Hi guys heading out 20th April coming back on the 1st May out of Manchester
Hostel booked on the 20th for one night so leaving bike boxes there!
https://www.urbanyouthhostel.com/
Booked for the last two nights to enjoy Valencia 29/30th April
Plan so far is to get the train to the start and ride back to Valencia but that could change
Planning on taking a tent but making use of the refriugos
Pace will be relaxed but expect a good days riding.
3 riders so far 2x gravel and one mtb
Book your own hostel accomadation!
https://bikepacking.com/routes/montanas-vacias/
https://montanasvacias.com/route/

Rich

Just had a quick look at the bombsite that passes for the RENFE (train) website and on Sunday 21st, the 9.35 train from Valencia Estacio de Nord gets into Teruel at 12.15. It's a middle distance train so bikes can be carried unpacked but officially there's a limit of 3 bikes per train so worth pre booking and paying the €3 bike charge. I'd advise shopping for food in Valencia on Saturday as open shops will be difficult to find in Teruel on Sunday. There'll be cafes open there but the next place after Teruel once you start is Albarracin then little else until Bronchales where there's a campsite, beware the hungry foxes! I'm riding to Valencia at the weekend and returning by train so I'll report back I there are any bike access issues.

Thanks Duncan, appreciate the info.

Do you know where the best place is in Valencia to get gas from? I've noticed that there's three Decathlons there!

Decathlon city is about 15 minutes ride west from your hostel, open till 10pm Saturday but closed Sunday

pistonbroke wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:26 am Decathlon city is about 15 minutes ride west from your hostel, open till 10pm Saturday but closed Sunday

Never found gas that I want at Decathalon ! Ok for bike boxes if they get trashed!

Pretty well all Spanish Decathlons sell the screw in 230g canisters however as they recieve bikes pre built from a central hub, bike boxes are not available. Plenty of bike shops in Valencia however.

Spent the weekend in Valencia being deafened by the Fallas festival, there are 3 Decathons in the city but the best bet for gas near the airport is Campanar which is on a retail park about 3km from the airport on the main road through to the city centre. They have 3 types of screw in containers 100g, 230g and low temperature mix, it's a big store so you should have no stock issue.

pistonbroke wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:11 pm Spent the weekend in Valencia being deafened by the Fallas festival, there are 3 Decathons in the city but the best bet for gas near the airport is Campanar which is on a retail park about 3km from the airport on the main road through to the city centre. They have 3 types of screw in containers 100g, 230g and low temperature mix, it's a big store so you should have no stock issue.

Thanks Duncan

Just over a month to go, might be worth packing a warm vest
https://www.javalambre-valdelinares.com ... nares.html
This webcam is good for keeping tabs on the weather, you pass through both ski areas.

Due to the altitude & location of the refugios I’d already made the decision to take my winter bag!
Also another reason why I’m taking the mtb…

Riding an MTB to go bike packing is soooooooo last year ;-)

Fashion victim!

Rather than carry cooking gear why not support the local bars and restaurants. It's global warming and potential fire risk, the odd morning or half a day may be away from it all . Nothing better than stopping at bars where open , they can do food to carry and a bottle of wine for the overnights in the refugios. We were never caught out food wise on 2 trips .

I think our reasoning for carrying cooking gear was because of the perception that there may not be many places for food & drink. The last thing we want to do is get caught without food after a days riding. Our group consensus is that we’re just going to take a few freeze-dried meals just in case, & have the ability to make a warm drink whilst at the refugio’s..
Engaging with the locals & sampling their food & drink on the route is a large part of the trip & is also a great way to support the area that we’ll definitely be participating in

Good to hear that you had no problem with re-supply..

Have a good trip, one of the better refugios has a forestry watch tower beside it.. Well worth a stay, and a panoramic view of the vast forest from the top..Some are pretty basic .

Hmm, maybe 2 vests needed.
https://drakis.net/webcam-on-line/bronc ... a-barbara/

pistonbroke wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 9:43 am Hmm, maybe 2 vests needed.
https://drakis.net/webcam-on-line/bronc ... a-barbara/

That's only a wee dusting! Plenty of time for the sun to come out!!

Lots of time for it to dry out, some sections have a special mud.
Hope it stays dry and all is well.

Looking a bit grim next week

Weather looks fine

I attempted and failed to ride this starting easter Friday. The worst rain the region had at that time in years, 4-6 degrees in the day low down, incessant rain/wind, claggy mud. Even the gravel was so saturated, it was like riding on wet sand. Got rained on, got a hotel, called it, got rained on coming back the second day

Unsure how to post pics, but the mud:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5bMwPqIXzx ... F1ODJheTk3

jamiep wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:28 pm I attempted and failed to ride this starting easter Friday. The worst rain the region had at that time in years, 4-6 degrees in the day low down, incessant rain/wind, claggy mud. Even the gravel was so saturated, it was like riding on wet sand. Got rained on, got a hotel, called it, got rained on coming back the second day

We’re aware of the possible peanut butter mud on the first day if wet, was it there you had probs?
I know how bad it can be from when we did Duncan’s Spanish C2C!
Forecast looks ok up to next weekend, not warm like, & can imagine it’ll be even colder higher-up. But looks dry for the first 4 days (if the forecasts are to be believed!)…

Route was ace deffo a gravel bike route, the ride from Teruel to Valencia was brilliant to knock the miles out, 4 started 4 finished Photos to follow!