BajaBikesMadrid now on YouTube

With Baja Bikes you can explore Madrid in a unique way, you will see the best highlights of the city during a relaxed bicycle tour. You will cross the old city centre, the Retiro Park and cycle past many interesting sights. The BajaBikes Madrid guides know the city and its history very well, and will open up a complete new Madrid for you.

cycling through Madrid, awesome!!

at first I was a little skeptical about cycling through the center of Madrid, but after having been here for three years I have gotten to know the city quite well by cycling through it. It must be said, it is best done with someone who knows the best routes, better yet.. which streets to avoid as Madrid is quite the car-rich city and can be a tad chaotic. But if you know where to go and how to best navigate through the stunning center of Madrid it is really cool and a brilliant way to see the sights.

I recently came across a great guided bicycle tour company in Madrid who employ very knowledgeable guides. They take you through the center of Madrid in three hours, native speakers of English, Dutch and German. check it out on BajaBikesMadrid

Back on the saddle again

OK, so it has been a little quiet on the MTB front lately, partly due to the hot summer and vacation period, and mostly due to a fairly busy travel schedule. But, am back on the saddle and have started training. This week I started by going to work by bicycle. You might think, big deal.. but going from one side of Madrid to the other, which is far from flat, can be a bit of a workout. Click on below Google Map to get an idea of the distance... The route take me right across central Madrid.

View office home route 31 aug 2009 in a larger map

Besides the work-out it is also a learning experience. For instance, you get to know the city quite well. I have taken this route (back and forth) three times this week. Not once did I take exactly the same route, which helps me get a better feel of the lay out of the city. You also get a better understanding of typical driving behavior and how to anticipate. Luckily I have been on a bicycle in many cities, so it helps.

What´s funny is that many of the stereotypes are well confirmed. For instance, the typical BMW driver does not take it well at all being overtaken by someone on a bike. The (usually) male drivers of this type of vehicle cannot help but demonstrate their frustration of not being well endowed, and they need to have their revenge by overtaking you no... matter what it takes.

Other than that though, fairly easy to navigate through town. A refreshing way to leave a day´s of work behind and burn some calories.

We will be picking up the schedule again, and are in fact planning for an awesome 200 km mountain bike trail in the south of Spain in October. Will need to train for this as it appears to be a fairly tough and technical route.

Hasta la próxima
Douwe