Cycling Collection by Cycling Through A Pandemic
Two Spanish Deserts
Cycling Through a Pandemic is a project sharing the stories and perspectives of cyclists from ten countries around the world, who embarked on journeys in their home countries during the pandemic. This is Sami Sauri's story.
The II DESERTS is a route created by @xplore_experiences, created to unite two of the biggest deserts in Spain: the Monegros and Bardenas Reales. Measuring at 300 kilometres (186 miles) with 80% gravel, riders explore deep into the deserts and perfect gravel trails, going through hills full of wind turbines and crossing the town of Zaragoza for resupply before the most beautiful desert scenery of Bardenas Reales.
Ibai Fredejas, the man behind the scenes of this amazing route, is an explorer from Northern Spain who motivates me and others to go and try these crazy rides and wild camping trips all over Spain.
In this ride you can start from any point on the west part of the route, although I would always recommend checking the wind before choosing the point. Desert + wind = hell! We did the second day with a 40-50km/h headwind and I can assure you it was tough.
The landscape of both deserts are totally different: Monegros is more of a hilly rollercoaster and half dry (until it rains and it becomes super green). Bardenas Reales is a perfect postcard of desert mountains in orange, sable and camel colours. The weather can change any moment and the desert will become a paradise of rainbows: truly stunning.
For equipment I would always recommend the basics, especially if you sleep outdoors. We didn't bring a tent and found places with good cover, but a tent will allow you to go anywhere and camp more easily. Certainly do bring lots of water, as there is nothing inside the deserts and the gas station we passed was closed.
To travel there I took a train to Zaragoza and then Ibai picked me up with a car to start further to the north-west side, but a train to the main city is a really easy way to get there.
The II DESERTS is a route created by @xplore_experiences, created to unite two of the biggest deserts in Spain: the Monegros and Bardenas Reales. Measuring at 300 kilometres (186 miles) with 80% gravel, riders explore deep into the deserts and perfect gravel trails, going through hills full of wind turbines and crossing the town of Zaragoza for resupply before the most beautiful desert scenery of Bardenas Reales.
Ibai Fredejas, the man behind the scenes of this amazing route, is an explorer from Northern Spain who motivates me and others to go and try these crazy rides and wild camping trips all over Spain.
In this ride you can start from any point on the west part of the route, although I would always recommend checking the wind before choosing the point. Desert + wind = hell! We did the second day with a 40-50km/h headwind and I can assure you it was tough.
The landscape of both deserts are totally different: Monegros is more of a hilly rollercoaster and half dry (until it rains and it becomes super green). Bardenas Reales is a perfect postcard of desert mountains in orange, sable and camel colours. The weather can change any moment and the desert will become a paradise of rainbows: truly stunning.
For equipment I would always recommend the basics, especially if you sleep outdoors. We didn't bring a tent and found places with good cover, but a tent will allow you to go anywhere and camp more easily. Certainly do bring lots of water, as there is nothing inside the deserts and the gas station we passed was closed.
To travel there I took a train to Zaragoza and then Ibai picked me up with a car to start further to the north-west side, but a train to the main city is a really easy way to get there.
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Two Spanish Deserts
306km
1,650m
1,650m
Last updated: November 25, 2024
Do it yourself!
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