Biking Andalucia

Good food, good company, good weather and good cycling…..and for seven days at Easter – what more could you ask for? So why just ask? Why not get on and DO it?!

So a small group booked el Olivio farm house in Orgiva in the Sierra Nevada in Southern Spain. A search through the internet put us onto www.bikingandalucia.com and after a few phone calls ans E-mails, it was booked.

The web site gave details of a sample week – but because we were “taking the place over” it was easy for David Issacs, the tour guide, to tailor the week to our wants and abilities.

Tracy, Morven and Steve met up with Ian, Christopher, Robert and Zooulla at Malaga and were taken up to the village by David and his mate Dave ( a real character) arriving  at Orgiva in the dark – so it wasn’t until the morning that we saw the real expanse of mountain just waiting for us.

The first morning was spent re-building the bikes – and robbing some missing parts off David’s bikes (oops – who forgot the quick release skewers?) and then it was down to business – an “easy” 16 miles trip up to Canar – and do I mean UP – there was always “just 2 more hair-pins”….but for every “up” in the Sierra Nevada, there’s one helluva “down” – miles of it, today mostly on Land Rover track. And so a kind of pattern was set – long haul up hill, blast for miles back down….and always finishing with a beer ( or two) and tapas at the San diego bar…..this is Heaven!

David is so laid back he’s almost horizontal – nothing was too much trouble! The packed lunches were always ready ( cheese and tomato specials), the pool was filled, the fridge always stocked with cold beer, enough wine to keep us going, plenty of recommendations for places to eat and drink.

Day 2 was going to be a “bit easier” – the two Dave’s loaded the bikes onto the trailer and transported us the 12 miles  up to Capileira – just in time for a coffee (laid back?!) – then it was single track a few miles further up the valley, a quick dip in the melt water  of the Rio del Toriz, lunch  and then a 15 mile blast back down some fantastic single track, goat tracks, narrow village lanes….brilliant and back in time for….you’ve guessed it…. A beer at the San diego!!!  A perfect end to the second day.

Ok, so David thought Day 2 had been too easy for us – Day 3, we cycled the 12 miles back up to Capileira via the Bhuddist monastery!! But the breath-taking views takes your mind off the relentless climb ( doesn’t it?) – but, never has beer, coffee and tapas tasted so good as at the Europa café high in the Spanish Mountains – setting us up for the long adrenalin rush downhill to Orgiva.

By Day 4 we were getting into our stride – a lift up to Capileira then the long haul into the next valley reaching 1800metres and lunch in Trevelez – Spain’s highest village, and famous for its cured hams. You getting the idea by now? 1400 metre descent over 20 miles over all kinds of terrain – and back in time for …….a beer!!!! 35miles of hard riding fairly set us up for our “rest day” – and still plenty to do and see in the area ( or just lounge around the pool?!)

The holiday had been everything we could have hoped for, and still 2 days to go. Shorter in distance – but no less gruelling! A VERY steep 4mile climb rewarded us with a fantastic 2mile even steeper descent – punctuated by only a couple of punctures….and the funniest joke of the holiday!

And the final day saw us at the famous “Steve Peat” ridge – where we were happy to cycle along the top of it, Peat actually went over the side!!

It’s difficult to do justice to the area in photographs – it really is stunning scenery and some brilliant riding. David was a great guide – booking was easy, transfers made simple and all in all a holiday that everyone should try…………………….

Now, where are we going next year??????????????