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Springtime In Girona

Last updated on April 12, 2016 By Jace Leave a Comment

This is the time of year that many of us are dusting off our bikes and getting back out on the open road. Perhaps the winter was spent cross training, maybe there were numerous workout sessions on the turbo trainer, or maybe you spent it completely off and your legs are now wishing you hadn’t. Regardless, spring is the time when we rediscover our love of cycling and (re)build our summer aerobic endurance. For me, there could be almost no better location to get in those early season miles than in Girona. There’s something about springtime in Girona that motivates me for the summer ahead.

With a great variety of routes, there’s a little of something for every level of fitness. There are the long, flat to rolling, rural roads or the more challenging climbs to small hilltop villages. And perhaps what motivates me equally is the town of Girona itself. There is such a vibrant feel to the town: locals exchanging pleasantries on their way to/from work, college students heading to classes, the cafés filled to the brim in the late afternoons, cyclists returning from their rides, people enjoying a drink before dinner… there’s always something to keep you occupied when you’re off the bike.

bike-tour-girona
Glad to be back in Girona.
snow-pyrenees
The snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees in the distance.
Girona's historic quarter
Girona’s historic quarter
La Fabrica Girona
Enjoying a post ride coffee at La Fabrica Girona
Placa de la Independencia Girona
Plaça de la Independència
girona sunset
Girona at sunset

Filed Under: Bike Tours in Europe, Off The Bike: Food, Drink, History & Culture Tagged With: bike tour, Catalonia, Costa Brava, Girona

Alpe d’Huez Is Overrated

Last updated on April 1, 2015 By Jace 2 Comments

alpe-d-huez
Alpe d’Huez

Yes, you read the title correctly. Alpe d’Huez is overrated. I realize that it’s just my opinion and that others may disagree, but I’m sticking to it. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t ride it. If you follow cycling and you haven’t ridden it, then without a doubt you should ride it. And it’s going to remain a key part of our French Alps Bike Tour. So it’s not that it isn’t worth climbing either. It is, if for no other reason to see it for yourself and experience it firsthand. Alpe d’Huez is the stuff of legends. If you ask many cyclists to name a famous climb in the French Alps, they’ll name Alpe d’Huez. It’s not surprising. Alpe d’Huez has been climbed 28 times in the Tour de France over the years, which is particularly remarkable since 27 of those times have been since 1976! It’s usage in the race has practically made it synonymous with the Tour itself. One has to look no further than the village of Bourg d’Oisans, located at the foot of Alpe d’Huez to see the impact of cycling on this twisty climb. In summer, the village is awash with jerseys, bikes and cyclists in cafés.

But is it all worth it? Sure, if you’ve never seen it before, but in my opinion the French Alps hold so many wonderful, challenging, and scenic roads to climb, I wouldn’t put Alpe d’Huez anywhere near the top of my list. Instead, I’d much prefer to climb the Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col de la Télégraphe, Col du Galibier or Col de la Madeleine. And the list goes on. All of the aforementioned alternatives have something Alpe d’Huez does not. They have a sense of the Alps themselves and at times, a sense of solitude amongst the mountains. Alpe d’Huez is a road to a ski resort. Yes, there are the 21 turns that take you to the top, but ultimately you’re ascending to a crowded hilltop, filled with condos, lodges, restaurants, ski lifts and parking lots. Are there views from the top? A few. But it pales in comparison to the likes of other great climbs in the Alps. Is it a challenging climb? Yes, but it is neither longer or steeper than any of the climbs mentioned above.

So climb it if you must, but know that there are many more climbing options in the area that hold far more than a famous name.

21-switchbacks-alpe-d-huez
The 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez (Photo Credit:Wikipedia)

 

david-de-la-fuente
Alpe d’Huez is famous due to its association with the Tour de France. David de la Fuente on the Alpe d’Huez 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

alpe-d-huez
Famous, but not the most scenic of summits. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 


 

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Filed Under: Bike Tours in Europe, Famous Cycling Climbs, The World of Cycling Tagged With: Alpe d'Huez, Alps, bike tour, Cycling, France, French Alps

Girona and Costa Brava Bike Tour, July 7-12, 2015

Last updated on April 1, 2015 By In Situ Travel Leave a Comment

costa-brava
Cycling the Costa Brava, near Girona, Spain.

Are you looking for a fantastic place to ride this summer? Why not join us in Spain? We’ve still got a few spots available for our Girona and Costa Brava Bike Tour from July 7-12, 2015.

Ideally situated just inland from the Mediterranean, Girona is the perfect base for a cycling vacation. The terrain is a good mix of rolling hills, small villages and scenic vistas. Then when you’re off the bike, you can enjoy all that Girona has to offer: a historic medieval center, shopping, museums, restaurants, etc. You’ll soon discover why so many professional cyclists call Girona home. It’s the perfect balance of fantastic cycling routes and a great town for your off-the-bike activities.

