Cancelled - White Villages of Andalucia 2020

This Ride has been Cancelled

† 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

OVERVIEW    Tour beautiful Andalucía in southern Spain, home of flamenco, vineyards, olive groves, Moorish architecture and history, oranges, and hilltop white villages. This area is sunny and dry and, during the summer, extremely hot. By starting the tour in late April we should have warm temperatures and be treated to spring wildflowers. The tour includes visits to two of the most famous cities of Andalucía: Granada and Cordoba. There is an option to take a high speed train into the city of Seville on the Cordoba rest day. There is an optional tour of the Alhambra in Granada for those who choose to arrive early, and an opportunity to tour the Mezquita in Cordoba and/or the Giralda in Seville. The tour will travel through small “pueblos blancos” - white villages perched on hilltops. Participants will ride past limestone mountains, vineyards, olive groves, cork oak forests, reservoirs and along the Mediterranean coast.  There are two rest days, one in Cordoba and one in Ronda. Optional loop rides are available for each rest day. The Ronda rest day affords the opportunity to visit the Plaza del Toros bullring and/or the Paleolithic cave paintings of Cueva de la Pileta.   Our ride from Antequera to Posada del Conde is a scenic and short one, which provides an optional opportunity to hike the dramatic Caminito del Rey after the ride. There is an opportunity on the day we ride to Grazalema to climb the Puerto de las Palomas, a climb ridden in past Vueltas de Espana.

Ride Co-Coordinator for this tour is Terri Bakke-Schultz. The tour will be supported by Iberocycle (Simon Proffitt). Versions of this tour have been led by BAC with support by Iberocycle five times previously, and Iberocycle has supported other tours in Spain for BAC as well.

Information Links:

2018 White Villages Trip Report:  

Andalucía Tourism site  

Caminito del Rey photos

Puerto de las Palomas photos

RIDE RATING    The tour is rated 3B, based on average distance of 42 miles per day and average elevation gain of 3200 feet for the eleven mandatory ride days. Three days have climbing outside of the “3” rating and four days are outside of the “B” rating at just over 50 miles. These days are 3, 6, 7, 9, 13 and 14 (see itinerary below).  Several days have alternate routes for riders wanting longer rides and there are optional routes on non-mandatory riding days. Routes are on paved roads in good condition and most have little traffic.  Overall, this is a hilly ride and best suited to riders who aren’t intimidated by climbs. Using the metric of the number of feet climbed per mile, a difficult ride is widely recognized as 100 ft./mi. A moderate ride is 50 ft./mi. This tour averages 76 ft./mi.

While Iberocycle will transfer luggage and be available for emergency support due to injury, illness or major mechanical problems, it is expected that riders will cycle the entire ride. BAC tours are designed for serious cyclists who are able to ride independently.

ITINERARY

Day 1- April 28   Granada - orientation meeting

Day 2 – April 29  Granada to Montefrio - 40 miles, 2625 feet

Day 3 – April 30  Montefrio to Zuheros - 48 miles, 4425 feet

Day 4 – May 1  Zuheros to Cordoba - 46 miles, 2198 feet

Day 5– May 2 option day: loop ride 23 miles, 2275 feet and/or tour Cordoba, or train to Seville

Day 6 – May 3  Cordoba to Cabra - 52 miles, 4185 feet

Day 7 – May 4 Cabra to Antequera - 51 miles, 3060 feet or 65 miles, 3450 feet

Day 8 – May 5 Antequera to La Posada del Conde - 26 miles, 2125 feet. Opportunity to hike the Caminito del Rey after ride 

Day 9 – May 6   Posada to Ronda - 35 miles, 4340 feet

Day 10- May 7 option day-tour Ronda; loop ride 30 miles, 3845 feet; optional Cueva de la Pieta

Day 11 –May 8  Ronda to Grazalema - 23 miles, 2260 feet, or 35 miles, 3830 feet. Optional Puerto de las Palomas extension – out & back or loop 

Day 12 – May 9 Grazalema to Arcos de la Frontera - 42 miles, 3480 feet. Optional Puerto de las Palomas climb

Day 13 –May 10 Arcos to Vejer de la Frontera - 51 miles, 3280 feet or 58 miles, 4288 feet

Day 14 – May 11 Vejer to Tarifa - 52 miles, 3219 feet. You have arrived! Swim in the Mediterranean; photo op at southernmost point in Europe with Africa in the background.

