Cycling

Martin descending a dry river in Sierra Espuña.

Last summer when we bought our cyclocross bikes we gave ourselves the challenge of riding the circuit around Sierra Espuña. Yesterday was the day.  We cycled almost 74km with almost 800m of climb in just over 4 hours which we were pleased with.

Some photos from some of our latest bike rides.

Yesterday we went on a mountain bike route with some friends staying on the camperstop.  A Dutch guy came along with us (we had warned him we were a lot slower than him) and he said he really enjoyed the route.

We had a few problems.  I had a coughing fit within 5 minutes of starting.  Then one of our friends friend's shoes broke.  He repaired the cleat and then he thought he has lost his keys.  He and the Dutch guy went back and found the keys in the Motorhome door.  We then continued and Martin's bike got a puncture.  Once repaired we continued and had a good ride!

Rest break!

We have recently been encouraged to buy some cyclocross bikes after seeing friend's bikes whilst in England.

Since we bought them we have ridden many kilometres, in  Britain, France, northern Spain and now here in the Murcia region.  It's opened up a new activity for us and enabled us to see more of our surroundings from the local road network.

Judith's new bike day of collection

Martin's new bike

We were in Britain and our first real ride was on the Tissington Trail.

Judith learning to ride with drop bars

We spent some weeks in GB before leaving to go orienteering in France and Italy.  After that we went into Spain and between orienteering events we rode the bikes.

Cycle route in the Sierra de Gredos

Cable car Fuente De in the Picos de Europa

On the road up to Fuente De

We then went out to the coast near Gijon.
The next three photos are from that region.

We then went south slightly to ride on the Senda del Osso.  Wrong choice of bikes, should have taken the mountain bikes.

Now back in Totana and riding on our local routes.

Coffee break at Fuente del Hilo in Sierra
Espuña before riding up to Collado Bermejo

View from the Collado

A short recovery ride along the trasvase in the direction of Lorca and back.

Mountain biking this time.  You can see the trail we took on this photo but not us (we were too fast!!!).

At the mirador (viewpoint) looking towards
La Santa

On the trail in Las Alquerias before making
our descent back home

Yesterday and today we did two short rides.  One to Aledo and today's ride was a circular low level route through the "huerto" farmland between Totana and Alhama and returning along the trasvase.

Looking back in the direction of Totana
(Morron Redondo to the right of Martin's head)

Looking towards A

At the bottom of Rompe Bici (broken bike)
mountain bike route

At the start of Camino de Abuznel from the
bridge over the trasvase

Today we took our mountain bikes on a local ride in the Sierra de Tercia.  Since we bought our gravel bikes (American name) our legs are stronger and we rode the hills in a higher gear than before.  Some photos of the route.