Spanish Divide?

[mathieu]

I am researching an MTB route over the Atlantic/Mediterranian divide in Spain (i.e. along the western edge of the purple area in the map). So far I have found a few MTB routes that follow a south-to-north line from Malaga to Pamplona through the rural highlands, but not one that consistently aims to track the divide. I look for a mix of small paved roads and unpaved double-tracks, not for hikers paths or goat trails. My knowledge of Spanish is too limited to effectively search for information in that language. Help with sources of information or recommended route pieces is much appreciated.

[jaymtb]

Hi,
You might look at this for the southern part in Andalucia:
http://www.transandalus.org/

See top right for sections w maps and track.

The creators of this route may have some ideas for other parts if you contact them>

Cheers,
Jay

[mathieu]

Jay, thanks. I found that one in an earlier Forum post www.bikepacking.net/forum/routes/bottom-half-of-the-transandalusia/ . It looks quite useful.
Another attractive piece is the Sistema Iberico MTB route between Cuenca and Burgos http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=6905938

[jaymtb]

Thanks for the reminder about Wikiloc.  Have used it in  Baja and mainland Mexico .  It often shows more routes with zooming in.

Another site with a map and routes that cover Europe and the Americas with 3  routes in Spain:

http://www.bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/road-bike-touring-gr-48-spain/

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-transnevada-southern-spain/

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/basque-bikepacking-vuelta-de-vasco/

Like Wikiloc, the routes have some discussion at the bottom where you might contact people who have more local knowledge re what you're looking for ?
 
Thanks,  J

[koke_81]

Hi!

I found this web last week.

My name is Jorge, im from Spain. You can google for "divisoria de aguas" de España, or, "divisoria de aguas de la peninsula iberica". And youll find some maps in images.
Wikiloc was created by Jordi Ramot, he is from Cataluña, Spain, and mountainbikers here we frequently use wikiloc.
You can use google earth and active wikiloc layer to design your own route watching other wikiloc routes.

[mathieu]

Jorge, thanks for your information. In the late spring/early summer of this year I rode a provisional Spanish Divide route of my own design, see https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=tS&doc_id=17803&v=sr#462072. During my ride I really fell in love with your beautiful country and its rich cultural heritage. It is ideal for light touring because there are so many villages along the route where you find excellent food and lodging. However, looking back, I haven't realised the potential of this concept by far, for a number of reasons. At the start I was not in good shape physically, so I skipped several planned backroads. I also didn't have a reliable GPS topo map. I plan to come back next year, much better prepared. I guess last year's route was 30% unpaved ; my aim is to get 50% on dirt.

In comparison to the US, Spain has few long-distance dirt roads. Most of the dirt roads you find are forest roads or rural roads giving farmers access to their high lands. They often terminate high on the hill. Few are in good condition for cycling and some are very steep. So you have to stitch many bits and pieces together and prepare for slow going. The nature of a Divide line is that it tracks many exposed mountain ridges. I saw that a lot of them are strewn with wind turbines. The access roads to the wind farms and solar parks are often better suited for cycling. I also hit upon some excellent Via Verde's (old railroads).  If you have other suggestions, please let me know.

[koke_81]

I'm glad you like our history and culture.

The most of the mountains in Spain go from west to east because the african and eurasian plate boundary. So is not a clear line because it does not go along the ridge on a mountain system throughout.
The Mediterranean Spain is so hot in july and august, so I recommend ride this route in spring or autumm.
Mountain bike and road bike is a so popular sport in Spain, but I think we havent a long distance culture, although we have a lot of "camino de Santiago" routes.

Bikepacking is no popular here... The most of Riders use saddlebags.
Here you have a wikiloc track "Trans Iberian system". I think its so interesting for your tour:

http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=6905938

The book:

http://m.casadellibro.com/libro-transiberica-travesia-del-sistema-iberico-en-btt-y-cicloturismo/9788483213940/2231229?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google-shopping-pla&gclid=cjcw3nqx9s8cfvcygwodxvughg

And here you have a very good wikiloc user with a lot of fantastic routes:

http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/user.do?id=8292

And his blog:

http://zinaztli.blogspot.com.es/?m=1


The most interesting long distance mountainbike route in Spain is "Transpirenaica". It goes from "cabo de Creus" in mediterranean sea to "Hondarribia" in Cantabrican sea.
I rode It twice, its wonderfull but its so hard.

There are at least three diferent routes:

The most popular:

http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=3072459

Transpyr ( an annual mountainbike stage race): http://transpyr.com

http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=12965809

And a New book:

https://www.libreriadesnivel.com/libros/la-gran-travesia-de-los-pirineos-en-btt/9788483213810/

Here a "vías verdes" map:



Here a "vías pecuarias" map:



I hope you find it useful for my help. Feel free to ask me anything.

[koke_81]

Vías verdes

[koke_81]

Vías pecuarias

[guntherds]

http://biketrips.be/PageTransSpain.html

[mathieu]

Thanks, Gunther. The video has been posted here early this year http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/routes/video-trans-spain-by-mountainbike-from-malaga-to-the-french-border-(irun)/
It's a very nice route. However, it doesn't track the Divide line very closely.

[mathieu]

An update:
Last year I repeated the route south-to-north staying closer to the Divide line and including more dirt roads : see https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=19398&v=2j . I carried tent and sleeping bag but never used it,  preferring the luxury of hotel showers and a bed.
Early this year two British guys went out bravely in winter season north to south, camping most of the time: see https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=20516&v=Hq . Most dirt roads were not yet ready for cycling.
Clearly, there are many ways to connect the dots.