After two years without setting foot outside of the UK, Ollie Rooke hops on a plane to Spain and discovers the ultimate adventure biker\u2019s weekend away<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve never been a fan of people cheering and clapping when a plane lands at an airport. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not that I\u2019m ungrateful, far from it. I\u2019ll always politely thank the pilot and cabin crew when I step off a flight. But as an Englishman, I\u2019m not prone to spontaneous emotional outbursts, and I can\u2019t help but cringe whenever a round of applause erupts as a plane touches down on terra firma.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Having said that, I admit that even I added a few claps to the jovial celebrations that greeted Ryanair flight FR2156 as it landed at Malaga Airport in Spain. Hell, maybe I\u2019m even underplaying my enthusiasm slightly. The truth is when those wheels touched down, I felt ready to let off a klaxon and cheer for joy. <\/span><\/p>\n My giddiness was down to two things. Firstly, the flight marked the first time I\u2019d left the UK in almost two years, thanks to you know what. As a keen motorcycle traveller, it had felt like a particularly long time away from the continent, and my feet were most certainly itching.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Secondly, just a few miles down the coast in the town of Nerja, lay a Yamaha T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 700 with my name on it. And that motorcycle came with the promise of an epic day of exploring the trails and tarmac of Spain\u2019s south coast.<\/span><\/p>\n I was on the trip at the invitation of British tyre manufacturer, Avon, to ride its TrekRider\u00a0<\/span>adventure tyre<\/a>, and my travels would be guided by Ed from local tour company Redtread<\/a> on his T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 Experience trip. <\/span><\/p>\n Seeing as he\u2019s guided riders around southern Spain for well over 20 years, I knew I\u2019d be seeing the best the area had to offer, the perfect return to two-wheeled overseas travel.<\/span><\/p>\n This would be a little different from my last trip to Spain. Rather than setting off on my own fully-loaded bike, and taking the ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Santander, as I\u2019d done previously, I was giving the fly-and-ride school of motorcycle travel a whirl for a long-weekend adventure.<\/p>\n Not only is it a lot quicker and easier on the stomach than the ferry (yes, I suffer from seasickness), but it\u2019s also noticeably cheaper.<\/p>\n At around \u00a360, my return flights to Malaga with Ryanair cost about as much as a good bottle of whisky in duty free, a realisation that quickly justified the purchase of one. So far, so good.<\/p>\n The good times continued when I stepped out of the airport and felt the hot blast of Mediterranean air on my skin for the first time in far too long. With the temperatures hovering in the mid-twenties (C), I stuffed my English winter jacket into my bag and set off to find my lift to Redtread.<\/p>\n Some 45 minutes later, I arrived in Nerja at Redtread headquarters, which has a number of en-suite rooms for guests to stay in and a large open-plan living area.<\/p>\n After dumping my kit, I sat out on the terrace by the pool and enjoyed a beer from the fully-stocked fridge as the late-afternoon sun drifted across the sky.<\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t wait to jump into the saddle, but it\u2019s safe to say I was in no rush to finish the evening as a few more beers followed, along with a selection of authentic Spanish tapas down in the town.<\/p>\n Forget the rigours of the motorcycle touring that I\u2019m used to, like finding a campsite and cooking up some pasta over a little gas stove. This was a riding holiday, and I was loving every second.<\/p>\n The next morning, after a quick breakfast of pastries, orange juice, and black coffee, it was time to get acquainted with the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 700 I\u2019d be riding throughout the day. It was gleaming. <\/span><\/p>\n In fact, it only had a meagre 400 miles on the clock, reflecting the fact that the Redtread team began hosting the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 Experience back in March 2020, but only managed to squeeze one tour before the world stopped spinning on its axis. <\/span><\/p>\n This meant that the sturdy crash bars, robust bash plate, and spoked tyres clad in chunky Avon TrekRider rubber were still virtually brand-new. <\/span><\/p>\n As far as bikes go for tackling a day of adventure riding, taking in mountain roads and unpaved trails that cut through deep, uninhabited valleys, there were few I\u2019d rather have been on.<\/span><\/p>\n With a familiarisation briefing done, and clad in brand new, lightweight FXR and Knox riding gear, which was provided by Redtread, it was time to saddle up and hit the road down to the coast, making sure I remembered to ride on the opposite side of the road to back home.<\/span><\/p>\n This riding was sensational from the start. Heading east out of Nerja, we picked up a snaking coastal route that rose and fell between headlands, and it was gloriously traffic-free thanks to a nearby motorway that kept commuters away.<\/span><\/p>\n With the Mediterranean twinkling away to my right, and the sun warming the air even at 10am in the morning, I was in heaven. Autumnal riding does not get better than this.<\/span><\/p>\n Soon enough, we turned left away from the coast and started a steady climb into the mountains on the A-4050, also known as the Carretera de la Cabra (Road of the Goat). <\/span><\/p>\n Neither name does it justice, but the night before over a couple of cervezas and tapas, Ed had called the ascent the Ferrari Road because so many sports car manufacturers use it to capture marketing photos and videos. <\/span><\/p>\n He described a 40-mile long strip of wiggling tarmac that begins in the seaside town of Almu\u00f1\u00e9car and climbs 1,363m into the mountains. It\u2019s devoid of traffic and littered with tight hairpins, steep drop offs, and billiard-table smooth tarmac.