My work situation recently changed and last week I booked a flight into Madrid arriving Feb 22 and out of London on March 9. I would like to cycle some portion of the Camino and could use some quick advice.
My cycling experience in a nutshell:
- Experienced in road touring and comfortable averaging 100 miles or so per day in the (non-snowy) mountains carrying minimalist load of about 5 lb. Also happy to slow down and do less daily mileage in cultural areas, but still prefer minimalist approach.
- Lots of MTB experience, but never a multi-day tour.
Current plan:
- Outfit my full suspension Ibis Mojo SL MTB with a Revelate Terrapin harness, Maxxis Ikon 2.35 tires, and about 7 lbs of gear.
- Take train from Madrid to Pamplona then MTB along the walker's path to Santiago de Compostela averaging about 60km (37 mi) per riding day.
- Take a rest day in Leon, stay in albuerges as much as possible and interact with locals/travelers.
- Fly from SCQ to London.
Questions:
- What kind of hurdles will I face given the early season timing?
- Should I adjust the start or end point given my propensity to want to ride a lot?
Edit: Planning to wear pretty much only wool, GoreTex, and leather to regulate body temp and protect from the rain. Also, I'll likely ship my non-cycling essentials in my carry-on suitcase from end to end. This worked great in the Pyrenees last summer.