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Ride through the beautiful northern regions of Spain's wine country.
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Explore the beauty and charm of the Rioja region, as deep and rich as the wine for which the region is famous. Bike through peaceful villages and along winding country roads in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We gather in Pamplona, then surrounded by lovely untouched landscapes and undulating hills, we will ride mostly along country roads and rail trails, and follow a portion of the Camino de Santiago. We finish with two nights in San Sebastian, the popular seaside resort, with an optional post-trip extension to Bilbao, home of the new Guggenheim Museum.
This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.
The English-language website for the Spanish National Railways (RENFE) is the most detailed source for train information in Spain. RailEurope.com is useful for international travel and for busier lines in Spain, such as Madrid-Seville and Bilbao-Madrid, but this site is better for less traveled lines, such as Granada-Madrid, and for trains to and from Rioja.
You can get up-to-date railroad schedules, as well as information about the many different railpasses available for Europe, from the RailEurope website. For smaller rail lines, you may also need to check the website for the national railway in the country you are visiting.
Most international travelers will arrive in and depart from Spain via Madrid, so it will be an easy place to spend a few extra days. Barcelona is harder to get to, but famous for its architecture and a new gay hotel, the Hotel Axel. On the other hand, if you are ready for a beach experience after a week of riding through the hills, the Costa del Sol beckons, not far away from Andalucia. The Andalucia website offers many great suggestions about the region.
The Bilbao extension starts with a transfer from our hotel in San Sebastian to the train station. A train ticket to Bilbao is included in the extension fee. In Bilbao, a transfer will be provided from the train station to the Hotel Miro, where we will spend two nights, and breakfast is included. Admission fees and a guided tour of the new Guggenheim Museum are also included in the tour fee. Other meals, activities and transfers are on your own. Please contact us for pricing.
We supply 18- and 21-speed road bikes. We find them ideally suited for cycling trips of this sort. They have upright (rather than dropped) handlebars, and a low "granny" gear for hills. The brand and model can change from one location or season to another, and we cannot promise a brand name in advance.
We also supply a lock, spare tube and patch kit, and a handlebar bag or back rack for carrying a few small items.
You can, if you wish; nearly all seat posts and pedals come in standard sizes, and you can put your seat or pedals onto the bike we supply. Most travelers decide they'd rather pack light, and quickly get accustomed to the seats and pedals on the bikes we supply.
Many people, however, have brought light-weight gel seat covers, which go over the existing seat. These take up very little luggage space, and those with limited biking experience often find them more comfortable.
The seats on most bikes we use are a standard size, neither the narrow racing seat nor the wide touring seat. Therefore we recommend medium-sized gel seat covers if you wish to bring one along.
We recommend cycling shorts. The padding will make your ride more comfortable. But they're certainly not essential. Two pairs are plenty; you can rinse them out and in most cases, the synthetic fabrics will dry overnight. (In humid weather, shorts with thick padding may take a little longer.)
Likewise, cycling jerseys are designed to improve your biking experience, and they'll do so. Most of them are also made from quick-drying synthetics, so one or two will get you through the week. However, you'll also be fine if you only have t-shirts for riding, except in cooler weather. To reduce your luggage, shirts that are 50/50 cotton/polyester, while not trendy, will dry faster if you're sweaty, and if you rinse them out overnight.
You can buy special cycling shoes with a stiffer sole, which are slightly more energy-efficient than walking shoes. For the distances we go, we feel these don't generally justify the extra luggage weight.
Finally, a helmet is required; sunglasses are highly recommended as protection against both sun and insects (preferably wrap-around style); and padded cycling gloves will make your days more comfortable.
Somebody will be the last one in. Usually it's one of the most experienced cyclists, because they've gone off and biked along some of the extra options.
And somebody will be the first one in, and everybody else will be somewhere in between. The important thing is we're all here to have a good time. It's a vacation, not a race. You'll quickly appreciate that no one sees it as a race, and as long as you're enjoying your vacation, no one cares or pays much attention to who arrives when.
The support van and driver fill several functions: Carrying your luggage to the next hotel; shopping and setting up a picnic lunch on selected days; and helping cyclists who have encountered unexpected problems, be it fatigue, a mechanical failure, or one too many pastries at lunch.
The specific van schedule varies day to day, based on a number of factors: the route, whether there's a picnic that day, and whether riders are all likely to be on the same road, or off on different options. Typically, the driver stays with or behind most of the group until about lunchtime (or earlier, if there's a picnic to set up), then drives ahead to deliver luggage into your rooms.
If most of the group is likely to be on the same road, the driver may then circle back to see if anyone needs the van. However, we suggest various optional routes each day, and many people on our trips like to explore independently. That means cyclists may be spread out over many miles, and over several routes. In most cases, we find that a cyclist who needs help will get it fastest by calling the driver at the hotel or calling their cell phone, rather than waiting for the van to patrol all the spots where cyclists could be riding.
