I am planning to bike during the winter...

[janete77]

Hi there,

My name is Janete Weinstein and I am planning to go bike during the winter time. I was wondering if anyone has done it? if so, could you share and give some tips about the weather.

 

[Javier Martin]

Hi Jannete.

Not me (I only walk) but my friend Alex use to do it. On december a couple of years ago (Roncesvalles-Astorga), the year before from Astorga, and any other Caminos when he can take any holydays at work. If you have any specific question, don't worry, I will ask him.

He never takes roads, dislike it. When it's possible, only Caminos where pilgrims walk. He use to bike about 80-100 km daily. Sometimes is quite hard because the Caminos are not always exactly ready for bikes.

I enojy a lot the Camino on winter, too.

Buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.

 

[William Marques]

Snow has come early to the ski resorts in the Alps this year I do not know about the Pyrenees but Javier has some beaitiful pictures of Roncevalles in the snow. If it does snow stick to the road. Be prepared for cold and wet weather and do not try and push yourself too hard.

Long cycling tights and waterproof over-trousers, long sleeve jersey and jacket, fleece, Buff (fleecy neck thing), under helmet hat, full finger gloves are alll things you will want maybe not all the time but be prepared. You will not need as much water as the summer cyclists so the bottles on your bike may be all you need though in muddy conditions they can get dirty so you may prefer a camelback.

My winter cycling experience is not on the Camino but eleswhere in Europe so I am sorry I cannot give you first hand winter camino riding experience.

 

[Javier Martin]

Something important, in this phorum there's two different Javier. Who signs as "Javier" is the one who makes incredible photos and use to show it to the phorum. Thanks, Javier!! And the other one is me, I'm afraid my photos are much worse than his, I've never published any photo, and I sign as "Javier Martin". He lives in Pamplona and I live in Madrid.

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.

 

[William Marques]

Roncesvalles in the snow courtesy of the other Javier

 

[cecelia]

"My name is Janete Weinstein and I am planning to go bike during the winter time."
hello Janete,
My comments are indirect because I am not a biker. But I'm hoping that you will be doing lots of research on winter conditions. As you have seem from the pictures above, there can be a lot of snow! Many of the directional arrows along the camino are on the ground and you will not be able to see them in winter - so you may have to travel on the road for much of the way. I'm not suggesting that this is an insurmountable issue but something you need to know ahead of time. Either last winter or the previous one, people were snowed in for several days with impassable roads. This is just a cautionary note and is not intended to discourage you - just to say do your homework and don't try to be stronger than nature - she is very powerful. (I live in Canada where people are forever getting lost in the mountains it seems!)
Also please listen to the locals who may say that mountain passes are not safe at a certain time. They have generously rescued many pilgrims who have chosen to ignore them - even in the early spring. If you have to layover and wait for a day or two, do that and enjoy your stay.
I can't even imagine biking the camino in the winter but I wish you great success!!
cecelia

 

[brendan nolan]

Hi Janete,
I've been in recent contact with some walking pilgrims. They started from Le Puy in early November but pulled out when they got to the Pyrenees because of snow - that would have been early December. I imagine there could also be snow in the Montes de Leon after Astorga.
I'm not a cyclist but I imagine that in winter you would be pushing the bike a lot of the time rather than riding it, and I think this would be much more tiring than carrying a pack on your back. There is also the problem of not knowing what is under your feet/wheels if there is snow - rocks, potholes, etc. if you cycle on tracks.
In 2005 I set out on 1st March expecting to be walking into Spring. In Holland I hit 30 cms of snow and the worst March conditions since records began, with night temperatures dropping to minus 10 C. This meant that, for over a week, during the day it was difficult to find a place to rest, it was freezing with nowhere to sit down. I also hit blizzard conditions that year when approaching La Chaise Dieu towards Le Puy.
Winter snow can be beautiful but it is an entirely different matter when it is one of the elements you have to contend with for several hours each day. Even if the snow is cleared from the roads, the snow at the sides can make the road narrower and therefore even more dangerous for the cyclist/walking pilgrim, who may also not be easily seen in poor winter light.
I don't want to discourage you, after all I did survive the above conditions although I wouldn't have chosen them, but there are these things to think about.
Buen Camino
Brendan