Route 5: Urbasa and Améscoas

Type: Gravel

The difference between this route and route 1 is the substitution of the Entzia area for the Améscoa. After 2 km along the NA-718 road, we turn right towards the Korostian area, a beautiful area of meadows and beech trees that we cross on good paths that lead us to the Monte Limitaciones race. At this point we head towards Larraona, passing by the Cueva de los Cristinos and the Artea Forest. After a quick descent on concrete, we reach Larraona and start the passage through the Améscoa, alternating road, path and even some nice trails. Zudaire marks the end of the passage through the valley and the asphalt ascent to Urbasa, which will have as a reward the views from the Balcón de Ubaba. From here, we face the last part of the route through more stony tracks until we reach the asphalt road to Otsoportillo.

Technical data sheet

Type: GRAVEL

Distance: 59.5 km.

Accumulated positive elevation gain (according to IBP index): 930 m.

Difficulty (IBP index): 56

Physical difficulty: MEDIUM

To define the physical difficulty of the routes we have used the IBP index.IBP index is an automatic rating system that scores the physical difficulty of a route ridden on a mountain bike, road bike or gravel bike. This index is very useful to know the degree of physical difficulty of different routes by comparing them with each other.It is important not to confuse the degree of physical difficulty of a route with the effort it will take to complete it: an IBP index of 60 will be a very hard route for an uninitiated person, normal for someone with average preparation and very easy for a professional.In our case, we have taken as a reference a normal physical preparation to assess the physical difficulty of the routes.

Technical difficulty: MEDIUM

For this section there is no mathematical formula that gives us a number, so the assessment is based on knowledge gained from experience.

We have defined the technical difficulty in 3 levels:

– Green color: simple. There is no notable technical difficulty on the route.

– Blue color: medium. We can find areas that present some technical difficulties. In the case of gravel routes, these will be areas with steep uphill or downhill slopes on non-compacted soil, sections of trail or soil in poor condition. In the case of MTB routes, they may be uphill or downhill sections of trail with some complicated passages, due to the state of the terrain or because they are natural trails with a very damaged floor. In both cases, these sections represent a small percentage of the total length of the route.

– Red color: difficult. In both gravel and MTB we find complicated areas such as those defined in the blue color, but with greater frequency and intensity.On road routes the technical difficulty will always be green, but if the ground is wet or there are ice slabs present, the situation will change completely.