Girona has become an important centre for biking, mainly due to Lance Armstrong and his US Postal teamates using this as their base for many years while they were training and competing.
There still are some famous professional cyclists here but now we have more of a leisure activity infrastructure with some companies setting up to rent and guide tours around the Province. These can be divided into those that just rent bikes, those that rent and guide road tours and those that rent and guide off road. There is a hybrid category where you can cycle along the old railway line which is now a dirt track going all the way from Olot to the coast at Sant Feliu de Guixols via Girona. This is a fun and not too strenuous way to see a good bit of countryside while stopping to take pictures and breaks at local village cafes along the way. From Olot to Girona is some 58kms and it is recommended to do it this way round so as to miss the hardest climbs. From Girona to Sant Feliu is 36kms and from just past Llagostera is mainly downhill and then the easiest is to get the local TEISA bus from the bus station back to Girona-they take bikes in the hold.
For those keener on clocking up the miles on the back roads of the Province with a guide and a good bike then the experts are Gareth at www.gironacycling.com or the folks at www.bike.cat
Gareth is English and is setting up a triathlon training centre near Banyoles but can focus on any one of the disciplines and cycling is definitely the most popular. The guys at Bike.cat are locals but speak English and have been doing this for a few years so know the area and best routes depending on the clients requirements.
For an all encompassing service then the people at www.cicloturisme.com have it covered. They are happy to just rent you bikes (mountain, road or a hybrid) and let you do your own thing or can provide a guide or even arrange a whole tour including accommodation and meals as well as all logistics.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Cycling in Girona
Monday, 15 October 2007
Top 10 things to do in Girona Province:
1- Visit the Dalí triangle-Museum in Figueras, house in Portlligat (nr. Cadaques) and Galas castle at Púbol.
2- See the ceramics/pottery made in La Bisbal and displayed in shops along the main road. There is also a museum on the history of area.
3- Visit the best part of the wild Costa Brava at Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu and visit the spectacular Cap Roig Botanical Gardens.
4- Visit the Greek and Roman ruins at Empuries with the Museum and then stop at the Iberian ruins at Ullastret to complete ancient history.
5- Take in some of the Medieval villages of Besalu, Peretallada, Sant Llorenç de la Muga which are fun to explore on foot.
6- Take a wine tour of the Empordà-there are plenty of wineries (Bodegas) to see and some are geared up for visitors (see separate entry).
7- Visit the interior and walk into the craters in the Volcanoes Natural Park near Olot and the medieval town of Santa Pau.
8- Walk or cycle around the lake in Banyoles then rest at one of the cafe terraces next to the lake afterwards.
9- Visit Palamos and the fish market after a seafood lunch around the harbour. Gambas de Palamos are famous and expensive!