Barcelona, Spain
With year-round great weather, diverse terrain, great coffee and even greater food - Barcelona has cemented itself as one of Europe’s finest cycling cities. What better way to find out more than from two locals and friends of the brand, Alexandre Gazquez and Masha Ivanova.
Despite being a bustling metropolis, Barcelona undoubtedly stands out as one of the finest destinations for cyclists. Skeptical? Let me outline my reasons before you make a judgment.
Regardless of its size, the general populace is remarkably cyclist-friendly. This stems primarily from the extensive cycling community and the population's familiarity with coexisting alongside it.
Moreover, Barcelona has actively worked in recent years to foster a more bicycle-friendly environment, with ongoing plans to further develop and enhance its cycling infrastructure. When considering the plethora of specialty cafes, shops, and workshops, the infrastructure aspect is more than adequately addressed.
Now, onto a critical aspect: the terrain. It might surprise you that, thanks to the Collserola mountain, we can escape the city's hustle in under 10 minutes from virtually any point. If we set our minds to it, we could traverse these mountains day and night for an entire week and still not explore them entirely. Connecting to other areas like Garraf, Maresme, or Vallès is seamless from there. These regions offer countless road, gravel, or MTB routes just a few kilometers from the city. Additionally, let's not overlook that Girona is merely an hour away by train, and the Pyrenees are less than a 3-hour drive.
Last but certainly not least: the weather. Fortunately or unfortunately, we experience very few rainy days a year. Temperatures, although slightly cooler in the morning, can reach up to +16 ºC during a winter day, with the sun making it feel comfortably around 20 ºC. Not bad, right?
In conclusion, if I were to summarise what Barcelona means to me in a few words, I'd describe it as a city with diverse terrain, an extraordinary climate almost year-round, a seaside setting, mountains, amiable people, good coffee, superb cuisine, and excellent roads. What more could one ask for?
Routes
Learn more about Alexandre and Masha
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