Cycling stages on VdlP: How to Make the Most of Your Journey

[Vendee52]

Great to find this thread! I’m hoping to cycle VdlP end April>May this year. I’m trying to learn from advice posted and break the stages in the Hayes book into shorter and more days to appreciate the journey- however the first day elevation seems daunting even following the road route - would it be best to stop at El Ronquillo rather than aim for Almaden de la Plata? I’m trying to be realistic…we are 2 women 65-70 with a few long distance touring trips behind us - hoping to negotiate the media distancia train system from France down to Sevilla with our own whole bikes - so we’re optimists!

 

[Grousedoctor]

Great to find this thread! I’m hoping to cycle VdlP end April>May this year. I’m trying to learn from advice posted and break the stages in the Hayes book into shorter and more days to appreciate the journey- however the first day elevation seems daunting even following the road route - would it be best to stop at El Ronquillo rather than aim for Almaden de la Plata? I’m trying to be realistic…we are 2 women 65-70 with a few long distance touring trips behind us - hoping to negotiate the media distancia train system from France down to Sevilla with our own whole bikes - so we’re optimists!

The VDLP is a great route to ride. With regard to your specific question, going from Sevilla to Almaden de La Plata is a very long day! That climb you mentioned is tough. Although I completed the first day to Almaden, I was exhausted (age 68 at the time). In hindsight and offering you some advice from experience, ride shorter days. Although I basically followed the stages outlined on Gronze.com, riding three stages a day (or about 50 miles using a combination of trails and roads) was too much. Two stages a day is much more reasonable. Further, take a couple days off or do very short biking days into a couple of the wonderful cities along The Way: Merida, Caceres, and Salamanca. My pace was too fast! Much of it is now a blurr compared to the Caminos that I’ve walked. Enjoy your ride. It’s a great one.

 

[Skinnybiker]

Great to find this thread! I’m hoping to cycle VdlP end April>May this year. I’m trying to learn from advice posted and break the stages in the Hayes book into shorter and more days to appreciate the journey- however the first day elevation seems daunting even following the road route - would it be best to stop at El Ronquillo rather than aim for Almaden de la Plata? I’m trying to be realistic…we are 2 women 65-70 with a few long distance touring trips behind us - hoping to negotiate the media distancia train system from France down to Sevilla with our own whole bikes - so we’re optimists!

Hi, it would be useful if you could describe your experiences of negotiating the Media Distancias with bikes. For others it may be useful information and I'm hoping to take an assembled bike from Cadiz to Madrid in May. Thanks

 

[Corned Beef]

I find this list of MD routes useful. You just mix and match.

Media-Distancia (MD) (Spain) | ShowMeTheJourney

How to travel on the Spanish trains which are specifically branded as 'MD' services.

showmethejourney.com

 

[Vendee52]

Specifically aiming for media distancia
Irun-Hendaye 10.23-18.55 to Madrid stay over then
Madrid-Jaen 8.36-12.54 followed by Jaen-Sevilla 14.32-17.30
Have to say I’m still negotiating Renfe site and it’s too early to book ( also it’s not easy to find the section for MD) so I’m concentrating on route, stages with gpx files - have to admit I’m (a bit) obsessive about planning …I bottom out getting there and back (going to use Correos for the return leg) then route …list my kit on a spreadsheet …weigh it! Apologies

 

[Corned Beef]

On MD trains there are only 3 places* for bikes which have to be booked so best to avoid weekends as they may be taken up. Spain has lots of enthusiastic cyclists who can take up a place or two.

Also the bikes need to be hung vertically on one of the three hooks so other passengers can get past. Not easy especially when trying to get it down from the hook, getting your gear and trying to leave the train. Best advise the on board ticket inspector where you are getting off so they know you might be slower than the average passenger.

* I've been on a train where there was only 1 place.

 

[Vendee52]

Reading your advice re only 3 bikes on each MD train is a bit unnerving - we 2 cycling peregrinas have 2 long trips booked via the RENFE website - each specifying and paying for the bikes - will we be OK ?

 

[Corned Beef]

You can also book at a ticket office but not all stations have offices. Where there is no booking office there is a ticket machine which you can use too. If you have bookings you'll be OK.

The Renfe train guards often look grim but they're very helpful. Cycling's popular and you might get some tips.

Lleva tu bicicleta o patinete en el tren | Renfe

¿Tienes que llevar tu bicicleta o patinete en trenes AVE, Larga Distancia, Avant o Trenhotel? ▷ Te cuento cómo hacerlo.

www.renfe.com

• Your bicycle without folding travels in the specific area that exists on board the Media Distancia trains for its transport. Please note that the number of bicycles that can travel by train is limited (up to a maximum of 3 ). In the process of buying your ticket, once you have selected your train, we will offer you the option of including extras , there you will be able to select the ticket for your bike. On routes of more than 100 km , this ticket costs 3 euros; in those of less than 100 km this ticket is free, although you will have to reserve your space in the same purchase process.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hi, it would be useful if you could describe your experiences of negotiating the Media Distancias with bikes. For others it may be useful information and I'm hoping to take an assembled bike from Cadiz to Madrid in May. Thanks

I took my bike from Madrid to Pamplona (back in 2015) on one of the Media Distance trains. Even packed down as short as possible it was still 1500mm (almost 5ft). Thus it would not fit in any of the baggage spaces. Fortunately for me the train was almost empty and the conductor allowed me to move it into the passenger area. I did some investigation but not find specific info about MD trains having a carriage for large or bulky items. The buses aren't much more help, unless you are first on board a bus starting its route.

 

[Vendee52]

Just back after cycling from Sevilla to Zamora. Success using media distancia trains! We took 2 whole bikes from Irun to Madrid - 8 hours but no problems - had to change at San Sebastián due to track works but otherwise very straight forward. Slight problem arriving in Madrid - arrived at “another“ station 4 underground stops from where we were staying in Atocha ready for the train in the morning. Had to take fully loaded bikes down a long flight of stairs ( difficult with people sitting on steps with headphones in) and get on the Madrid tube train (!) in rush hour which was a bit of a shock. Then MD train from Madrid to Sevilla which was busier and we had to seat hop to keep our eyes on the bikes - all took a long time but we got there after having a great sight seeing ride. Just to confirm - there are no media distancia trains between Zamora -Ourense but there are some MD trains between Ourense - Santiago. Very impressed with Spanish trains!

 

[Vendee52]

In addition, because we stopped at Zamora we had to send our bikes back from there to France by Correos - we were planning to do this in Santiago = as advised. But contact with Bicicletas La Madrilena for dismantling (25 euros) and packing in Correos bike boxes worked well ( bikes have arrived home safely and one already reassembled with no damage). Zamora Correos was very helpful although a bit surprised and unused to providing this service. La Madrilena is within 400m of Correos so despite us causing a bit (!) of a spectacle in the centre of town with huge flat packed cardboard boxes then fully loaded boxes, it all worked well. In terms of running repairs I had a broken gear cable near Cacares and le Bike Boutique was a brilliant surprise being both a bike repair shop and cafe. it was run by a former professional cyclist ( European race cycle shirts festooning the walls)! I’m still trying to establish which bike shop in Bejar sorted my derailleur but they were in front of the theatre Cervantes and the guy there was also very efficient and helpful. Cycling in Spain was absolutely brilliant!