Cancelled White Villages of Andalucia

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

The beautiful region of Andalucía in southern Spain is known for its Moorish architecture and history, white hilltop villages, flamenco, oranges, and olive groves. Seven hundred years of Moorish rule is a legacy that shows in its architecture, including such landmarks as the Alcázar castle in Seville as well as Córdoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral and Granada’s Alhambra palace. There will be an opportunity to visit all of these sites during or just before the tour. We will visit two of Andalucía’s most famous cities, Granada and Córdoba. An optional trip to Seville via high speed train will be available on a rest day. Our ride to Posada del Conde is a fairly short one and will afford us an optional opportunity to hike the dramatic Caminito del Rey after the ride. Our cycling will take us past small “pueblos blancos” - white villages perched on hilltops, limestone mountains, vineyards, olive groves, and Mediterranean coastline. And our April tour dates should provide us with warm temperatures and, hopefully, spring wildflowers. This tour will be supported by Iberocycle.

RIDE RATING

The tour is rated 3B, based on an average distance of 42 miles per day and an 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 77 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 15 Granada - orientation meeting

Day 2 – April 16 Granada to Montefrio - 40 miles, 2625 feet

Day 3 – April 17 Montefrio to Zuheros - 45 miles, 4347 feet

Day 4 – April 18 Zuheros to Cordoba - 49 miles, 2608 feet

Day 5– April 19 option day: loop ride 23 miles, 2277 feet and/or tour Cordoba, or train to Seville

Day 6 – April 20 Cordoba to Cabra - 52 miles, 4185 feet

Day 7 – April 21 Cabra to Antequera - 49 miles, 3307 feet or 64 miles, 3445 feet

Day 8 – April 22 Antequera to La Posada del Conde - 26 miles, 2120 feet. Opportunity to hike the Caminito del Rey after ride

Day 9 – April 23 La Posada to Ronda - 35 miles, 4370 feet

Day 10- April 24 option day: loop ride 30 miles, 3845 feet and/or tour Ronda or Cueva de la Pieta

Day 11 –April 25 Ronda to Grazalema - 23 miles, 2260 feet, or 35 miles, 3830 feet. Optional Puerto de las Palomas extension – out & back or loop

Day 12 – April 26 Grazalema to Arcos de la Frontera - 41 miles, 3480 feet.

Day 13 –April 27 Arcos to Vejer de la Frontera - 52 miles, 3298 feet or 58 miles, 4300 feet

Day 14 – April 28 Vejer to Tarifa - 52 miles, 3219 feet.

Day 15 –April 29 Bus transfer to Malaga and disband.

TOTAL: 464 miles, 35,819 feet

WEATHER

The average high temperature in late April is 75 degrees F and the average low is 51 degrees F. Please note that temperatures in this region can sometimes reach into the high 80s. 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 12 happy hours with snacks and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are included in the price. Note that there are no happy hours on the second night in Ronda and Cordoba. 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

The tour starts in Granada with an afternoon meeting on April 15, 2021. The tour ends in Malaga after transfer from Tarifa on April 29, 2021, 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 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 at info@iberocycle.com 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.

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 at info@iberocycle.com. Bike boxes for those who bring their own bikes will be transported by Iberocycle. Tandems will be allowed on the tour. Requests for e-bikes will be handled on a case by case basis by contacting the Ride Leader.

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

In addition to the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $100, the estimated tour cost is $3700 based on an anticipated exchange rate of $1.25 = 1 Euro and a minimum of 17 participants. The estimated cost includes: Fourteen nights lodging with full breakfast; twelve BAC social hours (not second nights) with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks; six group dinners; luggage van & emergency sag support; storage of bike boxes; maps, cue sheets and GPS files; ride leader expenses; and a 5% contingency in the event of unanticipated expenses or emergencies. It does not include lunches or beverages with dinner. A deposit of $1700 assures your place on the tour. Final payment of $2000 is due by November 1, 2020.

Bike rentals and any solo supplements are also due at the last payment date. Bike rental fees will be paid directly to Iberocycle. Solo payments are made to BAC by check. All final payments may be adjusted based on exchange rates at that time.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY

A very few solo rooms may be available at an extra cost of $580. Request this when applying for the ride! The supplement fee is due with the last payment by November 1, 2020. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. 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.

Singles are most welcome. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own but I will do my best to help out. After receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until October 1, 2020 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 fee) 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.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing 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 cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. 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 the 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 the initial tour deposit of $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.