Did my first overnight cycle tour in the Spanish Andalucian Mountains

[onlineamiga]

Well, I finally did a multi day tour! A One nighter wild camping in the mountains of southern spain.
My god was it hot! The cycle computer has a temperature guage on it, and I actually saw it hit 51c (tho that was left in the sun). But most of the time it was 38c- 44c.
And those roads are evil too. Climb after climb after climb. Then lots of down which isnt fun knowing that there is further climbing on the way. Fully loaded with camping gear & lots of water.

So I did Torreguardio (on the coast) to Jimena to Ubrique to Ronda to Gaucin back to Jimena Torreguardio. (for those that know the area)
Day 1 was about 50 miles, day 2 was 100 miles. Not very evenly spread, simply because i didnt get set off till 2pm on Day 1

With all the heat, and all the up hill climbing up those mountain roads. What better for cold water eh? Well the water in my water bottles was warm. Like when you leave water in a car on a hot day. I coulda brewed a cup of tea in my bike bottles.

Anyway was an amazing experience and all good training for Gibraltar to Yorkshire.
The 100 mile was definately one hell of a stretch for distance especially when dealing with that sort of heat. I was on the bike 12 hours.

The camping was fine, I managed to pitch a wild camp off the road out of sight. Not a problem at all. Though its amazing how much stuff is fenced off making spots hard to find in the mountains.
The views up there are amazing. Which is what it is all about and the roads practically empty. I've got some piccys on my cam I'll post when i get home. Had no energy left last night to do much once I got in!

Right couple of questions which may help me for next time.

1. When doing long rides. I know you have to eat lots. Problem is, I really lose my appetite. Does anyone else get this problem? I didnt eat half the food I probably should have done.
2. Saddle sores, omg! owch after that one. What do people use to help prevent and cure this? Does nappy rash stuff work like sudacreme? Also this is a really stupid question but do most people wear underwear under their padded cycle shorts?

Im sure there was something else I wanted to ask but cant remember now .I'm sure it'll come to me.

Anyway very succesful two day ride. Very difficult considering the heats and the terrain. But a great achievement, especially getting a century in there

 

[rich p]

Your first trip nearly turned into a multi-dayer IIRC!
I don't do that sort of mileage myself, averaging 50mpd and a max of 80m if I have to but I have never found eating a problem at those speeds. I think the advice is little and often but I generally have a pastry for brekker, a baguette or sandwich for lunch and a regular dinner in the evening. I supplement that with fruit and carry a few ration bars just in case.
I don't wear anything under my shorts as it the seams that are often the problem, so the less the better. Some people need and swear by sudacreme or Assos stuff but I've never needed it. Is your saddle the problem though? Angle, height or model?

 

[jags]

sounds like you had a great time good stuff.i can imagine how tough it was climbing all those hills in that kinda heat fair play to ya.as for eating i'm exactly the same but it's a big mistake not to eat little and often is the way to do it .never run out of water on a trip like that warm water or not .as for the saddle sores it's a good idea to have some baby wipes if when your cycling and you feel discomfort stop clean that area smear some vasaline job done ,oh yeah get yourself some good padded shorts go comando if you don't like lycra just wear baggy shorts over them your arse will thank you for it.
cheers for now dont forget to post the pic's.

 

[andym]

Hmm, cycle touring in Ronda in mid-July? I'm starting to think that your ride up the motorway after dark wasn't unintentional at all.

Just in case anyone is put off - Málaga province is probably the most mountainous part of Andalucía. And mid-July is the hottest part of the year. There's some great cycling to be had in Andalucía. You can get a decent room, with private bathroom, in a pensión for less than 20 euros, and a three course lunch with drink for ten euros or less.

Speaking of food - I adopted the rhythm of cycling from 7ish (preferably fueled by a cafe con leche and a media con aceite) until 1-2pm, shower, and then piling into a big Spanish-style lunch at 2.30ish. Followed by a nice siesta ...

