Devenny 1....I rode the V DLP last year on a hire bike but at a total cost of about 300 euros i could have a bought a basic M T B from Decathlon for about 200 euros and just have given it away in Santiago . That being said , the bike was great , but i also rode the C F a few years ago with an MTB i bought in a French supermarket for 75 euros new , and that bike never had a problem either .
I was planning to ride from Malaga ( camino Mozarabe /VDLP/Sanabres ) in April this year , and to this end i bought a MTB from E bay for ÂŁ16 , will ship it to Malaga with a company called Luggage Mule and just give it away in Santiago .
The VDLP is not that punishing to a bike with front suspension providing you are prepared to do a bit of pushing over some of the more rocky stretches ( i did stick faithfully to the camino ) AND provided you keep the weight down . Last year i took all my luggage in a fold up holdall ,but even with careful planning i could not fit it all in the 2 cycle pannier bags provided with the bike , so this year i am using my own panniers to carry my luggage on the plane and in that way i know i do not have too much .
Hotel Triana in Seville hire bikes as do cyclingthecamino.com in Santiago .
Regards.....John