10/12/2023 Bikepacking Spain Day 65 : Dutch butts

by Brian · Published October 12, 2023 · Updated March 3, 2024

Photos:

We took turns passing this father and son, and started chatting with them at the top of this waterfall. I talked bike tech with the dad, and when we got to the subject of eBikes, the son said, “hace trampa!” (He cheats). The boy didn’t have an e-bike, but I said, “he is working too!” I thought to myself, “if it weren’t for this e-bike, would this kid be out here in this amazing spot?” Probably not, because that was a big ass hill. A couple of tears welled up behind my sunglasses as I thought how lucky this boy was to have a father who did stuff with him… and really cool stuff at that. It is for this reason that I am on a mission to remove the word “cheating” from all discussions regarding e-bikes. It’s not cheating; these things are gold. Sure, some bro’s shred trails here and there, but there are a lot of people coming closer together thanks to this technology. Oh, and I’ve said it before, but the more people you get on two wheels, the better the awareness of drivers towards this salubrious way of living. 😃

And then a little missing road. I got my bike across and then went back to help Janet - but not without snapping a few photos of The Struggle first. ah, Strava, you make me so in-compassionate sometimes with your thirst for suffering photos! —

I thought we were in a remote part of Spain, but there were crowds everywhere in the two villages we crossed today. Even some of the trails near town were crowded. One guy from Netherlands was hiking with his wife and said he wanted to follow us. I tried to send him a WhatsApp, but he couldn’t remember his phone number. I saw instagram open on his phone so I suggested I message him there instead. He replied, “I don’t have instagram; that is my daughter.” He holds up the phone for me to see, and on the screen, it’s a video of a dozen young women dancing, one with her pants down and her butt showing. Hope that one wasn’t his daughter! —

Ahh, bikepacking.com…. I should know your evil ways better by now. 😈

The bikepacking.com route was like getting flushed down a toilet. Have you even been to the water slide park and ridden the “toilet flusher slide?” That is what this route was like… impossibly steep roads that pushed my brake pads over the edge (they were aging, but had to be changed after today). Janet conserved pads by walking most of it. —

The upshot of the route was that it took us through all sorts of nooks and crannies. You think you’re about to ride through someone’s house, and then there is a tunnel! —

We endeavored to reach a “casa forestal” which we assumed to be a public Refugio. Instead, it was a grand, multi story house… that was locked. We didn’t necessarily need indoor sleeping, as rain doesn’t come for 3 more days… but then we found this small stone building. It’s a little scary, as the roof is simply rocks carefully stacked on top of this horizontal beams. If one rock falls…. 🪨

Strava Comments:

Stephen Mark R.

Agree with your sentiment regarding e-bikes.

Ann L.

I totally agree about the e bike thing. I think it’s great it allows people to get out who otherwise couldn’t. The son and his dad is a perfect example! That no road pic with Janet definitely looks like a sufferfest 🫣😱

Brian L.

Stephen Mark Richards - you mentioned “El Chorro” the other day.. were you thinking of Camino de Rey? We want to visit that if the weather holds. Hope you are better now that you’re out of the hospital.

Judy I.

That dad would surely not be riding up that hill without the e-bike, or maybe he would be having a heart attack while trying! The great thing about e-bikes is you can dial your power down gradually and gain fitness over time. Though the dark side is also real: it’s very tempting to just lay on more battery and fly up that hill. 😜

Stephen Mark R.

Yes, Camino del Rey. Was there in 90's before safety features. Was crazy scary. I might have a long road ahead but keeping my head in the right place. Thanks for the well wishes.

Janet W.

99% of today was great, and now I’m over the part about step-stepping down the rocks. The hikers kept passing me! The remote mountain scenery is fantastic - and the multiple mega tows (by you) got me through!

Paula G.

Salubrious: Healthy. Thank you for another new word. It's neat that a bike 'shredder' like you can be so open minded about the ebikes. Just getting outdoors is what it's all about. That steep hill that Janet is walking down looks very treacherous. I hope the bike shoes are comfortable. The rock hut looked like 'adventure sleeping'. There is an Andy Griffith episode where Opie is excited about adventure sleeping. They have a guest, so Opie gets to sleep on the ironing board hovering between two chairs.

Sօʀƈɛʀɛʀ 🅅.

The charitable posture on e-stuff is j Jo 0praiseworthy. I don't actually see many eBike commuters as i expect. Some of the bikes can go really fast. There was one HS kid around here who has some sort of e motor bike thing. Then theres the the guy with the cahinsaw motor scooter. Then i stop seeing these people and winder if they had an accident. i read that monowheel skateboards are all recalled for having a nose dive issues at high speed and people being hurt also by runaway boards.

Brian L.

Sorcerer 🅥 - one of the best uses for e-bikes is commuting, and that seems to have taken hold in some cities; sadly not Cupertino it sounds. That is why I want to erase the “cheating” stigma and paint e-bikes in a positive light - so people aren’t embarrassed to ride them. I hear lots of people say they would be interested in an e-bike, but it is cheating. NO! I say. I’m a bicycle purist myself, but I only see good coming from giving non-cyclists that extra push to get them into cycling.