Alpha Cycle : A Magical 5-Day Ride in Mojocar, Andalucia
Adriel Stanley (1), Andrew Imanuel (3), Clara Adora (5), Katherine Vincent (16)
XIIA1
Alpha Cycle is one of the many training camps based in London. Founded by George Williams in 1989, Alpha Cycle was committed to provide second-to-none riding experiences for avid cyclists. However, it was not until August 2017 when Alpha Cycle finally succeeded in living up to its commitment and gained international recognition for its pioneering five-day riding programme in Mojocar, Andalucia.
The first day of the programme begins with an epic ride heading towards a majestic waterfall secluded in one of Andalucia’s hidden gems. Splashes of water from the waterfall creates magical whirling fog around. The second day of the trip offers a mountain ride across the hills. The challenging ascending route along the hills are perfect for adrenaline seekers. On the next day, the trip begins from Los Gallardos into the orange groves. This ride is the beginning of a snaking, two-mile, magnificent car-free climb, which is accompanied with exceptional views over the valley. On the end of the route, participants may opt to explore a back road over the ridge which leads back to Bedar.
On the penultimate day of the programme, the cyclists are able to enjoy the beauty of nature with a night ride under the shimmering unlimited number of stars. Finally, the last day ends the programme with a ride accompanied by a superb view of sunset, symbolising the end of the energy-draining but unforgettable trip.
Apart from the activities, the five-day programme is perfected with exquisite accommodation. Participants stay at Hotel Premiere, a convenient four star hotel which overlooks the beautiful hills of Andalucia. As Alpha Cycle has been in partnership with Hotel Premiere for more than two decades, the cost of accommodation is relatively affordable. Included in the price are wifi, breakfast and access to the famous Hotel Premiere Spa and Reflexology.
Mouth-watering food is given three times (aside from the free complimentary breakfast) a day during the trip. While for the drinks, the participants are provided with fresh water anytime since the guides always carry enough amount of water in their carry-ons. To my amazement, hot drinks are also provided in times when participants are taking breaks between rides.
Notwithstanding the impressive efforts done well by Alpha Cycle to make the trip spectacular, nothing is perfect in life. Based on my own experience, there were some drawbacks present in the trip. First, upon arriving in Andalucia, it was quite difficult to locate the meeting point decided by Alpha Cycle. Many participants could not locate the meeting point, which in turn caused our trip to be postponed. I was, for once, surprised to learn that the meeting point was a small park near a bike rental shop in the rural area of Andalucia. Second, the guides were not quite familiar with the history and culture of Andalucia. If the guides had known better about the places we visited, the trip would have been more than a physical endeavour but a deep contemplation of the beauty of Andalucia. Third, there were no wake-up calls. Hence, on each day of the programme, there were several participants who woke up late, and again, caused our trip to be postponed.
Overall, the five-day riding programme offered by Alpha Cycle is unparalleled. It encompasses the needs and desires of every cyclist; an adrenaline rush saturated with unforgettable adventures and nature’s beauty. It is undeniable that the trip has its faults. However, the trip is still very much recommended. With Alpha Cycle raising the bar for other training camps, it is exciting to imagine what other riding trips hold for cyclists in the future.
These are the stars I saw on the penultimate day of the programme
