Video: A Supercar, A Gravel Bike & Techy Trails

May 1, 2019
by David Cachon  

My right foot remains firm and precise, my arms semi-flexed but waiting for any signal to react, the wonderful roar of the V8 engine is music to my ears and the 625 hp of the McLaren MP4-12C push me furiously down the back roads. I'm heading towards the mountains. No need to confess that I love any kind of machine with wheels, so despite driving a sport car as special as this I guess you understand that I should also carry my bike on this trip. Yes, I know that it breaks the aerodynamics of this supercar but in this life everything has a beginning and an end and the roads, although many times they may seem infinite, are also finished and that's where the path start, those that do not maps, those that take us to unexplored and amazing places.

The truth is that the figures of this car had me a bit restless at first, from 0 to 100 in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 333 km/h. A weight of only 1350 Kg (+11 Kg extra of my Kross Esker).

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

A faithful competitor of cars such as the Mercedes SLS, the Ferrari 458 or the Lamborghini Aventador. Everything to indicate that it would not be easy to drive but even though it was not their natural habitat, as the bumpy country roads were not ideal for their benefits, I loved how easy to manage it is.

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

The adventure began with rhythm, good day, sun, ideal conditions to enjoy a good route by car. The curves were linked one after the other, suddenly something catches my attention, I seem to spot something in the distance. I swear it was a catwalk on a river ?.

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

Immediately I give a swerve in the first detour I see, but shit, the road ends here, I can't keep going with the McLaren so it's time to pedal and give free rein to all those riding desires that I had accumulated along the way.


An infinite dirt track brings me closer to what looks like a castle in the distance, it is Alquézar, a town located in the municipality of the Natural Park of the Sierra and the Canyons of Guara. Its construction dates from the ninth century and everything in this place seems to be taken from a story worthy of the best troubadours. Streets of yesteryear, magical corners and a rich local cuisine flood everything.

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

But what I'm looking for is near, a descent of stone stairs called the "Barranco de la Fuente". Here begins a journey that will test my balance and all my senses. The humidity hugs the rocks and the wheels do not find grip anywhere, you have to release the brake and touch it only in areas that can provide grip. The griffon vultures fly in a circle above me, I think they sense that I am a stranger and something disturbs them.

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

The sections of path, rocks and wooden walkways take me down canyon, I don't see the water of the Vero river but it is already intuited. Suddenly the canyon opens and "voilà" the Picamartillo Cave discovers before me the path to the waterfall in the Azud.

photo

I climb some stairs and sprint through the metal walkways, the width is minimal and you have to spin very thin to not touch with the handlebar on the handrails, as that could have fatal consequences. The catwalk is so narrow that in some sections I must spend doing a wheelie and bouncing the rear wheel so that the handlebars pass over the cable rails.

photo

Once the action by the canyons begins a relentless and hard climb that after fighting against my own legs get to the top. There it was, shining, roaring again, the McLaren would take me home again. This had been a different adventure,

Supercars gravel bikes and dangerous trails

I would say twice, the passion for driving and the passion for riding a bicycle had embraced and I do not know which of the two I was having more fun. Gas and pedals my friends, see you in the next
adventure.

Text & riding: David Cachon
Photography & film: Fernando Marmolejo

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Member since Jun 17, 2015
30 articles

68 Comments
  • 152 1
 I may not be able to afford a super car, but at least I am smart enough to buy proper mountain bike.
  • 28 0
 He must have been gutted when he got all the way there and realised he'd put his racer on the roof
  • 6 1
 I skipped around in the video waiting for flat bars and suspension
  • 3 0
 ha ha fcvking yes mate... awesome comment
  • 6 3
 Still better than the e-bike uphill video.
  • 2 2
 wtf is this db crap doing on here...
  • 2 1
 @colincolin: not a chance
  • 69 0
 The McLaren added nothing to this video. Nice ego stroke tho
  • 8 0
 no kidding. rally that damn thing.
  • 4 0
 Using web traffic metrics to detect dentists tho'.
  • 47 0
 Who the F drives a car with their bike helmet on?
#kook
  • 35 0
 I bet he sniffs his fingers after taking a dump.
  • 2 0
 me cause its comfee
  • 3 2
 When I decide I go for a ride, I put my bike clothing, helmet on head so I don't have to bring it in my hands, grab the bike, put it in the car, then sit in the car and I still have the helmet on my head. And since I don't have long to drive, I just leave it there.
  • 4 1
 @thesmith23: squid alert
  • 22 0
 A few weeks ago while riding to the trailhead I passed a huge lifted Jeep with a sticker on the back that said "Don't Follow Me, You Won't Make It"

Really wished I had the same sticker on the back of my bike as I went by him to trails that his Jeep couldn't dream of surviving.

