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Hi Folks,
Anyone have experience of the mountain biking (mainly of the mountain variety) in the above regions?
Looks plenty hilly! Are there set trails that are marked or is it a case of find a map / GPX routes and go explore?
We'll have around a week to explore.
May consider a day or two of roadie stuff to keep everyone happy, but would need to hire a roadbike.
Probably take my full sus unless the hive mind reckons my HT would be a better weapon
Also, decent bike rental in the area for my mates? Googled a few shops but mostly all in Spanish, real world reviews are always better!
Cheers!
Nobody?!
Unfortunately I can't get search to turn up the thread on this from a few months back. You might have more luck (I just get one from 2 weeks ago which only had 2 replies).
I've ridden road a fair bit arounbd there (usually closer to Cantabria) but if I was taking an MTB I'd just go up to Cangas de Onis and have a look on Wikiloc
I have nothing particularly useful to add but am lurking because we're heading there for our summer holidays with road bikes to coincide with the Vuelta
we did a bike tour around that area about 10 years ago on hardtail mtb's, mostly road/what you would call gravel riding now based as we were carrying tents/sleeping kit/cooking gear etc. we did ride up and over the mountains on some rocky/gravel type tracks. it would be worth taking a bike for sure but i'm not sure if there's any official bike trails. most people we met were climbers or doing walking routes - some of them quite technical with fixed ropes (obvs no good for biking!) and we used our bikes to get around then went off doing day walks up the peaks.
points to note from memory:
- there is a cable car up from Fuente De village at the southern side of the picos. great to get up high for minimal effort 🙂 the campsite at the bottom was totally random with some bloke who lived in a hobbit like house
- santillana del mar is worth a visit if you get time. lovely medieval town
- san vincente had a decent beach
- the cider is worth trying, especially in the tavernas where the bar staff serve it the traditional way by pouring it over their head. apparently kickback from the celts being pushed down that way by the romans - theres loads of celtic crosses on churches etc. also if you buy a cheese sandwich expect queso de cabrales in a baguette which will be strong enough to degrease a lifetimes supply of chains and cassettes... stilton tastes like dairylea in comparison!
theres a good map you can buy but not sure if still available on amazon etc, i would have got mine through my local climbing/outdoor shop
Can't comment on mtb but there's some good, tough road stuff in and around the area of the Covandonga and Lagos beloved of the Vuelta.
I am planning to be there the last week in May and have been doing some research. Currently not mush further than a load of potential routes on Wikiloc. So also interested in any insider knowledge. The one route that looks like a must-do seems to be off limits to cyclists 🙁 May just have to push that bit or do a hike instead.
This one
You might want to contact Doug@BasqueMTB
Trailforks is showing some stuff, alternatively you can use wikiloc and google maps. The keywords you are looking for are:
Sendas=footpath
trialera=trail
Pista= fireroad
Unless you just want to do some XC, if the stuff there is any similar to what is found in my home region I would take your full sus, however you can be the judge..:
Thanks folks!
Just been perusing trailforks actually and see some stuff in the Picos del Europa. Most of the region seems pretty quiet though.
I rode down South with Switchbacks a few years ago and seem to remember a bunch of the routes there being, erm, "unofficial"... Maybe it's the same up North?
My complete lack of Spanish is likely the main stalling point of my googling.
Muchos Gracias!