Some favourite rides in Girona
When I meet other cyclists in Girona, they often ask me about my favourite rides. Here is a list of some of my favourite rides in Girona.
This is still a draft version. I will add new routes as I ride them myself. I will also write longer descriptions later. And I will fix the many grammatical and other mistakes there are. Please do not mind them too much now.
See and join the Girona Rides Facebook group for more information.
Girona Bike Breaks Shop ride on Thursdays: 62km, 800 meters climbing
Bike Breaks Girona Cycling center arrenges a shop ride every Thusday at 10am. The ride begins the their shop, climbs up to Canet d'Ardi, takes a coffee break at Restaurant Cal Sabater and continues from the along the Bonmati - El Mas Lunés route (see above). The first part of the ride until Canet d'Adri is guided - and there is some local at the back of the peloton waiting for slower climbers. This is important as the road is somewhat steep, the first climb tops at 13%, and there are some not so obvious turns.
After Canet d'Adri, the pace is usually rather decent. A nice ride, and a good way to get to know local cyclists.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16858773
This is still a draft version. I will add new routes as I ride them myself. I will also write longer descriptions later. And I will fix the many grammatical and other mistakes there are. Please do not mind them too much now.
See and join the Girona Rides Facebook group for more information.
Both sides of Els Àngles: 40km, 900 meters climbing
Santuari dels Àngels sit on the top of a 470 meter high hill. The bottom of the climb is only 4 kilometers away from Girona, which makes the climb very popular. The climb from Girona is about 11km long, so average grade is only 4%. Since there are some downhill and flat sections, most climbing is about 6%. A nice climb. The Girona Gran Fondo Hill Race takes place on this climb.
The other side from Madremanya is much steeper with an average of closer to 8% with sections over 10%. The road surface is very bumpy. It pays to descend slowly.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16704646
Celra - Pera - Pubol - Madremanya: 46km, 500 meters climbing
This is nice evening ride. Very easy to ride and lots to see. In Pubol one can admire - and maybe even visit - the castle Dali bought as a present to his wife. The village of Pubol is worth visiting.
Even more worth visiting is Madremanya. There are nice old houses and a small cafe serving best hot chocolate in whole Girona area.
On the way back, after Sant Martí Vell there is a very steep and short climb. 18% or so.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16796266
Bonmati - El Mas Llunés : 52km, 600m climbing
This is one of the most popular training rides. Nice gradual climbing up the Llémena valley, the 1.5 kilometers a bit steeper towards Les Serres and Bonmatí. In Bonmatí there is a public water fountain for filling water bottles. After Bonmatí, a 4% climb to El Mas Llunés, long false flat and the a very fast road down to Girona.
To Banyoles and around the lake: 52km, 500 meters climbing
There is only one lake close to Girona. The lake Banyoles is worth a ride. There are many nice cafeterias and bars by and on the lake. Choose the one you like most. Banyoles has also an old main square with many bars if one does not like the lake.
Many cyclist take a dip in the lake during the hot summer months.
One can ride around the lake or directly back to Girona. When riding back, pay attention to the map. Take the right turn to Palol de Revardit, then another right turn by the church and the a left turn. You will end up a small forest road, which is really beautiful. After the forest road, take the C-66 highway and exit when you see a sign to "Golf Girona".
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16625961
To Montanegre via Cassà de la Selva: 55km, 700 meter climbing
This is my personal favourite ride when I am bit tired and do not have much time. The route leaves Girona towards Llagostera on small roads. Then one rides via Cassà de la Selva some 6 km towards Girona and turns right to Montanegre. The climb is one of the most pleasant in Girona: steady, quiet, steep enough and not too long. See my longer blog post for more information.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16841571
Santa Pellaia - Monells - Celra: 55km, 800 meters climbing
This ride goes around and once over the Gavarres massif. One leave Girona towards north, rides through Celra (there is a steep climb, but not long), climbs steadily to Madremanya and descends to Monells. Monells is a very beautiful medieval village. The main square has two cafeteria and a public water fountain for filling the bottles. A very popular place to have a cup of coffee.
