Donkey Republic for the Win!City bikes are an amazing, quick way to see MORE of a city than just walking. Half the effort and twice the fun! Our last stop on our Tour was the bustling city of Barcelona!
Wanting to see a bit of this amazing city - we thought we would sign out the "Hotel Bikes" that were free from our hotel. After an unfortunate "seat malfunction" that moved me from the back of the choir to the front, we decided to press on to possibly better maintained finds. I do NOT know what it is about the city bikes you can rent in places like Paris and Barcelona. They are heavy and beastly and hunky and clunky - and I LOVE them!! The first thing we noticed was all of these red coloured city bikes in great numbers in racks throughout our walking tour. Unfortunately these bikes are NOT available to TOURISTS! Only locals as part of an awesome initiative to move people by bike. Thumbs up for that, thumbs down for not including everyone. Moving on... Enter DONKEY REPUBLIC rental bikes. Equally as hunky and clunky as the Red Barcelona city bikes - these bikes are available with downloading an app and a credit card. The app then shows you where there are bikes in your area and you are ready to roll. We used the service without a hitch. It was easy to find the bikes an we had a blast breezing through the city on our tour. For those of you so inclined, there is also a E-bike version available. You can rent them by the hour, by the day and even by the week. The cost was low and there was decent availability. Tailwinds Peeps!
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"Pro people" he forgot to add....![]() If Andalusia gravel was the kind warm Uncle that always brought you treats, Valencia or more specifically, Denia road riding - was the Aunt that pinched your cheeks...juuuuust a little too hard! (in a good way...) Climbs that have you thanking the Gods of carbon fiber and winding descents that leave you praising the advent of disc brake systems were a nice little punctuation to our riding in Spain! Needing a decent whip - we were led by well vetted sources to local legendary bike shop and coffee spot "Cafe Cyclista" where we were lucky enough to chat in person with the owner John. Looking more like a "Pro Rider Hall of Fame" the shop he and his wife run is a top notch all round starting point for anyone looking to set up for a few days in the training grounds of the pro teams. The jet fuel was on point, the bikes were excellent and the walls were adorned with the jerseys, pictures and general memorabilia of the cycling elite making this stop more of a living museum than any average bike shop. Although they didn't have a bike in my exact size, a little seat post raising and adjusting and we were pretty darn close. John set me up with the coffee and the bike but stopped short of renting me the "pro legs" I was hoping for. For that part, I was on my own. A quick inquiry as to how much and where I wanted to ride led John to promptly point me in the direction (on Strava) of a local Guru for routes. I rode for three days on the road and it was spectacular! The climbs were epic - but doable, the scenery was incredible and the people were fantastic. The drivers in this area were courteous and patient - those that I actually encountered that is (it is pretty quiet and remote) and the pro teams buzzing past were a sight to see. If you are in this area looking to rent a road bike you have to see John at www.cafeciclista.com at the very least - stop in to swill java and have a look around and appreciate the collection of cycling swag. It really is a "one stop" solution to setting up for a good riding experience! Tailwinds John! next up.... my two fave rides.....When in Rome....Or I suppose in this case Malga.... The Ocean air along the boardwalk in Malaga is filled with the smell of the sea mixed with the comforting "camp fire" smell wafting from these charming little "dinghys" loaded with firewood and sizzling fish of all descriptions. A practice heaped in tradition and custom, the fishermen of Malaga set ablaze the kindling of local Olive and Avacado trees, among other things, and slow roast the catch of the day serving them up on the tables of charming cafe's all along the beach. Personally, I imagine, at one time - these fires were set in the personal small wooden crafts of the fisherman or woman.... lowest in rank in local fishing prowess, possibly as a "message" from their community that maybe carpentry or cooking would be a better vocation than a life at sea? At any rate, somewhere along the journey of outdoor culinary pursuits, someone or other must have taken a master class in welding and started making these "BBQ boats" out of metal! The result, I am sure - is a much more palatable and far less upsetting end point, for all involved. Unfortunately I will never know... Part of what makes any good exploration or journey, "authentic" to Anne and I is that we immerse ourselves in both the food and the language. Upon discovering these cool set ups on our first day of riding - Anne and I had hatched a plan to sample the wears of the coffee masters at the top of the climb on the way to Comares, and then to make the descent to the Rincon de la Victoria where any number of the cool "fire boats" of Malaga were available for us to stop and sample and immerse ourselves in some real culture. My good friend, Dave Kubica lived in Spain for about a year and his fluency in Spanish is impressive and vast. He had specifically come to "teach" us Spanish over Christmas. We were set. Set that is.... as far as ordering coffee, and finding the way to the bathroom!
What we were NOT prepared for was ordering the "Cool looking fish - in the Fire Boat!" - Go figure?? The result, quite simply was delicious anyway, except for things that looked like all once piece baby octopus - nope - sorry - uncultured - can't do it! We laughed and laughed that what we BOTH thought was the "variety of fish" was what was on the BBQ Boat! Washed it all down with some beers and cokes and were on out way happy to have "immersed" ourselves into another one-of-a-kind experience in this amazing place! Until next time "cool looking fire boat fish!" Tailfins peeps!
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