Is Girona The Ultimate Cyclists’ Paradise? | Girona Uncovered Ep. 3

[@gcn]

Where do you think is the ultimate cyclists’ paradise? 😍

[@Andy_ATB]

Andorra; plenty of roads, and trails to mix it up!!

[@petermyers4409]

Ariège

[@Jack42Frost]

Apennines

[@delivrance3961]

flanders!

[@RepsacZ]

Mallorca in springtime. Swiss Alps for summer.

[@johnbaylis4731]

Loving all the rim brake bikes

[@seattlegrrlie]

This video is really a testament to how good the GCN photographers really are and that you should always bring them with you.

[@gcn]

Real unsung heroes - we're lucky to have them on our team 💪

[@paulhiggins1668]

Absolutely agree. I went to Girona last Spring. Els Angels, Costa/Tossa loop and Rococorba. The roads are indeed perfectly well kept and quiet and drivers respect cyclists. Love the town and it's history. Cycling heaven.

[@gcn]

Amazing 🤩

[@larryvaught3053]

I love that like the city of Girona itself, this video was much slower paced then a lot of the gcn videos. I love the fact that you combined food, coffee, history, sightseeing and of course cycling. It's absolutely no wonder why Girona is a must-see destination and why so many cyclists want to make it their home! I feel a slow cycling Girona video coming on. Top notch stuff Hank ! You Rock!

[@gcn]

Thanks Larry - cycling in Girona especially is about more than just the bike!

[@stvaldr]

Girona looks like paradise, whether you are a cyclist or not. Rory was right about the cathedral nave being the largest in the world. It is exciting to see he is proud of making it his home, not just because it is a cool place to be. Great series Hank!

[@8cervezas648]

I moved to Barcelona 15 years ago and totally agree - spot on Rory. Catalunya is great for riding, bringing up a family, travel. He didn't mention having there Costa Brava on your doorstep isn't bad either!

[@Eldermonkey25]

I used to be a busy brit in the UK and was used to everyone always being in a massive hurry. I moved to Barcelona for one year and then andalusia for another year. I certainly learned to slow down, calm down and become a lot more stress free. I moved back to the UK last year and have taken that back with me. Why are we all in the UK always in a hurry! I now live in an amazingly bike friendly city of Milton Keynes which is a lot slower than other places I have lived with beautiful parks, lakes and cycling routes.

[@andy_xtr3861]

And roundabouts

[@guillem959]

Huge respect to Rory for making an effort with catalan, I'm catalan, living 40 minutes from Girona, and most people coming to live here don't make the effort. Really appreciate it.

[@SanshoTheBailiff]

Greg its totally right about how you should integrate and respect the local way of life plus you get so much more back! Great series from a Brit in France.

[@gcn]

Thanks for the kind comments - really glad you enjoyed the series 🙌

[@TomSnyder--theJaz]

Girona is a city in 'Spain’s' northeastern Catalonia region.

[@SanshoTheBailiff]

@@TomSnyder--theJaz i never said it wasn't...

[@Gabepedaler]

This Girona series has been awesome. More content like this please!

[@gcn]

Glad you think so! Where shall we go next? 🤔

[@skoms2024]

Somewhere in the Alps, Rwanda or the Canaries would make great episodes in my humble opinion!

[@Gabepedaler]

@@gcn How about Belgium?

[@jackzagorski7897]

The Victorian Alps based in Bright .

[@donschloth5785]

Thanks again Hank and Manon. You’re helping me to choose my Cycling holiday destinations!

[@chriswarwick563]

Spent a week cycling in girona with my wife,did three group rides,nice cycling community,fantastic food beer and coffee ,highly recommended 🚴‍♂️

[@strawhorn1]

Just been watching this with my 4 y.o. daughter. When I pointed Hank out her reply was "me know, I like Hank" she remembers you from the day of NC500 record in Inverness.

[@ericllach8242]

I'm from Girona and I love Rory. How he values the CATALAN community and culture and how separates Catalan from Spanish. Thanks!

[@jrclad2964]

GE-RO-NA 😛

[@judd7699]

What’s it cost to rent a 2 bedroom place if you were thinking to live there? Matt

[@username42]

@@judd7699 wondering the same questions for some time? where to search for renting rooms? and what about living in girona without catalan ?

[@MiamiCycling305]

Just seeing this video. I visit Girona frequently and I think the biggest draw for me is the Catalan culture. I love it. I have spent a lot of time trying to learn the history, and trying to pick up the language. (I’m American)

[@TheDgelio]

This was a great video. Rory is so nuanced and intelligent. One of my favorites this far!

