Your guest guide · 21–27 April 2027
You're joining us.
Let's get you ready.
Welcome to your UNCHAINED guide. Here's what to organise before you travel, how to prepare for the riding, and when you'll hear from us.
Getting here
Compare flights to Castellón, Valencia and Reus, then check the onward journey as well as the flight price. If you're travelling with a bike box, include that in your plans from the start.
CDT
An airport option within Castellón province. The airport lists a flight-linked bus to Castellón bus station, beside the railway station, plus a shuttle to Torreblanca station.
Check the connection to Benicàssim for your flight, or ask Paloma about transfer arrangements. Confirm bike-box space with the operator.
Official airport transport guideVLC
Metro lines 3 and 5 connect the airport with Valencia. For an onward rail journey, check the departure station, connections and your final stop before buying tickets.
Allow for getting from the airport to the station and onward to Casa. Ask us to check your proposed journey if you're unsure.
Official airport metro guideREU
An alternative to compare if its flights suit your dates. Plan the onward journey separately: the airport's bus guide includes connections into Reus and towards rail services.
Check every connection and the full arrival time before committing, especially with a bike box.
Official airport bus guidePlease check the confirmed departure status and arrival window with Paloma. Your stay runs from 21 to 27 April; the exact check-in time, Casa address and meeting point will be sent in your joining instructions.
Transfers are only arranged when explicitly confirmed with you. Send your proposed flights and ask about availability, cost and bike-box capacity.
Email your arrival and departure airport or station, dates, times, flight or train numbers, and whether you're bringing a bike box. Tell us if you've arranged your own onward transport.
Send your travel detailsBook your airline's bike allowance and follow its packing rules. Rail bike rules depend on the service and how the bike is packed; a bike box is not automatically accepted as ordinary luggage. Check Renfe's current bicycle guidance for your train.
Transport links checked October 2026. Check timetables again for your April 2027 travel dates.
The event at the heart of UNCHAINED
A big day on the road, from the Mediterranean coast into the hills of Castellón. The Gran Fondo starts and finishes in Oropesa del Mar, with inland villages, sustained climbs and a finish-line celebration along the way.
A gran fondo is an organised mass-participation road ride. This event is classified by its organiser as a non-competitive cycling challenge: the reward is in finding your own pace and completing the ride you've prepared for.
Past routes have taken riders through climbs such as Cabanes, La Serratella and La Bandereta. Expect a day where pacing, comfortable gearing and a familiar food-and-drink routine matter as much as distance.
The 2026 edition offered 110 km, 160 km and 196 km options. These give a sense of the event's scale; they are not confirmed routes for 2027.
Our previous UNCHAINED app focused on the 160 km option, with a course-preview ride and a quieter preparation day before the event. We'll use that experience to help you prepare and discuss a suitable route once the new details are available.
Visit the event organiserThe organiser's pages checked in October 2026 still describe the 2026 edition. We'll confirm the 2027 event date, routes, climbing, cut-off times and GPX files when published. Please check your event-entry arrangements with Paloma before registering separately.
We'll share the entry and bib-collection arrangements, meeting time and how to get to the start. Keep your preparation ride comfortable and leave time to check the bike and lay out your kit.
Start at an effort you can sustain, use familiar food and drink, and follow the organiser's briefing and road instructions. Choose your route around your preparation and the official cut-offs.
Allow time to recover, eat and enjoy the atmosphere. We'll confirm the group's return arrangements and plans for the following day in your final itinerary.
Event background: organiser's 2026 regulations. Previous distances and climbs: Diputación de Castellón's 2026 event presentation.
Preparing for the riding
The aim is to feel comfortable spending time on the bike over several days. Start from the riding you already do and build steadily. These are general preparation tips; your own starting point matters.
Choose a riding routine you can repeat alongside work and life. Shorter regular rides are a useful foundation; avoid trying to make up missed weeks with one huge session.
Extend a comfortable ride a little at a time as you adapt. Keep most of it at a pace where you can talk, and give yourself easier days after demanding rides.
Include some manageable climbs when you can. Practise choosing an easy gear early and riding at a steady effort rather than chasing speed. Descend within your comfort and skill level.
Use familiar rides to test your kit, bottles and the food you like carrying. Check that your shoes, shorts and saddle are comfortable before a week away.
Keep rest days and lighter riding in your routine. If you're unusually tired, reduce the load. Let us know if an injury or change in circumstances affects your preparation.
Leave time to pack, sleep and travel. Keep the final days comfortable instead of squeezing in a last-minute fitness test. Arriving rested is part of preparing well.
Unsure what to work towards? Tell Paloma your usual weekly riding, longest recent ride and how you feel on climbs so we can discuss your preparation.
Further reading: British Cycling: choosing a training plan and balancing training and recovery.
Your bike & kit
Send your height, usual bike size and pedal preference early. We'll confirm availability, price and collection arrangements separately. You'll receive the provider's rental agreement to review and complete.
If you're bringing your own bike, you don't need a rental agreement.
Check the forecast shortly before departure and adjust your layers. We'll confirm any route-specific kit with the final riding information.
Review your travel cover for the cycling and any event participation you plan to do, including your bike if you're bringing it.
Your pre-trip checklist
We'll email you at each stage. Keep an eye out for the forms and reply if anything in your arrangements changes.
Health information is collected privately. Please use the questionnaire link in your email when it arrives; don't send sensitive details to a group chat.
Your base for the week
Your six-night stay runs from Wednesday 21 April to Tuesday 27 April. You'll receive the address and check-in arrangements directly before you travel.
Check your room arrangement against your personal confirmation. If you have a question about sharing, accessibility or anything you need for your stay, contact Paloma ahead of arrival.
We'll confirm dietary arrangements with you after checking the relevant meal providers.
Your booking admin
Your €150 deposit counts towards your agreed tour price. The balance is due on 20 February 2027.
Use your personal confirmation and invoice for your exact total and extras. Payment instructions will arrive directly from us.
If your plans change, contact Paloma as soon as possible. The terms supplied with your booking apply; ask for a copy or clarification if you need one.
Payment breakdown, excluding any separately agreed extras.
This is a reference breakdown, not a live payment record. If you've made a further payment, your latest receipt reflects it.
Ask about your paymentAlready booked? You're in the right place.
Your stay begins on 21 April. Paloma will confirm the arrival window and send the address, meeting point and final itinerary in your joining instructions. Check the timing with us before booking transport.
Only if we have confirmed that with you directly. Send your flight details and whether you're carrying a bike box so we can discuss the arrangements and any cost.
Tell Paloma privately so we can discuss your needs. Complete the rider questionnaire when it arrives and update us if anything relevant changes afterwards.
We'll ask which foods or ingredients you need to avoid, whether it is an allergy, intolerance or dietary preference, and whether cross-contact matters. We'll check with the meal providers and confirm the arrangements with you.
They will be sent directly by email from 10 March, with a target return date of 24 March. The rental agreement only applies if you're hiring a bike; follow any earlier deadline agreed with your supplier.
We'll send the final itinerary before the trip. If you need riding distances or climbing information to guide your preparation now, contact Paloma.
See you in April
Travel, bike, food or preparation — just get in touch. We'd rather help you sort it now so you can enjoy the week.