Girona, Before the Season Starts

Girona felt like a good way to start the year. Not as a training camp, not as a race prep. Just a few days on Cinelli bikes, good coffee, long rides, and time together.

It ended up being exactly what we want RPM to be. A group of people who enjoy riding, who are curious, who are willing to push a bit further than usual. No pressure, no expectations. Just showing up as you are, with whatever shape you’re in, and seeing where the road takes you.

Some came to ride longer than they ever had before. Others to explore new terrain. Some are just happy to be there. And that’s fine, that’s the amazing part.

Marie came in after a winter full of injuries. There had been no riding, and confidence to ride with this group wasn’t a given. Back home, the longest climb she’d ever done was around 130 meters of elevation. In Girona, that changed quickly. Three days in a row she took on proper climbs. First Els Àngels, then Sant Grau d’Ardenya, and the day after that Turó de l’Home — one of the classic Girona road cycling climbs. A 25 km climb with around 1500 meters of elevation. Not just getting through it, but actually riding it without bonking. These kind of days made her rethink what she thought was possible.

Liv and Warre weren’t there just for the long days. They brought extra wheels and went out to scout parts of the Traka route — the gravel race held every spring in Girona. Proper gravel, rougher than what we’re used to back home. It changed how Warre looked at the race. Maybe also how he’ll ride it.

What started as a joke quickly turned into a real plan. While mapping out routes, we came up with a 295 km loop with around 3500 meters of elevation. It wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. He did anyway.
He rolled out with the group and stayed with us for the first 70 km. When we stopped for coffee, he didn’t. Just a quick water refill and he was off again, heading into the rest of the loop on his own. No second thoughts. 
Safe to say he’s taking his Trans Balkan Race prep seriously — 1,400 km of unsupported bikepacking across the Balkans.

But not everything was about numbers.
Most of the memories were made in between. Coffee stops that turned into long breaks. Getting to know each other better while riding a long climb. BBQs in the evening. Some natural wine before dinner. Talking about bikes, or not talking about bikes at all.

We’re all different. Different lives, jobs, backgrounds. But for a few days, it lines up. You ride together, you share something simple, and that’s enough.

Girona felt like a good start. Not a peak. Just an apero before what’s coming this summer.

This post was made in collaboration with RPM Souplesse. To learn more about the collective, their rides, and their philosophy, visit rpmsouplesse.com.