3 Days Cycling In Bilbao, Basque Country
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- At the start of July I attended the European Congress on Magnetic Resonance in Bilbao, Spain. Fortunately I had a bit of time to explore the area on my bike first, and took my cameras with me. Here's a terrible video of my experience.
Strava Day One: / strava
Strava Day Two: / strava
Strava Day Three: / strava
And the actual routes I wanted to do (with the worst bits removed):
Day One Plan: / strava
Day Two Plan: / strava
Day Three Plan: / strava
Cool video. I almost did the same thing when I started riding in Bilbao. And if you start from the center there is only a few nice ways to get out from the city. But once you know them - the routes are fantastic. No traffic, magnificent landscape, shady roads to hide from the sun in the summer. But yea - it's not really obvious how to get around when you're new to the area. For example - go get to the Artxanda ridge - there is a super safe and mild uphill almost parallel to what you did on Day2. And for day 2 ride - literally no one (except you and me) rides that uphill with 80kmh speed limit. There is a "bypass" just about couple miles further NW. I might actually create a "how to ride from the center of Bilbao" HowTo one day :)
To be fair - after I did that 80kmh road 1st time - I took the wrong turn and entered 100kmh Autovia where bikes are illegal :) Had to spring at 190bpm to the next exit.
We rode down that road on your day 3 ,on motorcycle on way down to the port.
Lots of mountain biking routes , definitely will return with mountain bikes.
That is so cool! Is that the switchback road toward the end? Yeah the mountain biking options particularly around the second climb I did seemed fantastic, much better than the road cycling
Tubeless ftw mate. I did one big event on a wheelset I hadn't yet converted to tubeless and got 3 flats. Converted them to tubeless, got one flat on my 230k ride, but sealed quite quickly, and a bit of pumping later was on my way again. Only had to top of the sealant once I got home.
Your fascination with those 20% climbs is still quite beyond me :) I'm real happy on roads that don't exceed 8% (an occasional 10% is fine). Especially when descending that's much more enjoyable, then some nice and flowing roads with good tarmac... 😍😍😍 Think I'm describing most Alpine climbs :) Like the Gotthard I did a few weeks ago. Love that sort of thing. I'm crazy slow uphill, but still like it. Then the reward comes in the form of an epic downhill.
btw, are you planning to meet up (and cycle) with Ben when you go to Aussieland?
That is very much my experience too! Glad to hear it's not just me.
Haha I think for me it's because I normally like the sensation of speed, so the shallower climbs where you can stay seated just feel like flats but slower. The steeper they are you have to ride them so differently, it's the sense of accomplishment every time! But I definitely agree that a 5-10% smooth tarmac flowing descent is endlessly better than a -20% pothole riddled gravelly surface British descent.
I am meeting up with Ben assuming all goes well! No bikes will be involved though, Rhiannon wasn't keen on the idea of me leaving her alone for the day, and Ben's got a newborn to focus on so coffee or dinner is much better for both of us.
Super cool to see, not what I thought riding around there was like at all! Cows always find a way to thwart things no matter the country (and cow dogs 🤣) Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Illi, glad it was a bit informative! I had been told what to expect and was still a bit surprised. It is definitely cow country and they were so liberal with the lack of containment! they all wear bells though so going up the hills does feel disconcertingly like a UK hill climb.
Gone tubeless with my latest bike and was a little anxious after hearing all the negativity. But my experience so far is positive. One ride I picked up 3 punctures, my guess was while going up and over Bwlch-Y-Groes, but I didn't even notice until I stopped for the loo in Llangynog after riding via Vyrnwy and Llanfyllin. The tyres wouldn't stay at my 70psi for the rest of that particular ride, but once topped up with sealant they were were fine again. All good so far in my opinion and not too much faff really.
That's what I find Chris. They can be a huge faff to install depending on the wheel/tyre combo but at least it's a faff on my own house rather than the side of the road changing a tube. It's very rare that I've had something that won't seal (unless it's my own fault riding a full worn tyre too long) and if I do, it'd destroy a tube all the same. I definitely think it's a big step up in terms of lower maintenance
Haha loving the resilience mate
Cheers man, I wanted to give it a real chance 😂
Haha Bilbao is very hilly!!!
Me about to comment on the lightening then realising it's your light 🙉
😂 Yeah no storms just a flashing light to hope cars could see me through the miserable weather!
To note I also have a fear of cows which stems from a incident of me on a bike riding home on Red Hill Rd whislt the farmer walks his cows down the hill straight towards me with nowhere to go and feeling like I was about to get assaulted by a gang or heard of cows
They're intimidating in a big group aren't they? I think they don't mean any harm but getting trampled by accident doesn't appeal to me.
@nickbrownbill3413 it's the side eye looks they give like they are about to kill u 😂