Page 1 of 2

advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 9:28am
by taryam
Hi

I was hoping someone might be able to advise me. I rode from UK to Paris, then train down to Barcelona. Stored my bike there as i had to return to celebrate our Eid holidays with the family. Flying back today, heading out tomorrow. I have a few routes im looking at and cant seem to pick one. I am looking for nature/scenic routes but not too mountainous, this is my first tour. More importantly, would like to visit small towns, interact with our Spanish brothers and sisters away from the tourist spots. Had a terrible experience in Barcelona, was told later because of my brown skin and moari tattoos, i look south American and they are not welcome. I refuse to believe that and want to return to enjoy good conversation and meetings with good people, from wherever. I have 11 days after which i will be shipping my bike back so destination in spain, or anywhere else is not an issue. Would greatly appreciate it if you could take a look at my routes and offer any suggestions.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27833246
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27831842
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27826380

Best

Taryam

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 6:41pm
by HarryD
Taryam

You've got 3 potentially good routes there. As you've already worked out the east and south coasts are generally flat with mountains rearing up not far inland. The coastal plain has a lot going for it but it is often well built up, well populated and can be incredibly busy traffic wise. You may miss out on the social interactions and miss out on what Spain has to offer.

Can I offer some amendments to one of your routes. Be warned there will be hills but they are well graded, there will be small towns and villages aplenty that rarely see non-Spaniards and you will cycle through scenery that you cannot believe.

Start in Tortosa (we got there by train) mid way between Barcelona and Valencia. Take the Via Verde (cycle track built on an old railway line) to Horta de San Joan then roughly parallel the coast heading south west as far as you want. If heading for Granada then a route taking in the Sierra de Cazorla would be my recommendation. Keep to the minor roads and enjoy the ride.

Hope that helps

Harry

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 7:34pm
by MrsHJ
taryam wrote:Hi

I was hoping someone might be able to advise me. I rode from UK to Paris, then train down to Barcelona. Stored my bike there as i had to return to celebrate our Eid holidays with the family. Flying back today, heading out tomorrow. I have a few routes im looking at and cant seem to pick one. I am looking for nature/scenic routes but not too mountainous, this is my first tour. More importantly, would like to visit small towns, interact with our Spanish brothers and sisters away from the tourist spots. Had a terrible experience in Barcelona, was told later because of my brown skin and moari tattoos, i look south American and they are not welcome. I refuse to believe that and want to return to enjoy good conversation and meetings with good people, from wherever. I have 11 days after which i will be shipping my bike back so destination in spain, or anywhere else is not an issue. Would greatly appreciate it if you could take a look at my routes and offer any suggestions.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27833246
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27831842
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27826380

Best

Taryam


Some nice routes, of those 3 I only know the Pyrenees area for cycling and it's great. Another option is to head into France of course as it will be a bit cooler north of the Pyrenees.

As for racism/general offensiveness - my ex sister-in-law is Sri Lankan and experienced a fair bit of racism in southern Spain and especially Gibraltar (my brother was posted there).

I think you might experience more real Spain and less tourism away from the coast (there are some stunning national parks on the edge of the Pyrenees and the Basque Country is interesting-we used to have to buy bread by following the smell as there were no signs on the village shops due to no visitors) but I'm not a Spain expert.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 19 Jun 2018, 10:30pm
by LinusR
taryam wrote:Would greatly appreciate it if you could take a look at my routes and offer any suggestions.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27833246
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27831842
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27826380


Interesting routes. They mix quite a bit of on- and off-road and some of it looks pretty rough. You might find some of that slow going, especially if you are carrying luggage. Did you plot these or did you get them off a friend? I've travelled between Seville, Granada Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona back in 2001 and I know the area around Benidorm and north-east up the coast from the last few years. Some stretches of the n332 main coast road can be very busy but part of it are great to ride. But if you are travelling now it is high season. Sorry to hear about bad experience in Barcelona. Not my favourite Spanish city to be honest. Like you, I prefer the small towns and villages. I slept rough a lot in Spain back in 2001 on my six week tour.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 2:45am
by taryam
Hi. Thanks for the response, I plotted these as best as I could but would appreciate any advise on how to bake better suited for my first tour.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 2:50am
by taryam
Appreciate the responses. Honestly, at this point, I’ll go with the the route with most detail as I will plan and route this morning and leave today.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 2:58am
by taryam
HarryD wrote:Taryam

