Girona Bike Rides: Routes, Climbs and Useful Stuff

Girona Bike Rides: Routes, Climbs and Useful Stuff

I've been lucky enough to have ridden a bike all over the world and recently I've spent lot of time in Girona. I think the immediate area around this beautiful Catalan city in noth-east Spain is one of the best places on the planet to ride a bike and I'd like to share my enthusiasm with visitors. Girona has everything: a perfect climate for riding, a huge variety in terrain from mountain passes to coastal corniche and flat loops through lovely countryside. And it's got very quiet roads! Drivers are tolerant, the food and drink is some of the best in the world and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of cyclists out on the smooth roads every day. "Cycling paradise" is a bit of cliche but if anywhere comes close, it's Girona. I hope you enjoy the videos and find them useful. I intend to add to them as the restrictions caused by the Corona virus are lifted.

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  • @iamruss74
    @iamruss744 күн бұрын

    Nice video. Just a note - A is stressed in word Àngels

  • @kimonLHioannides
    @kimonLHioannides19 күн бұрын

    Are you Simon from zwift cast?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS19 күн бұрын

    Guilty as charged 😊

  • @cupidstunt1975
    @cupidstunt1975Ай бұрын

    It was driving me nuts thinking who is the narrator…then the zwiftcast hit today!

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPSАй бұрын

    😂😂😂😂😂

  • @dickieblench5001
    @dickieblench5001Ай бұрын

    Overrated and slow bumpy descent. Girona is nice but it's not exciting to ride there

  • @cheapdate100
    @cheapdate1002 ай бұрын

    One of the most stunning cycling experiences of my life. I first cycled in to this valley in September of 2022. It felt like I was in the place entirely on my own, it was an almost religious experience. Absolutely mind blowing place and a great video.

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS2 ай бұрын

    Good innit?

  • @cheapdate100
    @cheapdate1002 ай бұрын

    I have sat at the bus stop at the top of the hill after Lora so many time. It's the essence of happiness. October, her I come.

  • @Pww642
    @Pww6422 ай бұрын

    I liked Mare del Deu much better! But this was a nice one too.

  • @mikeainsworth4504
    @mikeainsworth45043 ай бұрын

    I have just ridden this route (uploaded from the Strava route above). It was excellent and certainly lived up to the promise of this excellent video. It’s a big ‘thumbs up’ from us.

  • @steveng5107
    @steveng51074 ай бұрын

    Hope to be there someday… great video, thank you!

  • @peterhudson2381
    @peterhudson23814 ай бұрын

    Did this ride today, it sure lived up to expectations! The route overall is great, but the loop around the coast is truly amazing. I agree that it is very hard not to smile when riding in such fabulous scenery. I have cycled all over Europe-this is up there with the best routes I've ridden. Thanks for sharing

  • @UKBROOKLYN
    @UKBROOKLYN5 ай бұрын

    Love your videos.. where is the one for Mare de Déu del Mont... Best climb I ever did..

  • @nathanmitchell4146
    @nathanmitchell41466 ай бұрын

    Great channel, thank you for your wonderful efforts, sincerely appreciated.

  • @harkat16
    @harkat166 ай бұрын

    Do you think Els Angels and 'Corba are safe to descend with rim brakes or better to rent disc brake bike?

  • @LarryHyett
    @LarryHyett6 ай бұрын

    Super helpful videos. Headed there in April and these are great for prep.

  • @mrflaxtv81
    @mrflaxtv816 ай бұрын

    Really enjoying the channel and two videos I've watched thus far. Im planning a trip in April so I think your work is going to be invaluable for me. Many thanks. Very relaxing and soothing to watch and listen to. Your voice and narration remind me of the TdF commentator who does the stage description!

  • @biketrybe7071
    @biketrybe70717 ай бұрын

    Beautiful ride. Thank you for sharing.

  • @biketrybe7071
    @biketrybe70717 ай бұрын

    Beautiful! Thank you.

  • @cheapdate100
    @cheapdate1007 ай бұрын

    Where have you gone ?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS7 ай бұрын

    I guess you mean no new vids. TBH, the number of subscribers is not worth me making new stuff. I knew the channel wouldn’t get millions cos it’s niche. But the vids really take a lot of time, effort and actual money. So yeah, I kinda quit making new stuff.

