E-MOUNTAINBIKE City Escape – Barcelona
More than seven million tourists flock to Barcelona each year, bright-eyed in anticipation at the thought of experiencing this hip Mediterranean metropolis. But for nonchalant residents, it’s easy to become blasé about the city, finding oneself in a humdrum routine. Let’s change that: it’s now time for tourists and residents alike to switch on adventure mode.
What is the E-MOUNTAINBIKE City Escape series? You can find all the information right here E-MOUNTAINBIKE City Escape powered by Haibike
It’s a universal phenomenon that from the moment one arrives in a foreign city, there’s a list of museums and cultural sights to see. But when it comes to our own cities, we’re blind. We’re all guilty of not appreciating what’s right in front of us. It’s perhaps fair to say that the millions of visitors that are drawn to Barcelona get to know the city best, eager to explore and find the best spots. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about finding the deepest Sangria buckets or the tourist traps on La Rambla, but about hip cafes, indie shops, tucked-away museums, architectural beauties and tranquil spots to chill. Barcelona is in a permanent state of evolution – every day there’s something new to discover. Imagine the tragedy of overlooking all these opportunities and becoming trapped in a routine.
So shrug off the hometown lassitude, it’s time to see your city from a different perspective. And where better than from the saddle of an eMTB? While it might be tempting to splurge on a Tesla (only to sit in one of Barcelona’s lengthy traffic jams), the other option is to invest in an eMTB – not just as a status symbol – but as an E for explore-bike, for entertainment-bike, errand-bike, easier-commute-bike, environmentally-friendly-bike and more. Versatile, electro-powered, and just the thing to brighten up your city adventures.
You already read the first part, so enjoy the following five:
- 2/6 Escape your routine – Rediscover your city
- 3/6 Escape your culinary habit – 1,001 cheesecakes to fall in love with
- 4/6 Escape your city – A real playground!
- 5/6 Escape Essentials – Cafés, bars, restaurants, the do’s and don’ts in Barcelona
- 6/6 Escape faster – The Haibike escape vehicle in detail
Escape your routine – Rediscover your city
Do you feel stressed? Is the daily grind holding you hostage? Are you convinced that you know your hometown like the back of your hand? Then this is exactly the right chapter for you. Every doctor should prescribe this routine – one that throws all caution to the wind and opens up new perspectives.
One fail-safe option to relieve stress and take some time out is to load your bikes into your pickup and head into the countryside (spoiler: yep, we do that later on too). But often it’s just not practical and there’s more greenery inside the city limits than you’d expect. In fact, most people are completely unaware that Barcelona is awash with trails and routes that only require nominal city-stress to get to.
But why isn’t this common knowledge? Most of us are so wrapped up in the monotony of our lives that we’re oblivious to our surroundings. We go from hotspot to hotspot, the same old cafes, restaurants and bars that have always chimed so well with our style tribe. Whatever the city, we’re guilty of confining ourselves to ‘our neighbourhood’, staying ‘en el barrio,’ or ‘al barri’ for the Catalans in Barcelona. There’s nothing criminal in this, far from it – it forms an identity, keeps a sense of community alive, and let’s you feel at home in an otherwise vast, concrete expanse of anonymity. Up to a point though. Up until you become stifled.
Then you run. Not physically, but mentally. Everyone needs something that opposes the daily grind. In the same way that muscles work – an agonist-antagonist pairing that brings you into balance. And eMTBs are the key.
Imagine living in paradise but not even realising it.
We joined up with Luca and Dídac, two Catalans, to reacquaint ourselves with Barcelona. They both have their favourite places, their trusty go-tos for food and beverages. But we won’t visit those today.
