the Monasterio del Paular and Las Presillas. Ideal for endurance, conversation and consolidating posture.
Technical descent session with repeats
Short afternoon: a 200-400 m section with rocks, roots or banked corners is chosen and ridden several times analysing lines and weight distribution. Quickest way to progress without piling on kilometres.
Small-group ride along Cuerda Larga
Half-day traverse along the Guadarrama backbone. Broken pitches, views over the Pinilla reservoir and the Fuenfría valley. Only if the group is riding well — reserved for the end of the week.
Gear
— Backpack essentials: boots, layers, headlamp, and the basics.Backpack essentials: boots, layers, headlamp, and the basics.
Basic mechanical check on arrival
Full check of your bike on day one: brake pads, tyre pressure, suspension, drivetrain, critical bolts. Catching now what could ruin the week mid-descent.
Basic maintenance theory session
A short afternoon: changing a tube on the trail, adjusting a disc brake, fixing a broken chain with a chain tool. Knowing how to get yourself out of trouble without waiting for rescue.
Food & drink
— Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.
Recovery meal on return
Hearty sierra cooking: judiones (large white beans) from La Granja, grilled meats, Castilian soup. No pretension — what the body asks for after four hours of pedalling.
Where to sleep
— Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.
Fixed base in a sierra village
Lodging in a village close to the routes (Cercedilla, Rascafría, Manzanares el Real or similar). En-suite room, dinner at the end of the day and a light morning before heading out to ride.
Nature
— Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.
Viewpoint and break at Monasterio del Paular
Tech stop with context: 14th-century Cistercian monastery, 18th-century Puente del Perdón and the Lozoya meanders. 20-30 minutes to eat something and dry off.
Swim at Las Presillas after the ride
Natural pools on the Lozoya, cold water that reboots the legs after a long ride. Spring-summer only, respecting the National Park visitor caps.
30-60 min away
— Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.
Free afternoon in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Cultural break mid-week. Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo, UNESCO World Heritage site, and historic centre to stretch the legs without pedalling.
Quick visit to the Santillana reservoir
At the foot of the 15th-century Castillo de Manzanares el Real with La Pedriza's silhouette behind. 30-40 minutes on the way back from a ride to put the scale of the landscape in context.
§06 — The practical side
Camp practicalities
- Best season
- Spring · Autumn
- Fitness level
- Moderate
- Typical length
- 4-7 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Medium-high fitness: able to ride 3-4 h per day with 600-1,000 m of accumulated climbing, several days in a row. Speed isn't required, but volume is. If you're coming from the road, your body and hands will hurt more than you expect for the first 48 h.
How to get there
Best season
Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) are the optimal windows: mild temperatures, firm dirt, no snow at mid altitudes, and none of the July-August heat. Winter brings snow and ice above 1,500 m; summer means riding very early or late to avoid the heat.
Access
From Madrid: Cercanías commuter rail line C-8 to Villalba, Cercedilla or Cotos depending on the base. By car via A-6 / M-607 for the western side, A-1 / M-604 for the Valle del Lozoya.
Recommended gear
Helmet, gloves, glasses, padded shorts, technical jersey, windproof jacket, hydration pack 1.5-2 L, spare tube + pump + multitool. Bring your own bike (better) or rent locally (not included by default).
National Park rules
Group caps: 15 bikes in high-protection zones, 25 in lower-protection zones. Authorised trails only — no cross-country riding. E-bikes allowed up to 250 W.
Recommendations
Show up with the bike serviced: brake pads with life left, clean drivetrain, two spare tubes. Five days of continuous use in the sierra punishes equipment more than a month of city commuting.
If you're unsure about your level, say it on day one — the group adapts. A rider who refuses to admit they're struggling blocks everyone else's progression.
Keep a free afternoon mid-week: your lower back and hands need a rest so Friday's technique doesn't fall apart.
§07 — Bookable packages
Bookable packages
§08 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring my own bike?
Recommended, yes. A week on an unfamiliar bike can block your technical progression. If that's not feasible, rentals are available in the area (Villalba, Cercedilla, Manzanares el Real) — arrange before arrival.
Do I need insurance?
Yes. A cycling federation card (FEDME / RFEC) or a sports accident policy covers what's needed. Confirm with your provider that mountain biking off-road is included.
What if it rains all week?
Riding continues with adjustments: forest tracks instead of wet granite, shorter sessions. The Sierra doesn't cancel for water. Heavy snow or thunderstorms, yes.
Can I come with an e-bike?
Yes, up to 250 W of motor power (the National Park legal limit). Some routes are re-planned to keep the group together.
How does this differ from a Pyrenean enduro camp?
Here you work climbing + descending technique on mellower profiles, not pure shuttle-served downhill. If your thing is plugged-in DH laps, look at the Pyrenees or Aragón.
Can I come solo, without a group?
Yes, places are individual. Most of the group comes alone — the format is designed for bike talk all week long.
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