Some observations about the biggest differences in riding a bike in the US vs. Spain/Catalonia.
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17 Comments
Buying any American products in Europe is expensive 1.5 times US cost easily.👍
I would love to see those bike brands! "Folding cargo bike" Who doesn't need that in their life? Trouble is always getting them across the Atlantic. Living your adventure vicariously is what makes this all work.
Great to hear about your experience of the cars. I was afraid about that after hearing about Imogen Cotter's crash in Girona. Maybe you can start the alt-bar scene! I bet people would love to come and go on a week of local cycles with you and Laura.
You have not been there long enough to say.
The public restroom situation sounds like Germany. Even in big cities the public restrooms were removed because they were expensive to maintain and clean and also used by drug addicts and whatnot. Same goes for drinking water sources. One has to go to a shop or restaurant and pay. Especially in rural areas and on sundays there are no shops.
Quercus outdoor equipment is a super nice independent bag maker. And there are more for sure. There are at least 3 or 4 custom bike makers that I'm sure you'll find soon enough.
Toilets – think Spain is same as France ; you go to a bar and there is no requirement to purchase refreshment , men just urinate in the bushes or at side of road . Energy bars , check out Decathlon , gravel is a US thing , there are no long gravel routes in general , bike packing is not a big scene because its generally illegal to wild camp , so cycle camping to campsites is the way it goes , usually cycling one of the Eurovelo routes . Road cycling is the main focus , for some because of the huge cycle races in France/Spain/Italy/Belgium , "endurance " bikes are most popular as these are not full on race bikes , but more designed for comfort .
seems to me that now the king and queen of the alt scene have shown up on their doorstep, the alt-hesitant will scarcely be able to withstand the peer pressure😋
…and you nailed it as far as the local scene goes: they expect you to carry on a normal conversation while laying down 400 watts.
When you have settled in Girona, and want to explore more alternative biking, remember you have the rest of Europe really close by and accessible by train (with bikes)… France, the Netherlands and in summer Scandinavia
Here in Sweden there is a lot of bikepacking and our ’allemansrätten' entails us to camp pretty much anywhere we want as long as we keep a distance to people’s houses and gardens
I think you would like it here in the summer (our winters suck though)
Just look for a cornfield to poop in.
As a spaniard I have watched this video from the other shore. So there's paper at US restrooms? 😂 About the cars being careful,here if you don't leave 1,5m between car and cyclist you get withdrawn 6 points out of your 12 points driving license . Getting your license back is no joke and not cheap
Germany is über bike friendly with miles & miles of bike paths.
This is so important. Russ that video is very nice and loveable because many people do not focus on the most important things like restrooms and these little differences. Somebody with a shotgun 😆, yes its sad how far the americans have let it gone… so far. Does it hurt somebody if someone passes a way on foot or with his bike?!. Yeah its time for a revolution in the US and we have to pay attention to keep our citizens rights here in Europe because we see here some tendencies that farmers try to stop people from using farm roads and green belts, at least here in Germany and that some communitys obviously make their forrest ways not passable by using very sharp, large and edged stones to keep cyclists and normal strollers out.
Ooo…. what is the name of the company making folders?
Russ, it sounds like you need to start a chill bike group in that area who wants to do relaxed rides and enjoy the relaxed bike culture.
Russ, check out Bikeinn – based in Spain and can ship overnight all your cycling nutrition needs