Advice biking the Norte

[LTfit]

I will be following you with interest as I am thinking of biking the Norte (and possibly the Primitivo) this summer. I have walked 2 Caminos and so am still in the "thinking" stage as not sure if I want to the experience the Camino on a bike.

Hi fellow pelegrinos,

Could anyone tell me more about biking the Norte and/or the Primitivo? I posted back in Feb. but never received a response.

I walked the Francés from SJPdP to Finisterre July 2010 and the VdlP from Sevilla to Zamora July 2011. Due to physical issues I am unable to walk this year and am seriously contemplating biking a different Camino.

Here are a few questions:

1) Did you go it alone? How would it be for a woman to do this alone? (I walked my first Camino alone and with a companion I met along the way the second time)

2) I have a Trek aluminum mountainbike with front suspension. Is that okay?

3) What type of tires would you suggest as I plan (I believe) on doing using trails and roads depending on the terrain.

4) Will I have problems getting a bed at auberges? (I know the rule of waiting till 6)

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

Cheers,
LT

 

[Tia Valeria]

Peter and Bridget have biked much of the Norte and are currently walking the rest. They have a lot on their posts which might help you.http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/search.php?author_id=2018&sr=posts.
They are also posting in the blogs section.
Buen Camino

 

[Davroos]

Hi

I biked the Primitivo last year. There is a gpx link in there if you are using a Garmin gps.

Having walked it, I found the cycling much tougher. When I walked, i went via Polo as Hospitales was clouded in, but with the bike, I did not want to go up down up down, and as the weather was clear, I pushed all the way to the top. From Tineo to Grandes was hard, it broke me, but the next day, I rode to Lugo, and from there, I had two easy days of 50ish Ks. It took me 5 days, but I was in a bit of a rush.

As for my bike, it is a 21 year old mountain bike that is very light with top of the line Shimano groupset. Tyres, were lightweight with a little knobbies, I did not want chunky tyres as I wanted to keep moving at a nice pace. I only have front suspension

Going it alone? I found that this way of travel was hard. I missed the cameraderie of the walk, where you all start and finish in the same place, and upon meeting someone, you know each other's life history in 3 hours !!! I did meet loads, but never saw them again, whereas my two walks, I still keep in contact with my fellow peregrinos.

Beds? No problems. I walked Primitivo in April, rode it in August and had no problems at either time. I never had to wait until 6, in fact, I have never seen a full albergue on that route.

Good luck with what you do, as for me, I fly to Sevilla on Tuesday to start the VDLP with two other cyclists

 

[LTfit]

Hi Davroos,

I COMPLETELY missed your reply as I have been posting under the Norte and Levante sections over the last few days...sorry and thanks for your experience on the Primitivo and about biking alone.

At this point you are on the VdlP! This route is still quite clear in my head as I walked it last July. I believe that it will be great on a bike!

Buen biking camino!!!

Cheers,
LT

 

[picosrider]

This summer I am cycling with 3 others along the Camino el Norte from Santander and returning via Lugo and the Primitivo. From Oviedo we are going to cut across to visit Covadonga in the Picos mountains. Covadonga is another pilgrimage must as it is allegedly where the Re-conquest began. The Picos de Europa mountains also happen to be very beautiful.
I cycled to Santiago in 2005, and the around the Picos in 2010, so have some prior experience.
Much of the various caminos follow tarmac roads and we kept on tarmac all the way. This is quicker and we were time limited. You are considering sticking to the routes where they go off road. This is much more arduous, even if the tracks are firm and dry, so you need to be really fit and trained for off-roading!
My bike is a steel framed MTB, a Specialised Rock Hopper, no front or rear suspension. For road use I have fitted 26 x 1.5 road tyres which reduce tyre drag considerably. However if you are going off road, stick with knoblys, you will need them! One advantage of an MTB for the caminos is the low gears that all mountain bikes have. Very useful with heavily loaded bikes and for getting up the constant hills of Spain!
I would certainly recommend that if possible you go with someone else when cycling the camino. Especially if you are not at least competant at servicing your bike. Several hundred Ks of rough riding can play havoc with tyre, gears, and other bits which might need a bit of TLC.
And last but not least, in fact most important, do get as much training mileage in as you can. Especially hill climbing. It is not just the legs that need to be acclimatised. Back side, wrists, and shoulders also get a hammering.
Having now put you off, go for it and you won't regret it. Biking the camino is a great experience, and because you will travel a lot quicker than walking, you can see much more by making a much longer journey.
A Picos Rider

 

[Davroos]

Have you got any dates? I just booked another flight back to Oviedo as I'm leading a tour on the Primitivo. I have one person who has walked it but never went up Hospitales and she wants to go up with the bike. I did tell her that it is a hard push having done it, but...............

In July we go !!!