Spain 2010

[Minty Hippo]

Planning 2 weeks in Spain in early May, probably ferry to Santander then 8 - 10 days down to the south of the country and back.
Thinking about heading down Salamanca - Extremadura region - maybe Toledo - definitely Andalucia then back up via Alicante, Valencia, etc
Has anyone any any advice on good (tarmac) routes any any experience of reasonable unsurfaced roads or forest trails they're willing to share? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/help.gif[/img]
Cheers
MH

[catsbum]

God I'm envious right now

[dapleb]

No advice but ave a noice time.

[dicky1]

Hi Minty, Salamanca & Sevilla are both beautiful cities and worth visiting. Segovia has a very impressive Roman built aquaduct still in use. Cadiz if you make it to the bottom has a huge & beautiful harbour
Some of the best scenes however are along the minor roads where you see the Spain of the fast disappearing past, eg bullocks being used to plough & pull carts. Get some reasonably detailed maps, michelin do a set of 1:400,000 paper maps and collins do a ring binder atlas which is 1:300,000 and is good for route planning using small roads.
If you are on a truck route, the cafe's are good value for meals and over-night stops.

This post was last modified: 21-01-2010, 04:49 PM by dicky1.

[Guest]

I spent three weeks riding round Spain last year. My main advice is stay away from the package holiday destinations. Sevilla is fantastic, Granada is good and you can blast up into the mountains from there.

If you fancy a day or two off roading on someone else's bike look up Torrotrail they're a great bunch.

Other than that you can't really go wrong, the roads are good, people friendly and the weather nice.

[jdelfino]

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/ loads of info! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

[dandywarhol]

You could have a walk up here in Andalusia Minters..............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4T593h_PPU

[aircooled68]

<!--quoteo(post=147665:date=Thu 21st Jan 2010, 07:32 AM:name=CatsBum)-->QUOTE(CatsBum @ Thu 21st Jan 2010, 07:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->God I'm envious right now<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Me to [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]

[steve-evans]

Yep, wish I could be going too as there are certainly some great roads over there and you shouldn't get any hassle from their plod. Also, at that time of year the roads won't be busy either. Enjoy.

[Studley Ramrod]

<!--quoteo(post=147679:date=Thu 21st Jan 2010, 01:06 PM:name=jdelfino)-->QUOTE(jdelfino @ Thu 21st Jan 2010, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->http://www.bestbikingroads.com/ loads of info! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Come on JD, you can do better than that surely ?

[amarko5]

<!--quoteo(post=147654:date=Wed 20th Jan 2010, 11:06 PM:name=Minty Hippo)-->QUOTE(Minty Hippo @ Wed 20th Jan 2010, 11:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Planning 2 weeks in Spain in early May, probably ferry to Santander then 8 - 10 days down to the south of the country and back.Thinking about heading down Salamanca - Extremadura region - maybe Toledo - definitely Andalucia then back up via Alicante, Valencia, etcHas anyone any any advice on good (tarmac) routes any any experience of reasonable unsurfaced roads or forest trails they're willing to share? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/help.gif[/img] CheersMH<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->pico's de europa (national park) a must (so iv'e been told) approx 70 miles from <!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->SANTANDER <!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> westwards and slightly down stick it in you tube for vids of roads and conditions.

see my post in this thread LOL


<!--quoteo(post=147702:date=Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM:name=dandywarhol)-->QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You could have a walk up here in Andalusia Minters..............http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4T593h_PPU<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

1min 20 thats as far as i would go LOL (even then i'd have to be pissed) [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotflmmfao.gif[/img]

edited to reflect my location error

[wicklamulla]

<!--quoteo(post=147702:date=Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM:name=dandywarhol)-->QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You could have a walk up here in Andalusia Minters..............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4T593h_PPU<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
LOL thats sheet looks loike real fun.

[Minty Hippo]

<!--quoteo(post=147702:date=Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM:name=dandywarhol)-->QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Thu 21st Jan 2010, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You could have a walk up here in Andalusia Minters..............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4T593h_PPU<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh dear that seems like the stuff of nightmares. The guy with the camera doesn't even seem to be slowing down for the dodgiest bits.

Thanks indeed to everyone for all for the info. This sort of thing looks fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRlIc-fXLwU

or even this, if a bit GS-ey....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0OSkDtg8Ls

But then there will probably be 2 GS's and TDM.... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]

[Minty Hippo]

Ferry booked for Emmett and self, Plymouth to Santander, 2 May. Counting down!!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

[jdelfino]

Some of the nicest backroads in Andalusia are around the Ronda area, yesterday took the bike from Marbella to Ronda, Antequera and back through Alaurin/Coin, very, very nice! Lots of bikes on a sunday, no cops or cameras, good tarmac also, still a bit cold... (8 celsius) [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]