- Time of past OR future Camino
- VdlP(2012) Madrid(2014)Frances(2015) VdlP(2016)
VdlP(2017)Madrid/Sanabres/Frances reverse(2018)
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
It's because your lycra skinsuits take up less room than normal clothesSurely with a 36L capacity there must be a lot of empty space? Or am I missing something?
This year I'll be 30 days on the Frances. I'm stopping en route quite a bit and making a couple of detours.... How long will your journey take in total? Will you resupply or make more than one Camino? Do you carry tools to repair your bike if needed and is that part of your packing? Do you carry a sleeping bag/liner. I think different modes of travel may just have different priorities.
Thanks Margaret. I bought this bag as a front carrier on my trips here in WA, camping during covid. It was basically for water carrying - unlike the camino, it can be 150km between drinks over here. I'll bet the 3 speed Raleigh had those wonderful "in-hub" gears. I'm sorry they ever went out of fashion.I like your soft paniers. They remind me of the canvas ones I used 60 years ago this summer when 20 years old I biked from London to Rome in 4 months on a 3 speed Raleigh and
walked up the Alps. However the descent into Nice was great!
Happy packing and Buen camino!
How far west? South of Bordeaux I took the Littoral along the coast in 2019. Loved it, but it proved expensive for accommodation.I have a 30l which includes camping gear (I am camino-ing down through western France this year) but serves easily on a winter camino with much more gear too minus the tent. In summer I would consider a smaller day pack but would probably still take my 30l as I am so used to it. But most advice will suggest larger - as 20litres is considered a daysack the next size up is generally the suggestion for multi days from most sources which is in the 30-50L mark. Most folks on their first walk tend to carry more in uncertainty of what it will be like so having more flexibility in packing can be useful than trying to cram everything in.
Funny you should mention Lycra. I refused to wear the gear at first because I wanted to be seen as an old(ish) pilgrim who happened to be on a bike. My bum suffered accordingly. And now I really like the jackets too - just unzip when hot. And in dazzling safety colours. I'm a convert.It's because your lycra skinsuits take up less room than normal clothes
Following the voie capitales from where I finished last summer in Nantes and swinging over to Royan to Voie Littoral. The issue on the Voie Littoral is the accomodation hence the tent.How far west? South of Bordeaux I took the Littoral along the coast in 2019. Loved it, but it proved expensive for accommodation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamil...MIL) is an,hugging jerseys and bicycle shorts.Funny you should mention Lycra.
Did you post or blog anywhere about your Voie Capitales? I’m very interested in that route for a future Beginning in M Saint Michel seems as beguiling as finishing in Santiago.Following the voie capitales from where I finished last summer in Nantes and swinging over to Royan to Voie Littoral. The issue on the Voie Littoral is the accomodation hence the tent.
I have to admit I am somewhat embarrased by it, because it makes a statement that is not me. It is, however, immensely practical.
Did you post or blog anywhere about your Voie Capitales? I’m very interested in that route for a future Beginning in M Saint Michel seems as beguiling as finishing in Santiago.
One place on the Littoral I can thoroughly recommend is Villa Souvenir in Léon. And he’ll probably be happy for you to pitch your tent in his extensive garden if you don’t fancy a shared room.
Even the Mont Saint Michel path from Cherbourg had more options than I saw you had on the Caen route - my first night on it at Le Rozel was a pilgrim gite full of camino photos and camino paraphernalia which was a lovely start! But the Mont St Michel to Clisson section which is dual way (to the Mont and to SdeC) has had alot more work than the other routes - there are several municipal pilgrim gites including Antrain and Besle, a few walkers gites such as in Messac, Blain, a basic pilgrim refuge at La Roche run by the couple who own the restaurant who are pilgrims, a few youth hostels in Rennes and Nantes, a few campsites have basic campetoiles available for bikers/ walkers plus a decent list of pilgrim hosts. And plenty of food! (Even found an open shop on a public holiday!)Funny, we walked across Normandy from Caen TO Mont St Michel and found it lacking in not only pilgrim hosts and accommodations, but also food!!! It was oddly unsupported for a recognized route. Glad to hear that that is not the norm for that area.
A shop open on a public holiday in FRANCE?!?!? Surely this is an April Fool’s prank.
