A few years ago, I participated in a charity cycling event called “TechBikers“, cycling 300km from Paris to London in just three days. I cycled it on my dad’s 1981 Vitus road bike, converted into a fixed gear single speed for the occasion. And while the roads from Paris to England are nothing special, I had an amazing time, developing what would soon become a new hobby. The issue is, I don’t really do “hobbies” — I either become passionate or don’t do anything at all.

Four years later, I now cycle about 10,000km per year — fixed gear, road and gravel being the three disciplines keeping me on the saddle. I even competed in a couple of ultra gravel events but quickly realized sleepless nights on a bike — only to come back with iPhone photos — just wasn’t my thing…

So a few months ago, I acquired a Leica Q3, to combine two passions of mine: photography and off-road cycling adventures. My first trip with the camera was to the region of Guadix, East of Granada, a high plain at the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

The following is a photo series from the impressive landscapes North of Guadix, during a 130km gravel ride. The route was inspired by Badlands, an annual gravel race in the region.

The ride started through a “gravel snake” of beautiful paths, zigzagging my way to the North.

Getting to the town of Gorafe, landscapes started to change with even more arid areas.

Part of the Gorafe Desert, you can see on the following photos “Los Coloraos”, known for their reddish canyons. It would be easy to think you’re in the Grand Canyon, but you’re in the South of Spain, in Europe.

If you’re wondering about how it feels to cycle on such terrain, it can either be incredibly smooth (when dry, as pictured here) or slow and sticky (when wet). In good weather, you’re flying on the bike and the rolling resistance from the ground is hardly perceptible.

This area is famously known as “badlands” because its soil is unsuitable for farming. A strange but inspiring land for the adventurers.

In the middle of autumn, the experience is radically different from the summer: the sun was setting early and temperatures dropping fast. I layered up and slightly changed my original plan, returning to Guadix through some smooth gravel.

After doing the Basajaun in July 2023, I changed my mind about ultra races — they aren’t for me. While I’m confident I can still significantly improve my fitness and technical skills, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to enjoy a journey while racing. Cycling through incredible regions without time constraints has been a much more enjoyable experience for me. I get to pick and choose which parts I ride, truly get to take the landscapes in, and avoid torturing my body to reach some idiotic goal.

I still have some ambitious ideas for future cycling adventures, but with the camera at reach and on my own terms. More in the coming months! 👋