Rafa Villalobos and Ana García are a couple of entrepreneurs who have chosen the rural environment, specifically the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara, to offer visitors inner peace and a sense of freedom and connection with nature that they have found in the town of Colmenar de la Sierra. Together, and with the support of ADEL Sierra Norte, they have created Bici Rana, a mobile company that rents eMTB mountain bikes and adapted bicycles. Their shared idea is to bring the rural environment closer to all people, including those with disabilities, through cycling tourism.
Rafa has always enjoyed cycling. However, something changed in his mind when he did the Camino de Santiago by bicycle in 2007. «It was a wonderful experience. That’s when I first considered making cycling my way of life,» explains the entrepreneur. Rafa lived in Paraguay for a while, «where it was easier than in Madrid, a city that was not very friendly to cyclists at the time, to get around on a bike,» he explains. Upon his return, he was determined to make the bicycle his means of transportation in Madrid. «For me, it is the most satisfying means of transportation. The bike gives me freedom, there are no obstacles or places I cannot go, because I can get off and carry it, there are no traffic jams, and it is even faster than public transport,» he says.
Even then, in the mid-2000s, he thought about opening a bike shop in Madrid, «but I lacked the time or energy,» he admits. Ana has brought an extra dose of enthusiasm to Rafa, finally fulfilling a shared dream: a business related to bicycles in a peaceful and tranquil place like Colmenar de la Sierra.
Ana was familiar with the town because she used to spend weekends there with a friend when they were teenagers. «When we started our relationship, we also looked for places to start a business. After the pandemic, when the borders between regions were opened, Rafa and I decided that our place was Colmenar de la Sierra. It is an incredible place, very beautiful, quiet, without crowds, without stress. And it’s perfect for bikes,» says Ana.
And so, Bici Rana was born. The catchy and friendly name has a certain meaning. «My friends call me Ana Rana. When we were looking for a name, we thought of that, because it can also be associated with Rafa and Ana on bikes. Additionally, the region is a reserve for amphibians.»
ADEL Sierra Norte supported the project of these entrepreneurs with a grant covering 45% of the total investment. «We are very grateful to the ADEL team. Not only are they very professional, but they are also pleasant and approachable,» says Ana.
Now based in Colmenar de la Sierra, Bici Rana has eight eMTB mountain bikes suitable for all audiences.
The electric bikes offer more possibilities for the business. They allow cyclists to go on longer routes than usual, virtually without effort, so there is no need to have excellent physical fitness to enjoy a pleasant ride in nature. «We chose eBikes because if we limited ourselves to bikes without motors, we would greatly reduce the target audience. With these bikes, anyone can pedal for two hours without getting tired, and they can climb hills without any problem,» explains Rafa.
Adapted Bicycles
But that’s not all. Bici Rana also has adapted bikes so that people with disabilities, including the visually impaired, can also experience the pleasure of cycling in the middle of nature.
The FUN2GO by Van Raam is a side-to-side tandem. It has a swivel seat to facilitate getting on, a platform to support the feet if one of the two people cannot pedal, an armrest, and a seatbelt. It is their most versatile bicycle. People with reduced mobility, with poor balance, accompanied children, people with intellectual disabilities, the elderly, or even people who are not comfortable with regular bikes can ride it.
The Tandem is suitable for people with visual impairments, autism, and, of course, for people who enjoy cycling and want to ride together.
The Ice Trike is an adult tricycle that can accommodate people with mobility problems, balance issues, overweight, people who are not comfortable with regular bikes, and those who want to pedal from a different perspective. It is very comfortable and stable. One can read, eat, drink, chat, and read the newspaper while sitting on the trike itself. «It’s super fun,» says Ana.
These models meet the needs of many people with disabilities to whom «we want to provide new sensations of enjoyment and freedom by pedaling or being carried away in these beautiful places,» adds the entrepreneur.
Of course, Bici Rana also has conventional eBikes and bikes without motors.
The Routes in the Sierra Norte
In addition to its fleet of bikes, Bici Rana’s other great attraction is the bike routes that can be done from Colmenar de la Sierra. The most beautiful ones are those that pass through the town of La Vereda, a black town that is being rehabilitated. «You can do a round trip or circular route, visiting other black towns in the region, both in Madrid and Guadalajara,» explains Ana.
The variety of flat or hilly itineraries and natural habitats that can be observed in the region is impressive. Bici Rana offers itineraries through the Sierra del Rincón, in the neighboring province of Madrid. The route to Cabeza de Viejo is short but visually attractive. It allows cyclists to see the mountains of the three provinces that Colmenar is almost a vertex of: Guadalajara, Madrid, and Segovia. «Now, for autumn, we are going to propose another route that connects the beech forests of Montejo, Tejera Negra, and La Pedrosa, in Segovia,» explains Ana.
Another line of Bici Rana’s business is bringing bikes to rural accommodations in the region, within a radius of 30 km from Colmenar de la Sierra. «We reach the black towns of Guadalajara and Prádena del Rincón, Montejo, and La Hiruela in Madrid,» explains Rafa.
Those who want to feel free pedaling in the border towns across the three provinces can find the company Bici Rana on its website www.bicirana.es and on Facebook and Instagram as @Bicirana.accesible.
In the future, Bici Rana intends to complement these lines of business with guided tours, partnering with rural accommodations to offer packages that include overnight stays, product tastings, and even astro-tourism activities. They also have plans to reach new international cyclists by translating their website into English and French.
In conclusion, Bici Rana is not only providing a unique experience for cyclists but also promoting accessibility and inclusivity by offering adapted bicycles for people with disabilities. It is a great initiative that showcases the beauty and tranquility of the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara and encourages more people to explore the region by bike.
