WELCOME TO SPANISH CYCLEPATHS

If you're not going to be with the bus until the end of the trip, put the bike on the RIGHT side hold of the bus (i.e. not on the driver's side.) In smaller towns where there's no bus station you will have to unload onto the sidewalk – not ideal, but better than doing it on the street. Be prepared to take the front wheel and panniers off the bike, since you're not likely to be permitted to put it in the hold as is. You may also be required to cover the bike to keep other luggage from getting dirty.
You don't need a bike bag or housse: a plastic rain poncho is enough. Take as little with you on board. There's no worse feeling than being proud of getting everything out of the hold and realizing that your helmet is still on the bus. Here's what the national bus companies say their policies are, but it's worth double-checking with the ticket vendor first.

ALSA (service to northwestern Spain , Valencia coast and Barcelona ; www.alsa.es ) – maximum of five bikes permitted on each bus; €3 surcharge per bike long-distance, €1.20 short distance. SOCIBUS/SECORBUS (service to western Andalusia and Córdoba; www.socibus.es ) – bikes permitted once a €7 freight surcharge has been paid. You can pay the surcharge when you buy the ticket.
CONTINENTAL-AUTO (service to eastern Castile , Granada and eastern Andalusia ; www.continental-auto.es ) – Bikes permitted on any bus that has a hold. €3 surcharge applies, but at discretion of driver. Be at bus 30 minutes before boarding.
AUTO-RES (service to western Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura; www.auto-res.es) and LA SEPULVEDANA (service to central Castile and Jaén; www.lasepulvedana.es) – both are part of the Avanza Group, whose policy seems to be to allow bikes on with a €3 surcharge, payable at time of ticket purchase. At Madrid 's Mendez Álvaro station, arrive an hour early to check the bike in (“Facturación”). Note that Sepulvedana buses going to Segovia don't always have a hold; you may find it less hassle to take the train (2 hours, €5.50). Smaller/Regional Operators – Check with the ticket seller, but usually no problem/surcharge, especially if it's not a busy route. Transportes Comes ( www.tgcomes.com ), which operates around Ronda and the Cádiz coast, have a great reputation for being super-helpful – much better than their Seville-based counterparts, Los Amarillos.
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