Simoontanea has been a global call to pedal under the last full moon of the summer, simultaneously in different points of the map, which took place last August 31st. With more than 50 rides, it exceeded all expectations, with events in all Spanish regions and even some in the UK, Italy, Belgium, Sweden or Portugal. We talk about what it meant and some of its protagonists tell us about their experiences.
The motivation for this simultaneous meeting came after the improvised ride in Teruel on the previous full moon, when many people from other places told me they wished there were such things in their areas. Teruel isn’t really Berlin in terms of local cycling movements, despite all that’s going on around Montañas Vacías, if it was working here, it could work almost anywhere… So I thought: «Why not try to launch something simultaneously and see what happens?»
It was meant to be a starting point, an excuse, a link that could allow the creation or consolidation of different cycling communities with a more relaxed, healthy and inclusive philosophy.
We often look askance at all these cycling scenes around the world, and maybe all it would take is a little spark, a little push. I won’t dwell on it this time, I’ll hand the relay to some of the people who took part in this cool experience:
CABAÑAS Y ESTACAS – CANTABRIA
Text by The Moon, via Israel, @cabanas_y_estacas
Photos by @cabanas_y_estacas
I feel the tingling in my stomach on one of those days when you know you are a bit more of a protagonist than usual, when you have to make sure everything goes well. They are counting on me, I am aware of the importance of my presence, but I have to convince myself that being in my place, as always, is enough for success.
Cantabrian coast (hahaha… you fools!), La Maruca car park, about twenty cyclists from different parts of the region, members of cycling clubs, I swear I even recognise people from other regions, all well equipped with their lights and bags, set off on a simple coastal route suitable for all.
I’m distracted without even noticing, there are so many open fronts, and before I know it, they’re standing on the beach at Liencres, swapping stories of the past, talking about cycling gear, new projects in their minds, while I hear the «pssssshh» of a tin can, just before the crackling of the aluminium wrapper of a cake gives way to the «click» of a few snapshots. They call me and I go back where I dignifiedly pose for one more photo, one more on the other side, without stopping the inertia and trying to satisfy all the requests (priceless…!).
Minutes go by, this small group from the north of the Iberian Peninsula returns to its starting point without incident, wanting to repeat, and suddenly I am aware of the cottony veil of water vapour between us that has prevented direct contact with them.
Anyway, to neglect is a human and satellite thing, but to rectify also: I blow hard, I clear the sky and I strive to shine brightly for them, many already at home, and to make an appearance at this event in which we have all contributed our grain of sand.
bICICHICASSORIA – SORIA
Text and photos by Silvia Molinero, @silvi_moli
On 9 August, I received a message on my mobile phone from Ernesto, a link to his website about the #Simoontanea and his proposal, as delicately as ever.
«It would be great if Soria were on that map».
There were a couple of things that struck me: on the one hand, the fact that the riders from different parts of the country were cycling simultaneously under the last full moon of the summer. And on the other hand, enjoying a quiet, unhurried ride, having dinner together and building community. No doubt about it, Soria would be on the map.
I wrote a few lines with the idea and sent them to Bicichicas Soria, they accepted without hesitation and that’s when the magic began. We announced the event on social media and messages from individual riders and clubs poured in. Even the owners of all the bike shops in Soria were interested and answered the call. The idea was catching on.
For each of them, the message was clear: this was a social call, where everyone was welcome, those who were just starting out, those who were more experienced, those who had never cycled at night or those of us who loved cycling in the solitude of the night. A very nice and inspiring mix indeed.
The day arrived and we couldn’t help but be excited by the explosion and the reception that the event was getting, adults, children, friends we hadn’t seen in a long time and some we didn’t know at all. We couldn’t tell the exact number of people, around 90 or 100.
Without a doubt, the best thing was seeing the excitement of the little ones to be able to ride with other people, the happy faces of those in their parents’ baby carriers. The excitement of those who were riding in the mountains for the first time because they didn’t dare to ride alone or hadn’t had the opportunity to ride with other people. To see the most experienced riders in their lycras, who put aside their data and lowered their heart rates for the day, to lend a hand, to help and to accompany.
Even the children from the triathlon club, whose coach suggested that they change their training session for this activity. A gesture that certainly did not leave us indifferent, because perhaps, without knowing it, they are also letting germinate some seeds of good human values.
This was the scenario created in Soria by #Simoontanea, a city that came together, bringing together young and old, friends, people who had not seen each other for a long time, to share kilometres, conversations and a pleasant evening under the light of the moon.
MAIPEY – GRAN CANARIA
Text and photos by Eneritz Hernández and Rayco Tejera, @maipey_wtsb
“When the moon is out
Fragment of the poem «The Moon Comes Forth» by Federico García Lorca.
