A gentle first taste of gravel on wide riverside tracks, with just 250 m of climbing across 34 km.
from €75 per rider
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Madrid riverside gravel intro — easy, 34 km is an easy gravel tour in Madrid, taking in Madrid.
Places on the way: Madrid
This is a gentle first taste of gravel near Madrid: 34 km on wide riverside tracks with only 250 m of climbing in total. The surface is loose enough to feel different from tarmac, but the tracks are broad and forgiving, so you can concentrate on how the bike behaves rather than on technical obstacles.
The ride follows the river out of Madrid and back, and the pace is set for people who have never ridden gravel. It is a good place to learn how tyre pressure changes grip, how to keep your weight balanced on loose ground and how to brake without locking the front wheel.
Within the Ride Madrid range, it is the starting point for gravel. The forest gravel loop of 72 km and the volcano gravel day of 88 km are much longer and more demanding. This ride is the step before them.
The ride is rated easy. It suits people who can already cycle for a couple of hours on a road or city bike and want to try loose surfaces without a steep learning curve. With 250 m of climbing over 34 km, there are no sustained ascents, so fitness is rarely the limit.
It also works for road riders curious about gravel and for returners who want a calm day. If you want a flat, traffic-free full day with no gravel focus, the Madrid greenway easy day may fit better.
Wide riverside tracks give you room to make mistakes safely. Expect to practise lowering tyre pressure for grip, staying relaxed on the handlebars when the front wheel moves, and choosing a line across loose patches.
Braking is the other key skill: on gravel you brake earlier and more gently, and use both brakes together. Ask the partner when booking about bike hire and what tyre setup is provided.
Madrid riverside gravel intro is the shortest and flattest of the gravel options. The Madrid forest gravel loop is a 72 km day with forest shade and farm roads, and the Madrid volcano gravel day covers 88 km between extinct volcanoes at the top of the moderate range.
Do this ride first if you have never ridden gravel. If you finish it comfortably and want more, the forest loop is the natural next step.
Madrid summers are hot, and a ride with limited shade along a river is more pleasant in spring and autumn, or early in the day in summer. After heavy rain, riverside tracks can be muddy, which changes the character of the ride, so check conditions with the partner before you travel.
The ride covers 34 km with about 250 m of total climbing, so it is mostly flat with gentle undulations.
No. It is designed as a first step onto loose surfaces, on wide tracks where you can learn tyre pressure and handling at a relaxed pace.
The Madrid forest gravel loop (72 km) is the natural step up. The Madrid volcano gravel day (88 km) is more demanding still.
Check with the partner when booking for bike hire and equipment details.
Gravel
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Gravel
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