Ride Across Spain Part I: Mediterranean to Madrid

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

This is a new BAC ride, which together with “Ride Across Spain Part II: Madrid to San Sebastian,” provides the opportunity to cycle the length of Spain, coast to coast.  It’s designed for strong experienced riders who will have a good base of challenging riding leading up to the start of the tour, and are capable of riding long daily distances with significant ascents. You are welcome to sign up for either ride or both!

This trip starts in Málaga on April 26, 2017 at the traditional BAC happy hour, and ends in Madrid after breakfast on Friday, May 12, 2017. We’ll start cycling from the coastal town of Tarifa where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, referred to as the “Pillars of Hercules.” Morocco is just across the Straits of Gibraltar.  Experience the varied landscapes and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula as we ride through the provinces of Andalucía, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha, and end in Madrid, the capital of Spain on May 12th. Experience some of the most scenic riding to be found on the Iberian Peninsula as we cycle through Spain’s famed white villages and lush green countryside past olive plantations, vineyards, and bull ranches. Tour ancient cathedrals, churches, palaces and Roman ruins along the way, and enjoy tapas, flamenco, and Spain’s renowned red wines in the quaint towns where we stop along the way.  We stay in, or have the option of visiting, four (4) UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Seville, Mérida, Guadalupe, and Toledo.

Ride Rating: 3B!  This will be a challenging ride! There are 12 required riding days and 2 rest days. Although the average distance will be 50 miles, daily distances will range from 30-63 miles. The average ascent will be 3035’ of climbing, and daily ascents will range from 880-5200 feet. The days that exceed the 3B rating are as follows:

• Day 1: 43 miles with 3660’ of climbing
• Day 4: 56 miles with 4925’ of climbing (following a rest day)
• Day 9: 52 miles with 5200’ of climbing
• Day 10: 62 miles with 4570’ of climbing
• Day 11: 63 miles with 3180’ climbing

There are several days that include climbs with short sections that exceed an 8% grade.  Although most routes will be on well-paved, lightly traveled back roads, there will be one section of path along the ocean on our first day’s route of approximately 0.1 mile of hard-packed dirt. There will also be sections of road leading into the Seville, Toledo and Madrid where traffic may be heavy.

For a detailed itinerary with daily distances and climbing contact the Ride Leader. Cue sheets, maps and GPS files will be provided for all rides.

Weather: Average temperature in Andalucía in May is 67F and average number of days with precipitation is 3. Average temperature in Madrid May is 59F and average number of days with precipitation is 7.

Lodging & Meals: Sixteen nights lodging including one night each in Málaga, Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera, Arcos de la Frontera, Cazalla de la Sierra, Zafra, Mérida, Cáceres, Trujillo, Guadalupe, Horcajo de los Montes, and Madrid, and 2 nights in Seville and Toledo.  Daily breakfasts will be provided and we’ll have 4 group dinners. Lunches will be on your own.

Logistics: Ride participants can book an open-jaws flights arriving in Málaga (AGP) and departing from Madrid (MAD), or for those who prefer to fly in and out of the same city, there is bus and train service between Málaga and Madrid. The Málaga-Costa del Sol airport is about 5 miles from the city center and has bus service to downtown. Following our first night's stay in Málaga, Iberocycle will provide transport (including bikes in bike boxes) from Málaga to Tarifa via private bus.

Iberocycle will transport bike boxes from Tarifa to Madrid where they’ll be stored during the ride.  They’ll also transport luggage between overnight locations and provide emergency sag support for anyone who has significant health or mechanical problems that prevent them from riding during the trip.

If you wish to rent a bike for this trip, contact Iberocycle directly to make arrangements.

Cost and Administration: In addition to the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $100, the estimated tour cost is $3200 based on an exchange rate of $1.20 = 1 Euro and a minimum of 18 participants.  The estimated cost includes: 16 nights lodging with full breakfast; bus transport from Málaga to Tarifa; daily BAC social hour with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks; 4 group dinners; luggage van & emergency sag support; storage of bike boxes during the trip with transfer to Madrid; maps, cue sheets and GPS files; ride leader expenses; and a 10% contingency cushion. Once you are accepted onto the ride, a deposit of $1000 is due within 2 weeks. The 2nd payment of $1000 is due by October 31, 2016, and the final payment of $1200 is due by January 31, 2017.  The final payment may be adjusted depending on the exchange rate at the end of December 2016. The single supplement of $610 for those who do not wish to share a room must be included in the 2nd payment.  Any funds remaining after the trip will be refunded to participants.

Singles & Solos Policy:  Single participants are welcome on this trip whether sharing a room with another single or you may choose to pay the $610 solo supplement for a room of your own. If you plan to share a room with another single, please let the ride leader know the name of that person. If you do not have a roommate in mind, the ride leader will assist you by providing names of other singles seeking a roommate who have signed up or indicated an interest in the trip.

Cancellation: The BAC ride registration fee of $100 per participant is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report is completed. If a single participant sharing a room cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.

Ride Participant Responsibility: The most important rider responsibility is to read and fully understand the ride description. BAC tours depend on participants providing much or their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.

Support our Ride Leaders, read the ride description carefully, respond promptly to calls for payments and emails from the ride leader.  At the ride, offer to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation.  And do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the ride leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the ride leader’s decisions.

Sign-Up: To submit a request to join this ride use the links displayed above the Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List, and you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability (ROL) and pay the BAC ride registration fee online. Send your $1000 deposit check made out to Karen Hass (not BAC), 2120 Golf Course Dr, Reston, VA 20191. When your deposit check has cleared your bank, the Ride Leader will move you to the Participants list. Contact the Ride Leader with any questions: karenbikes2@gmail.com or 571-205-5797 (ET).