Stevecbr I live in Catalunya Steve, not far from Barcelona, I'll post up some cracking rides for you in the local area. Give me a day or two.
Obviously Alblade it will follow my trip report to the Alps! (ha ha, can't get away with anything round 'ere!)
You are blessed with the best of nearly everything there.Lots of sun and some great routes through there.
No worries Steve, be my pleasure. Was out today for four hours, crackin. Bit chilly at the mo. But the roads are dry, and as usual, completely empty. Sideways. Yes certainly blessed here. Catalunya has plenty of sun, and fabulous deserted roads. Motorcycle heaven, no doubt. Shot from today's ride out in the heart of Catalunya! (Road is the C13 heading south from Tremp to Camarasa. Best road in Spain? Quite possibly. Epic scenery, the most incredible, fast, empty, perfectly surfaced, and sweeping road. Its fcuking all time)
Just a little sample for you Steve. This is a video of the same road, the C-13. Just to wet your appetite. Like I said fella, I'll post plenty this week for you to look over. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVRrAG0iKBo
Steve Just a few suggestions/ideas for you. It sounds like you've been down this way before, so I'm sure you've got a fairly good idea of whats about riding wise in Catalunya, so I don't want to tell you how to suck eggs, but here's a few rides for your perusal. Couldn't make out where you were getting the ferry to, but I assume Santander or Bilbao? Any way i've included the route I took from Santander back to Barcelona over two days, with a night stop at Jaca. Here's an alternative route in over the Pyrenees coming from France. Similar to the route suggested by Alblade, but coming up through Prades on the French side. Great ride, amazing scenery, wont be disappointed. The N260. Pretty much start to finish. About as good as it gets. This road has it all, and I'm in no doubt you're already familiar with it! This combination of roads is a must do for anyone riding in Catalunya. It's epic. A proper riders road. It starts in El Pont de Suert and follows the N230 down to Puente de Montanana, then up over the the C1311 which is a magnificent piece of tarmac, to Tremp. From Tremp is down the C13 to Ballaguer. The C13 is with out question the best road I've ridden. If you catch this route on a week day, ealry afternoon, it's empty! Truly magic. This route starts proper at Ponts. But if you get out of the city, head for Igualada. From Igualada take a short stint on the dual carriage (A2) and come off at the sign for Andorra to follow the C1412. This road takes you to Ponts, its a fast flowing A road with amazing scenery across the high plains of the Pre-Pyrenees. From Ponts take the C14 (another A road with mega scenery) until you reach Col de Nargo. From here hang a left onto the L511. The L511 is fooking epic. A steep, twisty climb upto the Col de Boixols (1500m) on perfect tarmac. You'll be grinning ear to ear all the way up, fantastic. The way back down headed for Tremp is just as good! This little road is the C1414b, just another route from Ponts to Tremp. Cracking strip of road, but not as epic as the L511, but worth a shout. Note, this road, and the L511 don't look anything to merit paying attention to when seen on a map, but they're shit hot. This ride is great. One of the first one's I started riding when I moved over here. The A roads, C53 and C26, are great roads, fast flowing, good road surface. But the gem in this route is the LV4241 from Berga, via Sant Llorenc de Morunys, ending up back at Col de Nargo. It is a fabulous little mountain road, tight and technical to start with and then opens up into a faster more aggressive blast. Hard on the brakes and the throttle, its mint. Tricky to find the start of it in Berga, but worth persevering to find it. The 'Road of the Year' aka the GI682. Sure you know all about this one. If not, its a cracker, but traffic is heavy anytime after 9.30am. People rave about it, but it's to busy. The roads between Barcelona and the Pyrenees are better and empty for the most part. Just a quick local ride near my place. Great for just a blast for an hour or so, but probably not worth seeing given what else is out there! Like I said Steve just a few suggestions. But amazing roads. Hope this helps a little bit fella. If you need any other local info, or info on other roads that I haven't mentioned then just give me a shout mate. Cheers Mike
If you take Mikes route from Prades to Puigceria watch out when you go over the horrible off camber rail crossing halfway up the mountain - its been known for a bike to come of road, slide down track where brake lever touched live rail sending current down forks where it promptly blew out fork leg. At this point the railway shut down, the barriers came down shutting road down - bike was dragged out and ridden away before anyone stopped them. The road from Ripol to Berga is also great - we call it 'Micra Mountain' after a good plat with a local a noddy shape micra that was almost on 3 wheels on most corners - that thing handled well and was almost quick (1.3 16v one) Those are all great routes - very, very envious!
Hi Mike, I am going down to Santa Cristina in June and have been looking at your routes, they look great. Can they be downloaded from anywhere? Thanks
Spudkent The routes I put up on the previous post were just what I knocked up myself by punching in routes on google maps, so not downloadable from anywhere. But If you let me know your time frame, and planned schedule, then I'll happily knock you up a few rides for days out on the bike that will ensure you see/ride the best of whats available in Catalunya and the Pyrenees. Just let me know fella, no problem at all. Cheers Mike
Hi We are getting to the site on the 17 June and are going down to the MotoGP. We have a couple of weeks out there with our son joining us with his bike the first week. We dont mind getting up and going out early! Thanks Kevin
sorry its been a while Mike working and all that stuff we have booked an overnight in soria east of madrid then heading south to come round the coast,but them other roads are not going to be missed as we are there for two weeks,your a star mate thanks for all the info you have givern me.ill try and do as much as possible while we are there.hows the weather looking ?
Hey Steve Sounds like you're getting excited! And with good reason. You'll have a great time here in Catalunya. Needless to say the weather is perfect for biking. Anything you need to know please get in touch. Enjoy. Cheers, Mike
cheers Mike im blooooooody buzzzzzing mate carnt wait.love the place,roads and people.we stopping in malgrat de mar thursday till monday for the gp ,your a lucky bugger living over there ,i might look in to moving soon im sooooo tempted .it would be cheaper than going over every year and the weather over england it is not worth having a bike sometimes three months sun nine months shite.
Steve I'm always up for a good days ride, so if you fancy getting together give me a buzz. +34 662 408 922 I'm in the UK until 20th June. Failing that, have a great time fella! Cheers Mike