After Monells, one climbs up to Santa Pellaia. The climb is about 9 kilometers long, mostly very gentle, but there are couple kilometers of 6% or steeper. Not too hard if one paces oneself wisely. From Santa Pellaia, it is more or less 20km downhill to Girona.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16394326
The Hincapie loop: 61km, 1100 meters climbing
This is famous Hincapie loop. You may Google. I prefer to ride this loop counterclockwise as I do not like to descend the steep side of Els Àngels. This is essentially the previous ride in the other direction until Madremanya from where one turns left and climbs up Els Àngels.
A very popular training ride.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16833132
Girona Bike Breaks Shop ride on Thursdays: 62km, 800 meters climbing
Bike Breaks Girona Cycling center arrenges a shop ride every Thusday at 10am. The ride begins the their shop, climbs up to Canet d'Ardi, takes a coffee break at Restaurant Cal Sabater and continues from the along the Bonmati - El Mas Lunés route (see above). The first part of the ride until Canet d'Adri is guided - and there is some local at the back of the peloton waiting for slower climbers. This is important as the road is somewhat steep, the first climb tops at 13%, and there are some not so obvious turns.
After Canet d'Adri, the pace is usually rather decent. A nice ride, and a good way to get to know local cyclists.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16858773
Rocacorba: 72km, 1300 meters climbing
The infamous Rocacorba climb test anyone's fitness and resolve. It is so steep and relentless. The number are not that frigthtening: 9km, 700 meters climbing. But middle part is over 10% for more than 4 kilometers with some sections up to 15%.
Read an excellent article. Then ride up and take a picture of yourself sitting on the wooden platform.
Climbing Rocacorba is really hard for anyone - but it is worth the effort. The views are magnificent and the feeling of accomplishment clears away all lactic acid.
Take great care when riding down. The road surface is terrible and there are lots of gravel and all kinds of natural litter on the road.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16843242
Banyoles - Santa Pau and back: 90km, 1200 meters climbing
This is essentially a ride to Banyoles and the up to mountain for 20 kilometers and 500 meters. The reason for climbing is the village of Santa Pau. It is a beautiful old village in the middle of the volcanic area. There are nice cafeterias and bars in the main square, which is worth seeing and good place to take a break before riding back.
The other alternative is to continue to Olot and then ride along the highway from Olot to Girona. It is fast, Olot is worth riding through, but I find the highway very boring.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16164322
Santa Grau - Tossa de Mar: 96km, 1300 meters climbing
This is a very common weekend ride for many reasons: it is long enough, has a couple of decent climbs and the coastal road to Tossa de Mar is beautiful beyond words. One has to ride it.
The ride leaves Girona to south, goes via Llagostera (where there is a water fountain), and then over the mountain at Santa Grau. The climb is about 9 kilometers and just shy of 400 meters - about the same as Els Àngels. A nice climb, not very steep at any point. The descent from Santa Grau to the coastal road is rather steep in some places, up to 14%. One must not hurry, for taking picture is a good idea.
There are numerous cafeterias and bars by the beach in Tossa de Mar. Choose any. After a cup of coffee and maybe a snack, take the highway back to Llagostera. The climb is long and easy.
This is really a perfect ride. Of course, one can ride back over Santa Grau...
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16671656
Long ride to Sant Hilari Sacalm: 130 km, 2000 meters climbing
The climb to Sant Hilari Sacalm is 25 kilometers long. The average gradient is 3%, but given that some 10 kilometers of the climb is false flat, there are some steeper parts. Kilometers from 10 to 17 are the hardest, with gradient up to 10%. And up to 18 switchbacks per kilometer!
There is a nice cafeteria in Osor some 10km from the beginning of the climb. A good place to rest a bit before the harder parts of the climb. There are, of course, many place to have something to eat in Sant Hilari itself.
This route is a bit longer than necessary. It is possible to ride the Girona-Olot highway to Anglès and skip the first 60 kilometers of the route. This way the total distance would be around 100 kilometers.
A nice long ride. After descending from Sant Hilari to Santa Coloma de Farners, Girona is only 25 kilometers away. The road is very fast, one can really push oneself there.
The route: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/11185911
Kommentit