We opt for electro-powered stallions to escort us through the city. Our phones are on silent – this is adventure mode after all, where things happen organically or not at all. On the eMTBs we find ourselves in the strange situation where we are in the traffic, yet somehow unaffected by it. We set the rhythm. We pick when to take a quick coffee stop (ensuring that our bikes are securely locked up within sight) and how to explore the city’s subcultures. We keep one eye on the stream of tourists heading to the tick-list of sights and we feel like outlaws. We’ll take a different route, thank you. Same city, different perspective.
Does anything beat the smug satisfaction of escaping the noise and stress of a city for a few hours on a bike? Our eMTBs whisk us up the Carretera de les Aigües to Barcelona’s Tibidabo mountain. Each turn of the pedals inches us closer to freedom. We follow cleared timber and gravel access roads through the forest, meeting just a few hikers at this time of day. The nature park is strewn with trails that take you towards Sant Cugat del Vallès or the city. We don’t have a whole lot of time though, just enough for a quick selfie at the top next to the fairground and Sagrat Cor church before dropping into the singletrack down to Barcelona. We head for Barceloneta, the popular beach, where there’s chilled beer waiting for us. With the first refreshing sip we contemplate that there’s no life without stress, and that’s ok. Stress only becomes a problem when you no longer have any sort of respite from it. That’s why Barcelona is both a blessing and curse. There’s always something happening – social engagements, dates, parties, bars. Your diary can get filled pretty quickly. Yet what many overlook is the city’s glut of space. Space in which to breathe: mountains, beaches, woodland and so many great cafes. If there are two things that Barcelona is an expert at, then it’s generating both excitement and relaxation. It’s just us that sometimes fail to live at both ends of the spectrum.
Three hours are enough to escape the stress of Barcelona, take some deep breaths and return to the pulsing city refreshed and reset. Long live city escapes, long live eMTBs! Cheers to a new routine – free from risks and side effects!
The routes
Escaping this particular city can be done in one of four ways, and each salutes you with a reward. Whether it’s gulping in the fresh air from the vantage point on the top of Tibidabo, tucking into a cheesecake concoction at Ugot’s, or enjoying a beer on the beach. Weekends get busy with hikers who are toying with similar ideas of escaping, so it’s wise to schedule your rides for week days if possible. For those of you who decide to embark on the ‘City Escape Expert Long’, keep an eye on your battery level – turbo mode is unlikely to last the whole trip.
- City Escape Beginner (S0-S1) komoot.com/tour/58126548
- City Escape Expert Short (S0-S3) komoot.com/tour/58131517
- City Escape Expert Medium (S0-S3) komoot.com/tour/58130591
- City Escape Expert Long (S0-S3) komoot.com/tour/58128660
Escape your culinary habit – 1,001 cheesecakes to fall in love with
What do 1001 nights and cheesecakes have to do with eMTBing? Between hibiscus flowers, rosemary, ham and melon, roses, matcha, wasabi and espresso coconut, we found the answer in Barcelona’s best brunch place, the Ugot. We sat down to talk to owner and pastry chef, Adi Nachson.
E-MOUNTAINBIKE Hey Adi, we’ve been following your hashtag #1001cheesecakes on Instagram and it’s clear that you’ve got a knack for creating very beautiful but also quite particular food. Why’s that?
Adi Nachson When I started the business I wanted to create a space where people could relate to food not only in a manner that serves the ‘I’m hungry, let’s go and eat something’-people. But I also wanted to create an atmosphere that will stop my guest’s day for a moment and let them escape. I think we’ve achieved this through the café’s special ambience, with very specific music, and most importantly the creations that emerge from our kitchen.
I have a great passion for food and try to relate to it in a different way. I really like combining techniques and flavours from far-away places that I visit, or simply from my home country of Israel. We love to experiment and play with food.
Reminiscent of One Thousand and One Nights (often known in English as the Arabian Nights), we’ve set a goal of baking 1,001 different cheesecakes. There are some really exotic and exciting creations. It’s funny because when you see Ugot you could think that this is a very classic place by design, but our food tries to break this image with very progressive, innovative creations.
