Pedro and his Accursed Mountains Circuit Trans Dinarica adventure: challenging, but with incredible scenery

We love to read these articles of yours more than any newspaper, because they are living and true stories from the Trans Dinarica route that we are now experiencing through your eyes. This time, Pedro Carvalho served us with a short, but informative and picturesque story. He wrote down information about the logistics from Portugal to Montenegro and about his bike and cycling gear. Read this with the awareness that he clearly has very strong legs – in Albania, he completed two of the most difficult stages on the entire route in one day. Pedro, thank you for being part of the story!

I just got back home after a week cycling the Accursed Mountains Circuit, designed by the Trans Dinarica team. What an amazing journey it has been!

Saying that people in Montenegro and Albania are extremely friendly and welcoming is just obvious, I guess. They are, with rare exceptions, in more touristy areas, like Kotor, for example.
I flew from Lisbon (Portugal) to Podgorica, with Air Serbia. No clue how much I would pay to take the bicycle with me, as Air Serbia didn’t let me know in advance, but I ended up paying zero. Sweet!

Pedro in Albania, riding to Theth Valley.

This circuit is quite demanding – Montenegro and Albania are so hilly! – but the scenery is just amazing. Most of the stages are 100% on paved roads, except for that one day when I rode from Shkoder to Theth on pretty challenging dirt roads with loose rock. Tough, but I didn’t regret it for one second. I loved the challenge, and the views and empty roads were super.

I chose to ride a gravel bike – a steel Nordest Albarda. I love this bike, and it’s designed by a friend of mine, which makes it even more special to me! I went light, without camping gear. The bike has two chainrings (30/46) and the cassette is a 42/11, Shimano GRX stuff. The tires I chose were the Panaracer Gravel King SK, tubeless, size 700×43.

The bike choice: Steel is Real!

A lot of people want to know what to pack for a trip like this. Here are my options:

Bike

• Small frame bag.
• Small handlebar bag.
• Topeak back bag.
• Hammerhead GPS.
• 2 water bottles on the frame, plus two larger bottles on the fork.
• Lock (used it once!)

Repair kit

• One inner tube.
• Tire levers.
• Chain links.
• Derailleur hanger.
• 1 set on brake pads.
• Mini-pump.
• Chain lube.
• Compact multi-tool with chain “breaker”.

Clothing and personal stuff

• 2 jerseys, 2 cycling shorts.
• 2 pairs of socks.
• 1 vest.
• 1 rain jacket.
• Winter gloves.
• Sunglasses.
• Helmet.
• Bike cap.
• One T-shirt, pair of shorts, underwear, Patagonia jacket and sandals for after the rides.
• Passport, credit card, cash.

Electronics

• Hammerhead GPS, with charging cable.
• BBB front light with cable.
• Rear light with cable.
• Powerbank.
• iPhone 12 mini with cable.
• 2 sockets.

Bike tools for the trip.