Bikes are awesome.
  • 10 2
 JEEP- Junk Each & Every Piece, Just Empty Every Pocket
:-)
  • 8 0
 @preach: I mean, they are definitely over priced and horrible value for what you get, but nothing beats the experience of driving around without doors and a roof.
  • 4 0
 @preach: used to be "just everybody else's parts" my first Jeep"a1971 wagoneer" had a Chrysler engine, GM transmission, and Ford axles. My current Jeep "2005 liberty" I'm pretty sure is made by Fiat " Fix it again tomorrow" has been quite reliable in fact. A vehicle is only as good as it's treated.
  • 21 0
 Way to shred, but I couldn't stop thinking how much more fun those trails would be on a proper mountain bike. I suppose some prefer their punishment in different forms.
  • 21 0
 Nice work, but Sagan would have done it with the saddle at full height and used the Maclaren for burnouts.
  • 12 0
 Some pretty impressive riding there! Do not by a gravel bike from this man! Fun to watch, cheers.
  • 11 1
 Man, I wish there was a place to comment, so that people could read my thoughts.
  • 9 1
 But really, I'm sure the camera did not capture the gradient on some of those slopes. Nice shred.
  • 8 1
 @BIKE-TROLL: wait...other people can read these?
  • 7 0
 Cool terrain and a good rider, but I don't get it. This bike makes all the fun parts lamer. Seeing a sportscar like that do 30k/hour is a bit underwhelming as well. Gonna go watch an MTB vid now...
  • 9 0
 He rides his cyclocross bike better than I ride my full-sus 29er.
  • 1 6
flag grim007 (May 1, 2019 at 11:19) (Below Threshold)
 Its a gravel bike.
  • 18 1
 @grim007: Good point, because there's a massive difference between the two.
  • 1 3
 @garneau565: yep,usually double the tire width
  • 2 0
 @Sethimus: Cyclocross bikes run 33mm tires (UCI regulation); gravel bikes do not run 66mm tires unless you're on the likes of a Surly Karate Monkey
  • 7 0
 *drives car to dirt with basically-a-road-bike on top*
*rides basically-a-road-bike on dirt*
*drives car home with basically-a-road-bike on top of car*

*headdesk*
  • 5 0
 Driving with a helmet on, not even once.
  • 2 0
 Why not a proper MTB? i guess just because he can? The McClaren is sick, but should have shown more driving shots. Scenery was awesome...would love to ride there on a full suspension.
  • 4 0
 I like bikes, I like cars, I like good riding. Needless to say, I enjoyed this video.
  • 1 0
 I get some people like to punish themselves in different ways, like single speed rigid's or offroad unicycles, but drop bar's will never make sense off road to me.... And take your helmet off and put it on the passenger seat while you are driving...
  • 3 1
 Lame, your car should never cost more than your bike, so you don’t have to ride a f*cking road bike off road.
  • 2 0
 Came here for the comments and was not disappointed. Mad skills, but really? I guess I won't knock it til I try it....nah!
  • 2 0
 Great vid, beautiful scenery and amazing skills! But these trails definitely deserve a MTB.
  • 3 0
 Am I the only one that went straight to the comments?
  • 2 1
 Now i've pretty much seen it all. But I have to ask WHY? Just because you can, sometimes you shouldn't... Why not just ride a good ol' fashioned FS MTB?!
  • 4 0
 way too much spandex
  • 1 0
 I love my Giant Revolt! Being able to adjust my ride on the fly and hit the hills is awesome!
  • 2 0
 I thought Gwin was the only biker with a super careful
  • 8 0
 Kerr has a dope Reliant too
  • 2 1
 That is a Game of Thrones shoot location. Would have been better with Daenerys in Lycra!
  • 2 0
 sorry, not usually a hater, but the beginning was pretty kooky
  • 2 0
 Why would you ruin a perfectly good trail by riding a road bike on it
  • 3 0
 That was dumb...
  • 1 0
 Troy Queef is alive and well I see.
  • 4 4
 Mate,that has to be your best video to date. Beautiful work and stunning scenery Beer VOD for me no question!
  • 2 0
 this smells of formage
  • 1 0
 Still not buying one of those racks.
  • 2 0
 wtf.............
  • 1 0
 Wait he isn't Riding clipless?
  • 1 0
 Nice scenery and all, but ultimately pointless.
  • 1 3
 this just proves my theory that roadies are gay....
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