Tips for Biking in Spain

My Marvelous Bike Trip in Costa Brava, Spain

If you love the concept of relaxing in all-inclusive hotels, and the most you’ll walk is from your beach chair to the bar stool, then this trip is NOT for you! If on the other hand you are a decently active person who isn’t scared of the unknown, then I highly suggest going the route less traveled. Sure you’ll be stinky at times, your ass will be somewhat sore from all the riding and you’ll be so hungry you’ll feel like passing out. But it will be the trip of your lifetime. Here’s how it goes.

First, buy plane tickets for Barcelona. Yes, you heard: Spain. You know the country where you eat paellas and dance flamenco. Anyhow, just be aware that people from this region speak Catalan, but most speak Spanish as well. It’s a bit like Quebec French in Canada, but a little more exotic.

Here’s a list of essentials that you should bring if you are going in May-August:

Bike bags (2 ideally so that the weight is equally distributed)
Waterbottles (2 small ones so that you can have one on your bike and a spare in your bag)
Bike shorts with a chamois (YES! This will save your ass. And don’t wear undies under your shammy.)
Bike gloves
A good pair of light socks
Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen to protect your skin and your body from heat stroke
Synthetic shirt (preferably with a zipper so that you can adjust to the weather)
Good running shoes for riding
A light waterproof jacket
A change of clothes for going out
A sweater as it can get pretty cold at night
Toiletries (I love Dr. Broner’s Magic Soap)
DO NOT OVERPACK!!! You can wash your stuff every night and synthetics will dry in a jiffy.

Our bike clothing proudly hanging

Once in Barcelona, you’ll want to grab the bus or train to Girona, which is about an hour away. A good time to go is in May, as the flower festival is quite amazing during this time and the weather isn’t too hot nor too cold. If you are like me and are too lazy to lug your own bicycle around, you’ll want to find a good rental place. I highly recommend bikebreaks for the excellent service (thanks Dave!) and good selection. Check out the prices and models on their website. Also, don't be afraid to ask for directions specifically for bike touring; the best place to do so is at the store. We even had a very practical map holder on the handlebars! If you are not that adventurous, you can always go on one of their awesome guided tours (so you don't need to worry about getting lost and simply enjoy the wonderful view!).