Just discovered your vids-love them! I cannot believe how many of them you have done that I've done myself. They bring back so many wonderful memories. Did this ride from Rimplas in 2017. The last part up to the Cime is very steep in places and I have to admit with full panniers on a touring bike I had to get off and walk. The incredible views from the top make it all worth it. Thanks again!
Great video, but a little correction. The highest paved road in Europe is actually not in the Alps but in the Sierra Nevada. It's the road up to the Pico del Veleta just 30 km up from Granada and only 50 km or so from the southern coast of Spain. The Veleta is 3394 m high, and the road ends maybe 20 or 30 m lower. It must be said, though, that the pavement on the last 1 or 2 km is in a bad condition because it is not maintained anymore due to the fact that the area has been converted into a natural resort. The lower part of the road is still well maintained because there is a radiotelescope at about 2800 m that is serviced by this road, and above that, it leads to the upper station of a ski-lift, so maybe up to about 3000-3100 m of altitude. The radiotelescope, by the way, was part of the network that created that photograph of the black hole a few years ago. All in all, the Veleta is worth a visit. The ascend is pretty nice with a very moderate and relatively constant percentage of 5-6 starting right in Granada. It's not a hard route, but you may run into trouble if you have not adapted to the significantly thinner air. Also be prepared to have a temperature drop of easily 30° between start and arrival if you arrive when the sun has set.The last km or two may be not really suitable for road bikes because of the bad condition it is in. Anything with thicker tyres won't have problems. But do have your gloves ready in the evening. ;-)
Hi Mogon, thank you chiming in and sharing your knowledge. Velata is defintely on our to do list, and we look forward to sharing it. And it is 100% correct that it is the highest paved road in Europe. However, it is not a through road. So you will have to go back the same way as you came from. Bonette on the other hand is a through road, which makes it the highest paved through road in Europe. Nevertheless, both are world-class and bucket-list material ;-)
@@BiketheWorld Nice! I'm looking forward to it. But keep in mind that there may be snow up there until well into the summer. I was there in late June, I think, and the upper few serpentines were still blocked by one or two meters of snow in the turns. I had to push my bike up the foot path that cuts the serpentines until I got back on the road. The Veleta is definitely one mountain I want to go back to.I don't do longs stages, I do only the mountains, so I did the Bonette from Jausiers, and the Veleta only from Granada, though there is a great tour right from the sea. But I know where my limits are, and I prefer the ascents over the long stages. ;-) In 2019, with my RV, I made a 3-week grande tour across my favorite cols to prepare for the high altitude of the Veleta. Started with the Petit Bernard, before I did the Col de L'Iséran the next day, continued with the Galibier, the Granon, then the Col d'Agnel from Ville Vieille, one of the most beautiful stretches I ever had under my tyres. Then I went to the Bonette, the beautiful Col d'Allos, and then to my absolute favorite, the Ventoux which was the mountain where I did my first attempts at pedaling up more than a hill. Then over to the Tourmalet (from and to Lourdes), one of my longer tours with 100 km, the only pass I know where you arrive where you started. It's a miracle!. ;-) After that, finally, I felt fit for the highest altitude. But actually, I'm not sure whether I really needed that training. The Veleta is really not steep. It's a very relaxing ascent, I was late as usual, and nobody else was there except the ibexes. But maybe it was only so relaxed because I was prepared. ;-) Take care!
Just discovered your vids-love them! I cannot believe how many of them you have done that I've done myself. They bring back so many wonderful memories. Did this ride from Rimplas in 2017. The last part up to the Cime is very steep in places and I have to admit with full panniers on a touring bike I had to get off and walk. The incredible views from the top make it all worth it. Thanks again!
That is wonderful. Welcome on the channel :-)
Thanks for the holiday treat ❤🌲
You are so welcome!
Que vídeo maravilhoso. Lugares fantásticos. Amei. Muito lindo..