E-MOUNTAINBIKE You serve things like wood-smoked cheesecake, espresso and coconut cheesecake, or quince and goats cheese cheesecake. Do your guests like to try out new things or do they often play it safe and order the dishes that they’re more familiar with?
Adi Nachson What do you consider a traditional dish? Taste is really individual and changes from country to country. For example, for me as an Israeli, a very traditional and classic meal is Shakshuka. But for you, this might seem like something very exotic. I have both locals as well as international tourists coming to Ugot, so everything depends on their perspective.
In general, I think my guests are quite open to trying new things, especially when their arrival in Ugot coincides with our cake decoration. They see us playing with the food and it makes them curious. Then we explain what’s special about it. We always take time to make personal recommendations – people often need a little bit of encouragement before trying something new.
E-MOUNTAINBIKE That’s so true. I was really curious about the Chinese cheesecake, made with pomelo and fortune cookies. To be honest, without your encouragement I wouldn’t have tried it! It was a bit bitter, different to what I expected, but really worth tasting.
Adi Nachson Ha, come on, be honest. Did you really like it? Often people try to be polite, but they shouldn’t bother. If you try something new, you’re stepping out of your comfort zone to broaden your horizon. When you do something unusual, there’s an inherent risk. But I think the bigger risk is not trying the great variety of things that life offers you. No matter how old or well-travelled you are, there will always be something new. Of course, trying these things can end in disappointment but it could also be fantastic. I’m willing to take on the responsibility of presenting new things to my guests and it’s a genuine reward when you see guests appreciating your work and enjoying it.
E-MOUNTAINBIKE As modest as ever, we watch Adi bat away the compliment. She knows we devoured that delicious cheesecake. We hope she is aware of just how well regarded Ugot is in Barcelona with its reputation for dishing up the finest brunches around. Thanks for your time, Adi.
We got a fortune cookie alongside our cheesecake. It read: ‘Don’t confuse a fulfilling career with a fulfilling life.’ But then we look at Adi, and the lines blur. In rare cases like hers, it looks a lot like the fulfilment of career and life can run in harmony. But what does all this have to do with eMTBing? It’s about tasting new things and not sticking to the same old menu. It might take a little courage, but once you realise just where a spoonful of adventure and curiosity will take you, nothing will ever taste the same again. New highs, new experiences, new places. Let yourself be guided by openness and diversity. So here’s to reawakening your curiosity – on and off the bike.
Escape your city – A real grown-up playground!!
Can you remember the days when your Lego was worth more to you than a Rolex? When your parents coaxed your feet into wellington boots and you jumped in the puddles? When you’d go off on an epic adventure in the park or playground and the clock would stand still. There was no boredom as hours flew by like minutes.
The good news is that as grown-ups, we are now no longer limited to roaming in restrictive playgrounds. With eMTBs we’ve got the childlike ease of climbing up the steepest slopes, riding more trails than ever before and discovering new, enchanted places. Nature is the playground of today and right now, that playground goes by the name Maresme, a stretch of coastline between Barcelona and the Costa Brava. Not just home to amazing trails but also a whole lot of surprises. Given its warm climate, it’s been dubbed ‘Maresme Tropical’ by locals.
Little beats the act of loading the bikes onto a pickup and getting out of the concrete jungle. Just 30 minutes out of Barcelona, you can choose between the mountains by Alella or Cabrils for your escape. You can’t really go wrong as both ranges have everything you could want. Sea views, delectable Catalan restaurants and a wealth of trails that cater for all tastes – from flow to technical, easy and mellow to are-you-out-of-your-mind. Add in the network of gravel roads and you can coast through the entire Maresme region with ease.
