Two full-time jobs, one passion
My week has two sides. From Monday to Friday I lead riders through the mountains around Sofia, Vitosha and Pirin. On race weekends I line up in the Bulgarian Enduro Championship, racing against the clock on the toughest tracks this country has.
People sometimes ask how I manage both. The honest answer is that they are not two separate jobs at all. Every hour I spend racing makes me a better guide, and every day I spend guiding keeps me sharp for the next race.
Here is how the lessons from racing end up on your tour, and why they give me the confidence to look after you on the trail.
Harsh conditions are my normal
A race does not stop because the weather turned. I have raced through deep mud, freezing rain, choking dust and summer heat that drains you before the first special test is over. Rocky climbs, slick roots and river crossings are part of every championship round.
That experience changes how I see a trail on a tour day. When the rain comes in over Rila, I already know which sections turn to grease and which stay rideable. I know how a rider’s energy drops in the heat, when a break is needed, and how much water the group should carry.
For you, this means fewer surprises. I plan the route around the conditions of the day, not the conditions I hoped for. If the weather changes mid-ride, I adapt the plan calmly, because I have done it many times under far more pressure.
Fixing problems with the clock running
In a race, a mechanical problem is not a reason to quit. It is a problem to solve, fast, with whatever you carry. Over the years I have dealt with flat tyres, bent levers, snapped clutch cables, overheating engines and bikes that refused to start halfway up a mountain.
Racing taught me three things that matter on every tour:
- Prevention first. Bikes are checked before every ride: tyres, mousses, chain, brakes, fluids. Most breakdowns never happen because they are caught in the morning.
- The right kit on the trail. I carry tools and spares chosen from real race experience, not from a catalogue.
- A calm head. When something breaks, I diagnose it quickly and explain what is happening. A fix that takes 15 minutes feels very different when your guide clearly knows what he is doing.
My work with tyres and mousses through NS Moto Grip adds another layer. I know exactly what is fitted to our bikes and why, so you ride on grip that suits Bulgarian terrain.
Knowing where you are, always
Enduro racing is as much about navigation as speed. Liaison sections cross unfamiliar forests and ridgelines, markings go missing, and one wrong turn can cost a whole race. You learn to read the land: the direction of a valley, the line of a ridge, the position of the sun.
On tour, that skill runs in the background all day. I know the mountains around Sofia and Bansko track by track, but I also know how to find a safe way out when a trail is blocked by a fallen tree, a washed-out section or a closed forestry road.
You never have to wonder where the group is or how far it is to lunch. You can focus on the riding, which is exactly what you came for.
Confidence you can feel on the trail
Racing at championship level gives me something you cannot learn from a course: a deep understanding of what a bike and a rider can do. I know where the limit is because I ride close to it every race weekend.
That is exactly why I never push my guests toward it. Riding with confidence means I can relax, watch you, and read your riding. I see when your body position is tense, when you are tired, or when you are ready for a harder line.
It also makes me a better coach. I can show you how to attack a rocky climb, brake on loose gravel or pick a line through roots, and explain why it works. Beginners get patience and simple steps. Experienced riders get real technique from someone who uses it in competition.
Most importantly, it keeps you safe. Good judgement on the trail comes from thousands of hours in the saddle, and that is what I bring to every ride.
Ride with a guide who races
When you book a tour with Enduro Tours Sofia, you are not just getting someone who knows the way. You are riding with a guide who faces mud, breakdowns and hard navigation every race weekend, and brings that experience to your day in the mountains.
Whether you want a single day on Stara Planina or a full week between Sofia and Bansko, I will match the trails to your level and make sure you ride home with a big smile.
Eat, sleep, ride, repeat. Book your enduro tour and let’s ride together.
