BOULDERS ON BORNHOLM

MTB on The Sunshine Island

By GripGrab Field Notes

March 5^th, 2021

Our adventure begins with the fast-flowing Green route – a mix of whopping jumps and fast-flowing berms that takes us down through the trees and along the edge of picturesque pasture lands.

The late afternoon sunshine brings warmth to the trail, and we seem to have the secluded and peaceful forest to ourselves on this early springtime ride. Wafts of warm, pollen-scented air float in from the fields, alongside the damper, earthier smells of the forest.

Solskinsøen

Named solskinsøen (the sunshine island) for its warm and sunny climate – more so than that of mainland Denmark – beautiful Bornholm also boasts a unique, granite-dominated landscape characterized by rock formations, especially in the north. In Old Norse, the island was called borgundarholm, meaning equivalently ‘high’ ‘mountain’ or ‘rock’, as it rises dramatically from the sea. In the summer it is a-bustle with tourists of many nationalities; Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles and more, and offers everything from picturesque hotels to active holidays. Outside those months however, it’s a different story – quiet, peaceful, and comparatively empty. Nestled in the middle of this diverse little island is another secret treasure waiting to be discovered — 'Trailcenter Bornholm' is a hidden destination for mountain bikers, deep in the Almindingen Forest.

Poised to begin

The wind bites a little on this exposed spot, and I readjust my neck warmer. Gathered at the historic Rytterknægten tower—a monument perched high on the hill in the center of the forest – we are positioned where the trails begin and spread from. This lookout is the highest point on the island and offers fantastic panoramic views from its parapet. The café at its base is also a great spot to fuel up before taking to the trails, and a helping of tasty pastries settles comfortably in my stomach as we begin.

The Rytterknægten hill is formed of that characteristic Bornholm granite, and it is this solid bedrock that has allowed the Bornholm Trail Builders to sculpt a superb all-year trail center here, with a network of routes and lines to suit all riding abilities.

Out on the trails

Looping back up to the Rytterknægten, we pause at the café to enjoy a refreshing bottle of locally made rhubarb cordial and a warming hot chocolate before heading out to take on the second of the six exciting trail runs that we have planned to ride.

The Blue and Red routes demand a higher skillset, with their technical boardwalk sections and drop-off jumps. Suitably challenged, we embrace the flow—with seats dropped and suspension on full, tearing down the trails through the vibrant green foliage.

When the Black route finally beckons, we must gauge whether we can take on the challenge; this is technical riding at its peak, and we all pause, taking the time to gather ourselves and prepare. This trail makes use of natural rock slabs and giant boulders to create impressive obstacles requiring some serious skill. One of our band of riders (an ex-professional mountain biker) takes on the challenge, and with backside brushing the back wheel he soars off the table-tops, and skids down the near-vertical rock face. We will buy him a beer at the local brewery tonight.

Geology rocks!

Trailcenter Bornholm is a gem waiting to be ridden. The unique geology and topography of this little Danish island make for a diverse and interesting ride, all condensed into one peaceful forest. You can challenge your skills and get the adrenaline flowing, all in a beautiful natural setting, and fill days with the different skills sets.

Our exploration draws to a close as we head down to Ekkodalen – the 'Echo Valley', just south of the forest. This unique cleft valley was formed 1.4 billion years ago, and if you want to shout about your great ride then it is the ideal place to do so… your voice will be echoed for kilometers around! We shout and tease each other excitedly, charged with the energy from our day of riding, and hear our muffled voices bouncing back to us among the boulders.