Tic Tac ... D-10 - My next bikepacking project:
Cross Spain by mountain bike, on the route of the Iberica Traversa, from Irun to Lisbon, via Pamplona, Granada, Tarifa, Seville, Sagres. This trip, which stretches for almost 3000 kilometres and 42000+ kilometers, will take me through a variety of landscapes, taking paths and tracks that cross impressive deserts such as those of Bardenas Reales, the arid mountains of the Montañas Vacías, and the spectacular scenery of Gorafe. The adventure will continue to Tarifa, before ending in Lisbon, passing through Seville and Sagres, along the Atlantic coast.
It’s more than just a sporting adventure: it’s a physical, mental and spiritual quest. Discover (or rediscover, because this is not my first trip of this kind) in the heart of a journey in total autonomy by bike, where each pedal stroke brings us closer to a deeper version of ourselves. But it is also an opportunity to discover regions and often unknown lands, landscapes that are partially foreign to me and that only want to be explored.
This represents four months of intensive work in mapping: analyzing the best traces, identifying water points, shelters and refuges, but also collecting the stories of other travellers, their experiences and advice. Every detail counts. The material preparation, from the equipment to the bike itself, is essential. Choose between a gravel bike or a mountain bike, determine the necessary equipment, the type of bags, various equipment... What to take, what to leave behind? You have to anticipate the weather, the passages in altitude, the bivouacs in the middle of nature or in the desert, the possibilities of refueling... In short, it’s about anticipating the unknown, trying to tame the unpredictable.
Once the project is laid, the form of excitement that emerges takes up all the space. My mind becomes focused, ready to face the challenges that will arise. Although it is not a race, physical preparation remains paramount. Unfortunately, in mid-December, a ski accident slowed my enthusiasm: I was hit by a snowboarder and had to face fractures of the nose and ribs, as well as a dislocation of the shoulder. A brutal stop, a period of forced convalescence. But you have to stay motivated, do not postpone anything. A similar mishap had happened to me two years earlier during my Scleroderma, and I knew that recovery was part of the game.
Back to the gym, a gradual resumption of physical work: gaining, specific preparation... and the home trainer became my main ally. The weather conditions and icy roads of the Morvan did not allow me to go outside, afraid of falling, of making a wrong move, but the indoor training and physiotherapy allowed me to keep in shape.
It is crucial not to overdo it, to find the right balance, to keep this desire and passion that push us to go always further.
The carbon footprint is one of the major issues in this type of experience. In that sense, transportation is a key aspect of my approach. To go to Irun and for the return from Lisbon, I will prefer the bus, in order to limit the environmental impact of the journey.
As for the adventure itself, my goal is to leave no trace of my passing. Respect for nature and the environment is essential, and it is essential to preserve these landscapes while fully living the experience.
The human footprint is also important. Although it is a solitary journey, the idea is to engage in exchanges, however brief. Every meeting, every shared moment is an integral part of the journey and enriches the experience.
Finally, sharing this adventure is not narcissistic. It is rather a matter of transmitting this desire to leave, an invitation, an incentive, and in turn creating one’s own journey. It doesn’t matter whether the adventure is of a smaller scale or lasts only one or two days: the main thing is to enrich yourself with this experience and share it.
To follow the adventure, I give you an appointment on Instagram and Facebook, there will of course be a relay on Linkedin ... posts are likely to be published according to the possibilities of communication and not necessarily on a day-to-day basis, as many crossing areas are not covered.
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