Hola from a bicigrino-to-be

[Murk]

Hi everyone! In late August and September I will be cycling from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Santiago - first the Via Podiensis, then the Camino Frances (or rather adjacent to it, so as not to bother the walkers too much).

I was hesitant to post here because I might be too much of the stereotypical bicigrino ( going too fast and too far, mainly).
But we'll see. Plans can always be changed midway through.

Either way, these forums have been incredibly kind and helpful. So here's hello - I'll try to share my experiences afterwards, too.

 

[James van Hemert]

Hi everyone! In late August and September I will be cycling from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Santiago - first the Via Podiensis, then the Camino Frances (or rather adjacent to it, so as not to bother the walkers too much).

I was hesitant to post here because I might be too much of the stereotypical bicigrino ( going too fast and too far, mainly).
But we'll see. Plans can always be changed midway through.

Either way, these forums have been incredibly kind and helpful. So here's hello - I'll try to share my experiences afterwards, too.

I am sure you will be thoughtful and slow down when you pass walking perigrinos! And ring your bell in advance.

 

[Flatlander]

Hi everyone! In late August and September I will be cycling from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Santiago - first the Via Podiensis, then the Camino Frances (or rather adjacent to it, so as not to bother the walkers too much).

I was hesitant to post here because I might be too much of the stereotypical bicigrino ( going too fast and too far, mainly).
But we'll see. Plans can always be changed midway through.

Either way, these forums have been incredibly kind and helpful. So here's hello - I'll try to share my experiences afterwards, too.

Lots and lots of people complete a cycling pilgrimage every year, but surprisingly few post about it here.
Perhaps the post above suggests why.

@Murk
Spain is a wonderful place to ride a bike. You may find https://cycle.travel/map a useful tool for planning a route or CGOAB is a great place for more information and lots of inspiration.

Buen Camino

 

[alexwalker]

Hi everyone! In late August and September I will be cycling from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Santiago - first the Via Podiensis, then the Camino Frances (or rather adjacent to it, so as not to bother the walkers too much).

I was hesitant to post here because I might be too much of the stereotypical bicigrino ( going too fast and too far, mainly).
But we'll see. Plans can always be changed midway through.

Either way, these forums have been incredibly kind and helpful. So here's hello - I'll try to share my experiences afterwards, too.

Admirable! I would like to read about your experience; especially if you got befriended by other bikers, kept together, etc., or if you experienced the ride (camino) singlehanded. Interesting to get a cyclist's point of view of the experience.

Buen Camino!

 

[Flatlander]

Admirable! I would like to read about your experience; especially if you got befriended by other bikers, kept together, etc., or if you experienced the ride (camino) singlehanded. Interesting to get a cyclist's point of view of the experience.

Buen Camino!

Here is mine, put together during lockdown while I had limited access to photos and notes.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @Murk ,
As one who has cycled (from Pamplona) your decision to use the roads is a practical one. There are sections of the Camino Frances, even with a mountain bike that are just not suitable for cycling. Much of the camino is on local roads and here you will encounter the walking pilgrims, often spread out all over the road. Its difficult for local farmers to get through so you should expect the ride slowly. If I can offer some other advice - get a loud bell and use it often. If you can try to get a up to date copy of the Michelin Guide " Camino de Santiago". I used it in 2015 (and in 2017). It has all those extra local road, alternative routes, if the road ahead is not bike friendly. Most of the private albergues will happily provide a bed and most will have a place for you to store your bike. Buen Camino.

 

[dick bird]

private albergues will happily provide a bed and most will have a place for you to store your bike

As will most municipales and parroquiales.

 

[good_old_shoes]

I have lots of respect for people doing such long distances on bike, especially when there's so many hills as on the way from Le Puy. When I see them going uphill with all their gear, I wouldn't want to be in their place! So much easier to walk!

On my very long Camino last year I walked on bike paths a lot and met many long distance cyclists. Often they stopped for a moment and we had the typical pilgrim's talk: where are you from, where are you going, how long...? I was always happy to meet fellow long distance travellers, because for the first 1000km there were not many walking pilgrims or even hikers. So please don't think that all people on foot think bad about pilgrims on bikes.

You don't sound like you'd be the kind of cyclist who goes full speed down a narrow, steep path where the only way a hiker could get out of the way is jumping down a cliff or into the bushes, so I think there will not be any problems.

Just ring your bell well in advance in case of pilgrims clogging up the path, and slow down so you can stop before running someone over who managed not to hear the bell (happens quite often - people are lost in thoughts, talking to others, maybe are older and don't hear very well, slow to react because they're tired ect.).

Enjoy your Camino, I bet it will be wonderful! Bon chemin and buen Camino!

 

[Murk]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone!
Will definitely use my bell with liberty when sharing the road. I did intend to stick to the non-walker routes (I was considering the eurovelo 3 but that seems to take some very liberal detours here and there), but we'll see!

@Flatlander, that was a good read! Love the Hobbes.

 

[Krieg01]

Hi everyone! In late August and September I will be cycling from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Santiago - first the Via Podiensis, then the Camino Frances (or rather adjacent to it, so as not to bother the walkers too much).

I was hesitant to post here because I might be too much of the stereotypical bicigrino ( going too fast and too far, mainly).
But we'll see. Plans can always be changed midway through.

Either way, these forums have been incredibly kind and helpful. So here's hello - I'll try to share my experiences afterwards, too.

I'm doing something less ambitious in late Sept to early Oct from Leon to Santiago, so I will watch with interest your experience.

 

[Murk]

I'm doing something less ambitious in late Sept to early Oct from Leon to Santiago, so I will watch with interest your experience.

I wouldn't call it ambitious myself, because I have every intention of skipping ahead at the first sign of trouble!

The full route from Le Puy would demand of me an average of 75k a day, which I know I can do without much problem. But I do not know if I can do it and still relax, and wander, and get lost, and visit every little church along the way. Maybe I can't.

So I'll start in Le Puy where it's nice and hilly, and if it turns out that an average of 75k is way too much (it might well be!) I'll just grab the train to SJPdP and cut the distance in half.

I keep writing "we'll see" in this thread, probably because that's my current mindset. We'll see.