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Kiwi if you're researching Biking the Frances these threads are pretty helpful - I'm a bit biased thought cos I wrote the second one 😉 Happy reading
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-biking-tips-from-a-non-biker.51318/...
Ingrid I rode the Frances in September 2017, we started on 2nd in blazing heat and finished 17 days later in 3 layers of clothes! In between we had warm days and also some cold in the mountains- in short take a bit of everything! Your experience on the Tour indicates you'll be well prepared and...
Hi @bostonYogaFan yes I was pleased with the touring bike choice, it was adequate for the parts of the trail that were rideable by a non mountain biker, and got along well on the roads as well. We used the Michelin Camino map book for more detailed road information, and Brierleys for other...
I rode the Camino in September last year. The Burgos to Leon section took us 2 and a half days, so 3 is reasonable. We rode partly on the track and partly on nearby quiet roads, a good combination. It is not a totally flat ride, more a series of rolling hills with a few short steeper sections...
Marbe2 has a good point, we caught the bus to Pamplona from Madrid and found it quite straight forward and enjoyed the ride. Whatever you decide on I can recommend researching the airport before you go so you've got an idea of where to go and how to get there. Cheers
Hi Susan, I think your layover times are too tight, a general rule is 2 hours and you've got less than that in both Heathrow and Madrid. From recent experience I will in future allow 3 hours and suck it up if I have to sit around. Your first flight only needs to be to 15 mins late and your...
Hi @Darren.R glad you enjoyed the read. Most of the places we stayed didn't have kitchen facilities so we mostly ate out, the pilgrims menu mostly which varied from place to place in palatability but always refuelled the body perfectly well. Note that I'm on the small side but still finished...
@jporcas like Mark I rode in September and agree with his words of wisdom! However we stayed in hostels/hotels and booked ahead on the day or the night before as not all places have secure storage for bikes and we wanted to be sure of a bed. We either rang up or used booking.com
I think the...
Hi Eben I cycled in September 2017 from Pamplona to Santiago, also mature aged, with a friend who had not cycled for a while. I've added 2 links that might be helpful. The second link is to my recap, and the first is from Mark who cycled at roughly the same time. I hope you enjoy your trip...
@Darren.R Good to hear that you're on the mend and ready to go again!
Mark and I both completed and have written about it here.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-biking-tips-from-a-non-biker.51318/...
@EdwardPineNut a friend and I rode in September and that section took 4 days. I am reasonably experienced rider, my friend not so much. We rode days of 75km, 60km, 40km and 55km from Tardajos to Murias de Rechivaldo, so not exactly Burgos to Rabanal in distance but close. We wouldn't have wanted...
I have been on guided tours in countries where logistics and language made independent travel seem to me to be too hard - Morocco, Cambodia and Peru. I didn't regret it, I saw more than I would have independently and in a shorter timeframe.
However, when I cycled the Camino earlier this year I...
I have rheumatoid arthritis and walking anymore than 5km gives a lot of foot pain, however I've just cycled 800 or so km across the Camino with zero pain as there is little or no impact on the feet.
Perhaps that could be an option for you to think about.
Cheers and good luck
Thanks Mark yes it does seem we did similar route but you did many more km a day than we did, I take my hat off to you! I'm missing the ride eat sleep simplicity of the journey and am planning a little 7 day ride here in Qld for March-April after the summer storm season, can't wait! We decided...
Day 12 Murias to Ponferrada 50km
A steady climb on quiet road next to the track to Rabanal.
A sharper climb on the quiet LE142 up to Foncebadon, and on up to Cruz de Ferro.
Same road down to Molinaseca, steep and winding and a wee bit scary but good surface except through Acebo.
Same road next...
Day 6 Olmos Atapuerca to Tardajos 35km
Track out the back of Olmos up the Sierra Alto meets the main track near the top, all hike a bike. Quiet nearby road until the turnoff for the Riverwalk path into Burgos...
Route and planning
We used 3 books and found them all useful in different ways
Michelin Camino map book - invaluable for looking at alternatives and planning, Brierly and Village to Village guide.
Day 1 Pamplona to Estella 50km
We rode out of Pamplona following arrows all the way to Alto de...
So...
Packing list
2 cycling shorts
2 quick dry singlets - 1 would have been enough
1 long sleeve quick dry shirt
1 long sleeve linen shirt
Hiking shoes to ride in
Sandals
3 underwear
3 pairs socks
2 croptops
Merino thermal tights for over the bike shorts when cold
Merino long sleeve T shirt...
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