Cycling in the Marrakech area

[jay clock]

[I am a regular in here plus a CGOAB fan who does a lot of touring. Sorry this is less touring oriented....]

We have the chance of about 6 days away from 1 April. We want to go somewhere warm, nice hotel with pool, and where Mrs JC can sit and read a book and hopefully some culture.

I on the other hand am doing an Ironman in July and this means lots of miles. We are looking at Andalucia (tons of flights, tons of places to stay and tons of cycling), Lanzarote (been there twice recently, so know it well, plus going in March as well!) or Marrakech

Question is, how would I be fixed for road cycling in Marrakech. I would want to do a couple of longish rides (100-150km each). I am fairly worldly wise and bilingual in French, plus I know the Morrocans' famed hospitable nature.

So anyone been cycling round there (even if touring). I would be happy enough with the same ride twice, even if it was an out and back. Quiet steady mountain roads would be ideal

Any views or comments? I plan to take my winter road bike (summer one a bit bling for rural Morocco!)

JC

 

[gibo]

Hi Jay

Did you end up going to Marrakech road cycling? If so would you recommend it? Just searched for same thing and found your post, with no replies though.

Cheers

G

 

[jay clock]

In the end we went to Malaga. I still want to go to Morrocco but more likely for touring. All reports I have read are excellent!

If anyone does end up in the Malaga area the rides are fantastic, and we stayed in a super hotel in a very non touristy place called Velez Malaga

Jay

 

[Yellow7]

Hi Jay.
I rode through Morocco as part of my present tour and rode from Marakesh over the Atlas range on the Tizzi n Tchika (Col de Tchika)..AWESOME!!! BLOODY AWESOME I you look at my blog there is a map on the bottom, move and zoom in to Morocco and you can see the route. I'd well recomend cyling from Marakesh to Agadir (thats on the coast) You can then use a coach to get back to Marakesh for the bike bag and return flight or cycle back an alternate route, or even DHL the bike bag to Agadir.

Michelin do a big map of Morocco.

Today I've just posted 20+ pics on facebook, 3 of them are from the Atlas range, look me up on there and send a friend request then you can see them.

Mark Wallis wallisonwheels.com

 

[gibo]

Thanks Jay and Mark for responses, sorry for delay in responding just been down to Pembrokeshire for Easter and did the Tour of Pembs route 90 miles really lovely cycling around the coast and up to the Preseli Hills. Recommend it. With the weather like this got my first cyclists sun tan, tan lines. Easy to spot fellow cyclists on the beach now! Yes Malaga is nice if you stick to the old spanish bit, haven't done any cycling there, how'd you cope with heat?

Blimey Mark! Just seen your website and blog, that's some serious mileage you are doing there. Big respect to you.

Useful info on Morocco, thanks, have a long weekend planned with the missus and brother and sister in law for October and the boys fancy doing something more interesting than sitting around a pool or wandering around the souks.

Cheers
G