Girona Advice - Routes / Rental

boyfriday

Hello,

Looking for some advice on routes and bike rental in and around Girona.

I am off on holiday for 7 days ahead of the Etape Caledonia, and plan to do a decent bit of riding (not to mention get some colour on my legs before they get unveiled for the first time this year).

Given the logistics of taking my own bike (transport / suitcase / packaging / insurance) and my concern about damaging it (carbon frame), i have decided to rent while i am there and hope to get a decent spec bike.

Any advice on where to pick one up, or information on anyone's experiences of bike hire in that area would be appreciated. I have searched the internet for bike hire and most searches come up with hotels that also do bike hire as part of their additional services - i am presuming the standard won't be a decent road bike.

Finally, any suggestions as to where to take myself on day rides would be most welcome. I will be based in Sant Feliu de Guixols for the duration of the stay and ideally would like to do loops from there, or loops from Girona and take the bus home at the end of the day.

Many thanks in advance of your replies.

garyspain

Hi there
Had seen your post and came across this lot on t'internet, know nothing about them but they're in the area you're looking at.
www.cicloturisme.com

If you were coming further south we could have helped you out! Maybe another time

megilleland

This topic came up in the past here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/vi ... highlight=

Cycle touring on the Costa Brava in English:
http://www.baixemporda-costabrava.org/en/tourism/332

Bike hire websites (all mountain bikes):
http://www.bicicarril.com/indexe.htm
http://www.holiday-bikes.es/english.htm

Shops hiring out bikes listed in Spanish Yellow Pages here
The nearest one to you would be Bicicletas Esteve at Platja d'Aro and they sell road bikes so they should be able to help you with hiring. Contact them here:
http://www.bicisesteve.com/contacto.php

cpeachey

We spent 10 days riding from Ripol-Olot-Girona-St.Felieu up the coast and back via Banyolas. Used the "Greenway" (old railway). This was NOT ideal for a road bike as surface was sandy and soft in places. The ride up (road) from Banyolas to Olot was excellent. 7miles/2000' of climb, very little traffic and a good road. On the coast there was a strong wind from the north for several days. When in Girona walk round the old city walls. Worth a couple of hours.
Trains took bikes from Barcelona to Ripol (end of the line). Also very cheap!
Chris

ldan

Could you update this thread if you found suitable bike rental in Girona area? I'm looking for exactly the same in a couple of weeks time.

ldan

Back from holidays and leaving details here for others. I got a rental bike in L'Escala from Emporda Bikes (Carrer del Ave Maria)

Generic AL frame / carbon fork (WRC brand), Shimano 105
Equipped with mini-pump, spare tube and multi-tool
€80 for one week if you bring your own pedals.

Favourite spin in the area was Roses to Port de Selva and then up Sant Pere de Rodes

onmybike

We spent a week in Girona and hired bikes from these guys below. They also helped us with routes helmets and everything. There really was too much riding for only 5 days too many highlights to mention, we did three days on the road and then rented mountain bikes and did 2 days guided off road and it was all amazing.

www.cicloturisme.com (ask for Saskia who speaks english and really made our trip.)

catchmeifyoucan

I've recently been to Girona and these guys are excellent...

http://www.gironacyclecentre.com

Dave and Saskia are friendly and professional, they really know their stuff and have extensive knowledge of the area. The website truely reflects our holiday.

ukjmr

+1 for Girona Cycle Centre - accommodating, professional staff and a great fleet of immaculate carbon fibre Canondale Sixes.

hollygolightly

A group of us contacted Girona Cycle Centre in Girona for bike hire. We chose this company out of the others we contacted in Girona because of Dave and Saskia. Dave and Saskia are a husband-wife team where they both speak English and have a bike shop in the heart of Girona. Saskia chartered our routes for the week, got us all dialed in with a bike fit and provided us information on Girona, the countryside, and the highlights of the area. She was a delight to work with! Dave is the mechanic and route guide and led us to some unbelievable beautiful areas around Girona...from the Mediterranean Sea to the countryside surrounding Girona. His knowledge of bicycles is awesome; he really knows his stuff!

They are the Best to work with in Girona for a bike trip and they will accommodate all your needs from bike hire, bike touring packages, guiding, and/or setting up hotels. They have all new Cannondale bikes so no need to bring your own. Other tour companies had outdated bikes.

www.GironaCycleCentre.com

simongodfrey

I would second this advice!

I visited Girona/Banyoles area in August 2011. Dave and Saskia were ultra-helpful and gave a top class personal service. I split the week - hired two mountain bikes from them, then two road bikes (nearly-new Cannondales). Saskia provided directions for me too, road riding to the mountains in the north, plus excellent MTB trails in the forest to the south of Banyoles.

If you're visiting Girona then Girona Cycle Centre is definitely well worth a visit - for hire, mech, parts or advice.