When are you going and where are you staying?

What monkeyp said, the common suggestion would be to do parts of the bridleway “Camí de Cavalls” a GR path around the island but there are other routes…

Bike hire: here[/url], here and here although I’ve only used my own bike over there.

I think they do transfers as well. Also there are other companies that organize trips around the island using mainly the GR but also other routes: click[/url], click
These are just two examples, there are many others…in fact any shop renting Kayaks or other nautical equipment would also rent bikes and organize routes .

Thanks allthepies!

Just used Easyjet last week and had no problem, plenty of clothes and other items in the bike bag. I would say it depends more on the airport than the company?? Usually the bike is scanned and checked in at a different place from your normal bags. This is usually managed by airport personnel instead of company personnel, and IME they don’t really mind.

Hi pfrumpy not sure why you did not receive my email but I’m definitely still interested…

X-Fusion hilo?
http://www.freeborn.co.uk/x-fusion-hilo-100-125-seatpost-2014

If MOBAC isn’t working I’m stuck as well. Shame as I think oruxmaps is a great application.

What can I do nre? If you don’t mind sharing 😉

I think many Spanish cyclists would be very surprised with the posts in this thread…

Drivers behaviour probably varies between Spanish regions but in general I would not say drivers are very considerate to cyclists.

The 1.5m rule exists, but in UK is similar isn’t it? I don’t think the presumed liability exists in Spain though,at least I’m not aware of it.

Re mopeds yes, they are so common that car drivers look out for them and therefore cyclist.

Northwind: well I see things differently, I thought if they were mostly Spanish clients/tourists they would value some interaction/knowledge with/from locals… when travelling abroad! Coming to UK to stay, cycle, eat , etc with Spanish people and not mixing with locals at all would be strange to me, but maybe you are right and it’s me the strange one.
Don’t know if it’s TA policy but it could be seen this way. I don’t know if French authorities are trying to protect French guides only or guides in general (proper wages and job conditions, etc.)could be seen both ways.

walleater: I hope this isn’t the case of TA, but yes people here tend to see this jobs as a summer job for which you can be exploited, and not just a job.

freeride_addict: would you say Trail Addiction is a “nationalistic” company (or could be seen as such) for employing Brits guides only?
If I had an MTB guiding company here in UK certainly I would not employ Spanish guides only , sure I’d like to have some locals as long as they are competent.

In the Pyrenees there’s “Cerdanya 360” a 4 to 6 days circular route in the Cerdanya valley, direct train access from Barcelona, but not lift assisted. (Although there are at least 2 bike parks in the area if you have time, La Molina and Les Angles?). These people organize transfers, accommodation and supply a route book, but should be doable on your own, plenty of info in wikiloc

This link works for me. From the end (The Street) is only five miles to Kirkby Stephen.

I have only ridden some sections around Stainforth, Feizor, Settle… and it was very well signposted.

I use Oruxmaps app. It’s free, you can download maps and load a gpx file then use it off line for navigation. Or just use it as a tracker then export to Strava/endomondo if you fancy. I think it’s great.

Link

Mine has just arrived…

Living in Sunderland too.

I haven’t been but the reviews are very good. The trails are all signposted (balizados) and apparently easy to follow. It’s very “enduro” orientated (nothing to do with other MTB trail centres in Spain where trails are mostly on fire/dirt roads) so plenty of tech riding and singletracks (senderos). There’s nothing man-made, they’ve recovered and signposted many old paths in the area.
If you stay in one of the accommodations recommended in their website you’ll be supporting the MTB centre (there’s no public money involved in the creation/maintenance of the trails).
There are also guiding services and van uplifts if you are interested, again it’s advisable using one of the companies from the website.

In terms of other things to do….well you are in the Pyrenees, there are several National/Natural Parks nearby (Ordesa-Monte perdido/Agües Tortes).

I don’t think they have a dedicated English website, if you have any problems communicating with them let me know, I’ll try to help.

Menorca is another option in the Med. Been a few times and is great for sea kayak, very different scenery North/South. Lots of beaches, coves ,caves…kayak is very popular with the locals.

The 9 days tour of the island is great for experienced kayakers, you can camp on the beaches (only if you are kayaking). Day trips are great as well, being a small island you can chose your route depending on weather conditions(wind).

Menorca en kayak is just one of the many companies offering kayak trips.

Spring isn’t usually too hot, end of May or beginning of June would be ideal for me.

If you want to stay local as others have said Skye and North West Scotland are very nice.

I see people fail to get the front wheel to bite because they are so far off the back of their bike! Here, a non dropper post tends to get in the way and actually pushes the rider forwards

I was thinking the opposite! I don’t have dropper post but I usually drop my seat, if I don’t do it I find that the only way to lower my body position is moving backwards and “behind” the saddle, cause it is in my way…Then , as you say, put the weight too far off the back of the bike.

They should be in the oruxmaps/mapfiles/ folder, in the sd card. At least, they appear there in my phone…

Do you have a file manager app installed in the phone? I think this is essential to ensure maps and other files are stored in the right folder when using OruxMaps. I use OI File Manager.

Once the map is saved in the phone sd card you obviously don’t need any internet connection. It should work fine. I just came back from a walk in the Cheviot hills and had no problems using a map created with the app, it was great in fact.

@Conan257 and @DickBarton

Have you tried using OruxMaps itself to create the maps? or is MobAC easier/better?

Pretty easy with OruxMaps with WiFi connection;

-Select “switch map” from the menu (tap on the map icon)
-Now select Ordnance SM(UK) from the on-line list
-Tap again on the map icon and select “Map Creator” from the list

Now you can select the area you are interested and how many layers you want. The map will be saved and you can select it from the off-line list.

You can use OS maps with OruxMaps, I use them…you just need to download them(well, create them), and they are free.

Last generations of Genesis Altitude/Latitude 26 inch had rack mounts. Top end (models 20 or 30) would be Reynolds 853 main tubes and similar geometry to a Soul, I think.
They don’t do them any more but you can find old stock in some shops and 2nd hand.

@ampthill

with oruxmaps you can navigate and track your route, I don’t if you can do it with the apps that you already have.

Yes you can follow a track previously saved to your phone, and at the same time you can use it to record the actual route you are riding (gps tracking) if you wish…

You may need a file manager app also, which is something similar to windows explorer for your phone, this allows you to manage your downloaded gpx files: saving them in the folder they need to be,etc

I use OruxMaps, on a very basic smartphone, with no problems. You’ll have plenty of maps to choose, google maps and OS maps included. They’ll be available on line with the app, for free. You can download the area you need and then use it off line.

I think it only works with gpx files, but it’s very easy to convert kml files to gpx (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/)

I think you are wrong Junkyard

Last year pre-Pep (2007/08), Barça finished in third position in the League, 18 points behind Real and 10 points behind Villarreal.
The first thing he did was selling Ronaldinho and Deco, not easy at that time in Barcelona…but you are right, he had a great squad to work with.

I think Northwind meant Andy Weir at Ridelines instead of Andy Weir at Dirtschool.

Can’t comment on Dirtschool but reviews are very good. I did a course with Andy (Ridelines, former Mb7) and was great.

Another vote for Craiguart B&B. I’ve stayed there twice and it was great. Very good location and facilities for both guests and bikes. Nice people too.

I bet you weren’t working all of those 9,5 hours though.

I never said I did… 😉

I think it was discussed last week here:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/this-is-what-riding-in-the-lakes-is-all-about

“Speak for yourself, where can I get one of those?!!”

I know plenty of people that have “one of those”, don’t you?
Not myself, today I’ll be working until 23:00. 😥
Also, when I was in Spain I did a lot of 22:00-8:00 shifts, and 10:00-22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, but that isn’t what most people do… It was just my case.

@ jambalaya:

Which sector was your daughter working in Barcelona, if I can ask?

I’m Spanish and have been working in Britain for the last 7 years. When I first came one thing that shocked me was the laziness of the staff I was working with… Also was very shocking the amount of people living on benefits and people working part time. I guess there are hard workers and lazy ones everywhere.

I don’t think the main problem in Spain is laziness.
One of the problems is that we are expert creating “economic bubbles” and they eventually burst, as has been said already.
Also what we call “economia sumergida” (black economy?), people working without contracts, or being paid more money than the money they declare, etc

In terms of lunch time, if you have lunch break of 2.5 hours, you’ll be working until 9 pm (9:00-14:00 then 16:30-21:00) I rather be working 9-17:30, like we do here.

Thanks to both…

When checking the BrandX I’ve seen the CRC one for £50 including wheel bags, quite tempted now

There’s a new MTB route around Sierra Nevada, called Transnevada. It’s a loop, 450km long. It’s mostly off road but not too technical (riding on singletrack is banned in the National Park and parts of the Natural Park).
I have not ridden it myself, but apparently is very well signposted. The area is really nice, and very different from the Alps and Pyrenees.

Official information here, but in Spanish.

The weather in October is usually nice, there shouldn’t much snow, but you’ll be riding above 1500 metres all the time, so be prepared.

ElShalimo – no worries, I used to live in Granada (6 years), so I might be a bit biased…

druidh – you’re welcome, just ask if you need any help

ElShalimo is right, plenty of good info there. As he said from Gibraltar to Málaga is better to avoid the coast, much nicer inland but very hilly.
I have to disagree about Granada though, it’s the nicest city in Andalucía! (best tapas too).

Wikiloc is great to find routes.

If you prefer to travel off road there are several MTB-touring routes(read long distance, scenic , mainly off road, non technical paths):

Transandalus is one of them, it crosses the 8 Andalusian provinces in a loop, it’s 2000 km long but you could do a much shorter loop with a bit of planing. It’s been designed to be ridden on MTBs with panniers so shouldn’t be too technical. It’s not marked on the ground but there’s plenty of info on the website (maps,tracks).

Transnevada it’s a new official MTB route. It’s signposted and apparently is very easy to follow. It’s about 500km long, around Sierra Nevada mountain range in Granada province. It’s very hilly, mainly on dirt roads, forest roads and quiet tarmac roads(no technical singletrack). Lots of info in the net but mainly in Spanish.

2 tills, one if you need anything from the kitchen (burger, jacket,panini…) the other one for cakes….

Me too, most of the times.I always carry a mobile and someone knows more or less where I am going, especially if it isn’t a local ride.

Another one from Sunderland…

hi Chakaping, sorry for the delay, I’ve sent you an email with some information and files, hope it helps