The Magic Mountain

Any trip to Europe for work gives me a good excuse to take an extra day and get something closer to a pure cycling experience. Cycling around RI is okay, but it doesn't quite hold a candle to the European experience. So last Saturday, I rented a road bike in Barcelona and went cycling north towards the magic mountain.

It was surprisingly simple to find a place that provided high quality road bikes. Cuesta Cycling, operated by a Dutch expat, not only provided an excellent carbon road bike but also a guide to lead me through the in and outs of the cities and towns north of Barcelona. Of course, the guide cost me 150 euros, but all things considered, seemed like the most efficient way to get in a true cycling experience.

Looking up at Monserrat

My guide, a wiry Colombian named Johnny showed up to my hotel at 7 AM ready to go. Immediately, I was a bit intimidated by this svelt cyclist who I could've mistaken for Nario Quintana. Needless to say, I was sure I was gonna be slowing this guy down going up the climbs (and down and on the flat parts, for that matter).

On the climb to Monserrat

Our main objective for the day was Monserrat - a Category 1 climb nicknamed the magic mountain about 35 miles north of Barcelona. The trip out to the start of the climb was through the suburbs and industrial areas north of Barcelona - not terribly memorable, but we did see a lot of cyclists. The climb itself was about 9 kilometers at a grade of 6% baking in the sun. It wasn't the toughest climb I've ever done (that was Gran Colombier in 2016), but I definitely needed to conserve energy for a several more climbs on the rest of the ride.

Johnny the guide (waiting for me)

The rest of the day was a hot ride through the windy canyons north of Barcelona and then through the suburbs back into the city. My failure to put on any sunscreen gave me a mean farmer's tan, and I think my Columbian guide was getting impatient near the end as I slowly cranked the pedals up the bluffs overlooking Barcelona. All in all 80 miles with 7000+ ft of vertical elevation - not a bad days work. I promptly undid all the good work with churros, tapas, and white wine in the evening!

Overlooking Barcelona

Click here for stage map and elevation profile.

Bear Mountain

My weekend ride out to Bear Mountain marked a final long-distance tune-up ride before I begin my cross-country trip next week. I got a late start Saturday around noon, but I was able to complete the 100-mile ride before sunset.  The distance and elevation are great for training, and a downpour followed by a subsequent steady rain made the conditions a bit more challenging. 

Typically, the top of Bear Mountain offers great views of both New York City and the Hudson River Valley, but as I climbed to the top, all I got was the view from inside a cloud.  The steady rainfall made the descent a bit more tricky as I basically rode my brakes for the 4 miles down the mountain.  Riding in the rain also leaves your bike a mess afterwards.

For those of you in the New York area looking for a good day ride, I would definitely recommend a ride up to Bear Mountain.  In addition to great views from Bear Mountain, a more leisurely ride in sunny conditions offers segments riding along the Hudson River, excellent food stops in Nyack and Piermont, and Revolutionary War sites like Washington's encampment at Tappen and Stony Point battlefield.