 

[doog]

Well, I finally did a multi day tour! A One nighter wild camping in the mountains of southern spain.
My god was it hot! The cycle computer has a temperature guage on it, and I actually saw it hit 51c (tho that was left in the sun). But most of the time it was 38c- 44c.
And those roads are evil too. Climb after climb after climb. Then lots of down which isnt fun knowing that there is further climbing on the way. Fully loaded with camping gear & lots of water.

ha, that indeed was similar to my recent tour through Dorset, Somerset and up those Exmoor Hills in the fact that the downhill became soul destroying knowing there was an uphill to come. I too did a long haul home for me it was day 3, 96 miles and ten hours in the saddle with temps in the high 20's...not a patch on your temps and mountains but enough to burn me having forgotten the suncream

Q1. I ate small tesco fruit bars every hour or so over 3 quite strenuous days and drank loads! Seemed to do the trick.

Q2 :Never really suffered saddle sores but on long rides I dont wear anything under the cycle shorts, Ive heard Assos cream is recommended

 

[onlineamiga]

Right, finally got the pics off the camera!
Woo hoo!
First thing, theres a blodge on each one. Lesson to all, dont get too close filming people getting wet from a log flume ride at the theme park!! It breaks cameras! haha! Actually camera was totally dead and came back to life.


Here we go,

First most of the stuff i packed. Camping gear, doritos etc.

The bike. Revolution Country Explorer. Pretty standard, just fitted Shimano SPD pedals.

On the road heading past Jimena

Jimena up the hill on my left

Heading into mountains now

Nice horsey!

Low resolution internet pictures and broken rubbish camera really dont do the views any justice

Away from the coast and the sea breeze, it gets very very hot in the mountains in summer. Fully clear blue sky the sun is just left to thrive!

Horrible pic of me sweating like a beast. Suncream re-leaking out of me rendering it useless.
Despite drinking litres upon litres of water. I think i peed once the whole day. Just goes to show the body really needs it when dealing with heat and peddling so much!

Pitched the tent down just off road in a wooded area, up on a banking so way out of sight of anyone. No problems at all, not even any bother with bugs. The amount of dead snakes i saw at the side of the road whilst on route too, and thought theyd be thriving in this grass. But not a peep. Just the nice sound of the crickets then the moonlight lit the tent up. A few dogs barking in the distance, the odd rumble of a passing car far away, less than one an hour on these empty mountain roads. This was about 10km outside Ubrique.

Nice view outside Ubrique

Ubrique itself

After this point i headed out towards ronda and then back to Jimena from there. I daftly didnt really stop for any more photos as views and stuff were just amazing the whole way. But i really was just focussed on the cycling and dealing with the heat. Cycling up to ronda isnt too difficult so can get those sort of pics anytime anyway. Ubrique was a new area to me so spent more time getting pics from there. I took video clips as well on the sports cam. These were just a selection of the best.

Really is nice cycling out here, but the hills are pretty tough in the heat!

 

[valbal]

Hmm, cycle touring in Ronda in mid-July? I'm starting to think that your ride up the motorway after dark wasn't unintentional at all.

Just in case anyone is put off - Málaga province is probably the most mountainous part of Andalucía. And mid-July is the hottest part of the year. There's some great cycling to be had in Andalucía. You can get a decent room, with private bathroom, in a pensión for less than 20 euros, and a three course lunch with drink for ten euros or less.

Speaking of food - I adopted the rhythm of cycling from 7ish (preferably fueled by a cafe con leche and a media con aceite) until 1-2pm, shower, and then piling into a big Spanish-style lunch at 2.30ish. Followed by a nice siesta ...

