The Transpyrenean 2007 bike tour - Europa
DE HECHO (HUESCA) A ISABA (NAVARRA)
THE TRANSPYRENEAN, 'THE HARDEST TRACK IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA'
Without any doubt The Pyrenees crossing, by its South side from the Cape Creus (Girona) to the Cape Higuer (Guipúzcoa), is the hardest and the most demanding bike track in the Iberian peninsula. If anybody aks me what trip has been more physically and mentally demanding until now, I will say without hesitation The Transpyrenean.
It is a constant up and down path, a real leg-breaker where you go up in the morning what you are going to go down in the afternoon, and so day after day. A roller coaster full of mountain passes, some of them over 2,000 metres above sea level.
It goes through the four Northern areas of Spain – Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre and Basque Country -, linking two seas, the Mediterranean and the Cantabrian.
Landscapes of high and middle mountain are spectacular and superb, going along places of great beauty and nature reserves such as Alt Pirineu Natural Park (Catalonia), Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Aragon) or the Irati Forest (Navarre).
full path of the bike trip in Google Maps Engine.
Espacio Natural de L´Alta Garrotxa
Parque Natural del Cadí - Moixeró
Parque Natural del Alto Pirineo
Zona periférica del Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes y Lago de San Mauricio
Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Selva o bosque de Irati
Valle del Baztán
Mat
Backpack North Face Exocet, 34l.
Front Light Petzl Tikka XP (40 lumens)
Solar shower Water Sack de Ortlieb
Camera: Réflex Nikon F60. Lenses: Cosina 19-35mm and Nikkor 70-300mm
Films 35mm Fuji Velvia 50 and Fuji Sensia 400
Tripod Cullmann Primax 180
Fork Marzocchi MX COMP ETA/2006
One saddle bag Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus, 40l.
Front bag Ortlieb Ultimate6 L Plus, 7l.
Speedometer Odometer Cateye Velo 8
The most important thing about this track is the planning of the weight of your luggage. I hardly recommend that you should be strict and take just the minimum as the toughness of the track demands it.
In Camprodón, after four days cycling, we knew we had too much luggage and we sent it home from a post office in this smal town. We just kept whatever was functional and essential.
It is also necessary have the bike in perfect conditions and in good maintenance.
To fulfil The Transpyrenenan is essential to have a guide with its proper maps. We used Jordi Laparra´s guide: La travesía de los Pirineos en BTT, Prames Printing Press.