When I first arrived in Tbilisi I thought the cracks in the pavement with weeds going through and the wonderful eroded qualities of some of the buildings were signs of character. Unfortunately a little bit of reality started to creep in.

I’ve not managed yet to find the traction on the mtb tours I was hoping for. I’m a little bit jealous of some other people I know who seem to be happily pursuing their thing and being settled in here.

The new mountain bike trail in Gudauri opened on the 9th August with over 50 riders turning out to take advantage of the free gondola up lift and enjoy the newest bike trail to open in Georgia. I went along with a friend Lado, the owner of the Cube bike shop in Tbilisi, to see how the trail rode. My expectations were high as the build was done by a professional trail building company from Slovenia with the help of local downhill champion Luke Elioshvili.

We went off to Svaneti on a bike tour. I’d been staying at James’ place for a few days after arriving in Georgia. 

Our new friend Vako driving in his suped up Delica 4x4 van and his bike trailer arrived we loaded up the bikes and drove over to the Hotel. On the way, I enjoyed sitting high up in this crazy vehicle with the tyres making a noise like the Batmobile. 

Much esteemed guests from Boulder Colorado who enjoyed our Svaneti tour last year have been dabbling in some Georgian cooking. 

The valiant project recreated the world famous ‘Georgian Snickers’ champion sports food ‘Churchela’, made from walnut pieces on a string generously dipped in Wine Molasses. 

Rumoured to hold more energy pound for pound than even the most high tech sports supplement and last for an entire season in the guiding backpack this delicacy is guaranteed to catch on Stateside and beyond.

A mountain bike race at Tbilisi Sea.

Number cards were sticky backed sheets of plastic.

The local Red Bull promo team were there - clever marketing.

Post-race gathering. Cube bike shop sponsoring with flags and gazebo.

It was a really enjoyable route with great views over Tbilisi Sea and the city.

We made a trip to Tusheti last week with some six guys from Israel. After a late flight in we hit the road with the 4x4 cars loaded with the trailers with the bikes.

On the way we picked up lunch, changed money, and headed for the Gombori pass, Kaxheti and the roads to the high mountains of the Caucasus.

Our guests were experienced bikers. In Israel mountain cycling is very popular. There are many trails and on the weekend the trails can be very busy.

I am in Tbilisi and I’ve been here since the beginning of June. The reason I returned is a continued strong feeling of connection to the place. I have been working hard for the last year and a half on a new business to provide mountain bike tours.

I took an Irish guy on a tour around Tbilisi taking in the local trails and for the following week I took two Australians on a six-day mountain bike tour in the lesser Caucasus range.

Ok so I’m off to Georgia again next week and its going to be very interesting. I will see old friends and reunite and stuff like that. I want to use my language learning and to really face fears.

Just to not be on a computer, to warm up away from the computer if I do use it and to get out there and meet people and spend some with people. Just to be. To be and to have a travel experience.

After Mongolia, I returned the UK. Moving to London was a different kind of adventure. London, I realised, was a good place for cycling and walking both for utility and exploring. There were numerous trips out of London between 2010 and 2014 when I left London.

A major elephant in the room after Ride Earth was the lack of an output of my filming. Tom was able to complete the Janapar project. I had expected a different outcome, more focussed on the travel rather than the love story. I was very happy for Tom that such a professional film was made, but I was now faced with the daunting project of creating a film with my own vision.

Back in April, I took the train to Bristol to pick up a bike I bought on Ebay, a Kona Hoss, and a Bob Trailer and went onward to Port Talbot in Wales. From there I rode up to the Glyncorrwg mountain bike centre and got kitted out, with new tyres and SPD shoes, in Skyline Cycles, the resident bike shop.

I rode the ‘Whites’ Level’ trail and ‘The Wall’ on the first day, Whites’ Level and a bit of the Skyline on the second day and the Skyline on the last day. The Skyline was a 45m epic and reminded me why I love mountain biking with lots of single-track and custom-built sections hugging the side of the valleys with stunning views.