Day 15 –May 12  Bus transfer to Malaga and disband.

TOTAL: 465 miles, 35,200 feet or 552 miles, 44,285 feet

WEATHER    In May, the average high temperature is 81 degrees F and the average low is 57 degrees F. Please note that in 2018, high temperatures were sometimes in the low 90s. The area is arid, with little rain in the summer. May averages 1.5 inches rainfall for the month and 5 rainy days. Be prepared for cool to very warm riding temperatures and possible rain showers.

LODGING & MEALS    Hotels are 3 and 4 star level. 14 breakfasts and 6 group dinners, as well as daily happy hour with snacks and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are included in the price. Vegetarian options are available at most dinners. It should be noted that the group dinners will be at the usual Spanish dinner time of approximately 8 pm.

LOGISTICS    Tour starts in Granada with an afternoon meeting on April 28, 2020. Tour ends in Malaga after transfer from Tarifa on May 12, 2020, arriving in Malaga mid-afternoon. The major international airport in Andalucía is Malaga – Costa del Sol (AGP). There is an airport near Granada. Malaga airport to Granada is about 85 miles. Public transportation to Granada is available from the Malaga airport.

At the end of the tour in Tarifa, it is possible to take a train from Tarifa to Madrid instead of the transfer to Malaga (but cost of transfer is included in tour and will not be refunded).

Iberocycle, owned by Simon Proffitt, has scouted all rides, done all the routing, made all hotel and group dinner arrangements, and will provide emergency sag service.

If you would like to stay in Granada a day or two before the tour starts, make hotel arrangements through Iberocycle in order to get our group rate. For riders who want a night in Malaga before heading to the airport or train station, an optional extra night in Malaga is also available at a group rate through Iberocycle.  Cost for any "extra nights" will be paid by individual riders, not by Iberocycle.

Tickets to see the Alhambra need to be purchased well in advance by ride participants at the Alhambra website. Caminito del Rey tickets also need to be purchased well in advance.

Iberocycle has Cube Carbon Road Bikes (178 Euros) or Hybrid Bikes (125 Euros) rentals if you prefer not to bring your own; make arrangements with Iberocycle. Ride Coordinator will provide contact information for Iberocycle. Bike boxes for those who bring their own bikes will be transported by Iberocycle.  This tour is not accepting Ebikes.  

Maps and cue sheets will be provided at the initial meeting. GPS links will be available on ride leader docs to download to your device prior to the start of the trip.  

COST & ADMINISTRATION   The tour estimated cost is $ 3700 and does not include the $100 BAC fee.  The cost is  based on an exchange rate of $1.25 per Euro. The final payment may need to be adjusted if exchange rate is less favorable. As always, any funds not used will be refunded to participants. First payment is due when signing up for ride and is $1700. BAC fee of $100 is also due when signing up for the ride. Second payment of $2000 is due January 2, 2020.  Payments are made on-line by credit card at the BAC website.  The cost includes 14 nights’ accommodation with 14 breakfasts and 6 group dinners. Maps, cue sheets, GPX/TCX files will be provided. Daily happy hour including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, luggage transfer, emergency sag service, bike box storage, and transfer by charter bus from Tarifa to Malaga on last tour day is also included. Gratuity for the guide is included.  Daily happy hour will include historical and cultural information of interest as well as route review by Simon Proffitt.

NEW MEMBERS  New members are encouraged to sign up – this tour has been offered five times in the past, all with high Ride Survey reviews.  It would be an excellent overseas tour that offers challenging riding and rich cultural history, not to mention delicious food.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY    It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until October 1, 2019 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fees) or pay the $580 solo supplement and stay on the ride.   If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC Office and are due by October 1, 2019. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. They should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA   92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY    The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee are 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 cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time, minus BAC fee and payment processing fees.   If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are 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 solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY   Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of 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.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please 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 may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP    To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and tour deposit, $1700, by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.