How to Prepare for El Piri Gravel Event

El Piri is an 800km fixed route of mixed gravel and tarmac terrain through the most beautiful areas in the Catalan Pyrenees. While the route follows some of the best gravel available, it is not all perfectly smooth and, with 20,000 meters of climbing, the route is demanding. The event is organised by L’esperit del Bikepacking, an organisation devoted to getting more people into bikepacking through their events and trips. L’esperit del Bikepacking is founded by ultra-endurance racer James Hayden, who is two-time winner of the Transcontinental Race and podium holder at Silk Road, Atlas Mountain Race, and Highland Trail 550.

The idea of El Piri came about as I wanted to develop a beautiful mountain route in Europe, but one that was easier and did not require hiking or hard riding. Having moved away from Girona to living deep in the Catalan Pyrenees, the idea of connecting the two in a loop seemed natural, but to make it possible required a lot of work!

The name El Piri is short for L’esperit del Pirineus, which is Catalan for ‘the spirit of the Pyrenees’. Our logo is inspired by our family dog, Piri, who is a Catalan sheep dog. Piri loves nothing more than being outside adventuring in the mountains. His fun and energetic nature embodies the spirit we seek for the event, which is why we named this event after him.

Routes are like music, they need the right tone, tempo and flow. Anyone can make a route, but a truly great route takes skill and vision. Finding the flow for El Piri took months of research, months of field testing and then lots of editing the pieces together. The vision was always a beautiful gravel route that is achievable to most. Finding the right level was a challenge; blending beautiful mountain roads and beautiful vistas with quiet and easier tarmac roads, to take riders through a flow of highs and lows.

I was drawn to Spain by the warm weather, beautiful countryside, and quieter pace of life. I stayed for the beautiful nature and the warm, kind people here. It is a fantastic place to live, at our home in the Vall d’Aneú we are bordered on one side by a Natural Park and the other a National Park.

I scouted the route several times, via different forms of bike. I actually used my motorbike to do the initial scouting as I can cover big ground and get a good rough mental map of the area. I then returned on my hardtail to start riding sections and get a more intricate feel and knowledge of them. For these scouting trips I have to carry more kit than I would when racing, both to make content but also to be prepared for the unexpected – you don’t know how long it will take! I was loaded up with the full suite for an expedition; front roll, frame bag and rear rack. I prefer to travel with a bit more stuff but be comfortable and prepared. I then went and re-rode some sections on my gravel bike, but with a lighter setup (just a rear rack and frame bag), so I could get a feel for what these sections would be like for people doing the event on a gravel bike!

Here are my top picks for equipment when riding the El Piri route,

When I scouted the route, every new place I rode was the highlight. Then, when I re-scouted the route, my highlight was always changing as I rode sections again. The honest answer is that it is all amazing and really the highlight is wherever you are at that moment. Perhaps you pass through the Serra Boumort at sunrise or see the stars in the Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu, or you get back to Girona just before night falls, when the city is bustling with people dining out.

The route for El Piri is free and available for anyone to ride whenever they want. June is the perfect time to enjoy the route at its best, with the snow gone but the full heat of summer not yet having arrived. We chose this time of year for the official event for a good reason!

If you are adventuring out on the route at your own pace, we have some helpful tips below to enjoy it at its best.

Time of year: Ride the route between May and September, as higher parts are covered in snow over winter! Looking at webcams on Projecte4estacions will give you an idea of snow cover.
Weather: In summer the weather should be mostly good, but mountains can be unpredictable so be prepared and check local weather source Meteo to keep updated.
Bike: People have ridden on both drop bar gravel bikes and flat bar mountain bikes for the event. It can be done on either and some really enjoyed a little suspension!
Resupply: The route goes through small villages or towns every 50km, so resupply is plentiful. Just be mindful of Spanish operating hours – siestas are a real thing, and this means shops can be closed for a few hours in the middle of the day.
Accommodation: Most of the smaller towns have a hotel or hostel.
Tyres: While the route is 50% tarmac, 50% gravel, off-road tyres with grip are a must, and wider than 45mm is suggested.
Luggage: It is mostly a 4–7-day adventure, and with the possibility for mountain weather you will need to pack appropriately. A rear bag, frame pack, and front roll should do well for most.
James’ top tip for riders: Slow down and enjoy the views! Camping wild up at about 2,000m in the Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu is allowed, and highly recommended. Fall asleep under the stars and wake up to the sun rising across the mountains of Catalunya.

The Route

Entry Form

Entry for El Piri 2025 is now open, so join us at the official event for a real sense of community and adventure! The event starts on 14^th June from Girona City Centre, at the spacious, open courtyard at The Service Course.

In partnership with Tailfin, we will be premiering the film ‘El Piri: The Spirit of the Catalan Pyrenees’ on our YouTube channel on 10^th December.

Until then, you can watch the film introduction which gives you a snapshot of what you can expect from the event, from the route and the breathtaking scenery to the community and making new friends with like-minded adventurers.

Follow us on Instagram @lesperitdelbikeacking to keep up to date with the latest news.