Travel Information

Travel Information

Bike Spain Tours is a travel agency that offers quality bike tours to biking fans of all types – from beginning bikers to more experienced riders. We have years of experience organizing tours throughout Spain and we guarantee that we’ll go the extra mile to give you the best customer service. Come with us, find your trip, prepare yourself with all the necessary information, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

• Bicycles
• Difficulty levels
• How is a guided tour?
• How is a self-guided tour?
• What is included?
• Lodgements
• Clothing equipment

Bicycles

All bikes come equipped with a water bottle. Helmets are mandatory on Spanish roads. We supply the helmets on supported (though you’re definitely free to bring your own!) Riders on self-supported tours should provide their own helmets. Toe clips (cages and/or straps) and pedals SPD or Look Keo are optional; our bikes are equipped with regular pedals, but we’ll fit your pedals if you prefer to use yours.

Levels

Anyone with a basic level of fitness who enjoys pedalling for four to six hours a day will enjoy our trips. Our routes take place on a combination of secondary (scenic!) roads and well-packed trails. Most cyclists do an average of forty kilometres (25 miles) a day, but there are always opportunities to do more.

Supported tours have full sag van support, so if you’re winded, you can hop in the vehicle and meet the other participants at the end of the day. Self-guided tours usually require more preparation on the participant’s behalf, because some of the routes can be a lot longer.

Level A or easy:
Rides are about 25 – 35 kilometres/15-22 miles per day over relatively flat terrain, secondary roads and/or well-packed paths. Level A tours are the easiest: the days are relatively short, and are perfect for people who want to try their first active vacation.

Level B or intermediate:
Rides cover 30-40 kilometres (20-25 miles). These rides generally go on the same kind of terrain as the Level A rides but move at a higher velocity, allowing you to cover more ground. These rides are for cyclists with more experience and more confidence handling themselves on two wheels.

Level C or advanced: 
Routes can range from 35 to 60 kilometres (20-35 miles) a day over rolling terrain, on a variety of surfaces. These require a fairly quick pace and participants have the option of going for higher altitude rides, or extending the rides to cover greater distances.
 

How do the supported tours work?

The night before setting out (or at breakfast on the first day), the guide gives participants the necessary information – route plan, maps, and such. You’ll receive more information while the tour is taking place, and you’ll have the chance to check out local places of historical interest, tapas bars – or just those really neat fountains located in most towns.

The sag van accompanies the participants throughout the tour and will stop at predetermined check points so that participants can have a drink or learn a little bit more about the place they’re visiting. Any time you need a break, you simply hop in the van. After stopping for lunch at pleasant restaurants, you can rejoin the other riders or stay in the van until we reach the day’s destination. Afternoons are free, allowing you to visit the cities and the town along the ride. Dinners are optional – you can eat with the group, or go exploring on your own.

Tours take place on secondary roads and well-surfaced back country paths, allowing you to relax, get to know your fellow riders, and enjoy the surroundings.

All guided bike tours have a limit of fourteen participants. We feel it’s important for you to be comfortable and welcome with a smaller, friendly group.

How do the self-guided tours work?

On the self-guided tours, you leave your luggage at hotel reception and you ride on your own. Since participants have all the necessary information, such as maps and the road book, you have all the data you need to get to your destination. When you arrive, your luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel room.

What is included in our guided tours?

The following is included in most of our guided tours:

• Accommodation: we always offer you the best hotels on the spot – charming, authentic and surprising – the most central places in the cities and the most spectacular places in the countryside. 
• Meals: all breakfasts, most lunches and dinners including wine (although sometimes you’ll have the opportunity to explore regional cuisine on your own). We literally enter into the kitchen to make sure that everything is taken care of! 
• Bikes: state of the art SPECIALIZED touring and road bikes and all the accessories you might need (optional carbon road bikes). 
• Bilingual guide(s) to ensure that you always enjoy superior customer service.
• Support vehicle that helps you with a flat tyre, offers you refreshments and snacks when you need them, takes you along on the uphill of end-of-the-day parts and transports your luggage from one place to the other. 
• Detailed information document with regional maps, a day-to-day itinerary plus hotel list and all you’d like know about Spain and the region you go to. 
• Transportation from rendezvous to final drop-off, from our quaint region to our centrally located meeting place, both for you and your luggage. 
• Gratuities: the monetary thank-yous deserving of our drivers, local experts and hospitality staff.
• CD with photos and video to take home as a memory.
• Bike Spain Tours handle bar bag, water bottle, a bag for your helmet or cycling shoes, luggage tags and a custom bike jersey, long zip. 
• Bike Center travel coordinator that is available to assist you with all of your pre- & post-trip travel plans and arrangements (hotels, restaurants, transport and more…).
• Travel insurance with medical assistance.

And.. a spectacular bike experience filled with fun and friendship!

Accommodation

Bike Spain tours offer three kind of lodging options:

• LUXURY HOTELS (on request): The best hotels in town. Four- and five-star hotels which offer outstanding customer service. Ask us for this option if you enjoy the best when you travel..
• PREMIERE QUALITY: Well-located three- and four-star hotels, with special charm and top-notch service.
• CASUAL HOTELS: Two- and three-star hotels which feature excellent value. 
• Selected choices for your trip.

What clothing and equipment should I bring?

We recommend that you bring the following things for your trip:

• Any official documentation, such as an EU identity card or valid passport. (Be sure to keep a photocopy of all documentation in your luggage – just in case.) If you require any prescription medication, it’s handy to have a copy of the prescription, along with the generic name of the drug.
• Cycling gear, such as cycling shoes (or running shoes/trainers) and a helmet.
• Cycling clothing: Cycling gloves (long gloves if you have), a long-sleeve jersey, short-sleeve jersey (lightweight and quick-drying is ideal), cycling shorts and/or cycling tights/pants, and rain gear.
• HELMETS ARE MANDATORY! Although Bike Spain has helmets available for participants’ use, you’re more than welcome to bring your own.
• Travel accessories, such as sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, camera (and extra batteries) and an electrical adapter/converter (220V) if you’re bringing any appliances or items which need charging

Dress in Spain is casual, and the Spanish generally don’t make a fuss about how people are dressed. You may want to bring something slightly dressier for evenings.

Since luggage space is limited in the sag vehicle, guests are requested to limit their luggage to one suitcase and one bag (or small backpack) per person.