We'll go over the details in more depth at the briefing when the trip starts. On paper (or on a computer screen) the system can seem uncertain because so many variables are involved. In practice, it works out well. There are many weeks when no one ever needs the van. If you do need assistance, generally you're able to get to a cafe or other comfortable spot while you wait for help.
From time to time, people come on a trip intending to cycle but end up riding in the van because of a minor injury, or because they discover the trip is harder than they expected. If you need to ride in the van, we're happy to accommodate you.
However, this is a bike tour, not a van tour. The van's route and itinerary are set up to accommodate cyclists, not van passengers. You'll miss some of the sights, and some of the fun, if you're in the van.
We offer trips in a variety of terrains; you should be able to find a bike trip on which you can complete each day's biking. (They're summarized on our biking tours page.) You'll have a much better vacation if you select a trip that's right for your abilities.
It's a good start -- but it won't get you fully prepared. This and other more general questions about biking are addressed on our biking FAQs page.
You won't just be biking. The location for each of our bike trips was chosen because of its varied appeal. Cycling is a great vehicle for getting around at your own pace. But unless you take one of our longer route options, you'll rarely spend more than 3 or 4 hours on the saddle in a day. Interspersed with your bike ride might be an hour exploring a picturesque town; a leisurely picnic in a riverside park; an hour at a castle; an hour browsing at a street market; half an hour playing boules. Next thing you know, it's time for a two-hour dinner, then a late walk through the narrow moonlit streets of a medieval town.
We recommend that you stretch for five minutes before you start biking. Here are two good exercises:
1. Find a buddy (or, lacking that, a tree) to hold for support. Now reach back with your right hand as you bend your right leg at the knee. Grab your foot and pull gently toward your butt, then hold for 30 seconds. Repeat with left hand and left leg. Then repeat again but crossing over -- left hand pulls up your right leg, and vice versa.
2. Kneel down on your right knee, putting your left leg well in front of you, foot flat on the ground. Now drop down, bringing your right thigh closer to the ground, but without letting your left knee make less than a 90 degree angle. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs and repeat.
Stretch again at the end of the day -- and you'll be ready for the next day.
Newer cyclists assume that going up hills is all a matter of having good leg muscles. That helps -- but technique and mental attitude play a big role. We've had many Floridians on trips who were experienced cyclists but had never biked on hilly terrain. The first day, they had trouble on hills and were the last ones to reach the top. Within a few days, they were out in front. Their legs didn't get that much stronger in a couple of days; their technique and approach changed. Here's what they learned.
Use those gears! Switch to your lowest gears before you need them. If you're spinning too fast, it's easier to switch into a higher gear.
Adjust your weight properly. You want most of your weight on the back tire, to get traction, but you need to keep enough on the front to provide traction for steering. Experiment with different positions, to see what works for your body, your bike, and this incline. Many cyclists find that a semi-standing position, with their crotch just in front of the saddle and above the horizontal bar, works well.
Breathe! It's natural to hold your breath during a tough stretch; but it's self-defeating. Breathe deeply, exhale fully.
Look ahead! Watching each foot of road or trail as it passes below you is discouraging. Look at where you're headed. This provides a psychological boost, and you'll also steer better.
It's natural to worry about being sideswiped by a truck. Sure, that can happen, but most truck drivers are pretty skilled. Far more cyclists are injured because of their own mistakes. You can't do much about the occasional errant truck driver, but you can be sure your own behavior is safe.
- Wear your helmet. Even on a quiet road, it's easy to not notice a pothole till you're in it, to be clipped by another cyclist, to hit a hidden patch of gravel as you go around a corner, or to run into a ditch because you're looking at the scenery.
- Get off the road if you stop. This seems obvious, but if you’re just stopping for a moment on a quiet road, it might seem unnecessary to pull over. However, another cyclist can pull up a moment later to talk, then a third, a fourth ... and soon there’s a cluster of people completely blocking the road.
- Don’t tailgate. Never follow too closely behind another cyclist. If they stop suddenly, or even slow up, you’ll stop instantly and go right over the handlebars when you hit their rear wheel. We recommend keeping 3 seconds distance between you and the rider ahead. That seems like a lot -- until they suddenly stop just as you've been distracted by something at the side of the road.
- Let others know what you’re doing. Use hand signals before turning; both motorists and other cyclists will be alerted to expect you to change direction. Always signal if stopping. You know not to tailgate -- but the person behind you may not.
- Pass other riders only on their left. Calling out "On your left" can alert them -- but don’t assume that everyone will use this alert, and that you can safely meander unless you’re notified that someone is passing.
- Be alert when you pass parked cars. Doors may open without warning. Either give parked cars enough berth that an opened door won’t hit you (in which case you should pull over, as necessary, to let other traffic get by), or go so slowly that you can check each car to see if anyone is inside.
