Despite my best efforts, I can't convince my cycle shy friends to do Trans Provence "ride not race" in Spring 2013. Instead we've settled on some touringaround Spain. We intend on getting a ferry to Santander and then doing a loop for 6 days ending up back at Santander.
I think 60 miles a day is our target, has anyone done this or got any suggested routes? Miscellaneous tips on Spanish cycling gretefully received.
Thanks in advance
Head to the Picos de Europa, spend a few days exploring that area and then cycle back. After leaving Santander, cross over the mountains towards Reinosa before turning West as the interior routes there are a little wilder and the routes near the coast are getting a little busy and built up now days.
Other nice option is head towards Reinosa and follow the river Ebro East towards the Basque country. Plenty of wild camping/bivi options enroute 🙂
The Michelin 1:200000 map is fine for road and some off-road navigation in that neck of the woods. If you got to the Picos get the two 1:25000 maps that cover the area there if you want to explore the trails there in any depth.
Also check out [url= http://cantabriaenbici.es/index-en.html ]Northern Spain Offroad Routes in English[/url]
HTH
Thanks a lot slugwash.
We'll be on touring bikes, (well i'll be on a road bike). Is that route still suitable?
Thanks,
A road bike will be suitable for the two'itenaries' from Santander that I mentioned above. You won't need the 1:25000 maps if you're not straying off the tarmac 🙂
BTW, it's worth having some low gears on your road bike. There's some wonderful, swooping, scenic downhills as you drop into La Hermida at the the base of the Picos but you'll have to do some climbing on the way there!
Trans-Provence route or road touring...hmmm, let me think about that for 0.000001 of a millisecond.
Sack your mates off and do the Trans-Provence! I'm being serious too. You can go road touring anytime, quality organised events you can't. Oh, it's mountain biking too!
You knackered on a road tour: 😐 or 😡 or 🙁
You knackered on the Trans route: 🙂 or 😀 or 8)
You're absolutely spot on. Who needs mates? I've got this far with very few, a couple less won't matter.
Is anybody doing TP in Spring 2013 then?
me and my girlfriend did a tour of the picos, starting from santander, which was great and may be worth checking a similar route? we headed along the coast on minor roads via san vincent and santillana del mar (worth a visit), then inland and round to potes, up to fuente de and over the picos plateau back to the coast via smaller villages and got a train back to santander. about 10 days with chilled out days too. all fine on touring bikes except maybe the picos crossing. you can get the telecabin uplift but its a rocky/gravel track the rest of the way. the mountain nearby was worth the climb too, great views of naranjo de bulnes. the garganta del torres walk was a good day off as well - you can't ride it unfortunately
I've been looking at the via verde from nr Santander to Med coast along the Ebro valley. Its all off road but the path is well made, 800km or so. I may do it in spring 2013.
Spanish cycling is cool, not literally as its a hot country. Coffee is 1e & a good lunch 10e tops.
Hope it helps
