Sierra Nevada - Andalucia

That was the other thing I was thinking about doing these sorts of races at night, you miss out on so many amazing views. I guess you just accept that and your not there for a nice time when racing?

Amusing strava stats.

Tour vs so far this year elevation - 14909 / 19730

That's why I went back and did it again in Badlands :)

https://twitter.com/firsthippy/status/1303980374327005185

As for racing, you might miss out on some views but by the very fact you're on a bike so long each day and for weeks at a time you also see loads more than most people, cycle touring or otherwise.

Enjoyed reading your posts, a quick question:

You say you built your bike in the airport, what did you do with your bike bag/box? Could you pay to store it somewhere?

@eskay nay it was just a cardboard box. Plan was to fold it up and leave by a bin but one of the cleaners when they were doing there rounds came over and took it from me. Was no bother at all. Eat sleep cycle sorted us another way for the return home. €20 but worth it in this instance as got to use all there tools/leave it with them whilst we mooched around in the afternoon. Pretty sure we got lucky there as they were such nice people.

4 flights out of 4 with bikes in cardboard boxes with no issues for me personally. Arkose is a cockroach though, even if the handlers jumped on it I doubt it'd die.

Thanks and yes, I have an arkose and you are probably right there!!

A more expensive, albeit comfortable, option is to stay arrival and departure nights in Malaga and store your box at the hotel in between - Hotel Don Curro and Hotel Don Paco (by the train station) have both done this for me in the past.

Sounds like a great trip, I've been 6 or 7 times and love the riding out there, particularly the Alpajurras. Never been over Veleta though - need to go in the summer for that and even then last June it was blowing a gale up there...