In January 2021, international cycling travel had almost stopped. Murcia Bike Hire faced an understandably quiet start to the year.
Then an unexpected message arrived through our website.
Grace Barnott Palin, then Editor-in-Chief of Bike Magazine, invited me to write a 1,500-word feature. She wanted me to introduce readers to road cycling in the Murcia Region.
The invitation gave me a welcome challenge during a difficult period. It also let me share roads our customers had enjoyed for years.
Alex and I took over Murcia Bike Hire in October 2018. By 2021, we had already helped many riders explore the Mar Menor and wider region.
Bike Magazine published “Cycling Holidays in Murcia, South Eastern Spain” in its February 2021 edition. The article covered three double-page spreads and began on page 48.
Looking beyond Spain’s familiar cycling destinations
Cyclists planning a trip to Spain often think first of Mallorca, Girona or the Costa Blanca.
I wanted Bike Magazine readers to discover another side of Spanish cycling: the varied roads of the Murcia Region.
The feature started beside the Mar Menor. It then followed the roads towards Portmán, La Unión and Cartagena.
I also introduced Cresta del Gallo, Garruchal and the long climbs of Sierra Espuña.
These roads do not offer one uniform style of riding. Cyclists can combine flat lagoon kilometres with Mediterranean coastal climbs.
They can also explore former mining landscapes, agricultural backroads and demanding mountain routes.
That variety remains one of the great strengths of cycling here today.
A favourite ride from Los Alcázares
One of the main routes began in Los Alcázares and followed the western shore of the Mar Menor.
The ride passed through El Carmolí, Los Urrutias and Punta Brava. It then continued through Estrella de Mar and Los Nietos.
I had ridden this road many times with family, friends and customers. Frequent lagoon views make it memorable. The waterside villages also offer plenty of places to pause.
Beyond Los Nietos, riders face a choice. They can continue towards Mar de Cristal or turn inland through Los Belones.
The inland road enters La Manga Club. Around 24 kilometres after Los Alcázares, it starts climbing towards the ridge above Portmán Bay.
At the ridge, cyclists can adapt the route to suit their legs. Some return through La Manga Club to the flatter lagoon roads.
Others descend the Green Mile towards Portmán. From there, they can continue through the former mining landscape towards La Unión.
That flexibility made the route ideal for visiting riders. It combines coastline, climbing and culture, yet leaves room for individual choices.
I wrote at the time that the views would remain in the “cycling memory bank” for years to come. They still do.
From Murcia Bike Hire to OriMar Bikes
The magazine captured an important chapter in our business history.
At that time, we operated as Murcia Bike Hire. We supplied Cervélo and Focus carbon road bikes and developed complete cycling holidays.
Our work covered a much wider area. It took us from the Mar Menor and La Manga Club to Sierra Espuña.
Much has changed since Bike Magazine published those pages.
Murcia Bike Hire has evolved into OriMar Bikes. We now operate from Pilar de la Horadada.
We focus on premium bike hire across the Orihuela Costa and Mar Menor coastal corridor. Our current fleet features BMC Teammachine SLR carbon road bikes. Each bike uses Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed electronic shifting.
We no longer organise complete cycling-holiday packages. Instead, we prepare every bike professionally and deliver it to the rider’s accommodation.
We also provide an individual setup and local GPX guidance for confirmed customers.
We have narrowed our operating area, but we have not lost that experience. Years of rides, customer support and practical lessons still shape OriMar Bikes.
Local knowledge built through real rides
Local knowledge means more than listing place names or drawing a route on a screen.
You gain it by riding the roads in different seasons. You learn where the terrain changes and where the wind matters.
You also discover how to shorten a ride without losing its best sections.
Customer conversations add another layer. After a ride, we ask which roads they enjoyed, where they stopped and what they remembered.
I shared that practical knowledge with Bike Magazine readers in 2021. We bring the same approach to every OriMar customer today.
Read the original Bike Magazine feature
Bike Magazine still keeps the complete six-page article in its February 2021 archive. The feature begins on page 48.
The interactive viewer can occasionally load slowly. We have therefore included the original double-page spreads in this journal story.
For a closer look at one featured ride, read Los Alcázares to Portmán via La Manga Club.
You can also explore our current Los Alcázares Cycling Guide and La Manga Club Cycling Guide.
Our wider Mar Menor Cycling Area Guides bring the surrounding routes together.
Once you confirm your accommodation and travel dates, you can check current bike availability online.
