THE SALOMON WOMEN WILL

TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS
Participant Handbook

Written and prepared by

Patricia Dawn Severenuk
(trans.iberian /at/ yahoo-dot-com)

THE SALOMON WOMEN WILL - TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS
Participants’
Handbook
WELCOME TO THE TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS!
Maybe you’ve never travelled by bicycle before. Maybe you’ve been out
for a couple of afternoons every summer, and always wondered what it’d
be like to take a multi-day tour. Maybe you’ve explored certain parts of
Spain close to where you live, and you want to explore a part (or parts) of
the country that you’ve never seen. Whatever your reason, you are
warmly invited to join the Trans-Iberian Express, the first initiative to mark
and document a national cycle touring route in Spain.
I’ve no doubt that you’ve got a lot of questions about the project, and this
short guide is designed to answer and address the questions and
concerns that you may have. In this booklet, you’ll find information on the
route, what you need to bring with you and other useful information that
will help you enjoy the journey.
And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send me an e-
mail at trans.iberian (at) yahoo.com.
See you on the trail!
Patricia Dawn Severenuk
2007 Winner
SALOMON WOMEN WILL – LIVE YOUR DREAM
TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS – Participant Handbook
WHERE WE’RE GOING
The Trans-Iberian Express is a cross-country route that has been designed to
take advantage of some of Spain’s most beautiful and cycling-friendly
infrastructure. From Irún, on the northern end of the Spanish-French border, to
Tarifa, the southernmost point in western Europe, this initiative has been
designed to give cycle tourists an alternative and an opportunity: to cross Spain
from top to bottom by bicycle on a route that’s been designed with their needs
in mind.
WHEN TO GO
Not everybody has the chance to take a month and do nothing but cycle. If this
is your first cycling trip and you’re not sure what part of the trip would be the
best for you, consider your abilities and strengths on a bicycle:
Don’t have a lot of time? The two middle weekends – April 4th through 6th and
April 11th through 13th – will be going through areas which are accessible by
trains. The first weekend in April will follow the Tajuña River valley from
Sigüenza to Morata de Tajuña; the second, we’ll be heading through the
southern end of Quijote country into Andalusia.
Not a big fan of hills? The terrain in Spain is not mainly plains: this is one of
Europe’s most mountainous countries. For those who prefer plains, the section
between Toledo and Valdepeñas is flat, without being monotonous, passing
through vineyards and wildlife sanctuaries that lie under great blue-bowl skies.
Another section to consider is the stretch going between Jaén and Osuna, in
Andalusia. After a small climb on the Vía Verde del Aceite, it’s all downhill for
two hundred kilometres on one of Spain’s longest rail trails.
Or, on the other hand, do you love hills? There’s a reason why some of Spain’s
best cyclists come from the Basque Country – the weather is generally mild, the
hills are challenging without being murderous and there’s a deep-rooted cycling
culture that’s the envy of cyclists living in other parts of the peninsula. While our
route going inland from San Sebastian follows the Plazaola Rail Trail, the
Basque Country is criss-crossed with secondary highways that provide
stimulating, challenging riding.
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 Accommodation: Remember that each participant is responsible for the costs of
THE PROJECT: his or her own food and accommodation. Each day’s route sheet will provide
you with a list of accommodation options, and we’ll list options for all budgets,
PLACES, PEOPLE AND SIGHTS from campsites to luxury hotels. In most places you probably won’t need to
make a reservation. Reservations are highly recommended in smaller towns,
where there aren’t that many places to stay, and if you prefer to stay in youth
