Fall Bike Rides

I have been fortunate enough to ride my bike in some really beautiful places in this world, but I must say that Catalunya is one of the best. And though I do enjoy a good run on the trails near the city, nothing makes me feel better than a bike ride. I have been fighting a cold all week, so I was doing easy hikes in attempt to let my body recover. However, it was a beautiful morning on Wednesday, so I bundled up and headed out the door on my trusty steed.

Riding through the city of Girona is not that much fun, obviously. Cars, scooters, buses, pedestrians...it is a bit of a mess. However, in mere minutes you can navigate out of the city and find deserted roads that seem to go on for ages. I am still exploring the many roads in the area and right now I have some time constraints with my children, but I have some favorite routes that fit into my schedule.

The climb from Girona to Els Angels is one of my favorite. In 1409 a local bishop gave his permission to have a chapel built on top of this mountain. A chapel is still there and (along with weekly mass) it hosts one of the best views in all of Catalunya. On a clear day you can see from the sea to the Pyrenees and it is just gorgeous. 

The road to Els Angels is not terribly steep, but it is a solid climb that keeps my heart rate up fairly consistently. While it is common to see other cyclists along this road, seeing a car is a rarity, which makes it a great road for cyclists.

 Can you see the chapel building waay in the distance on top of that hill? That is the top of the climb, roughly 15 kilometers from our neighborhood in Girona.

When pressed for time, I normally ride to the top and then immediately descend down the other side before turning around to return to Girona. However, when I arrived at the top on Wednesday I decided to ride up towards the chapel so I could take in the view on a crystal clear day. The sun felt great, so I just sat on a bench and took it all in for awhile before heading back to Girona.

My layers of clothing become thicker each week as the temperatures change, but I am determined to stay on my bike as much as possible this fall and winter!