[@shoham00]

I think making cycling-oriented travel videos is a great idea! Entertaining content and you won't run out of topics for a long time. Keep it up! Suggestions for a couple of locations, where I personally ride and know it's awesome: (1) Maui (2) Banff National Park in Canada I'm sure there's tons more - these two happen to be extremely scenic.

[@K777John]

Loved watching this series-it’s very relevant for me since I will be there for 5 days riding in 8 weeks time. Two of us going, both retired, I’m 75 this year so don’t think we will be joining any group rides-but you never know. I was last there about 15 years ago, went with my wife, couple of nights in Girona, up to Figueres to the Dali museum and then down to Barcelona for a couple of days. Loved Girona, I wasn’t cycling back then, but I very much am now-really looking forward to it.

[@gcn]

You're going to love it - have a great time 🙂

[@lesflynn4455]

Fantastic video. If I lived there, I'd bust heaven and earth to find a way to work from the saddle of my bike. Even living vicareously through these guys is great.

[@ethangodridge6833]

Really enjoyed this Girona series. Thanks GCN.

[@gcn]

Most welcome! Where shall we go next? 🤔

[@ethangodridge6833]

@@gcn I would like a series about the Italian cycling culture.

[@88pedro888]

Waited for 15 mins at Federal and didn’t get served, so got up and left. September 2022.

[@anthonyggiordano]

This series has been great. I'd love to see something similar in a spot in Italy.

[@kennedystuart5685]

Wow. Absolutely beautiful. What an amazing place to ride

[@craigcarlson4022]

Great travel along experience!

[@TK-ov4hn]

James, you really kill it with the vloger style video. I really enjoyed it and would love to see more. Girona WOW!!

[@Mavrik-60]

That's a typical American breakfast too. coffee shops are also a popular place to meet up here. Great video keepemcoming

[@tschaubaba1051]

Rory is articulate, seems cultured and knows his place.

[@bountyhuntermk2520]

Knows his place…..? Your arrogance is breath taking

[@tschaubaba1051]

@@bountyhuntermk2520 love you too buddy

[@tschaubaba1051]

@@bountyhuntermk2520 you got it wrong

[@adamjd7645]

@@bountyhuntermk2520 Way to jump off the deep end. "Knows his place".... in life. ie: He has found his place & is content with his life. 🤦‍♂️

[@tschaubaba1051]

I‘m no native, so to refer to someone being knowledgeable about his surroundings isn’t valid in this context?

[@douglaspate9314]

Great one!! Now let's see Andorra. +130 of the top pros. Olympìc champs, World champs, National champs, World Tour winners, Track Champs, Classics winners, ex-Hour Record holders, guys and girls, and where some teams have more than a dozen of their riders living.

[@gcn]

That would be cool - playground of the pros! 🙌

[@rascalbiker]

I can confirm that The Federal is a wonderful place to eat! I ate there every day when I was in Girona, as it was conveniently next door to my flat.

[@gcn]

Lots of great cycling cafes in Girona!

[@petertoth1632]

I wish drivers would behave/respect cyclists in Hungary as they do so in Girona (and in UK too most of the times)! Well done again GCN, good stuff!

[@Eldermonkey25]

Drivers in the UK are awful at respecting cyclists. They think they own the road and no one else should use it. The pressure you feel from a driver behind you is intense and they love to pass you at high speeds leaving no gap. The scariest was cycling to work at 4.45am and a lorry whizzing past me.....

[@petertoth1632]

Well, I can just tell from my point of view, as I used to cycle in UK for about 7 years and now back in Hungary. I'm not saying that the UK drivers are the best but trust me, they are much better than the Hungarian once!

[@fredrichards3998]

Awesome content 👏👏 More please.

[@gcn]

Where else would you love to see us feature?

[@Ab-pj8hh]

Oh nice this guy is behind federal, that's my favourite joint

[@gordtaylor1328]

Just back from a week of riding there, awesome rides, food, coffee people oh and wine 😎🚴‍♂️☕️🍷

[@RepsacZ]

Went cycling there for a week and felt like I was missing some roads to get to places in different ways. Girona was a bit of a let down for me personally, cycling wise. Not on par with for example Mallorca. Was nice to hit the Pyrenees with just a short drive though. That's a plus.

