gauvins

Flying out tomorrow evening.

I'll be riding across Spain in June. As it happened, we were warmshowering people familiar with Spain this week, and they mentioned "desert" although probably referring to an area close to Zaragoza. Still, it made me look again at the map and I noticed icons showing water points, something I assume wouldn't show if water were abundant.

I can carry 6L of water. Always been more than enough for me so I didn't give a thought.

If I am delusional, say the word

Doug64

My wife and I experienced 43 C temperatures in June while travelling from Lisbon to Valencia. The coast going north was much cooler. Your route is further north but you may want to check on the temps.

HobbesOnTour

Expect a lot of heat. And intense sun. (I find intense sun to be more debilitating than heat).
There are towns and villages, you know. With shops and cafes.
Be wary of the siesta hours (typically 2pm - 5 or 6) when everywhere will be closed in small places and most places will be closed in the bigger places. It's worse in August when a lot of places close for vacation.
I took to carrying a couple of liters of water deep in a pannier to keep it cool. Also consider powdered electrolytes as a means of improving the taste of warm water. Available in any farmacia.
Depending on your route there may be relatively long stretches without shade so my suggestion is to take it when it's available.
Don't forget it can be bright enough to travel comfortably until 9pm or later so taking a break in the hottest part of the day is doable.
Random thunderstorms can liven up the day!
Osmand if you know it will show public water fountains on the map and cycle.travel will too. They can be a great place to chat with the locals, especially the ones out of towns.
If camping, sleep can be difficult as the nights can be warm. An advantage of a mountain route is that the nights are cooler.

I live in Cáceres. Spain is fantastic for riding a bike.
Enjoy.

gauvins

HobbesOnTour I'll be traveling in June. Apparently already getting hot in your part of the world (I saw 37 for sometime next week, hopefully an exceptional day).

WRT the sun, I always ride with long sleeves + gloves + lightweight leggins, so hopefully that'll be ok. Might consider riding at night if the weather becomes too hot.

My concern was more about water availability. If cycle.travel (osm) is accurate in its location of public water fountains, there should be no problem.

Thanks for your input

Atlas Shrugged

I have riden this route in June a few years ago as part of a Lisbon to San Sebastián tour. Average temps are about 75 F. With 5 days of rain month. Lots of small towns, quite roads, plenty of accommodation. I carried two standard water bottles never was a issue. Very straightforward tour.

HobbesOnTour

Nope. Expect those temps in June. There's normally wind, though. Long climbs in excessive heat can be draining but that shouldn't be an issue on your described route.
The sun on my head is what I find disorienting.
As for night riding? What's the point? You'll see nothing. Far better to pace your day.


Yes, they're pretty accurate but some will be off (a remnant of COVID) and some may be dry.

Kelly I

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/gotagorda/map/ - we rode much of your route in June/July, 2023. We had some high temperatures, but left early in the morning to compensate. We left each morning with enough water for the day, but frequently stopped for a cold drink during the day. There were several advantages to the early mornings - Spaniards stay up late, we often left town when the streets were deserted. Arriving early at our destination gave us a change to eat a big lunch. Menu' del dia is offered everywhere and is a great deal, including a drink, starter, main meal, and a dessert!

I've made note of looking at the farmacia for electrolytes. We couldn't figure out what the locals were using. We resorted to buying jars of pickles and drinking the juice!

The cycling in Spain/Portugal was excellent. We plan to return for 2025. Have a great trip. Use sunscreen.

imi

Good advice. Last summer in France and Spain when temperatures reached over 40 C, I got up at first light (5 am-ish), packed up as quick as possible and got in as many km’s as possible before the day got so hot that my only goal was finding shade.

Riding after sunset did not help. Temperatures typically sunk by just one degree thanks to ambient radiation.

I drink tap-water in Spain (except in Barcelona where it is disgustingly chlorinated), and have never had a problem finding water.

As to electrolytes, the most disgustingly strong and artificial flavoured electrolytes I have ever encountered were bought in a pharmacy in Spain. Honestly, almost undrinkable, so try first before stocking up.

str

Dangerously dry

Why? there are villages and cities all over the place.... 3x0,75mL bottles is enough.

indyfabz

That’s what I was thinking. IME, even small villages in Spain had a bar or little market where you could get water, if not more, even on a Sunday.

Atlas Shrugged

Some of you were making this sound like solo unsupported across the Sahara in the middle of summer. It’s not that hot this time of the year to begin with as well there’s towns and water every 20 or 30 km at a maximum here is the weather forecast for Burgos.

Ron Damon

"Burgos sólo tiene dos estaciones, la de autobuses e invierno."

imi

Haha! Yeah For my part, the experience of atypical summers in mediterranean Europe the last few years has me preparing for the worst: heatwaves 40 C plus or multiday storms and torrential rainfall, whereas before I travelled these parts without a tent or rainwear May to September.
Sometimes, I got a bit wet but the sun would come out. It got hot, but not 40 +

HobbesOnTour

Yesterday was a gloriously sunny 37C in Cáceres :-)

CMAW 

Bardenas Reales, almost drowned there last week.

imi

From National Geographic:
”Polar Deserts
Parts of the Arctic and the Antarctic are classified as deserts. These polar deserts contain great quantities of water, but most of it is locked in glaciers and ice sheets year-round. So, despite the presence of millions of liters of water, there is actually little available for plants and animals.”

… or bicyclists, I imagine 🤔

gauvins

FWIW - a quick search indicates that there are 4 areas in Spain that qualify as deserts, two close to Zaragoza (north and east} and two in Andalusia. (see here for a short blurb )

str

I am wondering now. your route does not get even get close to these places, did you change your route? show some pictures, these deserts are beautiful.
but they are also VERY VERY small, no water problems at all. enjoy your trip.

gauvins

Yes yes. The whole thing started because we hosted world-tourers who expressed concerns.

I wish I had more time to explore the areas.

Thanks for your assistance

indyfabz

I rode through the Tabernas area. It’s where a lot of “Spaghetti Westerns” were filmed, including The Good, the Bad & the Ugly.” Portions of Lawrence of Arabia were also filmed there.

gauvins

Sigh... Another case of (my) life is too short...