Alberto Roncero, experienced biker and editor of the specialized magazine Mountainbiker, tells of his experience in the Calatayud Bike cycling territory.
The territory Calatayud Bike It is very close to everything, but at the same time very far. The first time I was with me bicycle in Calatayud I didn't really know where I was going or what type of terrain I would find. To be exact, I was not very clear about where it was located on the map and I imagined that it was far, very far away. Nothing is further from reality. Calatayud is located a few hours from most of the major capitals of our country, so my trip there was shorter than expected. As I got closer, I noticed how I was getting further away from everything. The closer I got, the further apart the towns and cities were, the more countryside ahead of me and the fewer people around me.
As soon as I arrived in Calatayud I realized its huge heritage. Walking through the center I was surprised by the number of old buildings, churches and squares that the city preserves: the Puerta de Zaragoza, the church of San Pedro de los Francos or the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor They were the first monuments that I found on the way to Mesón de la Dolores, the hotel where I was going to stay for a few days. Once installed and with the bike ready, I took advantage of the time I had until dinner to wander around the city and enjoy a good D.O.P. wine glass Calatayud.
9 BTT routes in Calatayud for all levels
The next morning we took advantage of breakfast to talk with the people at the hotel. They had told us about several places that we should visit and curiosity insisted on knowing them. The Far West? It sounded a little strange but they assured us it was a place we should see. Luckily for us, the Territory of Calatayud Bike has 9 marked routes of different technical levels, distances and slope. If you travel with your family you can enjoy the routes 1 (Anchís tower) Y 4 (Nature Trail), but if you are starting out in the world of mountain biking and want something more complete but without too many technical points, the routes 2 (Valdeurón Return) Y 3 (Goats Viewpoint) They are ideal. In general, the environment in which Calatayud is located means that we have many kilometers to enjoy the bicycle and the variety of its paths is enormous. The population density is minimal, so pedaling along its tracks and secondary roads is pure tranquility.
Once on the route, during the first kilometers, we already saw that we were going to find very different areas and that the variety of each route is total. We start rolling by infinite tracks that would delight any gravel cyclist but little by little we entered the forest to completely change terrain. Trails began to appear on both sides of the road, which caught our attention. Without realizing it, we had gone from riding on easy and fast tracks to paths through the forest, more technical and demanding. As the trails kept appearing during the route, we decided that we would investigate them on our next outing so as not to waste a single meter of the route we were following. Most of these The trails turned out to be fun and with little gradient, which made them suitable for riding in both directions of travel and at good speed. We were very surprised by the network of trails that the territory has, something unusual in most of the territories I had traveled through. There was trails for all tastes; with stone, with roots, rapids, technical, etc but we never found a section that was too complicated or dangerous. Without a doubt we were going to enjoy our stay a lot.
The landscapes of the Far West, in Calatayud Bike
Finally we left the forest behind and almost by surprise, we arrived at the Castillejos Viewpoint. They had told us aboutl Far west of Calatayud at breakfast, but until we saw it we couldn't believe it. The surroundings at this point were spectacular. The vast plains that we had in front of us contrasted with some broken peaks and red earth exactly the ones we remember from Western movies, and the only thing missing was the buffaloes grazing in the distance to feel like John Wayne. We were almost 1.000 m high and the terrain had completely changed once again.
So far we had enjoyed easy paths, fast tracks and some spicy climbs, but in Calatayud there was still more to go. The descents that we find in the area of Hand hand They were more technical, they had more stone and some technical steps. Everything was under control but we noticed that that hard point that we always look for in our outings had been covered in this area. In a short time we had gone down and found ourselves on another American film set. The sea of paths we had seen in the forest were now in the desert, the most authentic desert of the Far West movies. What we had seen from the viewpoint we were now riding with our bike and, since its technical level was not high, we were able to let the bike ride without fear of falling. The contrasts we were experiencing surprised us at every turn and made us think about the possibilities of an area as rough as that one.
The end of the day was approaching and arrival at civilization was imminent. We arrived at Calatayud from the south and from the viewpoint of the Hermitage of San Roque We could see the jewel in the crown. He Arab fortified area of Calatayud (9th century) It is the largest in the entire Iberian Peninsula and from our position we could see the five castles that form it. Without a doubt, it was the perfect end point for a spectacular route.
Calatayud: a surprising and recommended cycling destination
After many years traveling with my bike I have been able to enjoy very varied environments but my lack of knowledge about Calatayud meant that I did not know what I would find. My surprise was capital, since In Calatayud there are routes of all types (familiar, easy, medium level and difficult) and you can choose. The route 7 (Ray Peak)For example, it was the one in which we accumulated the most elevation gain and it took us higher, but it gave us a descent along a path through spectacular forest. The route 8 (Maño Maño), on the other hand, is totally different and took us along paths to the very door of the Far West, while in the route 6 (Far West) We started rolling along the roads waiting for a Cherokee Indian to attack us.
I went to this small town without knowing what I would find and I found a paradise for the cyclist. Infinite paths, endless tracks or fun paths come together in a single environment so that we can all enjoy them. I will definitely recommend them to my friends, those who like to enjoy the trails and have no qualms about sweating their jersey to finish the toughest routes. Their full suspension bikes will be the most suitable, although after getting to know the territory I think I would also recommend an electric bicycle. The double damping combined with more powerful brakes and suspensions make these bikes feel like a fish in water on the roads of Calatayud. As my friends are used to, they will have no problems enjoying the territory, but they will surely arrive hungrier at the end of the stages and will need the famous chickpeas with conger eel from Mesón de la Dolores. Could you ask for a better end to the party?
Accommodations for cyclists in Calatayud Bike
If you are thinking about enjoying a cycling getaway at Calatayud Bike, you can visit their website, where you will find different options for directly book your BTT experience + accommodation in Calatayud.
In any case, we especially recommend two Bikefriendly accommodations that have adapted their infrastructure and services to offer the best possible treatment to cyclists: Hotel Marivella **** and Benedictine Monastery Hotel ****.
Hotel Marivella ***
If you choose the Hotel Marivella, you have to know that you cannot leave without tasting their famous Homemade donuts. This accommodation, which has made the maximum commitment to the project of Calatayud Bike and cycle tourism in its area, it has enabled several Bikefriendly spaces in its facilities and already has a secure area to store the bikes and another outside area to wash them and tune them up.
In summer it is a good option to cool off after a day in the Far West because it has an outdoor pool where you can enjoy the afternoon. It is also a perfect accommodation if you plan a group getaway to the Calatayud Bike territory because it is more than prepared to welcome groups and offer dinners and meals in compliance with all current health precautions.
Benedictine Monastery Hotel ****
If what you are looking for is design and exclusivity, be sure to visit the spectacular Benedictine Monastery Hotel **** from Calatayud. It is an old monastery from the 17th century rehabilitated as design boutique hotel so its 35 rooms are the old cells of the monks and preserve an original architecture.
This hotel is located in the Calatayud center and it is also perfect to stay during your getaway to the Calatayud Bike territory because it has also enabled exclusive spaces and services for cyclists, in addition to Charging points for electric bicycles.
In addition, it is a hotel Camino del Cid, so it offers a 10% discount for all cyclists and hikers to present upon arrival the safe conduct of the Camino del Cid.
