This part of Spain caters for both road and off-road cycling.  Both types of cycling enjoy a smorgasbord of choice.

Road cycling

There are a few fundamental elements here in Spain that result in this country having some of the best cycling routes in Europe:

• The roads are almost all in fantastic condition and well maintained year round
• There are far fewer people per square mile than in the U.K. and it's a vast country so the roads are naturally less busy
• Cycling has been part of Spanish culture for many years, therefore Spaniards generally respect cyclists and don't take pleasure in running them off the road (sorry,  but that happens a lot in the UK)
• The climate, year round, is sympathetic for cycling; by that I mean it has little rainfall but there are times of the year when it's very cold and very hot.

Another key factor that makes cycling here fantastic is the terrain.  In the Alpujarras 'flat' is rare and hills are frequent and dramatic.  But with the roads as well maintained as they are and often cleverly hair-pinned when the climbs are super steep, there really is nothing here that's not manageable.  The roads on the Costa Tropical and Lecrin Valley provide more gentle ascents.

So, Spain makes cycling inclusive.  You can ride at any speed; no-one expects you to race and everybody will say ¡hola!  Everyone is friendly even if they are overtaking or zooming off in the other direction.

Another element that makes cycling a joy here is the availability of fresh clean natural spring water fountains that can be found in almost every village.

Off-road cycling

The mountains, valleys and river beds of the Alpujarras provide an enormous choice of places to get off road and to explore the natural environment.  You can choose amongst riding in the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra Lújar and La Contraviesa.  Beyond, but not by far, is the Lecrin Valley and on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada near to the city of Granada.

The Sierra Nevada national park is paradise for mountain bikers; endless rolling trails and precipitous descents, with the advantage of a benign climate that permits year-round riding.

The Sierra Nevada Ski Resort becomes a bike park in the summer offering exhilarating downhill runs with excellent facilities to enhance your enjoyment.

Note

You will need to bring your own helmet as it’s a legal requirement for cyclists in Spain.  It’s also advisable to bring a good set of sunglasses and some sun cream to protect your skin from the sun.  For some bike hire companies you also need to bring your own shoes and pedals.

The season opens from the end of June until the second week of September. Trails have been prepared across areas of the ski terrain to cater for complete novices through to the more hardy and advanced biker plus the well-established cross country routes of "Fuente Alta".

From around 10am until 6pm, lifts provide daily access to the slopes including one of either the "Al-Andalus" or "Borreguiles" gondolas; the "Veleta 1" chairlift; and the "Dauro" travelator belt.

There are over 30 kilometres of marked trails spanning almost 1,000 metres of vertical drop.  A PDF file of the map of trails and biking terrain is available for downloading here.

In the gentle bowl of Borreguiles, where novice skiers and boarders first take to the snow, a "Mini-Park" has been created to cater perfectly for children and complete novices to the downhill mountain biking scene.

Several shops, bars and restaurants re-open their doors after a break from the end of the winter ski season to offer a full range of services to enhance the visitor's biking experience.

Lift passes are required to access the pistes similar to the winter ski season starting at approximately 20€ for a one day adult pass and becoming progressively cheaper the more days that are purchased.  Child prices are cheaper.

For more information please look here.