Is it possible to cycle 200km in 5 days?

[Nazzynoodles]

Hi everyone,

Me and my partner are looking to cycle a Camino de Santiago - not fussed which route, but at least 200km to get our badgesWe are reasonably fit, average cyclers. Is it realistic that we could do this over 5 days, and which route would be ideal?

The dates we are looking at are over Easter (9th - 14th April 2020). We would also be very happy to join others if anyone is thinking of going around the same time

 

[kirkie]

Welcome! What is your experience, daily kms? I gather cyclists can do a fair number in a day so looks like you will manage easily. Your badge, your compostela, will be well earned! Buen camino!

 

[Josefus]

200 km in 5 day means 40 km in average. For a medium fit biker this should not be a problem. Even if the way is a bit ondulated.

¡Ultreia!

 

[Nazzynoodles]

Many thanks!

And which route would you recommend? We were thinking maybe from Porto or from Ponferrada?

 

[Josefus]

Many thanks!

And which route would you recommend? We were thinking maybe from Porto or from Ponferrada?

I don´t know the Camino Portugués. Anyway, if it is your first camino I would recommend the Francés; it´s the most "classic" one and will lead you through beautifull landscapes and places.
The main difficulty for cyclists will be the O Cebreiro. At least for this climb you should use the road for the footpath is narow and hardly cyclable and you will disturb the foot pilgrims.

¡Ultreia!

 

[MikeJS]

I can walk 200km in 5 days so it should be easy!

 

[Dromengro]

I can walk 200km in 5 days so it should be easy!

That was my thoughts at first, then I remembered the last time I cycled, I couldn't sit down for 3 days and that was only after 20mls.

 

[Moorwalker]

If you're a regular cyclist then 40km per day is easy. Even I can do that!

 

[Roland49]

Yes, it is!

Is it possible for you? Nobody knows!
It depends on so many circumstances that this question only you can answer for yourself.
The last 5 days of my CF i walked 160km, so it seems to be possible to bike it.

I had a colleague that rode 160-200km in a weekend. And he was in his 60's.

Test yourself: ride 40km and you know if this is possible for you to do this 5 times in a row.

 

[Kat Kostrzewska]

Good afternoon Nazzynoodles. 200km in 5 days is a healthy distance. Very healthy. In my Camino France's guidebook I recommend cycling 50-60 km per day. If you cycle to work in London or regularly cycle over the weekend you will be fine.

Ponferrada is a great starting point and important place on the Camino. Breakfast in café opposite Templar Castle is unforgettable. On your first day you will be cycling in between the small towns and vineyards of El Bierzo, a rising star of Spanish winemaking regions.

Then you will climb to O'Cerbreiro, one of the jewels of the Camino. The views are unforgettable. So is a descent to Tricastela...

 

[Geodoc]

I've done 100 mile (about 160 km) days on a mountain bike with slicks, but that was on asphalt and gently rolling hills (and months of training). It can be done, but the Camino is not all asphalt with gently rolling hills - I'd recommend a couple of months of training on a mountain bike with knobbies over rough trails and steep hills. Remember, going up is hard, but coming down can be harder (on the hands while braking).

 

[Line4guy]

It’s all relative, I’m was 50 yr 2 years age and biked from Pamplona in 10 days. I trained a few weeks prior about 35k a day on mostly flat terrain. I biked 60 to 90k a day. So from my frame of reference 200k in 5 days would be very doable and a nice slow pace. That being said, you will push your bike up o cebrero, you will fly down the mountains, you will cuss the hills, But you will never forget the ride. It is AWESOME!!!!!

