2012 Cycling Spain - one month | On Your Bike - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:27:35 +0000

I know it's only April now... and I'm planning my trip in April 2012...

After 2 months of this new job, I'm so fed up with my supervisor that I've determined not to renew the contract next year. I'll finish the contract in Jan, and study for an examination in March, and head off for a one-month bike trip in April 2012, Spain.

I was thinking to start from Malaga, pass through Grenada, Cordoba, Sevilla, then ride on some small roads north to Talavera, Madrid, then all the way to Barcelona. I planned to ride from Barcelona along the coast back to Malaga, but saw other posts that the traffic from Barcelona to Valencia part will be very heavy. If I do not choose the main roads (i.e. not choose E-15) but stick to the small roads (i.e. N340), do you think the traffic will still be too bad? If I should give up the Barcelona to Valencia part of the trip, should I also give up the Madrid to Barcelona part too? I guess the traffic will also be heavy on that part.

Another option is to ride from Malaga through the Andalusia part and then ride to Portugal. Which is a better option, in terms of scenery and traffic? Any suggestion?

Thanks!
Arti

ONLINE

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:49:01 +0000

I'd avoid roads including E-15, I'm pretty sure its a dual carriageway.

2 of us are doing Barcelona to Benicassim in July and will manily stick as close to the coast as we can on C31 and the N340 like you mentioned. I should think u'll be fine in April as its not peak season, may get a few people taking their easter holidays.

If I was to choose one of your routes i'd go for the Portugal route..

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ONLINE

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:14:44 +0000

I rode the N340 from Valencia to Barcelona last year and from what I remember it's a pretty major trucking route. That said, the shoulders are wide and we didn't have any close calls. AVOID the dual carriage ways and any roads titled AC, A, or E. The national roads (single carriageways) are good because of the wide shoulders but have a little more traffic than the smaller roads. To be honest, the N340 was probably the most stressful riding we had in Spain.

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ONLINE

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:53:44 +0000

Thank you. In that case, as I don't want to be stressed, I'll avoid that part of the trip. However, since I'm going to visit Spain, I also want to visit Barcelona and Madrid. Also, I see other posts that it's preferred to ride southwards instead. I'll change my plan to fly to Barcelona, then ride to Madrid, then ride southwards to Cordoba, Granada, Malaga, Sevielle, then ride to Portugal all the way to Lisbon. If time allows, I'll ride a bit more along the coast. Anyway, I'll take a long distance bus from Lisbon to Barcelona. That way I can avoid the traffic. Good enough?

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