A bike route through the desert can be a most challenging challenge. On April 28, one of the toughest desert cycling competitions in the world begins in Morocco: the Titan Desert Morocco . 6 days of improvement and “constant sporting and personal challenges”. Traveling through the desert by bike is a challenge of struggle and improvement. But, did you know that you don't have to leave Spain to explore incredible bike routes through the desert?
Whether you are looking for challenges or discovering incredible movie landscapes (Hollywood sets, literally), today we present 5 incredible bike routes through the deserts of Spain . Surely you will not see camels, but you will be transported to very distant settings.
If we talk about deserts and Spain, Tabernas is the name. With a bike route through the Tabernas Desert you will immerse yourself in landscapes that seem to never end. Las Tabernas is the only desert in all of Europe: mountains, peaks, trails, rivers and even an oasis like the Lawrence of Arabia.
This bike route through the Almería desert includes iconic settings from the history of Western cinema, such as Gérgal and El Cóndor, and Old West theme parks such as Oasys Mini Hollywood and Fort Bravo. And it wasn't clickbait , iconic Hollywood movies have been filmed here. Without a doubt, a territory worth exploring: an MTB route through the Tabernas desert is an unforgettable experience.
More information about the route here
Surely, Los Monegros is the great destination if we talk about cycling through the desert in Spain. With thousands of kilometers of roads, the living desert of Europe becomes the ideal place to enjoy bike routes of all difficulties and levels through an immense desert of stone and sand.
It is where the Orbea Monegros is held , a marathon of more than 100km by bike through the desert or almost 80km in its short version. Although if you are not qualified to face a test of that caliber (don't worry, we are not either), we recommend you go through any of the stages of the Transmonegrina : a set of non-competitive tests and cycling routes through the Monegros desert of difficulty. medium to explore one of the most special environments in the country.
Without a doubt, a bike route through the semi-desert of the Bardenas Reales is one of the most spectacular bike rides in Navarra. We will visit all the points of interest in Bardena Blanca such as Castildetierra to reach the Peñaflor castle . This bike route runs through a unique desert due to its peculiar and hypnotic shapes and colors. Passing through the Deer Pass and from the top of the Estorza, you will inevitably be transported to the Grand Canyon of Colorado. You can follow the Lagunas del Blecho, for a bike route of moderate difficulty or raise the level and dare with El Rallón and La Ralla. Whatever your option, you will be amazed by this route with fascinating landscapes.
Photo by Mikel Ortega
Going out by bike through the Gorafe desert is not just taking a bike route through the desert, but also immersing yourself in nothingness and entering one of the largest megalithic parks in Europe. Between gullies and dolmens, “Los Coloraos” and bad lands immerse you in a setting reminiscent of African landscapes. When passing by the Don Diego viewpoint, it is worth walking the small path to see unimaginable views. Gorafe is, for many, the most beautiful desert bike route in Spain.
More information about the route here .
The Canary Islands are well known for their tropical climate; and Lanzarote, for its volcanic and rocky landscapes. This bike route through the Ajaches desert is tough, especially because of its route and demanding initial ascent from Playa Blanca to the peak of Hacha Grande. But also because of the harsh weather conditions, the scorching sun and the non-existent shade. However, the descent between ravines towards the coast (dodging stones and, probably, the odd goat in your path) suddenly makes it a very fun extreme route . Returning along the beautiful Papagayo beaches between volcanoes and cliffs makes it a unique bike ride.
There are obvious things if you are going to start a bike route through the desert, such as carrying more water than usual and taking into account the extreme weather conditions: summer heat, but also the cold and possible snowfall in winter. And something that many forget, take extreme care against punctures. On uneven, dry rock-filled terrain, it is vital to protect yourself from punctures. If it's unpleasant to get a flat tire and get stranded on any route, imagine doing it in the middle of nowhere in the desert.
Protect yourself against punctures with Tannus Armor and avoid 90% of your punctures if you ride a bike with an inner tube. On the other hand, if you use a tubeless system, the new Tannus Tubeless Pro is the best anti-puncture option.
Tannus Armor is the first anti-puncture and tire semi-mousse for bikes with air chambers, ideal for MTB and gravel. It will allow you to ride through the desert with low pressures to increase grip and safety on off-road terrain. Explore the desert with your bike, but don't let a puncture force you to stop.
Many athletes rely on Tannus to compete in big desert races. Like Fran Herrero, who protects himself from punctures with Tannus Tubeless Pro during the almost 600km of the Titan Dessert and in the UCI MTB World Champions in the XCO Cross Country Marathon discipline. More information on our website . With Tannus, the puncture doesn't stop you and you just focus on enjoying!
The best performing and fastest solid tire in history.
