Monday: Granada to La Peza

Travelled from Granada to La Peza. Climbing all morning through sleep villages, just when you thought you'd gained a few hundred metres of climbing you'd wax it all on a twisty, steep single track.

Waiting with James and Aaron for the days riding to start. It would be a long day of jaw dropping single track, scorching hot weather, breaking road speed limits and ending in the most beautiful Spanish village

Always a good crack when you're out on the trails with Mark. Here we see him holding back a speeding truck.

Obviously us fast guys were constantly hanging around for the others (yeah right)

Aaron riding up a forest road at the very start of the day. Looks easy going now but today we were in for a full on all mountain adventure!

We were all about to get a lesson in how to ride a very steep descent without using our brakes...particularly Leslie. Fortunately she's made of tougher stuff than me and just got up and got on with it.

On one of these downhill sections I followed the guide (Alfredo)...ridiculously steep...so steep no choice but to hang off the back and use the rear brake... unfortunately rear brake makes the bike want to turn sideways so let go of all brakes and pick a decent looking route although that meant going so fast that choice of route is down to "jesus, I just missed that rock" rather than "look out for that rock"...Leslie was a few riders behind and using the rear brake she lost control and the back end overtook the front, throwing her over the high side of the bike. She gathers herself up and we're on our way again in about ten minutes, good lass.

Waiting at the bottom of the hill following Leslie's trip over the high side (we're not totally heartless, there were 5 people helping her). I cannot explain what I'm doing but I imagine I'm saying something like "I don't understand why my back is feeling so stiff and sore...must be the saddle or something". I think I just needed some more weight in my pack.

Chased by dogs at one point, about eigth of them, some look more like wolves and they're all clearly feral - foot down!

Not a bad place to stop for a breather. Our guide for the day, Alfredo, was an amazing rider. He rides the annual race from Granada to Pradollano and back which is 106km with 3400 metres of climbing. It's basically ride from Prado to Granada and then when you're feeling suitably beat up turn around and ride right back up the mountain!

Another mechanical, and in fact another puncture, we would have 3 today which wasn't bad going compared with Sunday where we had four at one stop! You can see Alfredo and James fixing the puncture, whereas Aaron and I are taking very different approaches to the problem. I'm doing the "I'm not really much good at fixing these things so I'll stand here like a supervisor because I'm sure you need one of them" and Aaron I think is going for "I'll check my bike over so I don't have to get involved". Contrasting appraoches but equally effective!

One stretch before lunch almost unrideable - track 2 feet to 2 inches wide in places, climbing uphill with rocks and thorn bushes on one side and a impossibly steep scree on the other - any mistakes and your on a long, rapid trip to the bottom of the valley in a ball and then a trip in an ambulance or more likely a hearse!

This was the jaw dropping singletrack...I've never seen anything like it before or since. Good job I'm wearing my brown baggies today.

The view from the other end. Believe me after riding this, you didn't want to see the other end. Amazing view though.

Had excellent, long picnic at lunchtime, ate far too much. Afternoon spent travelling through moon-like terrain where everything is chalky, rocky and feels very remote, lots of long climbs followed by even longer drops...Alfredo (our guide) keeping the pace with me and James close behind...we're all spread out over about ten minute stretches...there never seems to be an end in sight. One or two punctures thrown in to give us a break along the way though (oh good!).

Mark waiting under a tree. It was around 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees fahrenheit)...suddenly our 3 litre camelbak reservoirs didn't seem like enough. We would regularly fill them from village springs.

Alfredo, James, me, Mark and Leslie chatting and talking trash whilst we waited for the others

Finally reached a road about 8 hours in (around 5ish) and a sign says La Peza 10km's...long wide winding downhill tarmac mountain road, barrier on one side to a ravine although the barrier is sometimes worryingly missing on the corners and a steep rock face on the right...speed down ridiculous, broke 70km, 50km and 30km speed limits on way into La Peza...James leading Alfredo...me about 100 yards behind absolutely unable to close the gap any closer through lack of any more gears, any decent riding technique or an engine...Fredo is hardly pedalling and is slipstreaming off of the back of James making it all look effortless-amazing...when we stop in La Peza, James's computer shows 54 miles an hour as top speed-have it!

Leslie on the descent into La Peza. A very fast road descent but you had to be careful as there were winding corners with gravel on the inside of them and no crash barrier stopping you hurtling into the ravine on the outside!

Spent rest of afternoon and early evening sat on balcony of our villa supping beers with everyone and watching the farmers and farmers wives going about their business...animals everywhere, horses, donkeys, goats, dogs, chickens and cats...the REAL smell of the country kindly provided by the farm behind us. Made promise to myself to move here and live very happily at some point in the future, ha, if only...practiced Spanish with shopkeeper and his wife who wanted to take me to a bullfight the day after, I buy two badges depicting a bull and the shopkeeper jokes with me when I point out the size of the bulls testicles on what is after all a childrens badge.

Mark relaxing on the balcony at the barn we were staying in. La Peza is over his shoulder obviously. Benjamin (our hilarious driver) had stocked the fridge with beers, unfortunately we finished them in about half an hour so we had to trek off for some more in the village. This picture doesn't give you an idea of the real smell of s*** coming from the farm behind the barn!

The view in the other direction along the balcony was no where near as camp. Leslie and Aaron were over the wall on the next balcony, within reach of passing beers!

Discovered whisky cake in the restaurant in the evening, home made gateux type of dish with an orange glaze which we we're about to dive into when the barman came over and poured about five measures of whisky all over it, genius...dozens and dozens of Spanish people in the streets (not seen any tourists since Granada) which turns out to be a Spanish funeral, more like a celabration, brilliant...more beers then a good long sleep.

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