[@SwanWillTearYouApart]

agreed , ive been a couple of times to Girona . It seemed quite a battle to get out of the town / quite busy / scary main roads. I think what i like about Majorca is that big variety of routes/ gradients with very little impact from cars

[@stevevarga8621]

I totally agree with you two. The old part of town is spectacular but the riding is definitely not the best. I think the pros went 18:02 there for the charm of the town and the proximity to the airport and the rest of Europe but if you compare the actual riding to Majorca or even other parts of Spain it’s not the best. What it does have is the hippest ‘cycling scene’, all the cool cafes and expensive shops etc in an absolutely beautiful environment which I’ll admit is fun. Also they do have some great gravel routes! But road for road so far nothing beats Majorca in the spring or fall.

[@RepsacZ]

@Andy Biker yes exactly quite a lot of those 'bigger' roads which are not the nicest.

[@RepsacZ]

@Steve Varga yes 2 airports nearby makes it 10x better for pros. Must say Gran Canaria got really close to if not on par with Mallorca for me. Prestine roads, amazing surroundings, and some bigger climbs if you fancy those. Pico de las Nieves and Valley of Tears are memory-makers.

[@stevevarga8621]

@@RepsacZ Yes, I liked Gran Canaria as well. The big difficulty there is that the rides (ie Canyons) are pretty far apart so you have to either do some crazy long rides or rent a car or shuttle to get in all the great spots. We rented a van which allowed us to ride all over 2 of the islands but very few people do that and consequently few people get to see some of the best spots. Also the climbs are very long and unless you’re a pure climber that can get a bit much, especially in the spring. There really is very little flattish rides. Another problem is the total lack of proper Cycling hotels which made group rides difficult and expensive. Majorca is miles ahead in terms of cycling infrastructure ie cycling hotels, group rides, events, cafes, shops etc.

[@ArnageLM]

Dave is a legend!

[@NicolasFaure]

I was there at the same time 😊. I've loved it ! Too Bad I had to go back to France last monday. But I'll be back 😉

[@suggyltd9577]

It is incredible how Hank is able to survive GCN assignment after assignment.

[@magicknight8412]

The guy in the background at the table by the Federal Cafe sure did look like Peter Sagan !

[@garymcnutt185]

Thank you for the amazing commentary and insight into the cycling scene in Girona. I will be going there at the end of April to ride but in the meantime I’m off to Madrid next week. Do you have any suggestions about road riding, renting a quality road bike, bike shops and group rides during my stay in Madrid? Thanks!

[@Stirling1989]

For someone who doesn’t cope well with caffeine, Hank sure does drink a lot of the stuff

[@reflectionsdetail]

The first pros came in Feb 1997, Marty Jamison, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincappi. It was Jonny Weltz was the insigator of these guys coming.

[@kevankerd86]

Greece is a hidden gem and you won't believe the routes we have in our country!

[@yeahbuddy4712]

Well done, 700k is huge!!!

[@JohnLumapaskeith]

Any chance you guys can do a review on Amazon's Sava bikes?

[@Santiagoferz10]

As a retired cyclist who has experienced riding in Mallorca as well as Girona, Mallorca is a better place for cycling overall. Before anyone has a sook, Girona is obviously a great spot too but it's a little overhyped.

[@kurtm.1214]

Question: is there a good web site with cycling friendly roads and routes around Girona?

[@belizon]

GCN really uncovered Gerona by copy pasting in some generic flamenco music. Really did your research there. Well done. What you going to do next? Tapas and paella?

[@Stevehatesgravel]

Great place for the posing boutique cyclists

[@mtbmd1919]

Good to know that Rory also thinks about the Roman Empire

[@56independent]

I love Girona. Cycle paths everywhere and mountains very near. Much better then the stupid UK.

[@user-uh6lm5wv6n]

Hey I will be in Girona in May, is this a regular Castelli shop ride for anyone to join? Or can you point me to any social rides I can join?

[@nickwhitelawteixidor9624]

Ets un crack Rory!!

[@aleksandrstarshyy6712]

Hi My son and I really like your movie. We are from Kyiv Ukraine and were in Girona before the war. I am not a professional. This is my video about Girona and Costa Brau. And now I want to make a video about the war and connect it with a bicycle.

[@Easthor]

20:00 Girona is a city, not a town

[@JackChickenwing]

I like the video, but is there a reason you guys film these on a gro pro? Understand its portable but curious why you wouldnt use a decent dslr / point and shoot on a channel with 3 mil subs!

[@towhee7472]

I should go to Girona.

[@gcn]

You should 🙌

[@nightsfalling]

Well another place to add to my bucket list. Too many places so little money 😂

[@gcn]

Time for a budget bikepacking trip??

[@nightsfalling]

Keep the videos coming I’ll go there some day.

