“My passion is finding routes that make people… respond”

My passion is finding routes that make people... 'respond'

"My passion is finding routes that make people... respond"

What does it mean when I say that “My passion is finding routes that make people… respond” ?    You really should come on of our Jemison Cycling Tours trips to find out, but I will try to give you an idea here.

First I start with spending countless hours exploring every kilometer of  asphalt, concrete and path that I can find.  I have an insatiable appetite for this.  I have to know the lay of the land, its geography and what might connect it all.

Once I’ve ridden every route my mind starts churning out possible roads to link together something that will be known as another ‘Marty’ route.  Like an artist that starts out with a clean canvas, not knowing what the final result will be…  It’s something that comes from within.   The final route ties together roads that flow with a rhythm.  Like a musical composition that comes together and leaves an impression.

With our cycling tours, I usually have 7 rides and about 500-600 kms to link everything beautiful together.  If I know of a road, a climb a cultural sight, or anything that evokes the senses, I must not leave it out…

Lets Ride!

A bridge we must ride over...

A bridge that we must ride over

Lets ride!

Marty Jemison

Alex Stieda joins Jemison Cycling Tours at the 2010 Tour de France

Jemison Cycling Tours is excited to announce that Alex Stieda will be be at our 2010 Tour de France Pyrenees trip as a celebrity guide.   Alex was the first North American to wear the Yellow jersey in the Tour.

Alex Stieda in Tour de France Yellow

Alex Stieda in Tour de France Yellow

Marty and Alex have known each other for several years and have worked together on  high-altitude cycling camps in Park City, Utah.

You can read a recent interview with Alex here:

Girona to Cadaques in less than 100 kms

Today we (MJCT) rode from Girona to Cadaques.   Marc was puzzled and and asked “how are we going to get there”,? for he had been looking at maps. Once out on the road (yes;  paved) he commented that the government must not pay for these roads because they are not on the GPS. 

Cycling to Cadaques

Cycling to Cadaques

I smiled to myself, knowing that these roads did not live on any printed maps,  GPS or  mapping software.  These were roads that had to be discovered!  Myself and other Professional riders have logged hundreds of thousands of miles around Girona and have found countless roads that do not exist on maps. 

These “connector” roads have been paved by private monies (farmers for example) that often cross private lands.  These roads were mostly dirt even 10 years ago but provide perfect cycling and connecting us to country roads that are well maitained by the Catalan government.

Cadaques in June

Cadaques in June

Our ride to Cadaques or the summer home of Salvadore Dali was around 90kms which included a bit of exploring around Empuriabrava. 

Empuribrava is a village that lies on the Gulf of Roses.  It is a resort community where all of the residents have boat docks and access into the Mediterranean.  A very interesting concept….

Catalan fishing boats

Catalan fishing boats

Tomorrow we are riding from Cadaques to Olot….. and yes we will be riding on beautiful rural roads including sections that do not exist on any may, GPS or mapping software.

Jemison Cycling