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola bicigenos. Yes welcome to the Forum. Now to answer your question. Yes you can do 200 km in 5 days. I would recommend hybrid or basic mountain bikes which is what I rode back in 2015. I varied my daily kms to fit with what I wanted to see. There are sections of the camino from (say) Leon that are not suitable even for very experienced off road cyclist. I suggest you get a copy of the Michellion Camino Guide as it provides details of major/minor & secondary roads you will need to follow.i am responding via my iPad so it’s a bit difficult to be route specific. I will come back later today with diversion routes. Cheers

 

[Saint Mike II]

OK - I now have my books.
If we assume you are starting (on the Frances) somewhere near Ponferrrada the on almost any bike you can follow the walkers camino as far as Villafranca del Bierzo; from there to Herrerias you can follow the valley road/trail with out any problems. From Herrerias you will need to follow the "bike trail"(there is a sign about 2 or 3 km showing a walkers trail to La Faba and a road (sealed) to La Laguna and O'Cebreiro. From O'Cebreiro I recommend you follow the local road LU633. Yes you could follow the walkers but I found it very rough and if crowded unsafe. From Triacastela to Sarria you have a choice the main road or the camino - both ok for mountain bikes. Getting out of Sarria if you follow the walkers it will mean walking your bike and even carrying it. I suggest you take the C535 to the Albergue Cafe and then turn left to Barbadelo, from there you can ride off track to Portomarin and Palas de Rei. From Palas I would recommend that you follow the main road all the way to Santiago as the camino will be crowded and even with a BELL you will be stopping and even walking. Hope all this helps. Cheers for now. Just remember - have a BELL and USE IT!!

 

[Lizremedy]

yes you can. I did Burgos to SdC in 10 days (525km) so averaging about 50km per day, leaving our accom at about 9am and getting in to the next night stop about 2pm. We had mountain bikes and rode the whole way on the walkers route except:
1. the steep downhill from Cruz le Ferro to Molinaseca (took road as it was quick and safer for me and walkers (my husband rode the walking path the whole way but he's a crazy mtb enthusiast)
2. the climb up El Cebreiro from Vega del Velcarce (I am not fit so the road route was easier and riding the footpath is strongly advised against for walkers' safety)

It was a bit hilly in places, but you get fitter day by day. The day from Fonfria down to Saria was absolutely breathtaking. Enjoy

 

[Kanga]

@Nazzynoodles when you say "get our badges" - do you mean get a Compostela? If yes, to be eligible, you will have to ride your 200km contiguously into Santiago de Compostela, to be eligible, collecting two stamps per day in your credential.

 

[flyfishinguy]

Hello
I rode my bike on the camino frances back in 2016. 500 mi in 9 days. Rode from St Jean Pied de Port in France all the way to Santiago.

I am 69 now and rode the route when I was 66.

I mention this to assure you that you can easily handle this kind of distance. If you look at a ride elevation profile you'll note that the really big climbs are over long before you get to the 200 km circle on the camino frances.

can't offer any advice as to camino porto
ride safe
bien camino
flyfishinguy

 

[PeteD]

@Nazzynoodles welcome and yesyou will be easily able to cycle 200kms from Ponferrada to SdC in 5 days. I rode from SJpdP in 2016 on a MTB and stayed mostly on the paths to experience the trail rather than the roads for a more pilgrim experience. Always slowed down to pass pilgrims walking, often getting off the bike to walk with pilgrims especially late in the day when approaching an overnight destination. Courtesy and bell ringing helped smooth the interactions. Some sections uphill you may have to get off and wheel your bike especially on the steeper sections of track. Just be careful not to miss the yellow arrows especially going downhill. Its surprising how far you can ride downhill before you realise youve gone the wrong way and have to get up that mountain again!!
Buen camino and enjoy the ride

 

[Moominmamma]

Hello, I agree with what the others have said about distance. The first year I cycled part of the Camino we did about 500kms in a week and I’m really not that fit. To be fair we did 90kms with 700m up the first day which was far too much and I nearly gave up as everything hurt like anything. The next year we did about the same but started off more gently. And I got a proper saddle that fitted me correctly. There was some pushing as we reached the Massif Central...

We also went by road, partly as we were on a tandem which only has road tyres, and partly to be considerate to hiking pilgrims which we normally are. We just followed the roads closest to the Camino route. We had a lot of fun, though we have now gone back to walking (we’ve doing the Le Puy route in stages) as I missed the sound of leaves crunching under my feet and silence and bird song in the woods. We also met some amazing and friendly people and Camino angels, so have fun and enjoy the planning too. And make sure at least one of you can fix a puncture. ;-)