  • @cheapdate100
    @cheapdate1007 ай бұрын

    That's a shame. I really enjoy your stuff (and have used a lot of your tips). I've been coming to Girona since 2006 and totally love it. I watch your videos when turbo training in Grey wintery Scotland. They keep me alive during the worst of the winter. Cheers, Alan. @@simonSPS

  • @biketrybe7071
    @biketrybe70718 ай бұрын

    Love the narration as well as the scenery. Keep it up!

  • @biketrybe7071
    @biketrybe70718 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the channel. Love Girona!

  • @kinialdo
    @kinialdo8 ай бұрын

    Just did that loop a couple days ago - great stuff! One comment - it's 92km long

  • @mountainbikingfortherestofus
    @mountainbikingfortherestofus8 ай бұрын

    What I was young we would just call "gravel" dirt roads. LOL

  • @dadcram
    @dadcram8 ай бұрын

    It looks like you have moved on from Girona. Where's your next destination? I'm trying to plan a trip from Australia in 2025.

  • @macster1000
    @macster100010 ай бұрын

    good channel! very good start into a training camp in Girona😊

  • @chicogomez33
    @chicogomez3310 ай бұрын

    are there coffee shops along the route?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS10 ай бұрын

    Not so many. Your best bet is Tossa del Mar. There’s a great coffee stop at a bike shop called Tossa Cycling.

  • @davidpitkin7248
    @davidpitkin724811 ай бұрын

    That climb before the reservoir on Strava shows 30 to 44% in places. I'll take some walking shoes in a ruck sack 🙂

  • @davidpitkin7248
    @davidpitkin724811 ай бұрын

    I'm sure we'll figure it out once we are there but the video talks about keeping the river on your left ( then the video jumps ahead) but the linked Strava route crosses over the Post de l'Areny with river now on your right. From Google Street view that seems to be the only way then back over a bridge for a 3rd exit from the roundabout. Thanks for all the very well narrated videos they have made plotting routes much easier

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS11 ай бұрын

    Yeah. Actually there’s a road both to the left and the right of the river. Most cyclists prefer the road that keeps the river on your left. It’s a lot wider and has no cobbled road humps.

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS11 ай бұрын

    I’m not sure why the linked Strava route selects the “other” road 🙈

  • @davidpitkin7248
    @davidpitkin724811 ай бұрын

    Thanks @@simonSPS we'll be giving it a go in a few weeks. I probably go over the top researching routes prior to a trip and all your videos are proving invaluable.

  • @gironellajoel
    @gironellajoel Жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for your videos. Me and my mate road for 4 days in Girona and we used 3 of your routes as our guide. My favorite by far was the Coastal Loop with Els Angels a close second. Hope you can keep posting more videos. We plan to return to Girona next year and do more riding days. Keep up the great work. Cheers !

  • @reflectionsdetail
    @reflectionsdetail Жыл бұрын

    you missed the rest of the coastal rides to Sant Guixols, you can either come back to Grau (which is an exposed climb mid day) or work north from Guixols back to Girona (their are several).

  • @mikeainsworth4504
    @mikeainsworth45043 ай бұрын

    Is that bit of coast better than the climb in the video. I’m planning a coastal route in that area from Begur and am wondering whether to take in that bit of close or follow the climb shown in the video head inland and then back east via Santa Pellaia from Cassa de la Selva

  • @riumudamc4686
    @riumudamc4686 Жыл бұрын

    Do the majority of riders stop riding or go elsewhere in July because of heat?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    There are still a good number of riders around, but the most sensible ones get up early and finish riding around 12 or 1pm.

  • @tim_berry
    @tim_berry Жыл бұрын

    Followed a few a these routes on my recent trip to Girona. The guides were very useful, thank you!

  • @jdsm7815
    @jdsm7815 Жыл бұрын

    Hey, thank you for the many great routes and tips. I found an alternative - more gravel like - route back to Girona via Cassa de la Selva. Do you have experience with that? Would it be manageable with a road bike?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    Yes. That is the very well known and extremely well maintained Carrilet. It’s absolutely fine on a road bike. - I’ve done it many times.

