Planning and Prep
29 September 2019
Companions
My tour companions are the same as on my 2018: Bordeaux to Barcelona bike tour: Michael Gille, Robin Ericksen, and John Hedgepeth. You can find their profile here:
http://2018bordeaux2barcelona.blogspot.com/2018/09/planning-and-preview.html
Location, Timing, and Travel Arrangements
While this is my 4th tour entirely or partially in Spain, my companions experienced only the portion of Catalonia from the French Border to Girona. They wanted to return, selecting Andalusia in southeast Spain. Our October timing was set because Robin wanted to devote September to hiking in California and John needs to return by 30 October to celebrate his wife's birthday. We scheduled 4 weeks, will meet in Seville, and booked our flights:
Seville
Large cities are often incompatible with cycling, but Seville might be a pleasant surprise. I found this link:
Our preferred approach to bike touring, described in my prior blogs, is flexible. We carry minimal gear, eliminate guides and contracted support, stay in hotels, and rely on local restaurants and stores for meals. No camping (a group of four is problematic for Warm Showers). In summary, we book flights and book early for arrival and departure, and make all other bookings on arrival or 1 or 2-days prior. We can adapt to weather and select stopping points based on our interests and recommendations from people we meet along the way.
Potential Routes
Numerous commercial bike touring companies offer tours in Southern Spain. I thank them all for their inspiration but prefer the challenge, adventure, and flexibility of determining our route each day. Yes, we will miss potential high points, but we cannot see everything. Luxury digs, gourmet meals, spas at days end, sag & mechanical support are fine for many, but I'll take the adventure. The lack of support does force us to interact with locals, which is usually the most memorable element in a great bike tour.
That noted, Thank you to the following touring companies for inspiration. Please consider their services if you prefer the comfort and reduced anxiety/risk that they offer.
For guidance, we have paper maps, web access, and will rely on the maps.me app, available for iPhone or Android. Maps.me area maps can be downloaded for on-route access without using cellular data. We all will be packing power banks to keep our phones charged, as these apps often drain a charge in 2-3 hours.
Weather
The southeastern coast, around Valencia and Murcia, had torrential rains in early September, in which 5 people drowned. Those rains crossed the mountains into the Adalusian interior, but generally the conditions in October are dry with temperatures ranging from the upper 80s F in the day to 60F at night. That's likely to drop later in the month and in the mountains, so I will pack good rain gear and hope to keep it in my duffel/backpack.
My Flight
This being Bozeman, MT, I have a 6 am departure, with stops in Minneapolis and Atlanta, scheduled to arrive in Madrid at 8:35am, about 50 minutes after Robin. We will take the train to Atocha Station, then catch the train to Seville. For those traveling by train in Spain, here is some useful information:
Spain's RENFE rail system offers senior travelers 60 and older the Tarjeta Dorada("Gold Card"). With the Tarjeta Dorada, you will save 25 to 50 percent on train tickets, depending on the type of train, the day of the week you travel and how far in advance you buy your tickets. You can buy your Tarjeta Dorada at a RENFE station for 6 Euros; it will be valid for one year.
Packed
Companions
My tour companions are the same as on my 2018: Bordeaux to Barcelona bike tour: Michael Gille, Robin Ericksen, and John Hedgepeth. You can find their profile here:
http://2018bordeaux2barcelona.blogspot.com/2018/09/planning-and-preview.html
Location, Timing, and Travel Arrangements
While this is my 4th tour entirely or partially in Spain, my companions experienced only the portion of Catalonia from the French Border to Girona. They wanted to return, selecting Andalusia in southeast Spain. Our October timing was set because Robin wanted to devote September to hiking in California and John needs to return by 30 October to celebrate his wife's birthday. We scheduled 4 weeks, will meet in Seville, and booked our flights:
- Robin and I fly into Madrid and will take the 2.5 hour high-speed train to Seville. We both have folding Bike Fridays, so they travel on any train as luggage. Full-sized bikes are not permitted on these trains. We will return to Madrid, where Robin will meet his wife for an additional week in Spain.
- John and Michael will fly directly to Seville. John will take his bike while Michael has arranged to rent a bike. The cost to fly a standard bike or rent is similar, so it's a matter of comfort versus convenience.
Seville
Large cities are often incompatible with cycling, but Seville might be a pleasant surprise. I found this link:
Our preferred approach to bike touring, described in my prior blogs, is flexible. We carry minimal gear, eliminate guides and contracted support, stay in hotels, and rely on local restaurants and stores for meals. No camping (a group of four is problematic for Warm Showers). In summary, we book flights and book early for arrival and departure, and make all other bookings on arrival or 1 or 2-days prior. We can adapt to weather and select stopping points based on our interests and recommendations from people we meet along the way.
Potential Routes
Numerous commercial bike touring companies offer tours in Southern Spain. I thank them all for their inspiration but prefer the challenge, adventure, and flexibility of determining our route each day. Yes, we will miss potential high points, but we cannot see everything. Luxury digs, gourmet meals, spas at days end, sag & mechanical support are fine for many, but I'll take the adventure. The lack of support does force us to interact with locals, which is usually the most memorable element in a great bike tour.
That noted, Thank you to the following touring companies for inspiration. Please consider their services if you prefer the comfort and reduced anxiety/risk that they offer.
- Backroads
- Hooked On Cycling
- Ciclismo Classico
- REI
- Experience Plus
For guidance, we have paper maps, web access, and will rely on the maps.me app, available for iPhone or Android. Maps.me area maps can be downloaded for on-route access without using cellular data. We all will be packing power banks to keep our phones charged, as these apps often drain a charge in 2-3 hours.
Weather
The southeastern coast, around Valencia and Murcia, had torrential rains in early September, in which 5 people drowned. Those rains crossed the mountains into the Adalusian interior, but generally the conditions in October are dry with temperatures ranging from the upper 80s F in the day to 60F at night. That's likely to drop later in the month and in the mountains, so I will pack good rain gear and hope to keep it in my duffel/backpack.
No, I will not miss our late-September Bozeman, MT, weather. The lawn is cut, leaves remain on the trees, and the raspberries prepared for winter. The canes that bore fruit were removed and the new growth tied up.
My Flight
This being Bozeman, MT, I have a 6 am departure, with stops in Minneapolis and Atlanta, scheduled to arrive in Madrid at 8:35am, about 50 minutes after Robin. We will take the train to Atocha Station, then catch the train to Seville. For those traveling by train in Spain, here is some useful information:
Spain's RENFE rail system offers senior travelers 60 and older the Tarjeta Dorada("Gold Card"). With the Tarjeta Dorada, you will save 25 to 50 percent on train tickets, depending on the type of train, the day of the week you travel and how far in advance you buy your tickets. You can buy your Tarjeta Dorada at a RENFE station for 6 Euros; it will be valid for one year.
Packed
The bike is folded and packed . . .
. . . and the case/trailer is ready to be checked as normal luggage, right at 50#.
Clothing is folded and packed in zip-lock bags where they are compact and easy to spot.
I will check the duffel bag/backpack and carry-on the computer in a simple string pack that leaves both hands free. Upon arrival, the computer goes on top in the duffel where clothing offers additional protection from road vibration, the bike come out of the case, the duffel goes in the case, I attach the wheeled undercarriage, and cycle to our hotel.
Note: I had to look this up—
In England; English, duffle is correct.
In America; US-English, duffel is correct.
In Australia; Australian English, duffle is correct.
Invented in Duffel, Belgium, I guess American spelling credits the town.
Inspiring Bon vive
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