A day in the life: Markus Akesson

Markus Akesson, 37, Sweden, mountain bike guide.

Markus settled in Barcelona five years ago after working in the aviation industry. Instead of immediately being drawn to the beach, he started exploring the nearby mountains and forests by bike. In January 2017, he decided to make his passion his job and founded Wildcoastbikes, a mountain bike rental and tour guide service based in Castelldefels.

9AM This is the earliest I can get out of bed—I’ve never been a morning person. I like to start the day with a solid breakfast of oatmeal and vegetable milk, and coffee, of course, to have plenty of energy for the day ahead. 

10AM I allocate time in the morning for bike repair. I check and restore all our rental bikes to make sure they are in great condition for the next customer. Every detail counts and I go through a checklist in my head: chain lubricated, gears nice and crisp, enough brake pads and tyre tread left. Our bikes are used by beginners, professionals and anyone in-between, so a safe, well-functioning bike is our number one priority. 

1PM It’s time for lunch. I love to cook but I’m not very good at it, so I usually whip up something simple—pasta or rice with tomatoes, avocado and various nuts is a favourite of mine. 

3PM ‘Me time’, which means you’ll most likely find me in the forest, checking out a new trail or putting together a new route for an upcoming event. We are currently working with restaurants, vineyards and other Barcelona establishments to create tailor-made experiences. 

Last week, I gave a tour for a local school. We met in El Refugio, a cosy restaurant at the edge of the Canyars forest between Gavà and Castelldefels, before setting off on a nearby mountain bike trail. I helped the students practise their technique and showed them places to try jumps along the way. We cycled to a viewpoint of Barcelona and the sea that’s only reachable by bike or on foot, then back to the restaurant for a well-deserved, refreshing drink. There’s no better feeling than seeing an exhilarated group high-fiving each other after a ride. 

5PM I have to pick up today’s rentals and deliver tomorrow’s—this can be a hectic couple of hours. When we give each customer a bike, we check everything once more to make sure it’s safe to ride. 

7PM The rest of the evening I relax and plan upcoming events and check the latest industry trends and news. Perhaps a new bike park has opened nearby that I want to check out or innovative new bike models are coming out soon for testing. This is my time to get ready for the next day.

12AM I fall asleep happy to have the best job in the world and dream about the serenity of nature, the wind in my face and a new trail waiting to be discovered.