Girona
Escaping Winter
Girona, this not so hidden cycling paradise that every foreign rider seems to fall in love with. What’s all the fuss about?
There’s something comforting about coming to Girona every winter, knowing that there will always be someone you know, or that your favorite coffee spot will still be there, as if it had been missing you all year. You start to know your way around, and which climb is perfect for a specific set of intervals. It’s not home, yet it still feels like you belong there. Ready to explore it with me?
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Let’s grab some coffee…
And maybe a cookie? I wouldn’t call myself a coffeholic, but I do enjoy a good cup of coffee. To be honest, you’re almost forced into it when you have a cycling lifestyle; cafe stops are non-negotiable. It might be one of the reason why Girona is so popular among the cycling community; we’re spoiled with choices when it comes to choosing a good coffee spot. For me, it’s all about the treats. Pancakes at La Comuna, a cinnamon bun at Espresso Mafia, or a piece of cake at La Fabrica, I just can’t pick one.
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Coast loop & a bocadillo de tortilla por favor
The coast loop has to be one of the most beautiful rides in the area. It’s also the perfect excuse to stop at Dulce Pikika for a bite. Their omelet sandwich hits the spot! If you have a sweet tooth like me, you won’t be disappointed either.
PS: If you ever hear that bocadillos are better in Banyoles, don’t be fooled, they’re not.
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My
fav
orites
I’ve been exploring Girona for the past three years now, and yet there’s still a million things waiting to be discovered. Everything is within walking distance, which makes it really easy to wander around, and do some shopping ─ or maybe just window shopping. Let’s not forget that most stores are closed for la siesta from 14:00 to 17:00. There’s also the classic “running out of milk on a Sunday morning”. I still haven’t learned my lesson, I still get spained a couple times, but hey, it’s part of the experience! Here are a few of my favorite things about Girona…
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It’s not a surprise, the riding around Girona is simply great. Perfect well-paved roads, beautiful landscapes, and of course, exquisites views on top of long climbs. The most beautiful lookout has to be the one up El Far (just look at the picture!). I don’t have a favorite road, or a loop that I could do over, and over. What I love about riding there is that you can choose from several unique, and amazing rides, so it’s impossible to get tired of any of them.
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Here’s the best cafe stop on a easy day. The Banyoles loop is a classic, and it’s perfect on a sunny, and warm day. I love sitting by the lake, enjoying a good cafe con leche with a bunch of friends, and laughing at the duckies waiting by our table for any bread crumb. You can even take a swim in the summer.
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Walking through the maze of the Old Town, and exploring its beautiful gardens is one of my favorite things to do ─ when I’m not too tired from a 5h ride with intervals. You can climb all the way up to the Muralles de Girona, where you can see the entire city, and the mountains you go up on your rides. Sunsets are just unreal up there!
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Here are my favorite spots to eat post 6h ride, or to simply enjoy some good food with friends. If you have a sugar craving, I highly recommend Casa Cacao, a local chocolate factory that will fulfill this duty perfectly. It’s also a perfect gift to bring back home.
Mola!
El Petit Obrador Pizza
Zanpanzar
Casa Cacao
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There’s always something going on in Girona, it’s impossible to get bored. There are beautiful lights everywhere around Christmas time, and parades taking place in the main streets of the Old Town. You can stroll through a daily market, and buy fresh produce, or eat out at one of the delicious restaurants in the city. It’s always fun to take a late night walk before bed, and see how many people are still out, getting dinner at 10pm on a regular Tuesday.
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A
day with me in Girona
As much as I love playing tourist, coming to Spain in the winter also means getting back to serious training. It’s time to put as many kilometers in the legs as possible, which means a lot of hours on the bike, but also a lot of time spent on recovery. Here’s a peek into my daily life.
What’s for breakfast?
I love French toast — with maple syrup of course. It’s a perfect breakfast before a big ride, and it always puts me in a good mood. Usually, I go for oatmeal when I have a hard intervals session, and avocado & eggs on toast on a rest day. Banana pancakes are also a good option for a long day on the bike. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!
Pre ride coffee
With a cafe at every corner, it’s hard to resist to a good cappuccino before leaving for a ride. I usually go grab some coffee with Carson, which is a good hack for not paying anything ;) . We always have a good time, just chatting, and looking around for cycling friends passing by. It’s a perfect way to start the day.
Sun’s out, guns out?
The sun is out, but it’s not that warm in Girona at this time of the year. Choosing what to wear on a ride is almost as hard as getting ready for a first date! You need to think ahead, and be prepared in case it gets cold in the mountains; you might be hot on your way up, but you’ll need a jacket on the way down, and maybe even some gloves. Leaving early means starting with a lot of layers, then they slowly come off through the day. It’s always better to come more prepared. A bar bag is your best friend when you need to bring your whole cycling wardrobe with you.
Let’s roll!
Let’s meet at the Stone Bridge, and get this show on the road. What about going on an adventure today? 6h with great people, new roads, and a lot of food on the menu. I’ve always struggled with nutrition on the bike, especially on those long rides where bonking is not an option. Putting food that I enjoy in my pockets makes a big difference, here are the goodies for today’s ride…
4X Eggs & bacon rice cakes (made by Carson)
2X Waffles
2X Bottles of mix
1X Haribo bag
1X Salted caramel OTE bar
1X Sandwich + iced coffee (cafe stop)
Patatas bravas por favor
What a day! We’re half way done, it’s time to fuel the body on a proper cafe stop. We even got to fraternize with the owner. The chat was a funny mix of Spanish, French, and English, but we still managed to understand each other. If you ever go by the small town of Camprodon, make sure to stop by Bistro La Parra.
Epic day out
Dead legs, but big smiles. We only got one flat, and the sun was out all day, not so bad, isn’t it? Now it’s time to recover, get some good food, and repeat.
Zanpanzar, here I come
Finishing this perfect day with some pintxos! An epic ride usually closes a big week of training, which means it’s time to go out, and allow ourselves a little treat after all that sweat ─ and maybe a few tears.
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I hope you had as much fun as I did on this little adventure.
See you on the next one.
