pilgrimglenn7
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- st james way and portugese
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TWH thanks so much mateE Bike v a Mountain Bike? – see bottom of page
best time in May to start? –
it will probably be cooler, wetter and less busy in early May versus late May. I started mid May, it was hot and cold and wet and dry. Plan for anything re: weather.
leaving Saint Jean which route is easier? –
If it’s wet and you have some physical constraints, there are some non-paved sections of the Napolean that will be tough. In general, 2/3rds of day 1 to Roncevalles is steep & pretty challenging but almost zero vehicle traffic. I don’t know the Valcarlos route other than the very end is very steep into Roncevalles…traffic has to be heavier I’d guess.
I am planning 4 weeks, monday - friday to Santiago –
that’s 25 miles per day, should be doable for the average person but only you can answer that question based on YOUR abilities, fitness, motorized or not.
Then 6 days to go to Fisterre and onto Muxia and back to Santiago –
same as above
Also in may what time does sunrise and sunset please? -
Long days, sun up about 7am, sunset about 9pm
Street stalls or fruit stalls what is available to eat at these places? -
Fruit for sale is very good on the camino and pretty easy to find. Just about every bar on the camino has some fruit but not a big selection. In the medium and larger towns there are stores with much larger selections and displays out front on the sidewalk. Sometimes you may need to divert off the camino to find them. Note: it is considered bad form to handle the fruit in the displays on the sidewalk. Instead go inside and tell them what you want and they will hand the fruit to you so they don’t have to restock the display.
Also if i pass a fruit farm i want to visit the owner to ask can i buy some fruit to be honest and thoughtful of the owners and also do some farmers have anything like stalls with fruit etc What fruits are in season may and june? -
Sure you can ask if you can find them. I came across excellent cherries just before Villafranca del Bierzo. I stopped and talked with a few farmers working grain fields but did not see any farmers around the cherry tree orchards. I did not notice any other fruit crops that were ripe along the camino.
Also wildflowers are they at this time? -
The brilliant red poppies are abundant and something I’ll never forget.
E Bike v a Mountain Bike
Mountain Bike – you do all the physical work but have a larger gear set, less than half of the weight of an E-bike, less expensive and more choices, any shop can do repairs along the camino.
E-Bike in the USA – powered by one OR both of the following 2 methods. First Method – pedal assist - when you initiate a forward pedaling motion the motor senses it and starts “assisting” by turning the rear wheel mechanically. Generally there are 3 to 5 settings you choose for the amount of assist you desire. On the highest setting the bike takes off with just the weight of your leg (almost zero physical effort) and maintains low speeds less than 10 mph very easily. To sustain 20 mph requires a medium effort for someone who is fit using the highest setting. The second method is a throttle on the right side hand grip, like a motorcycle. Twist a little for a slow start, twist more to be quickly launched up to your desired speed. Top speed is regulated by the country where purchased and local laws. You can also pedal without the motor but you have fewer mechanical gears and the E-bike is much heavier. You will need to carry a battery charger and use it every night. Depending on the size of your motor, size of battery, your usage of the assist and throttle, the terrain, conditions and your weight plus gear…figure on 20 - 25 miles of range per charge until you have some experience. Pick an E-bike with the feature “walk mode” which is a very low motorized speed that is comfortable to propel the bike while you are off the bike walking next to it with both hands on the handlebars. There will be some steep hills you cannot safely ride up due to wet slippery conditions, dry loose rock conditions or pilgrim foot traffic in your way forcing you to stop. Depending on your skills and a dozen other variables you may have to walk the bike up the remainder of the hill after coming to a stop. Pushing it will be very difficult without the easily controllable motor assist that the walking mode feature offers. Finding qualified mechanics and parts for the electrical components could be difficult on the Camino. For this reason, I’d suggest renting an E-bike in Spain or buying one in Spain.
thanks williamlittig much appreciated and muchas gracias mi amigo for your commentUsing "Google Maps" and directions marked for bicycles you will find an appropriate route. It list 470 miles and 47 hours. This will have fewer conflicts with those walking and averaging 10 miles per hour. Most cyclist wouldn't need electrical or other powered assistance. Where many walkers don't appreciate long stretches of pavement, this will afford a nicer way for wheeled vehicles and enough interaction with the historic walking Camino to receive sellos and your Compostella.
Davey muchas gracias mi amigo and many thanks again for your kind words and adviceThere will be parts of the route that will require you to get off and push, steep, muddy or rocky. Whatever the bike. Please be aware of this. Take a small day sack to lessen the weight (snacks, water, waterproofs etc), most of your kit can be with your wife in the van. As said many tough sections can be averted by using a road variant.
