Five reasons to ride in Spain

Like the idea of riding in the Spanish sun but not sure it’s worth the bother of getting there? It is – it really is. Here are just a few of the reasons why

1 The roads

From Almeria on the south coast to Zarautz on the north coast, Spain is packed with brilliant roads. Not good ones – mind-blowing, never-look-at-my-local-favourite-the-same-way, brilliant ones. In every region of the country, you can find mile after mile of wide, well-surfaced tarmac, with corners that will put a smile on your face.

Exactly what kind of corners they are, of course, can vary. There’s no shortage of hairpins in the many mountainous sierras. The lower hills have rolling, flowing roads. There are even long, straight roads like the highways of the American West in some places. There are wide roads, narrow roads, unpaved roads… whatever kind of roads you like, you’ll find them in Spain.

That’s not what makes the Spanish roads great, though. It’s how quiet they are. Cities are busy, sure – and you will see bikes on some of the popular routes, but mostly the country is really quiet. A typical day on the roads of the Picos or Pyrenees makes the Cat and Fiddle look like London in rush hour. 

 

2 The scenery

Spain’s a beautiful country but it’s also a huge country – covering more than 195,000 square miles, it’s the second largest in Europe. Within that there are all kinds of landscapes, from rocky mountains to shady green forests and even sun-beaten deserts. There are lakes and beaches, broad expanses of well-tended fields and rugged wildernesses waiting to be explored. The urban landscape shouldn’t be ignored, either. Spain’s crammed full of historic cities, from the Moorish strongholds of the south to the ultra-modern cities like Barcelona and Bilbao in the north. It’s crammed with castles, cathedrals, white-painted villages and charming towns that can add an extra dimension to every riding trip.

 

3 The weather

Pack your sun cream. Actually, pack your waterproofs as well – rain isn’t unknown and, despite what we’ve been told, it doesn’t fall mainly in the plains; it can strike anywhere, but rarely for long. Generally, the climate is fabulous – warm and sunny. Ideal for riding bikes.

4 The culture

To call Spain a bike-friendly country is a massive understatement. It’s bike-mad. It has four MotoGP races – Jerez, Aragon, Barcelona and Valencia – and the locals are always pleased to see visiting riders. It’s a great place for the hungry rider, too. The posher sort of restaurant may have made Spanish food one of the world’s top cuisines, but you get great food everywhere. Each region has its own specialities and they’re all delicious.

 

5 The prices

Your money goes a long way when you get to Spain. Petrol’s not too much cheaper than in the UK but food, drink and accommodation are much better value – it’s a much more affordable destination than France, Italy, Germany or Switzerland.

 

Riding in Spain: The laws

GB sticker You must display a GB sign. If it isn’t on your registration plate, a sticker on a pannier will do.

Documents You must have your original V5 logbook and insurance certificate with you. We recommend taking colour photocopies as well.

Glasses If you need glasses to ride, carrying a spare pair is a legal requirement.

Sat nav There’s no problem with using sat nav in Spain, but it’s illegal for it to display speed camera locations. 

White lines Crossing solid white lines is illegal. There are absolutely no exceptions – not even to turn into a layby on the other side of the road.

Speeding There are on-the-spot fines for speeding, which rise steeply. For really serious offences, Spanish police can impound the bike.

 

Getting there

You can ride to Spain easily enough: from Calais it’s two long, dull days on motorways or three days on a mix of motorways and fun roads. After an overnight ferry to Caen or Le Havre, you can reach the border after two days on good roads. 

But to maximise your time in Spain, you can’t beat the boat: the Brittany Ferries services from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander get you to Spain in 24 hours so you can spend your holiday riding in Spain… not riding to Spain. For details see www.brittany-ferries.co.uk