European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Spanish Region challenges the intermediate biker for s4s Catharine Toups by staying away from major highways cyclists Are rewarded with scenery such As this Valley near Gogol above. The journey begins in Barcelona. Here people enjoy a morning cup of Quot cafe con leche Quot in a cafe right. By Catherine Tours spaniards come to the Refuge at Sant Joan Del Erm in. The Spring and autumn to pick wild mushrooms. I came for the ride part of a four Day 330-Kilometer 204,6 Miles trek from Barcelona to the catalan pyrenees where gushing waterfalls and icy Mountain lakes Are. Mental therapy for climb weary legs. But the Refuge at Sant Joan de l Erm was on unexpected pleasure. Having been alerted earlier that Day that two cyclists would arrive and seeing that it was getting late and starting to Snow the Park manager climbed into his Nissan patrol to fetch us. But with Only two Kilometres to go we politely refused and continued a to Crank to the end of that Day s 90-Kilometer 55,8 miles2,000-meter 6,600 feet climb. We were greeted by the applause of a crowd rustled up from the guest. A rooms and warmed with a steaming plate of Spaghetti Carbonara and spicy nuggets of fresh Trout. It is impossible to travel by bicycle in Spain s Northeast Region of Catalonia and have a bad time. Locals Don t care whether you Are part of the tour de Spain or a. Tourist on a Rusty Bike they smile and wave As if you Are. A Champion. This is not a ride for lightweights though it inspires More Awe than it deserves. Quot you re going where a two Danes poring Over maps of Spain s Flatland asked when i struck up a bicycle a. Conversation with them at a Barcelona train station. While hard Core Mountain bikers know the Joys of the pyrenees most foreign Cycle tourists Are More Apt to head South. But the truth is the pyrenees unrolled under my wheels without my Ever having to shift Down to the Small Chain ring of the 21 Speed Mountain Bike i Rode despite the fact that i was out of biking shape after a year of living in Croatia and Bosnia. My bicycle partner called me stubborn but i wanted to prove that a ride through the pyrenees could be tackled by the average cyclist. With grit and enthusiasm it can. This arduous four Day ride starts on the Mediterranean sea in the Busy olympic City of Barcelona and ends in the Placid water of Lake Sant Maurici in Catalonia s Only National Park parc d argues tortes. Upland Catalonia where Spanish is a foreign language is a venture into isolated pasture land Rocky outcrops romanesque castles and deserted Mountain villages. A the terrain gives you the Opportunity to crawl slowly Uphill or feel the Earth go by in a blur of red poppies for 20-Kilometer 12.6 Miles stretches at a time. Using your own Bike is risky business if you intend to Send it via train to Spain from other Points in Europe. My own reclamation form is sitting in Madrid alongside those filed by others whose Bike never completed the journey to Barcelona. It might be a better idea to rent a shopped Barcelona s Many Bike rental agencies before finding a couple that rent decent touring and Mountain bikes. Pere Cahue at pro Bike Villarroel 217, Telephone 93-4197889 will not Only fix you up with a sturdy top line Mountain Bike with Semi Slick tires to handle roads and trails but hell sit with you Over maps and suggest routes he has known and loved. The Cost to rent is about $100 for one week but you a should bring your own panniers helmet and other gear. Maps can be bought in Barcelona s multitude of bookstores but if you wait until you get to Spain to buy English language Bike guides you la be out of suck. Ail the. 1. Continued on Page 16 or. A a or a a for a amps Catherina Toups one of the cyclists nears the Spanish pyrenees. For Sis Catherine Toups Coll de lose looms on the horizon above. A building stands in typical catalonian scenery left. For s4s Catharine Toups
