Ride Across Spain Part II: Madrid to San Sebastián

† 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 I: The Mediterranean to Madrid,” 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. You are welcome to sign up for either ride or both!

This ride begins on May 13, 2017 in Madrid, the Capital of Spain, and takes us through the geographically and culturally diverse regions of Castile-León, La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque country (Spanish and French!), ending on May 28, 2017 in the luxurious resort city of San Sebastián on the northern coast of Spain. Most of our riding will be along roads with little traffic and excellent surfaces. The ride crosses Spain’s high plain, the Meseta Central, with its windmills, rolling fields of grain, and cattle ranches; includes a portion of the Camino de Santiago; and takes us through the lush hills and valleys of northern Spain before we cross the Spanish Pyrenees for a brief dip into the French Basque country before heading for the Bay of Biscay.  Ancient archeological ruins, ornate cathedrals, quaint remote villages, vast vineyards, excellent red wine, and delicious tapas are abundant in this part of the Iberian Peninsula.  On this trip we’ll have the opportunity to visit four (4) UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Lorenzo del Escorial, Ávila, Segovia and Burgos.  

Ride Rating: 3B!

This will be a challenging ride! There are 13 required riding days and 1 rest day. The daily average distance will be 40 miles with distances ranging from 31-48 miles. The average daily ascent will be 2687’ with daily ascents ranging from 1815-5385 feet, including 2 days that exceed the 3B rating:

• Day 2: 37 miles with 4005’ climbing
• Day 13: 48 miles with 5385’ climbing

There are several days that include climbs with short sections that exceed an 8% grade. Although most routes will be along well paved, lightly traveled back roads, the ride out of Madrid and into San Sebastián may include some heavy traffic.

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 Madrid in May is 59F and average number of days with precipitation is 7. Average temperatures in San Sebastián is 63F and average number of days with precipitation is 13.

Lodging & Meals: Fifteen nights lodging including one night each in Madrid, San Lorenzo del Escorial, Ávila, Sepúlveda, Peñafiel, Lerma, Burgos, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Laguardia, Estella, Pamplona, St-Etienne-de-Baïgorry, and San Sebastián, and 2 nights in Segovia.  Daily breakfasts will be provided and we’ll have 5 group dinners. Lunches will be on your own.

Logistics: This tour starts in Madrid on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the traditional BAC happy hour, and ends in San Sebastián on Sunday, May 28, 2017 after breakfast. Ride participants can book an open-jaw flight arriving in Madrid (MAD) and departing from Bilbao (BIO), the closest airport to San Sebastián, or for those who prefer to fly in and out of the same city, there is bus and train service between San Sebastián and Madrid. Transportation from the Madrid airport to downtown Madrid is available by bus, metro or taxi.  Transportation from San Sebastián to Bilbao is available by bus.

Iberocycle will transport bike boxes from Madrid to San Sebastián 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 $3150 based on an exchange rate of $1.20 = 1 Euro and a minimum of 18 participants.  The estimated cost includes: 15 nights lodging with full breakfast; daily BAC social hour with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks; 5 group dinners; luggage van & emergency sag support; storage of bike boxes during the trip with transfer to San Sebastián; maps, cue sheets and GPS files; a wine tasting; 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 November 30, 2016, and the final payment of $1150 is due by February 28, 2017. The final payment may be adjusted depending on the exchange rate at the end of January 2017.  The single supplement of $520 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 $520 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 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 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 non-refundable BAC ride registration fee online. Send your $1000 deposit check made out to Karen Hass (not BAC), 2120 Golf Course Drive, 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).