You've got 3 potentially good routes there. As you've already worked out the east and south coasts are generally flat with mountains rearing up not far inland. The coastal plain has a lot going for it but it is often well built up, well populated and can be incredibly busy traffic wise. You may miss out on the social interactions and miss out on what Spain has to offer.

Can I offer some amendments to one of your routes. Be warned there will be hills but they are well graded, there will be small towns and villages aplenty that rarely see non-Spaniards and you will cycle through scenery that you cannot believe.

Start in Tortosa (we got there by train) mid way between Barcelona and Valencia. Take the Via Verde (cycle track built on an old railway line) to Horta de San Joan then roughly parallel the coast heading south west as far as you want. If heading for Granada then a route taking in the Sierra de Cazorla would be my recommendation. Keep to the minor roads and enjoy the ride.

Hope that helps

Harry


Thanks for his. I believe I will follow this route. Starting this morning. Will catch the morning train later today. Any tips on best to follow this path, any extra information would be appreciated and valued.

Thanks.T

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 3:20am
by taryam
So thanks to the wonderful comments, plan is to start at Tartosa and Horta de san Juan. Any advise where to next? Ill ge on the road, ridewithgps won't allow me to plot on the mobile so will be google mapping it. Thanks. T

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 3:20am
by taryam

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 3:22am
by taryam
Harry, love the gradient, looks like its going to be a lovely ride for this section, much appreciated.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 11:20am
by HarryD
Taryam

If still looking for suggestions and heading for Granada you could do worse than

Horta de Sant Joan, Valderrobres (you'll see why), Morella (walled medieval city on hill), Valdelinares (at 1694m most probably the highest village in Spain so worth the climb), Rubielos de Mora and Mazanera. From there head to the Sierra de Cazorla taking in Segura de la Sierra, Hornos and Cazorla. I'd approach Granada from Guadix (cave dwellings) on the minor road via La Peza and Quentor.

Enjoy

Harry

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 21 Jun 2018, 12:05pm
by taryam
Thanks Harry, appreciate the help. Will google map it alone the way. Much obliged.

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 6:39am
by taryam
HarryD wrote:Taryam

If still looking for suggestions and heading for Granada you could do worse than

Horta de Sant Joan, Valderrobres (you'll see why), Morella (walled medieval city on hill), Valdelinares (at 1694m most probably the highest village in Spain so worth the climb), Rubielos de Mora and Mazanera. From there head to the Sierra de Cazorla taking in Segura de la Sierra, Hornos and Cazorla. I'd approach Granada from Guadix (cave dwellings) on the minor road via La Peza and Quentor.


Hi. What a wonderful route. Gorgeous scenes. Checkout my Instagram page (Mum daughter helped setup recently) for pictures and videos. Have the kids Star Wars teddy bear as a companion in most shots.
I am next Arnes. Heading to Maella and planning to conintue to Zaragoza. Google map is giving me. Caspe, chiprana then nothing till quinto. Harry or anyone have any suggestions? Much obliged, will be checking this chat along the way.

Enjoy

Harry

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 6:39am
by taryam
Sorry. Instagram: Taryam Al Subaihi (think there is only one of us )

Re: advise on routes in Spain (Barcenola to Bilbao/Valencia or Valencia to Granad inland/coastline)

Posted: 24 Jun 2018, 7:23am
by MrsHJ
taryam wrote:Sorry. Instagram: Taryam Al Subaihi (think there is only one of us )


Found you on Instagram using my son's account -lovely photos, interesting "companion " and you carry quite a lot of kit. Hope you have a great ride.