<\/span><\/p>\n Even in the foothills during the early stages of the climb, it was clear the road deserved its nickname. It was about as straight as a plate of cooked spaghetti, an endless succession <\/span>of curves that climbed higher and higher past haciendas and farms. I was loving every moment, so I was slightly disappointed when we pulled up in front of a restaurant about 20 minutes into the ride.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou were right, the Ferrari road is a cracker,\u201d I said to Ed as I pulled off my gloves. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, we\u2019re not even into the good stuff yet, but this is the last time we\u2019ll be in a town for a while, so I figured we\u2019d grab a cuppa,\u201d came his reply. <\/span><\/p>\n With the promise of even better riding to come, I ordered a black coffee and sat on the veranda, nodding a buenos dias to two old boys sipping Estrella beer a table over. <\/span><\/p>\n If there\u2019s anything that sums up the laid back atmosphere of southern Spain, it\u2019s beer at 11am, and I was half tempted to join them. <\/span>However, Ed\u2019s anecdote about seeing a brand-new sports car being pulled out of the wall further up the road convinced me to stick with caffeine and one sugar instead.<\/span><\/p>\n Once we were back on the road, we got stuck into the \u2018good stuff\u2019, as Ed described it. And boy, he wasn\u2019t wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n If you ever find yourself in the Costa del Sol, whether you\u2019re motorcycle touring or on family holiday, I implore you to rent a bike and take it up the A-4050. You won\u2019t regret it.<\/span><\/p>\n And I was seriously impressed with the Avon TrekRider. Despite the fact it is described as a 50\/50 tyre, it was proving to be smooth, stable, and provided all the grip I needed as I pushed the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 700 ever harder in the twisties. <\/span><\/p>\n We stopped at the top of the pass where I was half-tempted to do a U-turn and fly back down the mountain, but the road could wait. It was time to find out how the TrekRider tyres performed on the trails. <\/span><\/p>\n The night before I\u2019d asked Ed what the legality of trail riding was in the area. He\u2019d explained that, as a rule of thumb, if an unpaved trail was wide enough to take two cars, it was fair game (national parks aside). <\/span><\/p>\n It sounded a lot easier than breaking out an OS Map back in the UK and combing areas for byways and unclassified roads that hadn\u2019t been slapped with restriction orders. In short, Spain is a trail-rider\u2019s paradise.<\/span><\/p>\n Ahead of us, the gravel road stretched off through dense forests, a fertile contrast to the sun-baked coast that now lay over 1,000m below us. I stood up on the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9\u2019s pegs as Ed led the way, keeping a fair distance back to avoid the cloud of dust his rear tyre was kicking up. <\/span><\/p>\n The flowing trails weren\u2019t too technical, it\u2019s a T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 Experience rather than a rally after all, and it was just a case of enjoying the seemingly endless miles of gravel rather than dodging ruts or contending with slick mud. <\/span><\/p>\n While I love greenlaning back in the UK, Spain truly puts our motley collection of trails to shame.<\/span><\/p>\n Suddenly, I spotted a flash of movement to my left. Rolling off the throttle, I caught the distinctive outline of an Iberian ibex, complete with large, curved horns. It was a reminder just how far we were exploring off <\/span>the beaten track and I was tempted to stop for a photo. <\/span><\/p>\n But, that morning, Ed had warned us that ibex are prone to a headbutt if they felt threatened. Not wanting to be on the end of a Glasgow kiss from a 100kg lump of muscle and horns, I hurriedly got back on the power and out of Dodge.<\/span><\/p>\n The trails continued for miles, cutting further into the tree-lined valley before picking up a route that flanked a dried-up riverbed.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019d lost track of where we were, happily trusting Ed and his vast local knowledge, but suddenly the landscape opened up to reveal an unmistakable hulking silhouette of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the highest point of which is Mulhac\u00e9n at 3,479m.<\/span><\/p>\n Continental Spain\u2019s highest peak was well worth a photo and, as I stopped, I realised we\u2019d been in the saddle for over three hours. <\/span><\/p>\n With such engaging riding, the morning had flown by and I took some time to reflect on the Avon TrekRider I was here to test. It had transferred onto the trails with ease, providing plenty of bite under acceleration and through the turns. <\/span><\/p>\n I was snapped out of my reflective state by Ed who said it was time to head for lunch in a local restaurant. Our bikes, gear, and faces were covered in a layer of fine dust, but I\u2019ve always found that the Spanish love bikers and we were welcomed with open arms as we tucked into some cracking grub.<\/span><\/p>\n There was no time for a siesta though as we once again mounted our bikes and turned back towards the coast. Unsurprisingly, Spain delivered even more impeccable trails, and we turned off the tarmac for a blast around a lake on a winding gravel track before Ed pulled over and offered me a near-impossible choice to make.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got two options,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can either ride another trail down a disused railway line, or follow a stage of the Vuelta a Espana (Spain\u2019s famous multi-stage bicycle race) on the road to get back to the coast. Which do you fancy?