Lovely ride and footage, Thanks! Will be revisiting for sure!
Again...Thank you for the Holiday Treat! I look forward to a special new ride annually. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Same to you!
Thanks for the video. This will be my Christmas Eve ride now. Merry Christmas and thanks for the video, Al
A real Christmas treat ;-) Merry Christmas !
Wow !
Beautiful as always.
Thanks for this and Merry Christmas !
Happy holidays!
That was pretty cool.
Excellent. V enjoyable and much nicer route than Jausiers in my view. Beautiful filming
Thank you :-) And less cars from this side.
Looks stunning.
I'm planning to drive up through here in mid/late August, how is the weather during that time of year?
It should be perfect
I wonder about that row of rock cabins up near the top that seem empty, are they still in use?
Hi Dave, those are old military barracks. They are not in use anymore.
Sin música 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Great video, but a little correction. The highest paved road in Europe is actually not in the Alps but in the Sierra Nevada. It's the road up to the Pico del Veleta just 30 km up from Granada and only 50 km or so from the southern coast of Spain. The Veleta is 3394 m high, and the road ends maybe 20 or 30 m lower. It must be said, though, that the pavement on the last 1 or 2 km is in a bad condition because it is not maintained anymore due to the fact that the area has been converted into a natural resort. The lower part of the road is still well maintained because there is a radiotelescope at about 2800 m that is serviced by this road, and above that, it leads to the upper station of a ski-lift, so maybe up to about 3000-3100 m of altitude. The radiotelescope, by the way, was part of the network that created that photograph of the black hole a few years ago.
All in all, the Veleta is worth a visit. The ascend is pretty nice with a very moderate and relatively constant percentage of 5-6 starting right in Granada. It's not a hard route, but you may run into trouble if you have not adapted to the significantly thinner air. Also be prepared to have a temperature drop of easily 30° between start and arrival if you arrive when the sun has set.The last km or two may be not really suitable for road bikes because of the bad condition it is in. Anything with thicker tyres won't have problems. But do have your gloves ready in the evening. ;-)
Hi Mogon, thank you chiming in and sharing your knowledge. Velata is defintely on our to do list, and we look forward to sharing it. And it is 100% correct that it is the highest paved road in Europe. However, it is not a through road. So you will have to go back the same way as you came from. Bonette on the other hand is a through road, which makes it the highest paved through road in Europe. Nevertheless, both are world-class and bucket-list material ;-)
@@BiketheWorld Nice! I'm looking forward to it. But keep in mind that there may be snow up there until well into the summer. I was there in late June, I think, and the upper few serpentines were still blocked by one or two meters of snow in the turns. I had to push my bike up the foot path that cuts the serpentines until I got back on the road. The Veleta is definitely one mountain I want to go back to.I don't do longs stages, I do only the mountains, so I did the Bonette from Jausiers, and the Veleta only from Granada, though there is a great tour right from the sea. But I know where my limits are, and I prefer the ascents over the long stages. ;-)
In 2019, with my RV, I made a 3-week grande tour across my favorite cols to prepare for the high altitude of the Veleta. Started with the Petit Bernard, before I did the Col de L'Iséran the next day, continued with the Galibier, the Granon, then the Col d'Agnel from Ville Vieille, one of the most beautiful stretches I ever had under my tyres. Then I went to the Bonette, the beautiful Col d'Allos, and then to my absolute favorite, the Ventoux which was the mountain where I did my first attempts at pedaling up more than a hill. Then over to the Tourmalet (from and to Lourdes), one of my longer tours with 100 km, the only pass I know where you arrive where you started. It's a miracle!. ;-)
After that, finally, I felt fit for the highest altitude. But actually, I'm not sure whether I really needed that training. The Veleta is really not steep. It's a very relaxing ascent, I was late as usual, and nobody else was there except the ibexes. But maybe it was only so relaxed because I was prepared. ;-)
Take care!