Here’s just a glimpse of what a week with us offers:

  • Riding the Els Angels Climb – 10.4 kilometers long at a height of 404 meters. It’s a local favorite and just a few kilometers south of Girona’s historic center.
  • Savoring Catalan cuisine – fresh ingredients, often prepared simply, but bursting with flavor
  • Enjoying a leisurely afternoon, sitting in a cafe, watching Girona unfold before you
  • Cycling along Costa Brava with the blue waters of the Mediterranean below you.

Cafe Life in Girona

Paella during Bike Tour Girona

Cycling along the Costa Brava

Find out more via our Girona and Costa Brava Bike Tour page.


 

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Filed Under: Bike Tours in Europe Tagged With: bike tour, Costa Brava, Cycling, Girona, Spain

Transporting Your Bike On A European Train

Last updated on April 1, 2015 By Jace Leave a Comment

gare-tgv
Aéroport Charles De Gaulle 2 – Gare TGV by Alessandro Prada. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bibendum84/5274176885

You’ve dreamt of cycling in Europe for a long time, so nothing short of riding your own bike will do. But how do you get it all the way from your home to your destination in Europe? There are several steps to have it go smoothly, but none of them are terribly complicated if you plan ahead a little bit.Sure there is also the option of renting a car, but not everyone wants to do that. For this blog post, we’ll look at the option of transporting your bike on a european train.

Here are some tips:

Plan ahead
Smooth train travel begins before you even book your plane ticket to Europe. Did you know that some major european airports have train stations located directly in the airport? Paris and Frankfurt are just two examples. You don’t even have to leave the terminal. Simply get your bike from baggage claim and roll it to the train station. This saves you a step: there are no taxi or bus transfers and no hauling your bike more than you have to. You may also be able to go directly to your final destination without having to change trains later. For example, you can travel directly from the Paris CDG airport to Provence in just over 3 hours.

Allow enough time and know the game plan before you board
Get to the train station early to load your bike. Try the luggage area at the end of your train car or look for the bike symbol on some trains that now have a special bike compartment. If you put your bike in a bike specific car that is not the same car in which you are traveling, be sure to confirm that the car is going to the same destination as you! Some long-haul trains will split during the course of the journey. The car destination is typically posted near the door of each train car, but if unsure, just ask a train conductor. And please remember, bike cases can be large so please be courteous of other travelers and do not block aisles or doorways with your bike, even if the luggage racks are full.

Can bikes go inside the train car or must they be loaded into special bike luggage areas?
There is often confusion about this. If you look at the railway websites, they will often state that bikes must go in special compartments or designated areas within the train and cannot be loaded into the train car. This is referring to bikes NOT in bike cases. If your bike is in a bike case or box, it is treated as luggage, not a bike. But as mentioned above, bike cases are large and can get in the way. Do your best to load it with other luggage and keep it out of the way for the other passengers.

Is your bike outside of a case? Well then, yes, you need to load it in the designated bike area or bike car. This will also limit which trains you can take. Not all trains (especially not the high speed, express trains) have bike compartments. If your bike is not in a case, double check that you’ll be able to transport it, before you plan your trip.


 

Image source: “Aéroport Charles De Gaulle 2 – Gare TGV” by Alessandro Prada. Creative Commons License. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bibendum84/5274176885

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Filed Under: Preparing For Your Bike Tour, Travel Tips in Europe Tagged With: bike tour, Cycling, Europe, Travel

Bike Rental Options On Our Bike Tours

Last updated on April 1, 2015 By Jace Leave a Comment

So What Are Your Bike Rental Options?

bike rental options
bike rental options

Many of our guests choose to bring their own bikes with them to ride during their bike tour. Nothing quite fits like your own bike, so it makes sense that you’d like to have it with you as you conquer the legendary cols of Europe. However, if you’d prefer to rent a bike while on your trip, that’s an option too. We’re frequently asked what are the bike rental options on our bike tours, so here’s a brief summary:

We handle all of the logistics for our guests’ bike rentals, meaning that they will be available for your use during the bike tour and there’s nothing required by you in terms of pick-up or drop off of the rental bike. We work with local bike shops in each region for the rentals. Generally, there is a range of bikes available in various sizes. Some of the brands include: Trek, Pinarello, Scott, Colnago, BMC, Cannondale, as well as others. The level of bike ranges from a more entry level, aluminum/carbon bike with Shimano 105 components, up to the top of the line, full carbon, pro race bike with carbon race wheels. As an example of the bikes available for rent, here are some of the options for our bike tour in Provence. The prices are for the entire trip, per person:

Trek Domane 4 (Shimano 105 / triple chainring): $300
Trek Domane 5.2 (Shimano Ultegra / triple chainring): $375
Trek Domane 5.9C (Shimano Ultegra / compact chainring / 11-speed / DI-2 electronic shifting): $540

Typically for each trip region, there is an option for around $300 per person, with prices going up from there for more high end bikes.

Do you have more questions? Please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help you!

 

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Filed Under: Bicycles & Cycling Gear, Bike Tours in Europe, Preparing For Your Bike Tour Tagged With: bike tour, Provence

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