When some of us might find an excuse not to go and ride, Jorge Padrones does the opposite - any opportunity that he gets to jump on his gravel bike, he is off like a rocket! In his latest story, he shares with us two recent adventures where he made the gravel bike the champion rather than four-wheeled transport. Read on to find out more.

We all have a friend who is always finding an excuse for not riding. Maybe it’s too cold, too hot, too windy or even just the fact that it might rain at some point during a planned ride. On the other hand, there are people (like me) who are always finding excuses for the opposite, for riding more often and for longer.

Summer is my favorite session without any doubt, warm and longer days, beautiful sunrises and sunsets to enjoy, the nice temperatures making the rides more enjoyable and usually less windy and rainy days. It is when summer comes that I tend to ignore my excuses list.

Two weeks ago, we had to go to Madrid for an evening event. Madrid is about 50 minutes by high-speed train or a two-hour drive by car from where I live, but the I saw an opportunity and told my wife I would cycle to Madrid. Then the excitement and the adventure begun. First, having to choose the route, obviously not the shortest possible, but the version which included the best gravel sections and mountain passes to get to Madrid. My finished route took a total of 10 hours riding and included 250 kms of beautiful gravel.

The following weekend we were appointed to spend the weekend on my wife’s family village, as we do every year in summer. It is one hour and a half hours away by car from my home and it is a tradition for me to cycle to get to the planned weekend destination. Even if I cycle every year, I have never repeated the route - I always have to look for a new and more beautiful version. This year I started following the course of the Canal de Castilla until it crossed with the San Jacques Way, which I took until I arrived at my wife’s village. I could have gone direct in around 100km, but my route was almost 200km instead! 

Obviously for me the next day it was easier to cycle back home, rather than taking my wheels off and putting my bike in the car, so it was a perfect excuse for another ride home through the beautiful “Tierra de Campos”

I am not only having excuses for big rides - in our everyday life if I need to run some errands in the city I prefer to go by bike, or if I have to visit my family, the same thing applies. Anything I have to do, if possible, I cycle and if possible not via the straight route, but taking some detour if the ride is not long enough. For me it’s a nice way to keep my fitness levels up, not spend too much money on fuel and having more nice summer rides.

So, I spend my summer finding excuses to ride more and longer, and you? What is your excuse?