I'm planning on a tour to Andalucia from 12 Sept to Oct 2 and intend to cycle from Malaga to Seville via Ronda to Cordoba to Granada to climb Pico Veleta and then back to Malaga - about 3 weeks. I've not done anything like this before and I'm staying with friends in Malaga, Seville and Granada, depending on pensions apart from that. I'm getting into shape for it at the moment and plan on travelling with practically no weight apart from water and minimal clothing....and a credit card.. I'm in my mid-50s but I'm farily fit anyway. I'm not completely committed to the route but I thought it looked do-able. My bike is a light road bike - Paganini frame, mostly Shimano parts and gears to suit a long climb.

Any advice?.... as you sound as if you know the area quite well? I'm a bit worried about the temperature in the mountains - that it might be coldish even in September - and I'm not sure about constantly climbing....as in, will it do my head in after a bit. Also, there's no way I could cycle on a croissant in the morning. I plan on eating a pile of oats and, as you suggest, leaving at 7ish allowing for a feed and siesta midday

 

[andym]

I'm planning on a tour to Andalucia from 12 Sept to Oct 2 and intend to cycle from Malaga to Seville via Ronda to Cordoba to Granada to climb Pico Veleta and then back to Malaga - about 3 weeks. I've not done anything like this before and I'm staying with friends in Malaga, Seville and Granada, depending on pensions apart from that. I'm getting into shape for it at the moment and plan on travelling with practically no weight apart from water and minimal clothing....and a credit card.. I'm in my mid-50s but I'm farily fit anyway. I'm not completely committed to the route but I thought it looked do-able. My bike is a light road bike - Paganini frame, mostly Shimano parts and gears to suit a long climb.

Any advice?.... as you sound as if you know the area quite well? I'm a bit worried about the temperature in the mountains - that it might be coldish even in September - and I'm not sure about constantly climbing....as in, will it do my head in after a bit. Also, there's no way I could cycle on a croissant in the morning. I plan on eating a pile of oats and, as you suggest, leaving at 7ish allowing for a feed and siesta midday

My advice would be to be wary of trying to do too much. Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada (not to mention Ronda and Antequera) all deserve a good day each (as a minimum) and there are plenty of ineresting places in between. If you don't want to do the tourist stuff then don't go to the major cities - save yourself the hassle and expense.

As far as routes are concerned, Michelin do a very useful map of Andalucía which highlights (in green) all the scenic roads. I've never known them make a wrong call yet.

You could also check out Ruta de Washington Irving (between Granada and Sevilla) and the Ruta del Califato between Granada and Córdoba. Unfortunately the site seems to be in Spanish only - but you can look at maps of the route.

I don't know about the Veleta. The mountain itself is nearly as high as Mont Blanc - but presumably the ski station is 'only' about 2,500 metres. But given that Granada is at about 600 metres that is a big climb. You could overnight somewhere but it's probably going to be a pretty much interrupted climb all the way up.

If you wanted to explore south of Granada one option worth thinking about would be taking the old main road from Granada via Dúrcal to Lanjarón and on from there to Pamapaneira, Campaneira, Trevélez, Cadiár, Laroles, Báyarcal,Laujar de Andarax (NB I may have missed some important places out and/or got the sequence wrong) and down through the Alpujarra Almerense to Almería and then get the train to back to Sevilla, or back to Granada or even Málaga.

I'd prepare for both hot and cold: eg a long sweaty climb up but then putting on a warmer top for the descent.


Bear in mind that you need to organize tickets for the Alhambra in advance.

Croissant? I should think not. Breakfast in Andalucía is a tostada (big chunk of toasted bread - most people only have half - 'a media') with olive oil or fresh puréed tomato and a cafe con leche. Breakfast of kings - beats a coffee and croissant any day.

 

[valbal]

Thank you very much for that and I'll check out the Michelin. My Paganini is ready to go with a very small rear pack which seems to work well - ok at least for 100k in north dublin. Let's hope the weather is warmer than September in Ireland. The Veleta is an aspiration and I'll abandon it if it seems too much. I'm off in a coupleof days, so I will let you know how I got on when I get back. And I apprecfiate the advice: it's kind of reassuring!