A gentle first taste of gravel on wide riverside tracks, covering 34 km with 250 m of climbing.
from €75 per rider
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Riverside Gravel Intro near Leon — easy, 34 km is an easy gravel tour in Leon, taking in Riverside tracks.
Places on the way: Riverside tracks
Riverside Gravel Intro is a 34 km ride for people who have never taken a bike off tarmac, or who have tried it once and want a calmer second go. It follows wide riverside tracks near Leon, with only 250 m of climbing across the whole distance, so the effort stays low and your attention can go to the surface under your tyres.
The ride is built around learning. Wide tracks leave room to choose a line, to brake early and to find out how a gravel bike behaves on loose ground. Nothing here asks for technical skill or strong legs.
Among the Ride Leon tours, this is the gentle entry to gravel. The Forest Gravel Loop covers 72 km in a full day, and the Volcano Gravel Day goes up to 88 km with much more climbing. Riverside Gravel Intro is the one to book first if you want to see whether unpaved riding suits you before committing to a long day.
This is an easy-rated ride, aimed at beginners to gravel. If you can ride a bike comfortably for a couple of hours on flat ground, you have the fitness for it. It also works for road cyclists who have never ridden unpaved surfaces, and for returning riders who want a low-pressure day out.
It is not the right pick if you want a workout. With 250 m of climbing over 34 km, the profile is close to flat. Strong riders looking for a challenge will find more to work with on the Volcano Gravel Day or The Big Climb Morning.
The route stays on wide tracks beside the river, which is what makes it forgiving. Broad, fairly even surfaces give you space to move around loose patches and to ride side by side with someone for a chat. Gradients are gentle, so you are rarely out of the saddle or working hard.
Expect a mix of compacted gravel and looser sections. Both are good places to practise the basics of gravel riding: staying relaxed on the bars, keeping a steady pace through looser stretches and braking smoothly rather than suddenly.
The Forest Gravel Loop is a 72 km full day with forest shade and farm roads. The Volcano Gravel Day is longer again and the most demanding gravel option. Riverside Gravel Intro is less than half the length of the forest loop and keeps the climbing to a minimum.
Compared with the Greenway Easy Day from Leon, which is also flat and relaxed, this ride puts you on unpaved ground rather than a car-free greenway. It is the better choice if gravel itself is what you want to try.
Wear cycling shorts or comfortable layers, closed shoes and sunglasses, as loose gravel can flick up grit. Bring a water bottle and a small snack, since 34 km at an easy pace still takes a good part of the day. Check with the partner when booking whether a gravel bike and helmet are provided, and what size range is available. If you have your own bike, ask whether it is suitable for the tracks before you arrive.
No. The ride is rated easy and uses wide riverside tracks, so it is designed for people trying gravel for the first time.
Barely. The 34 km includes about 250 m of climbing in total, which is gentle and spread across the ride.
The Forest Gravel Loop is a 72 km full day with a rolling profile. This ride is 34 km, flatter and easier, so it works as a first step before a longer gravel day.
Check with the partner when booking whether bikes, helmets and sizes are provided, as this depends on the booking.
E-bike
A short, relaxed e-bike loop linking the old town, river bridges and parks, with gentle hills made easy by motor assistance.
Easy, Half day
from €85 per rider Not bookable right now
Gravel
A long day on pine-forest tracks and farm lanes east of the city, with a steady 1,050 m of climbing across the loop.
Moderate, Full day
from €160 per rider Not bookable right now
Touring
A flat, traffic-free day on a former railway path towards the coast, ridden at your own pace with only 180 m of climbing.
Easy, Full day
from €45 per rider Not bookable right now