Giddy Up !! Cheered the resident goats as I huff and puff up the slopes of the many peaks here in
Leros.
Every time I go for an off-road bike ride here, the goats have something to say… they are a
a permanent and welcome feature of riding here, whether you climb up Skoumparda above
Xirokampos bay to discover the breathtaking views all around the island or ride towards the
Aerophone (the Parabolic Acoustic Mirror) via the Lakki bay lighthouse, or MuploGourna, or many
other XC trails like Faros, Kalamari Trail, Dragon House, Tiramola, Castle Steps, and more.
Leros is a hidden treasure. Even the name itself hides the nature of the terrain. Leros is believed to
come from the word Levros which means Smooth, as opposed to the mountainous next door,
island of Kalymnos. I guess it is all relative since Leros has a lot of interesting terrain to offer. I can
attest that it is blessed with spectacular terrain that can satisfy any cyclist, if not challenge
somewhat.
Loving Sailing (how I got to Leros in the first place on my sailboat and ended up spending over 3
years here) and yet enjoying cycling. I get both these pleasures in spades here. I am lucky enough
to be able to have me on board Pedro, my trusted Mountain Bike. I can sail around here to
various bays, drop an anchor, and not before long Pedro starts panting, to say: ‘… common let’s
go for a ride’. A short dinghy ride to shore and then on the bike, we go for yet another satisfying
ride, and the goats are always with you.
It is a mini Paradise, not least because there is the perfect and safe place here for any boat and
also, lots of support from locals when it comes to bike ride buddies, cycle shops (new ones open
as we speak), and helpful and knowledgeable locals.