A thinking cyclist’s gravel tour of Northern Spain – Barcelona to Bilbao
Charting the travels of two Nottinghamshire gravel cyclists and a friend for support, this book describes a gravel ride across Spain at its shortest and most accessible point. It takes in five iconic regions, all with their own distinctive cultures. The joys and suffering of an epic gravel ride are shared but also the places and people the riders meet. Gravel Cycling Spain takes the reader into inner Spain, away from the places tourists visit; the plains, hilltops, valleys and villages of Northern Spain.
Cycling brings with it a philosophy of how to travel and experience things at a deeper level with greater mindfulness. Not born out of a single tour but a lifetime of learning and evolving to a stage where the rider is given greater insight. In this respect the book highlights a life in cycling that led to the decision to ride across Spain. Not in too much detail but enough for context.
Riding a gravel bicycle across Spain exposes the rider to Iberia’s extraordinary history and cultural influences. The traveller cannot help but enquire of modern Spain, one of Europe’s strongest economies. Along the way the author explores his own ethical and philosophical thinking but most of all this book is about one of the greatest places in Europe to ride a bike, enhanced further by the plentiful gravel roads.
