early september vs early october

Early Oct. weather is a bit cooler and the crowds will be a bit thinned out!

Having cycled during Sept to early Oct I think its a matter of personal choice. However there is one thing to consider - the further west you get the later the sun rises. I recall leaving Rabanal at 8.15/8.30 when it was still morning twilight. The sun did not rise until I was nearly at Foncebardon. It was even later from Melide, but by then I was use to the situation. If you stay in private accommodation where they allow you to set your own departure time its not a problem, but in the municipal ones with strict 8.00 am departure times you might need a tail light and even a head torch. Or just go have an extra coffee and wait for the sun to show!! Cheers

I cycled the camino first 2 weeks of october last year. The weather was exceptionally good for the time of the year. Yet, in the morning, it was ice cold. Bring both full cycling gloves (morning), and fingerless gloves (day). Wear many layers, which you discard one per one as the day progresses. I only had some rain leaving SJPP (pretty crappy to drive up the napoleon route in the mud), and the day I arrived in Santiago (queued for the compostela absolutely soaked). Most pilgrims wake up around 7AM, and I got on the route together with them. Bring a good headlight (like a petzl), and a good bikelight (like a Knog Blinder). First hour of the day you will probably ride in the dark. Keep in mind that the walkers can be pretty ignorant about walking in the dark: all over the road, dark clothes, no light, no reflectors. I've had a couple of near misses. I drove every day until 4PM, exceptionally until 5PM, and made an average of 80KM/day, which brought me from SJPP to Santiago in 10 days. Driving through the fields in the morning and seeing the sun come up bright orange is a mighty sight !!!