\u201d<\/p>\n It was a proper Sophie\u2019s Choice<\/em> but with the morning\u2019s ride on the Ferrari Road still fresh in my mind, I fancied enjoying some more scintillating road riding. It was a great decision. The Spanish roads once again offered a brilliant ride, a constantly winding ribbon of tarmac that dropped the 1,000m or so down towards the coast.<\/p>\n By the time I found myself back at sea level, I was almost grateful for the lack of curves on the palm tree-lined promenade so I could give me clutch hand a rest. The feeling of cruising back to base, knowing a cold beer by the pool in the late afternoon sun was waiting for me, was one of pure happiness.<\/p>\n It had been a sensational day in the saddle, and a welcome return to riding overseas. Make no mistake, I love riding in the UK, but few things beat scrubbing in some rubber on the type of roads that you\u2019ll see in a luxury Ferrari advert. <\/span><\/p>\n On top of that, after finding myself riding meagre British greenlanes over the past two years, the opportunity to spend time riding uninterrupted trails in the Spanish mountains was an absolute joy. <\/span><\/p>\n By the time my flight touched down in a grey, dreary Birmingham Airport the next day (rest assured there was no clapping on arrival) I\u2019d been away from home for just 48 hours. In that time, I\u2019d cruised along the coast, soaked up the sun with a cerveza, and ridden epic mountain trails for hours on end. <\/span><\/p>\n As long weekends go, it may be the best I\u2019ve ever had. If you\u2019ve never given the fly-and-ride world of motorcycle travel a go, open up a new tab, book a flight to Malaga, and let the guys from Redtread show you an incredible time. I guarantee, you won\u2019t regret it.<\/span><\/p>\n Alongside experiencing the ultimate adventure biker\u2019s long weekend, I was in Spain to test the Avon TrekRider adventure tyre<\/a>. In short, I was seriously impressed. <\/span><\/p>\n A combination of winding mountain roads and never-ending gravel trails provided the perfect proving ground for the rubber. And, I was joined on the ride by Avon\u2019s Motorcycle Tyre Development Manager Ashley, who was there to answer any questions I had.<\/span><\/p>\n On the road, the biggest compliment I can give the TrekRider tyre is that I didn\u2019t once feel that I\u2019d even got close to their limit, despite pushing my T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 700 hard through the mountain passes. <\/span><\/p>\n This is important because, no matter how much fun I had on the trails, the truth is that adventure bikes spend the majority of their time on the road, so any adventure tyre needs to perform on tarmac. <\/span><\/p>\n During my ride, the grip never faltered, feeling smooth and stable, no matter how far I leaned the bike over or how many mid-corner corrections I made when blind hairpins unexpectedly tightened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I was also impressed by the fact the deep lugs didn\u2019t cause any noticeable rumbling noise or intrusive vibration on the road at high or low speeds, unlike some tyres I\u2019ve ridden in the past with aggressive tread patterns. <\/span><\/p>\n The reason for this lies in the arrowhead tread design. The chevron-shaped blocks ensure there are no empty horizontal gaps in the tread, which is the cause of noticeable rumbling in blocky adventure rubber.<\/span><\/p>\n Off-road, the TrekRider provided me with plenty of confidence to attack the trails. On dry and dusty gravel tracks there was plenty of traction when accelerating, braking, and cornering.<\/p>\n However, I did notice that grip started to fall away, and the tyre was more likely to spin out when the gravel got particularly deep at the edges of the trail, which I\u2019d imagine would also be the case in slippery mud.<\/p>\n But compromise is the name of the game when it comes to adventure tyres and, in my eyes, Avon has struck an excellent balance between on and off-road performance.<\/p>\n My flights to Malaga cost \u00a360 return. Airport transfers in Spain were arranged by Redtread<\/a>. Operators Ed and Sarah have been running tours in the area for over 20 years, so they know the region inside out. <\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re riding on their fleet of Yamaha WR450Fs or taking the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 700 for a spin, they\u2019ll be able to show you the best roads and trails that match your experience and ability. <\/span><\/p>\n I also stayed on-site in their homestay, which boasts a pool and a fully stocked beer fridge. Trust me, there\u2019s no better way to toast a day on the trails.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Clothing-Slider.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nFly\u2019n\u2019ride<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRiding in Spain \u2013 Coastal cruising<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOnto the Ferrari road<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nInto the mountains<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"trails](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-9.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMeeting the local wildlife<\/h2>\n
![\"trail](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA difficult choice<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"road](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAvon TrekRider tyres<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Avon](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Want to go riding in<\/span>\u00a0Spain?<\/h2>\n
![\"gravel](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\n The bike<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9](\"https:\/\/www.adventurebikerider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Spain-Avon-TrekRider-trip-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n