No doubt the cycling experience in Barcelona is much more enjoyable than someone would expect.
Being a big city, some people might think that cycling would be difficult, struggling with the heavy traffic of a big city. Nevertehless, there are are very good options for roadcyclists, as the hills around the city are not busy roads at all. As soon as you get out of the main highways and busy roads, there is very little traffic.
Other than the increasing number of kilometers of bikelanes in the city (truly amazing for people who did not visit the city in a while), the options for real nice cycling around Barcelona are multiple. Many little hills surrounding the city with scarce traffic offer good options. Climbs like Parpers, Orrius, Alella, La Conreria, La Vallensana, Forat del Vent, Creu d’Olorda, El Collet, Can Bordoi, Creu d’Aragall, Begues… Countless options for a nice bikeride on a roadbike. Little traffic, mild weather all year round.
This is the reason that cycling has become so popular for locals (and visitors).
But what about gravel cycling around Barcelona? Truly outstanding. The options are again multiple. The very obvious gravel ride is the so-called Carretera de les Aigües in Collserola. It is a gravel path for about 20 km overlooking the city. Beautiful, easy, sunny, nice gravel surface. On top, the bonus is to visit Tibidabo church and amusement park. The views from the top, at 500 mts height, are the best.
But another great option is heading north on the Serralada del Prelitoprial, the mountain range following the coast direction north. There is a big number of trails in sandy/gravel surface that offer challenging climbs and also, if you want to, some more technical options even for mountain biklers.
One of the best places you can go to is Castell de Burriac, a castle perched on top of a mountain at 500 mts that offers amazing views of the northern Barcelona coast.
Here you have a suggested route in the Prelitoral range of mountains in Strava:
So, choosing between roadcycling and gravel cycling in Barcelona is hard. Both are really good options. Which one do you like best?
