The all year round warm weather conditions in Andalucia, southern Spain, make this area a paradise for all triathlon enthusiasts who are looking to improve their swimming, cycling or running skills. Over the last 6 weeks Alistair has set up base in Montecorto to get in some intensive training prior to his big event.... Ironman Australia in December, this will be Alistair's first full Ironman event. The Sierra de Grazalema and surrounding area offers a challenging and beautiful training environment and is perfect for improving fitness, conditioning and endurance. Our location and expert local knowledge has enabled Alistair to train and ride with his own schedule of training.

The idea to do this, first struck me about a year ago and keeps coming back to me on a regular basis, especially when I'm riding up said mountain. So, I am now actually going to do it and put my mind at rest, although my body may not entirely appreciate the jesture. October 5th 2008 is the date of the first 'Andalucian Cycling Experience Las Palomas Challenge'. This event started as a personal challenge to see how many times in one day (day light hours only) I, Ashley, could ride up to Puerto de Las Palomas, a category 1 climb in both the 'Vuelta de Andalucia' and 'Vuelta España'. It is on this climb that the local road bike club holds its annual time trial, with my fastest time being 47m 41s, however, this will be a totally different event with endurance being key.

Last week Julian came over to Andalucia for a mountain biking mini break based in one of our townhouses in Montecorto. We started our riding with an epic XC (Cross Country) ride visiting the beautiful white village of Setenil de las Bodegas, where we stopped at one of my favourite tapas bars in this area ‘La Tascas’. You can find La Tascas in the centre of Setenil set in one of the famous cave houses. This traditional bar does amazing tapas thus making a great refuelling pit -stop for the hungry and thirsty cyclist. The village name Setenil de las Bodegas originates from the Latin term 'Septem nihill' meaning seven and nothing as it took Isabel and Fernando 7 attempts to recapture Setenil from the Moors in 1482 and "de las Bodegas" due to the cave houses which also make excellent cellar type storage houses for the local wines. We then followed the Bandits Route back towards Ronda, via the Roman ruins of Acinipo at "Ronda la Vieja", before dropping 500m over the last few kilometres as the ride finishes on a rapidly descending jeep track all the way back into Montecorto village.

Today we drove out to Zahara de la Sierra, one of the most beautiful white villages (pueblos blancos) in western Andalucia, where we started our bike ride to Prado del Rey. The road we ride undulates through rolling farmland with breathtaking views of the Sierra de Lijar above Algodonales, and of the Sierra de Margarita up towards Las Palomas and the Garganta Verde. The road is lined with fields of vibrant yellow sunflowers giving a colourful contrast against the fluffy white clouds and blue sky, the sun is shining and there is a cooling breeze as we meander effortlessly towards Prado del Rey.

Last Friday Claire & I took our 8 month old daughter, Sophie, out on her very first bike ride! I had prepared 2 hybrid bikes one with a child seat, which I ride, and the other with panniers for Claire to carry the baby kit….drinks, food, nappies and an assortment of lotions and potions. For Sophie's first bike ride we rode from Coripe to the Peñon Zaframagon, along the Via Verde, just 12kms in case Sophie didn't like cycling.

Early this morning I set off on my mountain bike in search of some more quality single track trails on the Sierra de Lijar. This is an area that I've ridden many times before but always taking the same singletrack route down into Algodonales. Recently, whilst out on my road bike cycling towards Algodonales from Montecorto, on the A374, I have noticed a zig zag path down the Sierra de Lijar which I have been meaning to get out and discover. Today was the day.

I often get asked about the Laws in Spain with respect to cycling so here is a quick overview.

The majority of cycle hire companies in and around the Sierra de Grazalema have mountain bikes and/or hybrids for hire and in the cost you would usually get your bike, obviously, a helmet, a pump, puncture repair kit and/or spare inner tube and a lock. Pannier or handlebar bags are usually available for Hybrid bikes. Generally the Hybrids and Mountian Bikes would have front suspension and V-brakes as standard.