Kropotkin
Registered user
As promised, a couple of GPS routes I rode while in the Picos de Europa, with the tracks we rode as well.
A couple of things to be aware of:
- Road surfaces vary, from excellent to very poor;
- there is a whole network of unpaved roads (gravel and dirt tracks) which you can ride. These vary enormously in difficulty, from wide, hard gravel, to steep, narrow, slippery mud.
- Livestock frequently use the roads. We came across sheep, cows, horses and goats whilst riding round the Picos. So factor in a "goat margin" in any enthusiastic cornering you engage in.
Scenery is fantastic, people are friendly, especially if you speak a little Spanish, hiking is excellent. The Picos is also a centre for cheese making, they make over 30 different types (including Cabrales, which, it is claimed, was where the French got the idea for Roquefort from). The area is also interesting because they use no artificial fertilisers or pesticides. All agriculture there is organic, though as a result of a slow pace of development, whereby they missed the chemical farming boat altogether, and are now taking advantage of their organic status. This lack of pesticides means that the rivers are teeming with fish, so this is an excellent place for salmon and trout, if that takes your fancy.
Anyway, here's the routes we rode:
And some photos:
And the compulsory pose:
Routes are in Garmin GDB format.
A couple of things to be aware of:
- Road surfaces vary, from excellent to very poor;
- there is a whole network of unpaved roads (gravel and dirt tracks) which you can ride. These vary enormously in difficulty, from wide, hard gravel, to steep, narrow, slippery mud.
- Livestock frequently use the roads. We came across sheep, cows, horses and goats whilst riding round the Picos. So factor in a "goat margin" in any enthusiastic cornering you engage in.
Scenery is fantastic, people are friendly, especially if you speak a little Spanish, hiking is excellent. The Picos is also a centre for cheese making, they make over 30 different types (including Cabrales, which, it is claimed, was where the French got the idea for Roquefort from). The area is also interesting because they use no artificial fertilisers or pesticides. All agriculture there is organic, though as a result of a slow pace of development, whereby they missed the chemical farming boat altogether, and are now taking advantage of their organic status. This lack of pesticides means that the rivers are teeming with fish, so this is an excellent place for salmon and trout, if that takes your fancy.
Anyway, here's the routes we rode:
And some photos:
And the compulsory pose:
Routes are in Garmin GDB format.
