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Spain

Spain is a whole lot more exciting than most people realise. If you’ve got this far, then you’ve already figured out that there more to this fine country than the package holidays and retirees of the Costas.

A few miles inland takes you to a world of towering mountains, dramatic gorges and wide dusty riverbeds. Sounds pretty good no? Well yup, it’s perfect, and right here waiting for you to explore.

La Alpujarra

ride-tribe are based in the Alpujarra in Andalucia, marked up on the satellite pic above. We’re so far south we can see Africa from our terrace, but we still manage to live at 1300m. The altitude means we escape the worst of the summer heat and the Alpujarra is surprisingly lush and green.

Ride here in January and it’s like scooting through an English oak wood at Easter, in Spring you start to feel the heat in the air, and by Autumn you get the glorious dust that means you just know you’re not on Blighty any more.

The Alpujarra itself holds an important place in Spanish history, being the final stronghold of the Moors on the peninsula. I know this might feel like a history lesson, but bear with me as it’s key to why it’s biking heaven. The Moors introduced terraced farming to the steep slopes of the Alpujarra, running irrigation channels (or acequias) to keep their crops watered. Centuries of taming the wilderness has left it’s mark, with endless paths and mule trails caressing the mountainsides.