Sat here in Cazalla de la Sierra, north of Seville, having had a wonderful weeks walking, it has had me wondering about a bikepacking trip. probably around the same time of year.

Don’t know if we’ve been unduly lucky but the weather has been amazing.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/road-bik ... -48-spain/
https://www.transandalus.org/#!/


If you have any knowledge please divulge and would either be suitable for gravel bikes as well as mtb?

I've never ridden that part of Spain but have stayed there. The heat can be fierce in summer, the short winter days would put me off a bit but even spring and autumn can see temperatures into the 30's.

I've got my eye on this one for next year, far too cold in winter unless you like snow, it should be OK for summer when my Spanish classes finish. The route takes in Albarracin which is on my list of places to visit, I live in Alicante province.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/montanas-vacias/

It's might be worth asking pistonbroke, he lives north of Valencia and has done a lot more Spanish riding than me.

Cheers Pirahna,

That route you have linked does go a lot higher I think than the gr48. Cazalla is at 600m and had that 'I'm in a ski resort' feel but the day length at the start of December was 12 hours. Enough for me, and with that being wall to wall blue, I'd take it.

Was cool at nights, but nothing for a Lancashire lad , at least whilst it's dry, which even for Spain, is evidently not guaranteed

You definitely had a lucky spell of weather, after the storms of the DANA decimated Valencia and before the current cold snap. The only riding I've done in this area was from Cordoba to Valencia along a route that used Via Verdes and bits of the GR48, this was last October and quite warm c30° I wouldn't choose December myself, maybe October or March and a better circular route maybe the GR247, Bikepacking.com did a good write up on that a few years ago. There's also a good YouTube video if you search GR 247. The Montañasvacias is best done Easter or September as the main issue is finding shops and cafes open. Let me know what you decide. Cheers Duncan

Cheers Duncan,

I reckon you must have lived there too long. 30! Sounds too hot to a Yorkshire/Lancashire lad. I start sweating when it gets to double figures.

Thanks for the info. I'll do some more research and report back. Also got to persuade my wife to leave me there for an extra two weeks!