Frequent Questions
> PREPARATIONS > ACCOMMODATION > NAVIGATION > BICYCLES > TRANSPORT
PREPARATIONS
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Q: HOW CAN I ARRIVE IN THE START?
A: You can come in Tirana to start the Epirus MTB Challenge by many ways;
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-Directly by Airplane packing everything with you.
There are more than 100 flights every day from Central Europe is to Tirana
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-If you are part of a Service Team or Your Own Team, you just take the plane with your personal clothes and everything else will be transported by the Team.
Q: WHAT KIND OF LUGGAGE SHOULD I HAVE?
A: The maximum of two pieces per participant is included in the entry fee. Maximum size is 80x45x40cm, and maximum weight is 30 kg per piece.
No wheels of other big spare parts will be accepted to transport out of your luggage.
Your luggage will be transported every day by the Organization from one hotel to the other.
Q: WHAT IF I ARRIVE EARLY IN TIRANA
A: If you arrive one or two days early in Tirana, you just inform the organization one month in advance and we will give you all the details to book a room for you in the same hotel. You have to book and pay by yourself personally the extra days.
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO CARRY WITH ME EVERY DAY?
A: Everything you will need during that stage. Most of the track goes through remote areas and small cities of villages. Take all you need with you for tyre repair or small mechanical needs. Also food or food supplement is better to take with you for at least half day. Water normally is possible to get most of the time.
Q: IF I HAVE MY BIKE BOX, WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT?
A: Organization can arrange that you box is stored in Tirana in the warehouse and you can ha it back in the finish hotel in Tirana.
Q: HOW MUCH CASH SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
A: Not so much. All your expenses for food and accommodation are included in the entry fee. Our advice is to carry between 300 to 600 euro with you.
ATM machines can be found mostly everywhere.
Currency in Greece is Euro. In Albania is Lek. In North Macedonia is Denars.
But if needed, Euro is accepted mostly everywhere.
Q: HOW IS THE WEATHER IN THE TOUR AREA?
A: The weather in April in these areas is mostly warm and sometimes even hot. Anyway, have in mind that this journey passes by mountainous terrain and in very high places, this can make the weather patterns become harsh.
Most probably we will have days of clear skies, however it won’t be much of a surprise if in one or two days we get rain and cold, alternating with showery and cloudy days. Be prepared!
The journey goes to altitudes up to 1500m in different places, so expect very low temperatures up there and you may need to carry extra clothing as protection for the cold on those particular days.
ACCOMMODATION
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Q: HOW TO BOOK THE HOTEL FOR ME?
A: When you register for the event bike tour, we book the rooms for you for eight nights, including breakfast and dinner. These nights are included in the paid Entry Fee.
Extra nights in Tirana are not included. You have to book and pay by yourself personally for the extra days.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE EXTRA COSTS IF I USE ROOM MINIBAR?
A: The Organizers do not pay for any extras in the hotels. The hotel will have an extras bill per room to be paid in full by the responsible occupants on checking out. Only accommodation, breakfast and dinner is part of the contracted fee, everything else is considered an extra.
Q: CAN A FRIEND OR FAMILY COME WITH ME?
A: Friends, accompanying persons or family members can join the event.
They have to be registered as an "Assistant" person.
We will book the hotel for them. The transport of these persons will be personally arranged and not by the Organization.
Q: WILL THERE BE AN INTERNET CONNECTION IN THE HOTELS WE ARE STAYING AT?
A: Yes, in all of the hotels there is either free Wi-Fi, or internet access booths in the lobby. In emergency cases you can always ask the Organizers for access codes to join the Event mobile internet network.
Please remember that, during the tour, all your belongings must be transported inside your bags. Also take in consideration that the Organizers cannot be held responsible for any damage to whatever electronic or other equipment you carry inside your luggage.
Q: HOW DO I BOOK A MASSAGE IF NEEDED?
A: Massage or physiotherapy service is offered in every bivouac and managed by Organization. To use this service you have to book it at least four weeks before the start of the tour.
Contact Organization for a quote.
NAVIGATION
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Q: HOW DO I FIND THE ROUTE EVERY DAY?
A: Every participant is mandatory to have their own GPS navigation device.
The Organization will upload in your device all the tracks or the day with all the information on it.
The format used will be GPX or GDB.
Q: WHAT IF I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCE USING GPS?
A: You don’t need to know anything about orienteering, nor need you to be an expert on GPSs. The only thing you do need to know is that when you look at the screen you are the arrow and the track course is a purple line. As long as you keep the arrow on the line, then you are on course.
Q: WHAT TYPE OF DEVICE IS BETTER FOR THIS EVENT?
