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I am not 100% sure I got this right. After the stadium ride/push up the road. At some point the road flattens a bit and you should look right for a small path. Go to it and follow it in direction to Blagoevgrad, the ride is nice and smooth, and shortly you’ll reach a small hill with almond trees and nice view of the whole town. The place is particularly magical in the spring when the trees are blooming.
Enjoy this one whenever you have a spare hour and want to breathe and feel free.
Hello,
I just moved to Blagoevgrad. Was a passionate road biker in the States, but it appears mountain biking is where it’s at here. I’d be a novice, but am eager to get back on a bike.
Can you recommend a bike shop in Blagoevgrad that might be a good place to start?
I left my road bikes, etc., back home hoping I could get something here, so I’m kind of starting from zero. My wife and I are living here and teaching at AUBG. I’ve done some long rides (most recently a seven-day trip across Iowa — about 725 kilometers) but am mainly looking for someone to help me figure out some good daily rides in and around the area — at least to start.
I’d appreciate any advice you might be able to offer.
Regards
Hello Mark,
I am very happy that you’ve come across our blog! Radu and I are both AUBG alumni, so it’s great that a biking professor has come around to our favorite place.
In case you are still looking for a bike I hope the following will be helpful:
I knew just a couple of shops in Blago (I am currently in Sofia), the one across the street from Skaptopara, near the bridge. The guy, I think, still sells and rents low to middle class bikes. He is very helpful and is pretty good at fixing any problems. The other shop I knew sold Drag bikes which is a good Bulgarian brand. It was located close to the crossroad as you head the city center form the old bus station. On the other hand, in Sofia you can find a large number of shops that sell a big variety of good brands such Scott and Specialized. Most of them have a couple of branches and good websites. You can try http://www.sportdepot.bg/ and http://www.bikescenter-bg.com/.
I wish I could be there. Blagoevgrad and the surrounding hills are amazing, especially during the spring. The roads to the villages are also very nice, but be careful with the traffic. Some Bulgarians drive kind of crazy.
Good luck, and again, I am very happy that you have written