When embarking on a journey in a van with an Englishman, five Irishmen, and a Scotsman, one can’t help but anticipate some comic misfortune. For the next few days, my goal is simply to avoid being that person. We are traveling from the bustling city of M\u00e1laga to the serene landscapes of Andaluc\u00eda, where we will spend four days exploring gravel biking\u2014an activity I have never attempted and am uncertain if I can handle.<\/p>\n
My cycling background is primarily confined to a flat, five-mile commute in London and long-distance cycling holidays on paved roads. I enjoy the smoothness of asphalt and have often looked down on off-road biking. Why endure a bumpy ride when you can glide effortlessly?<\/p>\n
My anxiety increases further upon realizing that my travel companions are all experienced gravel and mountain bikers, well-prepared for this tour. Most of them work in the medical field\u2014doctors, dentists, and physiotherapists\u2014which is reassuring in case of mishaps, but it also means they are all in better shape than I am. I can already tell that I might be out of my depth.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival at the northern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, our guides, Tim and Jenny, welcome us with cold beers and informational booklets detailing our itinerary. The statistics are daunting: an average of 60 kilometers each day, including a challenging 1,400 meters of elevation gain and loss.<\/p>\n
The bike I am borrowing is considerably lighter than my own, featuring wider tires and drop handlebars that extend outward for enhanced control. The gear ratios are lower than I\u2019m accustomed to, which should make even the steepest climbs manageable\u2014eventually.<\/p>\n
The following morning, we set off north toward the Sierra de Baza National Park on what my companions describe as \u201cchampagne gravel\u201d\u2014a solid, flat surface speckled with small stones. We glide across the dry landscape, passing the abandoned film set used in \u201cOnce Upon a Time in the West.\u201d This stark yet captivating scenery has attracted many location scouts, appearing in iconic films like Sergio Leone\u2019s Dollars trilogy and Dr. Zhivago.<\/p>\n
As we ascend through almond orchards and into the mountains, the group begins to spread out, with Tim leading the more experienced riders at the front, while Jenny, riding an ebike, stays with the slower members, including myself, ensuring no one gets lost. We regroup at every unmarked turn and take breaks to refuel with muesli bars and dried fruit.<\/p>\n
As we climb, Jenny and the others share invaluable tips for my first gravel descent: keep hands on the drops to avoid losing grip over bumps; shift weight back; maintain heel angles on the pedals and balance hips above the saddle; avoid tailgating; use both brakes simultaneously; don\u2019t get distracted by the scenery; and most importantly, remember to breathe. I quickly learn that there are many ways to lose control.<\/p>\n
Despite not being the fastest rider, I successfully navigate the descent without incident, but by the time we reach our next hotel, I feel sore in muscles I never knew I had.<\/p>\n
This region of Spain is remarkably tranquil; the only vehicles we encounter are at a coffee stop in Gor, a village known for the grueling 800km Badlands gravel race. In contrast to the overcrowded beach towns of the Costa del Sol, which have seen anti-tourism protests, this peaceful corner of Andaluc\u00eda is eager to welcome visitors, as evidenced by a sign proclaiming: \u201c\u00a1Macrogranjas no, turismo s\u00ed!\u201d (\u201cMegafarms no, tourism yes!\u201d).<\/p>\n
Day two proves to be even more serene, with no cars in sight throughout the day. This is fortunate, as our adventure begins with a 1,000-meter climb up El Chullo, the highest peak in the Almer\u00eda region. We navigate a narrow path, dodging rocks and holes created by wild boars, before stopping near the summit for ham and cheese bocadillos. The descent that follows is much easier, allowing me to relax and observe my fellow riders, although I still occasionally forget to breathe as I focus intently.<\/p>\n
The third day opens with another 1,000-meter climb, revealing breathtaking views as we tackle switchbacks and ascend past the treeline onto a plateau. I find myself growing more comfortable with the experience; this is something I could do regularly. However, I was unprepared for the descent on extremely rough terrain, which even seasoned riders found challenging during the 2023 World Gravel Series. By the day\u2019s end, my wrists are aching. One of the doctors in our group suggests my tension is to blame, but I suspect I wasn\u2019t the only one relieved to return to the smooth asphalt leading back to our hotel.<\/p>\n
Our final day turns out to be the most eventful. We ride along dry riverbeds, which present new challenges with lush foliage overhead and muddy sections that feel like navigating through thick porridge.<\/p>\n
Clouds that have loomed ominously throughout the day finally unleash rain. As we struggle uphill through the muck, a trickle of water becomes a rushing stream, spreading across the riverbed and transforming the mud into slurry. We continue riding, even as my wheels occasionally spin in the sand. I’ve learned to keep pedaling and maintain my balance rather than brake or turn sharply.<\/p>\n
Tim takes charge, directing us via radio and ensuring everyone safely navigates the rising waters. After a slippery ascent, we arrive at our final hotel, where Jenny greets us with a van filled with cava. As we celebrate, one of the Irish doctors jokes, \u201cWas this what you signed up for?\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking at my drenched shoes, muddy bike, and aching hands, I realize I may have ended up looking foolish, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn\u2019t matter. My previous disdain for gravel biking now seems misguided; I have traversed routes that a road bike could never handle and experienced adventures that asphalt could not provide. There were certainly plenty of literal bumps along the way, but the memories made were well worth it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When embarking on a journey in a van with an Englishman, five Irishmen, and a Scotsman, one can’t help but anticipate some comic misfortune. For the next few days, my goal is simply to avoid being that person. We are traveling from the bustling city of M\u00e1laga to the serene landscapes of Andaluc\u00eda, where we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7796,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1871,611,607,1872,614,88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-andalucia-holidays","category-uk-cycling-holidays","category-uk-europe-holidays","category-uk-spain-holidays","category-uk-travel","category-uk"],"yoast_head":"\n