Take one of the gravel tracks into Cabrils’ mountains and it’s likely that you’ll end up passing ramshackle gates in front of an abandoned control hut that belongs to the old La Mutua Cabrils. This mythical place with its distinctive architecture was built to cure the ailments of workers in the metals industry. For us, it’s the perfect starting point for an adventure, a place to let our instincts off the leash. Is there anyone to stop us? We might be grown-ups, but these Haibikes let us become part-time kids again, curious and carefree. You won’t catch us longing for the playgrounds of our youth any longer – let’s just call eMTBs playground 2.0.
If you’re partial to local customs, a true Catalan adventure should end at a vermuteria – a locale serving the finest vermouths – or a calçotada – where you’ll gather around a fire and grill the calçots, a typical Catalan dish. However, you’ve probably still got to get home or to your hotel, so we recommend moderation #dontdrinkanddrive
We opt for the world-famous Vermutería Espinaler in Vilassar de Mar, with a sign on the doorway that reads: ‘Salut i Vermut’, which translates to ‘health and vermouth.’ First you play, then you indulge! Is there any finer way to while away the hours? #escapeyourcity
Here you’ll find all GPS files to our hand-selected routes around Maresme ebike-mtb.com/p2-maresme
Escape Essentials – Cafés, Bars, Restaurants, Dos und Don’ts in Barcelona
Bike-Shops
The Bike Village – bietet Leih- und Testbikes und organisiert Events
Where? Camí les Corts 5, 08349 Cabrera de Mar (Barcelona)
Web hebikevillage.com
Noulimits – rental bikes and test bikes
Where? Carretera Reial 79, 08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Web noulimits.com
LaBosch – custom routes and guiding, rental and test bike
Where? Carrer de Johann Sebastian Bach 18, 08021 Barcelona
Web labosch.es
PROBIKE
Where? Viladomat 310, 08029 Barcelona
Web probike.es
BiciEscapa
Where? Carrer de Montserrat 180, 08201 Sabadell (Barcelona)
Web biciescapa.com
Coffee & Relaxing
Ugot Bruncherie, Eixample – Barcelona’s finest brunch locale with eggs Benedict, exceptional cheesecakes and flamingos!
Where? Carrer Viladomat 138, 08015 Barcelona
Instagram @ugotbcn
Web ugotbruncherie.com
Cafeteria Industrial, Poblenou – delectable coffee and Japanese-inspired lunches with an inimitable ambiance
Where? Carrer de Pallars 154, 08005 Barcelona
Instagram @cafeteriaindustrial
Caj Chai, Gótico – Forget the coffee hype, this is the city’s finest tea shop
Where? Carrer de Salomó Ben Adret 12, 08002 Barcelona
Web cajchai.com
Drinks & Nightlife
Paradiso, El Born – A secret passageway way to a palate-pleasing nirvana with delicious cocktails and tasty snacks
Where? Carrer de Rera Palau 4, 08003 Barcelona
Instagram @paradiso_barcelona
Web paradiso.cat
Bar 33/45, El Raval – young, hip and dynamic cocktail bar-cum-art gallery with temporary exhibitions
Where? Carrer de Joaquín Costa 4, 08001 Barcelona
El Xampanyet, El Born – Crazy, noisy, disarming. Champagne and mouth-watering tapas – do you need anything else?
Where? Carrer de Montcada 22, 08003 Barcelona
Web elxampanyet.es
Food & Pleasure
The Green Spot – for connoisseurs, vegetarians, and those with an eye for design
Where?Carrer de la Reina Cristina 12, 08003 Barcelona
Pez Vela – a tranquil spot by Barceloneta beach with a seaview, excellent tapas and paella
Where?Passeig del Mare Nostrum 19–21, 08039 Barcelona
Parking Pizza – Outstanding pizzas served in a former car park – yes, even cooler than it sounds. There’s even parking for your bikes.