  • @jdsm7815
    @jdsm7815 Жыл бұрын

    @@simonSPS Thanks!

  • @HD-yq9jx
    @HD-yq9jx Жыл бұрын

    Many many thanks for the brilliant work, liked and subscribed .I'm planning to visit Girona this summer, and your channel is the only channel that is really educational, useful and helpful, other channels are not, (honestly). I'm really wondering that you have 543 subscribers only, something very wrong.

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    Yes. The low subs is sorta why I quit making new vids. They’re not cheap to produce and without an audience, not really worth it. Sad face.

  • @FortheLoveofCycling
    @FortheLoveofCycling Жыл бұрын

    So womderful.

  • @mtnbk71
    @mtnbk71 Жыл бұрын

    Heading to Girona to ride this October. Looking forward to it!

  • @tobiasschmitt3182
    @tobiasschmitt3182 Жыл бұрын

    I wish I had discovered the channal before my trip to Girona last May. Anyway, I would recommend the videos to anyone who wants to travel to Girona.

  • @tobiasschmitt3182
    @tobiasschmitt3182 Жыл бұрын

    The area north of Roses till the french boarder is amazing, even better than the Tossa loop. Highly recommend it.

  • @tobiasschmitt3182
    @tobiasschmitt3182 Жыл бұрын

    It is overrated, but still a nice climb. Unfortunately the tarmac on the second half is in a really bad condition, but still managabale if you avoid the potholes. Could not find the font. Glad the owner of the very last house before reaching the top provided some cold drinks (self service) in front of his house and I had some coins with me to donate. Saved my ride after 120k in the heat.

  • @tgrx1901
    @tgrx19012 ай бұрын

    "Its overrated".. No its not. If people rate it and take the time to ride it as per the pros who used it for training, why is it overrated? Ive ridden it and loved every minute of it, honesty fridge included.

  • @tobiasschmitt3182
    @tobiasschmitt3182 Жыл бұрын

    love your videos, 100% accurate and superb quality of story and video!

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    Thanks man

  • @tobiasschmitt3182
    @tobiasschmitt3182 Жыл бұрын

    Sweet memories! Did this one last June and felt 100% like described in the video. One of the must ride routes!

  • @globaltravelcouple828
    @globaltravelcouple828 Жыл бұрын

    wow, again thank you for all your videos, hope to see you make some more!! Love the GPX and info, sooooooo helpful and you are quite a handsome guy, don't cut yourself short LOL.

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    You’re too kind 🚴😁

  • @globaltravelcouple828
    @globaltravelcouple828 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for all this info! It is really helping for our planning of next year's trip!

  • @PathLessPedaledTV
    @PathLessPedaledTV Жыл бұрын

    What are traffic volumes like on the coast road?

  • @simonSPS
    @simonSPS Жыл бұрын

    Very light this time of year. Bit busier in summer but nothing drastic. Generally bikes go faster than the cars 😁

  • @PathLessPedaledTV
    @PathLessPedaledTV Жыл бұрын

    Going to give this a go while we are in town. Thanks for the info.

  • @EatSleepCycle
    @EatSleepCycle Жыл бұрын

    We love these videos Simon 😀

  • @meredithnielsen7035
    @meredithnielsen7035 Жыл бұрын

    Your videos have been extremely useful and fun to watch. Thank you so much for helping us make the most of our Girona stay!

  • @MarkHewitt1978
    @MarkHewitt19782 жыл бұрын

    Looks like a lovely ride. Still hope to get back to Girona!

  • @gregnichols9363
    @gregnichols93632 жыл бұрын

    why not just go out mas Lluners to Angles

  • @BobMcKerrell
    @BobMcKerrell2 жыл бұрын

    I wish you would make more videos. I know its a ton of work but I just really like these. great work.

  • @amorphys
    @amorphys4 ай бұрын

    Yeah ! Nice work we just made it last week the video is in making :) until now just first episode ! Really nice place there for cyclist

  • @riumudamc4686
    @riumudamc46862 жыл бұрын

    Very well done! Are there still small villages in settings similar to where the reservoir is now?