Best stages to ride

[Wander Womyn]

My son and I will be doing the Central route starting from Porto in June. In order to give ourselves a little breathing room, I'd like to ride bikes for two (perhaps three days). We land in Porto on June 8th and leave Porto on June 22, which gives us 12 days to walk (very doable - but doesn't give us the opportunity to stop and smell the roses, etc.) I am in contact with a bike rental company that will drop off and pick up the bikes as we direct. Question - What are the best stages to bike (or alternatively which stages should we avoid biking)?

 

[Camembert]

Do you mean you want to ride two or three stages of the central route ? And return every day back in Porto ?

 

[Wander Womyn]

Do you mean you want to ride two or three stages of the central route ? And return every day back in Porto ?

No. We will not return to Porto each night, but will continue to progress to Santiago. The thought is to cover more miles over two (perhaps three) days so that we can be less aggressive on the remaining 9-10 walking days.

 

[Camembert]

Okay but where do you leave your (rented? ) bikes after two or three days ?
I guess you ride 60 kms a day so after 3 days you are almost near the Spanish border.
From there it is about 100 kms to Santiago. So with an average walking speed of 20 kms per day you will be in five days in Santiago.
(Edited) Now I read your initial post again.
your rental bikes will be picked up.
If you ride and walk the Central route I - if I were you-ride as far as albergue Casa da Fernanda (two days riding) and walk from there
day 3 Casa da Fernanda to Ponte de Lima. 14 kms Beautiful town
casa da Fernanda is between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima (18 kms from Barcelos) in the village of Vitorino dos Piães situated at the waymarked path .
day 4 Ponte de Lima to Rubiães 18 kms off road terrain going over a mountain of 450 mtrs altitude
day 5 Rubiães to Valença do Minho (20kms). Or Tui (Spain ) 23 kms
day 6 Valença/Tui to O Porriño 20 kms
day 7 O Prrińo to Redondela 19 kms of (adviced Cessantes 22 kms (stay at o Refúxio de la Jerézana
day 8 Redondela/Cessantes to Pontevedra 20 kms nice town
day 9 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 18 kms
day 10 Caldas to Padrón 20 kms
day 11 Padrón to Santiago 23kms or alternative
walk to Teo a Casalonga of Milladoiro. ( max 13kms and have
an easy walk next day to Santiago

From Santiago is a bus (ALSA bus ) back to Porto airport and Porto Center ( metrostop Casa da Música)

bom caminho

 

[Wander Womyn]

Okay but where do you leave your (rented? ) bikes after two or three days ?
I guess you ride 60 kms a day so after 3 days you are almost near the Spanish border.
From there it is about 100 kms to Santiago. So with an average walking speed of 20 kms per day you will be in five days in Santiago.
(Edited) Now I read your initial post again.
your rental bikes will be picked up.
If you ride and walk the Central route I - if I were you-ride as far as albergue Casa da Fernanda (two days riding) and walk from there
day 3 Casa da Fernanda to Ponte de Lima. 14 kms Beautiful town
casa da Fernanda is between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima (18 kms from Barcelos) in the village of Vitorino dos Piães situated at the waymarked path .
day 4 Ponte de Lima to Rubiães 18 kms off road terrain going over a mountain of 450 mtrs altitude
day 5 Rubiães to Valença do Minho (20kms). Or Tui (Spain ) 23 kms
day 6 Valença/Tui to O Porriño 20 kms
day 7 O Prrińo to Redondela 19 kms of (adviced Cessantes 22 kms (stay at o Refúxio de la Jerézana
day 8 Redondela/Cessantes to Pontevedra 20 kms nice town
day 9 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 18 kms
day 10 Caldas to Padrón 20 kms
day 11 Padrón to Santiago 23kms or alternative
walk to Teo a Casalonga of Milladoiro. ( max 13kms and have
an easy walk next day to Santiago

From Santiago is a bus (ALSA bus ) back to Porto airport and Porto Center ( metrostop Casa da Música)

bom caminho

Thank you - very helpful.