Cantera-Cota 300-Río Jate

Nocturna "1,5CG" (Comentario pendiente de Brad, en ingles)

Nocturna \"1,5CG\"

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BAILON CANYON (Comentario pendiente de Brad, en ingles)

BAILON CANYON

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Torrenueva-Lujar (by Brad Chisholm)

Vicente, Paco, Marcello and Brad met at café Flamboyant for an early morning snack and to load up and head off for a day ride in hills above "Motril". When we arrived in "Torrenueva", we strategically parked across the street form a pastelería that just happens to be Javier’s favorite.

Here, we met up with Jose Miguel and headed through the back streets of Los Tablones, all of us blindly following Paco’s GPS (GP-jefe!)directions.
After wandering through the backstreets, we finally emerged onto a street that would climb and climb up to little pueblo, "La Garnatilla" (but not before we all got a leson in proper innertube patching) where we would meet up with Marcello again and where the ride now followed a dirt road.

As the five of us climbed out of "La Garnatilla", we looked back and a little dog we had seen in he pueblo, who was only able to use one of his front legs, was following us. We figured he’d just hop along for a few switchbacks and then head back to town, but after another 15 minutes and many switchbacks later, this little guy was still with us. He kept a cautiously safe distance from us and it wasn’t until we stopped to look at a snake that he lost interest and presumably headed back to the pueblo.

















Continuing on up, following the trusty GP-jeffe, we reached our intended ridge. Once on the ridge we followed the dirt road and eventually came to a wind turbine farm.

These things are monstrous. In the photos you can see us pictured below it. Apparently the complete turbine costs 1,000,000 Euros (about $1,400,000) and the outer tips of the blades turn at more than 200 kph. I was told that in Tarifa, a groovy costal town in south-western Spain where there are many of these large wind turbines, that during a recent rainy storm, a strong gust of wind came along and toppled one of these monstrosities over.




Descending from the ridge was a fast, fun, bushy and at times technical single track.

I had the honors of going first, but before it was over, Vicente was right on my wheel, or at least until he pinched flatted on the last turn of the descent. The flat actually turned out to be a nice break for us as the repair took place under a Pomegranate tree.








As Vicente worked to fix his flat, the rest of us enjoyed some Pomegranate in the shade.

Flat fixed, we headed on down the trail.

We came into a great little town, "Lujar", stopped for some water and Paco chatted with the restaurant proprietors and then we hopped back on our bikes and rode up a ridiculously steep street to get out of the town. At the top of the hill we headed out on what appeared to be an old road that traversed across some farmland. Apparently we didn’t know where we were going as after a few minutes we came to a very steep, loose and rocky hill. The decision was made to turn around but I guess I was looking at the hill with an expression of interest on my face because Paco asked if I wanted to try the hill. “Only if someone is taking pictures” I joked. But out came the cameras and so I was obligated. The first attempt proved the hill was tough; I got only a few feet. Vicente gave it a go and didn’t have much more luck. I figured I’d give it one more try taking a slightly different line. I got a good couple pedal strokes and some traction, but then there was the feeling of resistance and the sound of grinding from the drive train from the Scott Genius that Mariano had so generously let me use.

I stopped as soon as I realized there was a mechanical malfunction, hopped off and walked the bike back to level ground. The rear derailleur went intot he spokes and got a bit mangled.

As was the decision before the photo opportunity, we headed back to the town, me on foot, pushing the bike and the others riding. We got back to town "Lujar", descended the ridiculously steep hill, locked up our bikes outside the restaurant and sat out back at a table with views of the countryside. As is so often the case with me when I ride with the Cyclistas, I have no idea where we are going, how long we will be out or what provisions I might need.
I just got in the habit of bringing plenty of food, water, money, extra cloths and a headlamp! This ride proved to be no different. Just a example – at this restaurant, Alfredo and Javier showed up; Alfredo in his car and Javier on his motorcycle. I had no idea they were meeting us for lunch, but everyone else seemed to know.

The clueless American. Lunch was amazing. Little by little on this trip I had began to feel like I was back in Granada again, but it was during this meal that I was back! A mountain of food (soup, salads, couscous with dishes of chicken, beef and fish, all with beer, wine and desert drinks) beautiful vistas, good trails and wonderful friends.

After the lunch I was ready to crawl under the table for a siesta. As we headed out to the street, I figured I’d just take my lame mount and catch a ride back to Granada with Alfredo. Again, the clueless American. They had it all arranged. Marcelo had something in Granada that he needed to get back for, so he and Alfredo took the Scott and left me with Marcelo’s Intense. I kind of suspect they came up with the story of Marcelo having to get back just so I’d have a functioning bike for the sweet downhill that awaited us. By the time we started the descent, it was raining. By the looks of the trail, it’s hard to tell if the rain improved the trail, or not, but it did make for a few challenges along the way. Once we reached the pueblo where we had met Marcelo on the way up, "La Garnatilla", the little dog with the bum leg came out to greet us again. We jumped back on the paved road and, looking back to make sure the dog wasn’t following us this time, we road in the rain back through the maze of back roads until we arrived back at the car, "Torrenueva", soaking wet and muddy, but with big grins. Before changing into dry clothes or putting the bikes on the car, we headed straight into the pastelería.

It was dark by the time we made it back to Granada. We dropped Paco off at his place. He took Marcello’s bike, leaving me feeling ashamed to return a bike so filthy. From there, Vicente and I went to Alfredo’s house to deliver his new "Liteville" frame. We sat, chatted and had some beers and tapas. I met Alfredo’s wife (again) and made a fool out of myself when I didn’t recognize her immediately from when we met last year at the theater presentation. After a moment I realized I knew her, but not before introducing myself by saying, “hola, me llamo Brad” as if I were in a classroom learning Spanish. The clueless American. I also met Alfredo's son and we chatted a bit in English. He seemed as comfortable speaking English as I do Spanish. Later, we went into the garage to admire the "Liteville" frame. In the garage was also the Scott. I intended to take it to the shop the next day, but Alfredo had already worked on it and had it ready to go for the ride the next day near Córdoba "Baylon Canyon". Like I said… wonderful people.

Torrenueva-Lujar

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Nocturna "1CG" (Comentario pendiente de Mariano, en catalá)

Nocturna \"1CG\"

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