Not sure if E-bike or mountain better for you, we don't know you well enough to say. I know you have taken medical advice, whatever they say I would go for.
From St. Jean you have two options in good weather. The Napoleon is hardest for the first 8km or so to Orisson. Very steep but on a road. From there I don't think it is too bad. But do take the road route from the summit. Valcarlos route is your other option. Mixture of roads (can be very busy main roads) and secluded forest. Mostly uphill, but the hardest bit is the end part nearing Roncesvalles. Very steep on a forest logging trail or small path. Both uneven. In bad weather always take Valcarlos. Also, Valcarlos you can do in two days as there is an albergue in the wonderful village of Valcarlos (about halfway). Always check in at the pilgrims office in St. Jean for latest weather/info of the routes.
No problem with fruit on the Way, and yeah sure, why not ask a farmer if you can buy some. Plenty of vegetarians have walked and survived and even Vegans too.
Good luck, best wishes and
Buen Camino!
Davey
thanks mate muchas gracias mi amigoBless you too!
You can see what camino's I have walked at the bottom of my posts.
Not enough! I am addicted!
You take care and happy planning. I am rooting for you mate and looking forward to the day you arrive in Santiago!
Buen Camino!
thanks mate muchas gracias mi amigoi really cant say thanks enough for the help you give me on every topic i have written i see you have done a few caminos when do you go again mate ?
im so sorry about dad mateAs soon as possible! Though my dad is ill at the moment (Parkinsons and Cancer) so not really willing to wander far, my place is beside him now. The Camino doesn't move, it will be there always for me. But if I can help here on the forum a little it keeps me happy.
So, are you excited yet then Glenn?! You my friend are gonna love it!
Davey
im so sorry about dad matei lost my dad 12/1/2 years ago and miss him greatly my mum re married this year in january and hes a great guy and my mum is happy makes me happier i havent even told her what my wife and i plan to do on this trip yet ( all part of the timing)
I am excited but nervous mate. I tell you more about that if i can one on one.
Yes my dr gp and massage therapist are helping me since especially my dr/gp has done it and my massage therapist has always wanted to do thisso they are guiding me physically and mentally I work with God for my spiritually.
And you my friend has helped me alsoThanks mate ducky and muchas gracias mi amigo practising my spanish. My wife is happy to be in a support vehicle and still enjoy her "camino" her way and in her time Buen Camino mate ducky
thanks dave and yes i am a naughty duckyHeck Glenn, you and your wife are going to have a great time! And all of us here are only too happy to help.
You not told your mum yet? Naughty boy!
We are all nervous at first. Then once you begin it all falls away. Bliss.
Cheers duck
Davey
Yumadons thanks so much for your suggestions and yes i have posterior tibial tendonitis in both legs at the moment but other issues as well but slowly getting betterGlenn I wonder if it would be worth calling (or emailing) this rental place to pick their brain?
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They deliver & pick up bikes anywhere on the Camino. I had considered biking due to posterior tibial tendonitis that bothers me after ~15K of walking yet I just rode 300K today no problem. Anyway, this looked like the easiest place to rent from and it's been around forever.
My husband with COPD did a cross country USA ride in 2011 with an electric bike and it got him across and got us in a hotel every nite so we could charge it.It was a heavy SOB (Trek FX+, 22kg) so my take on it is only use one if you actually NEED it to get up hills (Don did). BUT . . . electric bikes have improved so much since then, the rental place might recommend otherwise. A guy in our club has a 2018 electric Raleigh and he can use it for a 100K ride and do spurts as fast as 46kph. Obviously you will not be hauling a$$ like this on the crowded, dirt road camino but what an improvement over Don's where he could only use the electric at Level 2 for maybe 32K per day.
Me I'm gonna walk and just stop before it hurts since I'm on the I-can-take-as-long-as-two-months-to-walk-the-CF-plan.
heres the email verbatimYumadons thanks so much for your suggestions and yes i have posterior tibial tendonitis in both legs at the moment but other issues as well but slowly getting better
I contacted that company and they wrote back they couldnt accommodate mei think they missed about the cost of the bike e bike and normal mountain bike for 5 weeks as i was asking other questions and they started saying i should talk to a travel agent oh well
I not worried about speed of the bike but to get me over the tough hills like first few days to pamplona and other places but still undecided. My dr and massage therapist we started talking about this a month ago and we talk about the plans and physical fitness required for the camino.
Feel free to ask me anything
God bless and Buen Camino to you and your husband
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