[@stevozrepto5558]

☘️☘️☘️🎯🎯🎯😎😎😎

[@gregvassilakos]

Thank you for an inspiring video. I need to finish gathering documents for my application for Greek citizenship. Plan A is Loutraki, Greece, but I could live anywhere in the EU as a Greek citizen, so perhaps Girona should be a backup plan.

[@daltonlightfoot6889]

Dropping your boss?! Lol

[@wspmjw]

If its so cold Hank, why freeze your hands?

[@username42]

can you survive in girona without any catalan Spanish?

[@gcn]

Yes, Girona is a great city with lots of English speakers. Always good to converse in Catalan when you can though!

[@TheEpieikeia]

13:39 I guess Girona's astonishingly curved stone walls also account for its soaring attractiveness...! 😄 #jauntyangle

[@julianz.9164]

Nice but mostly hype. Basquecountry is on another level.

[@gcn]

Anywhere you'd specifically recommend?

[@indjke]

What is the best way to find announnces of the local rides?

[@indjke]

@Aaron Miaullis sorry, I meant in Girona :)

[@HOLOHOAXTND]

stop the war russian

[@dickieblench5001]

To use a skiing comparison if Girona was a ski area it would be full of blues and greens. It's a beginner's resort

[@MikeS7]

These guys bike faster uphill than I can on flats wtf

[@atole8949]

Enjoy GERONA; a bikers paradise in SPAIN!!

[@yules_3000]

After seeing this and the GCN+ movie (Mitch Docker's), my girlfriend just asked me: "What about female riders in Girona? Is this all boys kinda club? What's up?" - Showed her the other chapter. She's still not convinced, and she's right. It's 95% men in these specials. Pretty sure GCN can do better ;)

[@deividonrubia2871]

Not long ago (a few weeks??) they published an interview of a pro girl living right in the mountain they mentioned in this video (excuse my short-term- memory loss when it comes to names). Just a bit of research should be enough I think. Greetings

[@yules_3000]

@@deividonrubia2871 "Showed her the other chapter. She's still not convinced". So yea, did the research. Now you do the math.

[@troycollett8540]

There’s quite a few female riders in Girona

[@MysticMac000]

Lol always a triggered leftie. Facts are that tye majority of cyclists and the gcn audience are men. Plenty of interviews etc with female cyclists on this channel as well

[@yules_3000]

@@troycollett8540 Would be amazing if they filmed more of them. I mean the retired pros and cool dudes are amazing and awesome (And so is Hank), but we all know that already do we?

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

Is Girona the Ultimate Cyclists' Paradise? Yes. Because many of my favorite pros live there.

[@williamjozefestoesta8086]

Helooo

[@joseluiscantin]

Guys, nice serie about fantastic Girona, awesome place…but you are sport people, Girona is Cataluña and overall Spain. Therefore Spanish culture and way of life. You should stay far from non sense flavors of independence and split bullshit. Many thanks for your channel.

[@pablovr6269]

Come on... flamenco music has zero to do with Girona...

[@CharlesOwen93]

Look at those bags under his eyes man. Halt the coffee Hank and get some sugar down ya!

[@blahblah4129]

There’s something VERY wrong if you move to another country and don’t bother to learn the language and culture.

[@maadman117]

get that asthma checked 😆

[@GreenAlien2023]

Northern Spain culture in my experience is generally pretty boring and insular, but is a great place for cycling

[@max37391]

My Impression of Gironas Cycling world is the following: Roads and gravel routes are brilliant and really make fun - whats disgusting is the police - as a tourist you have to pay absurde high fees for wrong behaviours while other people (seems like they are living there) can do whatever they want. This is a joke!! I recommend nobody to drive near the oldtown - for rules like using the wrong direction of the street the fee is 100€ 😢 It's really sad as there is waiting Police just to collect money.

[@galenkehler]

Always interesting to hear white people talk about the history of the lands they colonized. Rory geeking out over a rock that's a few thousand years old and in the same breath dismissing the history of his homeland as non-existent, when the history of the Australian peoples goes back 10s of thousands of years, yet he just dismisses it out of hand because it's not white or European.

[@The1trueDave]

To be fair, he said "we have history but nothing like this" while standing in front of a medieval cathedral! It sounded to me like he was saying "we don't have this in Australia" while still acknowledging Aboriginal history 🤷

[@adamjd7645]

No, he didn't. He said we have it, "but it's nothing like this." Which is an accurate statement. There is no monumental building in Australia pre-Western colonisation (I prefix with Western because EVERYONE is a colonist at one point in time. Having the luck of arriving before someone else gives you no special rights. Everyone is equal.)

[@johnevans6399]

Wonder if the professionals will start leaving as they will not want to be pestered by amateurs and well meaning fans? 🛴