Essential cycling routes (MTB, road and gravel) to enjoy autumn in Spain

Although the arrival of autumn is significant for many cyclists as a time for rest, we will be missing out on one of the best times of the year to enjoy biking. Pleasant temperatures and the mountains dressed in a myriad of ochre tones make autumn a very special time for cycling. We reveal some of the best places in our geography to enjoy this season.

Mild temperatures, empty routes, and fairy-tale landscapes: reasons not to put away the bike yet

Although it has always been said that bicycles are for summer, in the end, summer, between family vacations and other commitments, does not end up being the time of year when most cycling is done. Winter, except for cyclocross enthusiasts, is usually a long period of enduring cold and misery, squeezing the hours of sunlight or resorting to the indoor trainer as we try to catch up on our training as recommended by the training manuals for the goals that occupy our minds.

Then comes spring, perhaps the favorite time for most people to ride a bike, especially towards the end of the season when the main cycling events are concentrated, as long as you are not allergic to pollen and have to endure more misery than even in the winter months.

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Lastly, we have the most forgotten season, autumn, traditionally associated with putting aside the bike to take a break, and yet it is ideal for cycling. The temperatures become mild again without the rigors of summer, there are no pollens to hinder our breathing, and those who still maintain their cycling activity are more predisposed to ride without planning, watts, and other technicalities, only seeking the sole objective of enjoying the ride. Adding to this the fact that the mountains and fields are dressed in spectacular colors, it would be foolish not to take advantage of these months.

In the land of contrasts that is Spain, we find different places that acquire a special magic at this time of year. We recommend several that you cannot miss and on which it is easy to plan spectacular cycling routes, whether gravel, MTB, or road.

Irati Forest

Located in the Navarre Pyrenees, on the border between French and Spanish lands, the Irati Forest is undoubtedly one of the classics of autumn recommendations. One of the largest beech forests in Europe that at this time offers a truly fairy-tale landscape that you cannot miss.

It also hides a true wild territory for cycling on our bikes, especially if we dare to venture towards the French side, a real challenge with terrifying slopes. In any case, the cycling options are varied no matter the type of bike we choose to explore its intricate corners.

Gredos Mountains

In the southwest section of the Central System mountain range, with the province of Ávila as a reference, rises the imposing Gredos Mountains, one of the wildest environments we can find in our country. Here, two well-differentiated environments come together, on one side the rugged north face, inhospitable terrain where live rock dominates the surroundings, and on the other its south slope covered with a wide vegetation layer ranging from chestnut and oak forests at lower altitudes to pine forests embracing the highest parts of the mountain.

Many mountain passes, including some mythical ones from the Vuelta a España like Mijares, Serranillos, or Puerto del Pico, and a wide network of roads and paths make the Gredos Mountains a completely underrated paradise, as it does not usually appear among the recommended destinations for cycling, but we are sure it will not disappoint you.

Sierra Nevada

Before the highest mountain range in the Iberian Peninsula lives up to its name and is invaded by hordes of skiers eager to glide down its slopes, we have a few brief months in which the Sierra Nevada environment, considered a National Park for a reason, shows a splendid landscape that makes facing its ascent a little less arduous and much more enjoyable for the senses.

The same roads where just a month and a half ago we experienced the excitement of the queen stage of the Vuelta a España now, in a transitional period before the arrival of winter, offer us an ideal playground to push our cycling form to the limit. Moreover, choosing this destination to make the most of those free days adds the allure of the proximity of the beautiful city of Granada, a must-visit for all who come to these parts, adding a tourist touch to our cycling getaway.

El Sobrarbe

In the heart of the Huesca Pyrenees, next to the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, it offers some of the most isolated corners of the peninsula, hiding an unparalleled natural environment and a multitude of charming small villages.

At the same time, the Sobrarbe region is structured through a maze of roads, tracks, and paths that we can connect to our liking, with the intrinsic toughness of pedaling through the Pyrenees, allowing us to plan absolutely spectacular routes, both in terms of cycling and landscape, where we can go from pedaling through the bottom of a narrow canyon to contemplating the majesty of the valleys that shape the National Park from the heights.

Rincón Mountains

In the northeast of the Community of Madrid, in a corner wedged between the provinces of Guadalajara and Segovia, rises a region characterized by its villages with black roofs, taking advantage of the slate that gives the mountains around that isolated character that this area has always had, where beech and oak forests try to claim their share of the mountain.

This region, although not having great gradients or altitudes, is marked by a myriad of ravines and small valleys that for cyclists imply tough terrain, full of countless short climbs and small passes that will make our legs ache more than expected at the end of the day. In addition to the narrow roads with little traffic, we also find a wide network of perfectly passable tracks that maximize the area's possibilities if we have the right tires on our bikes.

Rioja Alavesa

If we do not feel like venturing into the mountains and are looking for a more relaxed plan, the wine regions, bustling with activity during the grape harvest season, are another perfect destination to explore on our two-wheeled machines. Within the designations of origin, undoubtedly one of the most renowned in our country is La Rioja, which along the Ebro River valley grows endless vineyards.

Within La Rioja, the part located in the province of Álava stands out and is home to the most recognized wineries, including true works of art like the Marqués de Riscal winery in the town of Elciego, designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Speaking of bikes, the endless tracks that run through the valley become an ideal setting for gravel riding. However, road bikes also find their terrain here, as on the northern side rises the Sierra de Cantabria, which boasts a good number of mountain passes and options to test our cycling abilities.

Demanda Mountains

Also in the Rioja lands, but sharing territory with the province of Burgos, the Demanda Mountains are another of the many mountainous areas that dot the extremes of the Central Plateau that occupies the central part of the Iberian Peninsula and is characterized, like other regions of this country, by that sense of isolation that has encompassed its villages in what has come to be called the "Empty Spain."

Away from civilized urban centers, its roads, tracks, and paths make a great stage for pedaling. Whether on the Greenway that runs through it, on once mythical mountain passes in the Vuelta like Cruz de la Demanda, or pedaling on the dirt tracks that traverse the entire region.