- Cross railroad tracks at a right angle. Hold handlebars firmly as you cross. Crossing at a sharper angle can result in your front wheel twisting and getting caught -- and you’ll go right over the handlebars. Tracks are particularly slippery when wet.
- Ride single file. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize at lunch, at stops, and after the ride. Riding two abreast not only endangers you, but also forces anyone passing you to go into opposing traffic.
- Keep your downhill speed under control! After sweating up a hill, it’s tempting to reward yourself by speeding down as fast as you can. Any accident at these speeds is likely to end your vacation, and some accidents are beyond your control: A car, cyclist, or hiker may dart in front of you; you can misjudge a curve; a brake cable can snap; a tire can blow out. Why take a chance on spending your vacation in the hospital?
- Be courteous. If cars have slowed down behind you because they can’t comfortably pass, pull over when you get a chance, so they can get by. We want to promote an attitude of cooperation, not war, between cyclists and drivers.
Drinking enough water is the simplest and most important thing you can do to enjoy each day fully. We suggest you drink a pint (or more) in the morning, before you even start biking. Drink regularly through the day -- drink before you’re thirsty -- and then another 1-2 pints at the end of the day. You’ll stay healthier, and you'll tire less.
Seats that are too low (or, less often, too high) are a common cause of fatigue. Your legs should be almost, but not quite, fully extended at the downstroke. Occasionally seats slide down during a day or week; if you’re tiring out, re-check your seat height.
Every year, we can count on someone from Florida saying, midway through the trip, "Wow! It really is easier if you use the low gear on hills!" If you’re not used to gears, because your bike doesn’t have them, or because you live in Florida and thought they were just a sales gimmick, please trust us: Perhaps you never needed them in Florida, where the highest point above sea level is about eight feet, but anywhere else: Gears make your life easier!
The basic idea is to shift lower in both gears (front and back) if you’re having trouble pedaling fast. (For both front and back derailleurs, the inner gears are for going uphill; the outside gears when going faster. On most bikes, however, the gearshift motion that puts your front derailleur into a higher gear will put your rear derailleur into a lower gear.)
The basic shifting rules:
- Shift down (to the inside gears) before you start up a hill.
- Shift up (to the outside gears) when it’s too easy to pedal.
- Shift down before the hill, before you’re putting a high strain on the pedals. Shifting while you’re straining to go up a hill is not only hard to do; it can also break the chain.
- Don’t have too slow a cadence. Experienced cyclists aim for a steady 80-100 revolutions per minute; for beginners, it’s enough to know that the best cadence is slightly faster than what feels normal. If you can’t easily go that fast, shift down. This faster cadence conserves energy. It also reduces strain on your knees and back. Use your derailleurs to keep a fairly constant cadence.
- Shift only while pedaling forward. Don’t shift when the pedals are stationary, or while pedaling backward.
- Don’t make the chain angle sideways too much. If the chain is on the inside (smallest) gear in front, and on the outside (also smallest) gear in back, that forces the links to bend slightly in a sideways direction which they weren’t meant to go. The chain will rub, creating extra friction and work for you, and it won’t change gears as easily. You can get the same effective gear ratio by using two middle gears, with less strain on yourself, and on the bike. Likewise, avoid using the outside (biggest) gear in front and inside (biggest) in back.
If gears are so unfamiliar to you that none of this makes sense, then print out this page, take it along, and read over it occasionally as you get experience with gears and derailleurs. You'll save yourself a lot of grief by quickly learning to use them properly.
Most expenses are included in the price. Here's what you should budget for:
- Lunches. We include two picnic lunches on most bike trips. It'll cost $30-$60 a week, depending whether you go to cafes (typically about $10 for a good lunch) or buy things like quiches and fruit from a small shop and have a picnic (which can run as little as $5-7 a day).
- Dinners. On a typical 7-day trip, all but 2 dinners are included. These two evenings offer a chance to get out on your own. You can have a great dinner in much of Europe for $20-30 plus beverages. Those who want to splurge can pay twice that.
- Admissions. On most of our trips, about $40-$60 will be enough to get you into all the castles, museums, abbeys, and other places you want to visit. For Valley of the Kings, admissions will cost about $7-10 at each chateau. There are often two or three chateaus on a given day. Some people like to see them all; others find that one a day is about right.
- Misc. Other expenses that are common, but obviously not necessary, are: film, snacks, pastries (which may seem quite necessary after you've looked in the shop window!), before- and after-dinner drinks, souvenirs, and art (we've had people buy and ship home some great stuff).
So, the quick answer to your question is: You can keep your extra expenses under $150-$200 for the week, if you wish, without feeling that you're missing anything. If you can budget about $250-$300, you're in great shape. Anything over that, and you're eating entirely too much pastry.
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.
You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.
We encourage you to do so. Outside magazine says that talking to people who have taken a trip previously is one of the best ways to evaluate whether it will be right for you, and we agree.
Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.
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