The bells die away
And impenetrable
Paths come to the fore
When the moon is out
Water covers land
And the heart feels itself
An island in infinity”.
On the 31st of August, the last full moon of the summer, Simoontanea and Ernesto, or Ernesto and Simoontanea pulled hundreds of people in many places in our country and abroad to go riding under the light of the full moon.
This moonlight had the power to light the roads from Artenara to the End of the World. It helped us to overcome the fears and doubts that come with the first time. Once we were in Guardaya, she was ready to show herself, just like us, to share moments and discover new alliances.
From gravel to asphalt, the road is transformed, the moon is already a reality, lighting up the route, under which we rest, exchange sensations and recover our strength. We reach the End of the World, Tamadaba.
Talking about and overcoming our fears brings us closer to the dreams and projects of others and pushes us to make our own dreams and projects come true. Those that are already a reality, like those that are yet to come, are not so different from each other; they support, attract, nourish and strengthen each other, just as the Simoontanea attracted us on that day.
RODERA.CC – VALENCIA
Text by Sarai León, @norasalie
Photos by Antonio Tone, @antoniotone14
Last Thursday we lived together one of the fun experiences suggested by Ernesto: The Simoontanea. In Valencia, our friends from Rodera have taken up this initiative and organised an unforgettable night ride through the Albufera Natural Park under the light of the full moon.
Bringing together more than fifty people with different ways of understanding and experiencing cycling, but united by the joy of cycling in all its broad spectrum, we were part of a diverse group of enthusiasts of all ages, tourers, commuters, gravel riders, fixies, mountain bikers, our new Valencian 26″ club, and including one of our colleagues, Lucia, with her cargo and even a friend with his front rack to carry his puppy for a night ride.
So off we went on our adventure! We set off from the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia to the Saler beach, a route that would take us to the rice fields of the Albufera as night fell and the moon made its presence felt in the sky.
We continue and night falls, and I have to say that there are few things that excite me more than looking around and finding myself part of that concert of front and rear lights flashing in the darkness, a sea of cyclists who dare to take their bikes and go out at night, knowing that in the company of others there is a very special way to enjoy what we sometimes do alone and in a hurry.
We arrive at the beach, the moon is still there, shining and now reflected in the sea, people start to take out and share what they have brought for dinner, we don’t see each other’s faces well, but we feel in the air a good spirit of camaraderie and good vibes, sharing stories with old and new friends.
The day ends there, with a good time of friendship, laughter and our beloved bikes. We return home tired but excited, it has been very nice to ride together in many places at the same time, here in Valencia we are happy to have been part of it and we look forward to the next excuse to see each other and ride.
Bassano del Grappa – ITALIA
Text and photos by Angela Pulliero, @angelaround
I was just thinking, ‘I want to have more time to look at the sky, the moon and the stars’, when I saw Ernesto’s proposal to organise rides in different places around the world on the last full moon of summer.
I immediately liked the idea of an inclusive, unhurried ride: an opportunity to be together and take time to look at the sky.
I shared the idea of #simoontanea with my friends and they talked about it with other friends.
On 31 August, we met up near a theatre in Bassano del Grappa to cycle along the Brenta river and then stop for a picnic. We were all there, except for the moon, which was covered by a thick blanket of clouds.
After a few kilometres it started raining heavily, but by a stroke of luck, we were right next to a pizzeria. So the ride became a pizza dinner, but it was great to meet new people, share thoughts and exchange contacts to organise new things.
Back in town, we stopped at the old bridge and there, suddenly, the clouds dissipated and the moon appeared!
Note: Among all the Bassano del Grappa riders we even created a playlist a few days before to warm up the engines, here it is:
My conclusions. What’s next?
From the very beginning, I’ve looked at all this as someone who throws a handful of seeds in the air to see what happens. And it is clear that a lot of cool things have happened as a result of all these encounters. Lots of new friendships, new Whatsapp/Telegram groups to keep in touch, or new regular meetings, just to name a few.
It may seem that it doesn’t bring anything new, as you may think that there have always been clubs, groups or organised rides, but I still think that it was needed to give a twist to certain aspects, such as inclusivity. I am not only referring to this term from a gender point of view, where progress is also being made at a good pace, although much remains to be done. I mean that cycling needs to take some steps to encourage the non-exclusion of profiles that do not fit the image of the young, slim, fast, lycra-wrapped rider who wants to chase some numerical value, be it time, weight, speed or position.
That’s the whole point of setting up something like this.
A lot of these little seeds seem to have started to grow in a lot of different places. What if we take advantage of this inertia to go further? Whether you were in #Simoontanea or not, what are your thoughts on all this?
Montañas Vacías 