The Route: Moving north to south, the route allows travellers to discover a
hostels (in Irún, San Sebastián, Pamplona, Toledo and Jaén) rather than hotels
different part of Spain each week. During the first week (March 23rd to 29th)
we’ll be going through the Basque Country and Navarre. The second week
Food: Eat, eat, eat. And when it doubt, take it with you. Most of the towns we go
(March 30th to April 6th) takes us through the ancient kingdom of Castile, and
through will have some kind of food shop where you can stock up on eats
after skirting around the south end of the Madrid region, we go through the
before heading out.
plains of La Mancha (April 7th to 13th) before dropping down into Andalusia (April
14th to 25th).
If you have any kind of restriction on what you can eat (lactose intolerance,
vegan/vegetarian diets), it’s worth bringing any special foods or ingredients with
To find out more information about the route and where we’ll be each day,
you. Outside of the larger cities (San Sebastian, Pamplona, Madrid and Jaén)
check out the Trans-Iberian Express blog (http://trans-iberian.blogspot.com).
supermarkets will have a basic selection of food but since vegetarianism has
We’ll post information on the route in the form of downloadable PDF files (in
yet to take root in Spanish culture, you’ll need to have some kind of backup
Spanish and English) which give information on the route, where to eat and
food available in case you’re not able to find any meat-free protein sources.
sleep, what to see…
Getting to and from the ride: Leave your car at home! The Trans-Iberian has
The Infrastructure: Riding with tons of cars which are honking and belching
been designed with public transport in mind.
exhaust is no fun. That’s why the route has been designed to take you away
from as much traffic as possible, using over 200 km of rail trails (Vías Verdes),
Participants who choose to start in the northern half of the peninsula will find it
back roads and trail systems, such as the Ruta del Quijote.
less expansive and less stressful to take buses to cities like Irún , San
Sebastian, Pamplona, Logroño or Burgos. Buses to these cities leave from
There are a few kilometres here and there where the trails are not as well-worn
Madrid’s Avenida de América bus station and are run by the Continental-Auto
as they could be, but almost all of the trail is composed of hard gravel-pack
bus company. Note that you will be required to check your bike in as freight (a
surfaces and asphalted surfaces of varying quality. As such, you’ll want to use a
€5 surcharge) at the Facturación and be at the bus fifteen minutes before the
bicycle that allows you to manage both surfaces, such as a mountain bike or
bus departs (so don’t leave it until the last minute); it’s worth printing out the
hybrid, with semi-slick tires.
information page, and taking it with you to check in, just in case the person
working the Freight Desk isn’t aware that the rates have changed.
What to see: Even if you’ve visited or lived in Spain for a while, the Trans-Iberian
http://www2.alsa.es/portal/index.asp?MP=36&MS=109&MT=0&lang=en)
Express is bound to surprise you. This route takes you through the Spain you
always knew existed, but may not have had the chance to explore, including,
If you’re beginning the trip in central Spain and Madrid, trains are the best
such as up-and-coming vineyards along the Ebro River in La Rioja to isolated
option to get to Sigüenza, Aranjuez, Alcázar de San Juan, Valdepeñas and Jaén.
Roman settlements, from Moorish watch-towers embedded among spans of
RENFE, the state train company, has recently changed its rules for taking
olive groves to ducal palaces built with the earnings of trade with the New
bicycles on those Those who decide to do the Andalusian leg of the trip may find
World. The daily route sheets will provide visitor information, such as opening
it easier to use bus services to Córdoba (two regional trains daily connect the
times and admission prices, for the sights along the way.
city with Puente-Genil).

TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS – Participant Handbook 3

 PACKING CHECKLIST BIKE EQUIPMENT
 Panniers
 Handlebar bag
To make sure you don't run out of the house without everything you need,
 Route sheets for the day’s ride (available at the starting point for each day or on
print out two copies of this checklist. Use one to check your possessions the Trans-Iberian blog (http://trans-iberian.blogspot.com)
as you pack, and take a spare copy with you to guarantee you don't forget  Headlight and taillight
anything while you're on the road.  Snacks (PowerBars, nuts, fruit)
 Bottles to hold 2L of water
 IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU GET YOUR BIKE
CHECKED OVER AND TUNED UP BEFORE STARTING ON THE TRIP.
BIKE TOOLS
 Tire patch kit (2)
CLOTHING and PERSONAL CARE  Set of tire levers
 Ziploc (or similar) storage bags, to keep everything dry and compressed!
 Pump
 Helmet
 Allen wrenches and screwdrivers
 Cycling Gloves
 Chain lubricant
 Cycling shorts (at least 3 pairs)
 Inner tubes (2)
 Cycling shoes
 Regular shoes for street use
CAMPING STUFF
 Bandana  Tent
 T-shirts or jerseys (at least three)  Sleeping bag
 Underwear  Sleeping pad
 Socks  Bungee cords
 Tights, legwarmers or water- and wind-proof pants  Nylon cord (for a wash line)
 Windbreaker  Laundry pegs
 Reflective vest or bright windbreaker (for visibility)  Small and medium-sized pots
 Rain gear  Plate, bowl and cup
 Reflective band(s)  Eating utensils
 Warm polar fleece or sweater ** Can openers are optional, since most tins in Spain use pop-tops.
 Toothbrush and toothpaste
 Sunglasses Better to pack too little than too much! We’re not going to be traveling in
 Sunscreen really remote places, and won’t be more than a day away from a city or
 Soap and shampoo town that has a grocery store, an auto mechanic or a bike store.
 Liquid laundry detergent (to wash your clothes at the end of the day)
 Toilet paper STILL LOOKING FOR THOSE ODD LITTLE BITS OF EQUIPMENT? Check out
 Aspirin/ibuprofen the Trans-Iberian Tuck Shop on the Trans-Iberian Express blog.
 Bandages

TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS – Participant Handbook 4

 THE NOT-SO-FINE PRINT:
Hints and tips to keep you happy and safe
while you’re riding
 If you can only do ONE thing to prepare for the trip… make sure that you
know how to perform basic maintenance on your bike. Before you start a
trip, you MUST know how to change a flat tire, prevent and solve
chainsuck, take care of your drive train and make minor adjustments. This
isn’t to scare you or make life difficult for you – it’s to make sure that
you’ll be all right in case something happens on the road. Your local bike
shop or cycling group can put you in touch with organizations who offer
maintenance course.
 Each participant is responsible for his or her own accommodation. Neither
SALOMON / AMER SPORTS nor the organizer of the Trans-Iberian Express
assume responsibility for providing or paying for accommodation for any
of the participants.
 Ride in a safe, courteous manner that respects the other users of the
roads or trails that we use.
 Remember – it’s not a race! There’s no need to push yourself any harder
than you want to go.
 Eat before you’re hungry, and drink before you’re thirsty. Trust us – it’s
hard to enjoy the ride if you’re suffering from low blood sugar and/or
dehydration. Don’t feel guilty about stopping by local bakeries and shops
to re-fuel while you’re on the road. Cycle touring is a great reason to try all
those regional specialties you read about in guide books….
 Everyone has good days and bad days when they ride. Please remember,
though, that keeping an open-minded, positive attitude at all times goes a
long way towards guaranteeing that everyone has a good time.
 Read the route sheet every morning and familiarize yourself with the
route, so that you can know where we’re going and can plan ahead for any
navigational or geographic challenges.
TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS – Participant Handbook
 If you’re riding with others and everyone rides at a different pace, the
easiest way to meet up with your friends is to arrange to meet at either
the first church or the first bar in the next town. Even the most humble
hamlet will have at least one of the two (and if you need to re-fill your
bottles, ask for the church – the town fountain is almost always near it.)
 Cycle touring in Spain is still a relatively new phenomenon. Don’t be put
off, offended or unnecessarily frightened by stares: many times, it’s just
that the other person is astounded at the thought of someone traveling on
a bicycle.
 As master photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “You can’t take
a picture of a memory.” When in doubt, get your camera out. (Just
remember NOT to take photos of police officers or military installations,
and to avoid offense, ask permission before taking photos of older
people.)
What’s THAT called?
Here’s some basic bike vocabulary you might find useful:
tire...................................................rueda /cubierta (on the outside)
inner tube ...................................................................................... llanta
handlebar...................................................................................manillar
seat .................................................................................................... sillín
chain............................................................................................. cadena
spoke ................................................................................................ radio
pannier ..........................................................................................alforja
screw ............................................................................................ tornillo
water bottle ...................................................................................bidón
to adjust........................................................................................ ajustar
loose .........................................................................................flojo/floja
Can you help me with….?...................... ¿Me puede ayudar con…?
I think my ________ is:.......................................... Creo que el/la está
- broken/bent/rusty ......................... roto/a, doblado/a, oxidado/a
I think I need a new…................... Creo que necesito una nueva…
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 THE SCHEDULE
Sunday, 23 Mar.: Irún to San Sebastián 25 km
Monday, 24 Mar.: Andoain to Lekunberri 50 km
Tuesday, 25 Mar.: Lekunberri to Pamplona 55 km
Wednesday 26 Mar.: Pamplona to Estella 60 km
Thursday 27 Mar.: Estella to Fuenmayor 65 km
Friday 28 Mar.: Fuenmayor to Haro 30 km
Saturday 29 Mar.: Haro – REST DAY
Sunday, 30 Mar.: Haro to Atapuerca 60 km
Monday, 31 Mar.: Atapuerca to Salas de los Infantes 60 km
Tuesday 1 Apr. : Salas de los Infantes to Burgo de Osma 70 km
Wednesday 2 Apr.: Burgo de Osma to Retortillo de Soria 75 km
Thursday 3 Apr.: Retortillo de Soria to Sigüenza 50 km
Friday 4 Apr.: Sigüenza to Brihuega 45 km
Saturday 5 Apr.: Brihuega to Estremera 85 km
Sunday 6 Apr.: Estremera to Aranjuez 60 km
Monday 7 Apr.: Aranjuez – REST DAY
Tuesday 8 Apr.: Aranjuez to Toledo 40 km
Wednesday 9 Apr.: Toledo to Tembleque 70 km
Thursday 10 Apr.: Tembleque to Alcázar de San Juan 65 km
Friday 11 Apr.: Alcázar de San Juan to Valdepeñas 65 km
Saturday 12 Apr.: Valdepeñas to Aldeaquemada 48 km
Sunday 13 Apr.: Aldeaquemada to Úbeda 75 km
Monday 14 Apr.: Úbeda to Jaén 55 km
Tuesday 15 Apr.: Jaén – REST DAY
Wednesday 16 Apr.: Jaén to Luque 70 km
Thursday 17 Apr.: Luque to Puente-Genil 75 km
Friday 18 Apr.: Puente-Genil to Osuna 45 km
Saturday 19 Apr.: Osuna to Coripe 55 km
Sunday 20 Apr.: Coripe to Ronda 80 km
Monday 21 Apr.: Ronda – REST DAY
Tuesday 22 Apr.: Ronda to Cortes de la Frontera 35 km
Wednesday 23 Apr.: Cortes de la Frontera – Alcala de los Gazules 65 km
THE TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS is a new initiative to create the first Thursday 24 Apr.: Alcalá de los Gazules to Zahara de los Atunes
Friday 25 Apr.: Zahara de los Atunes to Tarifa
70 km
50 km
dedicated cycle tourism route to cross the Iberian peninsula. For five weeks during
the spring of 2008, cycle tourists from all over the world are invited to take part in    
the 1,780-kilometre journey which winds through central Spain. The trail passes
through some of the country’s most beautiful regions, following historic trails and These distances are provided as a guideline only.
joining many of Spain’s existing green tourism trails.
Exact distances will be provided on route sheets,
For more information, write us at trans.iberian@yahoo.com, or follow the route online which will be provided in (in English) on:
at http://trans-iberian.blogspot.com. http://trans-iberian.blogspot.com

TRANS-IBERIAN EXPRESS – Participant Handbook 6