Where?Passeig de Sant Joan 56, 08009 Barcelona
Web parkingpizza.com
La Vinateria del Call – one of the city’s best tapas bars with an exceptional wine list in the Gothic quarter
Where?Carrer de Salomó Ben Adret 9, 08002 Barcelona
Web lavinateriadelcall.com
DO’S
- Get yourself to Bunkers del Carmel or Tibidabo to truly enjoy the sunrise or sunset with an unspoilt view over the city
- Go shopping in El Born
- Admire Gaudí’s masterpieces – the Sagrada Família, Parc Güell and La Pedrera
- Stand Up Paddling (SUP) at Barceloneta
- Take a day trip to the Costa Brava for its stunning beaches
- Be aimless: stroll through El Born or Gótico without an itinerary, ride the tide of the architecture and the locals, the boutiques and the cafes
- Check out the events calendar. Concerts, shows, or festivals are lined up every week
- Parc de la Ciutadella – an oasis in the city with a lake, zoo and lavish Baroque museums
DON’TS
- Leave your bike unattended (even if you’ve locked it)
- Drive in the city. You’ll have heavy traffic and extortionate car parking fees to contend with. If it’s unavoidable, make sure that all valuables are out of sight, especially in public car parks
- Suggest going for paella or tapas on one of the tourist streets. There are so many other options, just steer clear of the Sagrada Família and Las Ramblas for dining
- Think it’ll be romantic to stroll down Las Ramblas at night? It isn’t. Give it a wide berth.
- Lose sight of your wallet, purse or backpack, no matter how relaxed and friendly the bar seems
Catalan for beginners
While a grasp of Castellano – the standard Spanish you’ll have learnt at school – is certainly an asset in Barcelona, the way to truly acquaint yourself with the locals and win their favour is to throw out some Catalan.
Barna vs. Barça Don’t mix these up! The first is an affectionate abbreviation for the city, the latter is the football club
Pa amb tomàquet A typical Catalonian dish – for breakfast, as a starter or simply as a pick-me-up throughout the day. If you’re into Italian bruschetta, you’ll dig this
Butifarra Usually grilled, these sausages are a Catalan delicacy
Calçots/Calçotada Barbequed spring onions with a special local sauce. You eat these with your hands so mess is unavoidable
Vermutería A traditional bar specialised in serving vermouth
Patatas bravas Golden roast potatoes with a hot sauce – not just for the ‘brave’, despite the name
Cervesa Beer – any questions? There’s a lot of local craft beers to be tried in Barcelona, denoted by the word ‘artesanal’ in their names. In Castellano, cerveza is written with a Z.
Important words
bon dia [bɔŋ ˈdi:a] – hello/good day
sí [si] – yes
no [no] – no
si us plau [si us plaurə] – please
mercés [mərkε] – thanks
tancat [təŋkat] – closed
obert [ubεrt] – open
salut [səlut] – cheers
perdó [pərdo] – excuse me
no parlo català [no ˈparlo kətəla] – I don’t speak Catalan
Escape faster – The Haibike escape vehicle in detail
The Haibike XDURO Nduro is a contemporary classic, with a sleek design and well-considered spec that renders it the ultimate choice for the style-conscious Barcelona. Its powerful Bosch motor, 180 mm travel and hard-wearing components ensure that you’re equipped for adventures on the dry, dusty trails, roots and rocks on the fringes of the city. While coasting through the urban jungle you can rely on its sophisticated and refined look that lends you an understated cool. However, it’s not so indiscrete that you’ll fly under the radar unnoticed – expect a whole lot of interest #blingbling
Fork FOX 36 Float Performance 180 mm
Rear shock FOX Float X2 Performance 180 mm
Motor/Battery Bosch Performance Line CX 500 Wh
Drivetrain SRAM GX 1×12
Brakes Magura MT7 203/180 mm
Seatpost Kind Shock LEV
Stem Haibike Components TheStem 45 mm
Handlebar Haibike Components TheBar +++ 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss FR1950 27.5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHRII 2.8″
For more information head to haibike.com
An overview of the E-MOUNTAINBIKE City Escape
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Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt
