Spanish Cycling

For a European country, Spain is fairly big. It’s also the second most mountainous nation in the Europe. In addition to that fact, there are kilometers upon kilometers of shoreline and coastal roads. What this means for biking enthusiasts, regardless if they prefer the feel of pavement beneath their tires, or rugged dirt on the hillsides, is that there are an awful lot of opportunities, and amazing places to ride in Spain.

The terrain is as varied here as the distinct regional cultures, dialects and languages are. In the north, in Galicia, you’ll be treated to a lot of wet weather, but some gorgeous green scenery during your rides as well. Andalusia, in the south, offers up wide valleys that are vast and fairly dry, as well as some steep inclines as you head up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the center of the country, and near the French border, your legs will get a strong workout, as the terrain is extremely rugged. The Pyrenees Mountains are a mountain biker’s paradise, with many off-road trails and challenging tracks.

Road biking in Spain is a pretty serious thing. After all, once Lance Armstrong stopped competing, the Spanish dominated the Tour de France for four years in a row, from 2006 until 2009. They also dominated the race during the first half of the 1990’s. If you’re biking across immense lengths of the Spanish plains, or even driving a car, you’re bound to see individual cyclists, and people out in groups, riding all over the place.

In the region of Valencia, if you choose to break out your bike, you’ll be able to cycle with lots of sunlight on your face and your back, and the fragrant smells of orange blossoms in the air, provided you pick the right season. Come summertime, you should probably keep more to the north, as Andalusia, and even Valencia tend to boil over with heat, which isn’t very comfortable for cycling at all. Up in the north, in areas like the Basque Country and San Sebastian, you’ll be treated to cooler weather, but the roads can be a bit rougher than they are in the south.

If you want to go at it alone, or with a group of friends, you’ll find plenty of rental shops in all of the major cities. One of the best options, though, is to ride with an organized tour. Tour operators can tell you the best season to come, and the best seasons to stay away, due to too much sun, strong winds, the cold and the rain. Packages can range from gentle tours along the coasts, to much tougher routes for those of your who are aspiring Olympians. No matter what kind of biking experience you choose in Spain, you’ll find plenty of company along the roads, and in the mountains.