Departing Leon, Cycling Camino Frances, Sept 14, 2022

[LydiaRuth]

This is my first camino, and we're getting close to departure date. Weather seems to be the big unknown, and lots of terrain changes. We already have our bikes and route mapped up. Now hoping to get words of wisdom from others on what worked (and didn't) for them.
Lydia

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Well now, on my first Camino, I had organised a bike rental, obsessively looked at maps, took too much gear but just went. Never looked back.
That’s a bit glib, but I was very unprepared, and somehow it didn’t matter. I had not discovered the forum so had no words of wisdom from anyone. I DID obtain a free little guide book from the Amigos organisation in Seville, so I knew where the albergues were. It was a great adventure of self discovery.
I will offer this, though. Use the roads to climb and descend the mountain crossings.
Enjoy.

 

[LydiaRuth]

Well now, on my first Camino, I had organised a bike rental, obsessively looked at maps, took too much gear but just went. Never looked back.
That’s a bit glib, but I was very unprepared, and somehow it didn’t matter. I had not discovered the forum so had no words of wisdom from anyone. I DID obtain a free little guide book from the Amigos organisation in Seville, so I knew where the albergues were. It was a great adventure of self discovery.
I will offer this, though. Use the roads to climb and descend the mountain crossings.
Enjoy.

Thank you! It is easy to get obsessed and stressed about the details. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Corned Beef]

As @Peregrinopaul says - just go. The Frances has a lot of support and infrastructure so there's help around every corner.

If you find the weight of your panniers too much for a hilly section, use bag transport such as Correos Paq Mochila to take the unnecessary weight to the next section(s). Correos will take them up to 60km.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Thank you! It is easy to get obsessed and stressed about the details. Appreciate your thoughts.

Easy to do when faced with so much information on the forum. The climb to O Cebreiro is the real challenge but you’ll be glad you did it. I did in my 70’s.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Perhaps you can see the sense of achievement in my face after Camino 1.
Those panniers are bulging.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

My refined packing system on subsequent caminos. Lightweight carbon bike. Lightweight Ortlieb backpack. But then I’m an old guy - every gram seems to count.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

PS. The climb to Cruz de Ferro is relatively easy. A kind introduction to the mountains. The descent is a thrill, but take it slow. ON THE ROAD.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Incidentally. Who’s we? Two of you, or a group?

 

[Skinnybiker]

This is my first camino, and we're getting close to departure date. Weather seems to be the big unknown, and lots of terrain changes. We already have our bikes and route mapped up. Now hoping to get words of wisdom from others on what worked (and didn't) for them.
Lydia

Don't over plan, over think, over pack; that's what works. The unknown is unknowable, hope for the best, plan for the worst but remember you're in a modern 1st world country so everything is obtainable. León to Santiago is not hard, even the much maligned O Cebreiro is just a long climb, after that it's all downhill (mostly). Weather, use Windy to see what's coming. It's all good, enjoy.