A: You can use a Standard GPS or a Smartphone for navigation.
Standard GPS must have a minimum reading track log of 5.000 points capability.
An USB connection from the device is required to upload the track.
Garmin devices are the best and most safe to use.
If you have another brand or GPS, please bring your connection cable with you.
If you will use a Smartphone, Android is preferred over iPhone.
The tracks will be sent by email to the participants with Smartphone.
Q: DO I HAVE TO TAKE SPARE BATTERIES WITH ME?
A: Yes, you have to take care or spare batteries with you or a Power-bank mounted on your bike to charge the device if needed.
Navigation with Smartphones is much easier than with standard GPS,
but the phone battery is usually consumed fast by the Navigation Apps.
Take measures to install in your bike a Power-bank to change the Smartphone
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BICYCYLES
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Q: WHAT’S THE BEST BIKE TO RIDE EPIRUS MTB CHALLENGE?
A: We can say that there isn’t an ideal bike configuration for this tour, or on the other hand, there are many. It all depends on your choice and needs. If your prime objective is to have fun and be the fastest rider in the group, then a rigid light bike would be the perfect bike.
On the other hand, if you just want to finish the tour without a lot of body pain, then a full suspension may be the best option.
Q: ARE ELECTRIC BIKE ALLOWED IN THIS EVENT?
A: Yes, they are allowed. Electric Bikes are the trend of the moment and the choice of every age :-)
The e-bikes let you enjoy more of everything that makes mountain biking great and fun.
Q: CAN I COMPLETE A FULL DAY WITH ONE BATTERY ONLY?
A: It depends on the day track, the elevations and on your fitness.
If you have a spare battery, you can charge it in full during the night and the Organization will bring it to the Pit Stop point meeting during the day ride.
Q: IT IS FRAME MATERIAL IMPORTANT?
A: The frame material is important and in Epirus trails and roads we recommend Carbon or Chrome Molybdenum frames and not the aluminum ones.
Anyway this is a personal opinion and the rider knows better for his style and finances.
Q: WHAT TYRES ARE RECOMMENDED?
A: Epirus MTB Challenge has a wide variety of terrain. Stones, cobblestones, loose rocks, ground, mud, slippery grass, concrete, asphalt....etc.
An “all-around” tire (whatever that is) would be the best option although the choice must be made according to each rider’s riding technique and objectives.
Q: WHAT SERVICE DO I HAVE IN MY BIKE BEFORE THE TOUR?
A: Epirus Mountain Bike Challenge is an event that may test your bike to the limits of mechanical parts. Seven days consecutive ride with small possibility of service. It is extremely important that every bike has a specialized full service in preparation for the tour.
We strongly recommend:
New chain / gear set
New inner and outer cables
New tires.
New brake pads
Service forks / shocks, pedals, bottom bracket, wheels.
For those who bring a full suspension bike either replace or bring a new set of bearings / bushes for the rear triangle and shock.
Take your bike for a long ride after you picked it up from the bike shop you had it serviced before the tour.
Q: SHOULD I BRING SPARE PARTS FOR MY BIKE?
A: Yes. You have to bring spare parts you think are necessary and possible to transport. We will have mechanical service but limited on spare parts. You can find them in the cities but this can be just an option and not a sure thing.
We advise to rely on your own spare parts and additives.
Q: IS THERE ANY KIND OF MECHANICAL SUPPORT DURING THE RACE?
A: Yes. There is mechanical Service Support during the whole event.
The service is on every bivouac ready to serve.
The fee of your selected service you have to pay directly to the mechanics.
TRANSPORT
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Q: HOW CAN I TRANSPORT MY STUFF FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL?
A: Organization will transport your luggage from hotel to hotel everyday.
This service is included in the Entry Fee. You just bring your stuff every morning in the designated place near the transport truck.
Q: WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORT IN THE LIAISON STAGES?
A: In the stages where it is needed to transfer the rider and the bicycle from the hotel to the start of the ride, the transport will be done by shuttle bus from the organization. Also your bicycle will be transported in a trailer from the organization.
Q: IF I HAVE MY OWN TEAM?
A: With your team it is more convenient to transport everything from home to the start. Also you do not have any restriction in luggage size and numbers.
In the liaison sections you can go with your own car or van without waiting for the group to start in the shuttle bus.
Q: IF I HAVE ACCIDENT AND CAN NOT DRIVE ONE DAY OR MORE, HOW CAN I TRANSPORT MYSELF AND THE BIKE TO THE NEXT HOTEL?
A: From the point of accident and to the next hotel, you will be transported by the Organization. If you can not start the next day, you have to find transport by taxi to next hotel.
The bike can be transported by the organization, but not more than three bikes at the same time.