Like MesaWalker, I have Topeak soft panniers at home. For summer bike hiking they hold tent, sleep sack, air mattress, running shoes (i use clipless bike shoes to ride) and full set of extra street/hiking clothes. I have a large handle bar bag for food, toiletries and other stuff. You would not need the tent and air mattress on Camino, and you dont need to carry food, but might want a heavier Gortex shell and rain pants for cold wind/rain protection if you ride fast. For walking many Caminos over 3 seasons, I use a 33 liter pack (cause it fit me well and the 24 did not), but could easily put all my gear into a 24 liter pack. I have also stuffed it into a 20 liter pack during testing. You are not missing anything- you don't need the 36 just because so many others want to carry the kitchen sink. I biked the CF in 2016 using the relatively large rented panniers, but walked from SJPP to Roncessvalles to get the bike, and I carried a 36 liter frameless pack stuffed with 25 lbs of bike shoes, tools, my own pedals, too many street clothes, plus an additional 10 lbs of food and water having confused the 26 km trek with a 26 mile trek!! I hardly touched the food and water during the 7 hour hike because I ate breakfast at Orrison and got more food at cantina further up. Live and learn!I’m curious about this. I am a bicigrino, so there are different priorities, but I have noticed that walker backpack discussions often focus on “Do I go for 36L or 44L?” …just my impression.
I’ve decided to try a different approach to my bike packing, and eliminate traditional panniers altogether. (They are heavy). I have bought a “trunk bag” which has drop-down, soft, side panniers. The total volume is 22.6L. I’ve just done a trial pack, and I have got everything in - with room to spare - except for the things which will go in my small handlebar/shoulder bag (perhaps 2L) which will contain my phone, day-wallet, snacks, glasses and other immediately-available sundries. Admittedly my water bottles (2) are attatched to the bike frame. Out of curiosity, I’ve looked at some walker sample packing lists and they do not differ significantly from mine. Surely with a 36L capacity there must be a lot of empty space? Or am I missing something?
View attachment 143879I notice that my rain jacket is strapped to the top, so not part of the internal volume.
An interesting post, Matty - (or is he the actual dog like Henry?). I'm getting the point that walkers prefer a bigger pack for both comfort, fit and ease of access. Makes sense.Like MesaWalker, I have Topeak soft panniers at home...
HI Paul, Matty was our Great Pyrenees/Golden retriever, God rest his dog-soul. Impressive loadout! I like the idea of that Ortlieb pack and the way you have it secured. I would consider something like that along with a large handlebar bag for my local bike hikes which don't last more than a week. I would not need the Topeak in that case, and it would be much easier to lock up the bike and carry most of the stuff with me while waling around town or other hiking. On Camino, with the two 20 liter heavy Ortliebs and large handle bar bag that came with the rental, it was a real pain to dismount and carry all that gear into cafes, museums, albergues, etc,An interesting post, Matty - (or is he the actual dog like Henry?). I'm getting the point that walkers prefer a bigger pack for both comfort, fit and ease of access. Makes sense.
With my Topeak trunk-bag, I have the added benefit of several compartments. I should mention that on my last trip I used an Ortlieb lightweight backpack which I attatched to the seatpost, using the roll-down clip, and secured to the rack with velcro. The pack holds a generous 20L, and was totally waterproof. This was really convenient. Weight 330g.
View attachment 144298
It looks a bit precarious, but in fact was very stable, and quick to remove. The blue dry-bag contained my fleece jacket, the orange one had tools. The disadvantage of this arrangement was that I found it tricky to mount and dismount the bike, as I intuitively swing my leg over the saddle.
I'm testing out putting the Topeak on the front. (My Thule rack can go either front or back). I like this arrangement. It helps equalise the load on the wheels, and actually damps down the steering in a very comfortable way. I can't think of any disadvantage.
I am somewhat in awe of your treck over the Napoleon with that lot on your back. I suspect that you're younger than some of us!
I have one more photo of my loaded bike on a camping trip here in W Aus during Covid. This involved camping between far-flung roadhouse stops, so the Deuters on the front had 8L of water (and cooking/eating gear) - hot temps here. I'm not sure which bag carried the sink!
View attachment 144299
Did you carry a large stuffed Tigger (outside your pack) in Sep/Oct 2017 on the CF?So, the long of the short on this topic seems to be perspective. Some carry a larger pack with everything easily stuffed inside while others mentally feel they have less by carrying a smaller pack with large items connected to the outside... or in a second bag on the handle bars. In the end we all seem to have the same amount of creature comforts for the type of travel and time length of our venture. The Jack Reacher Way is a nice thought. However, somethings do fall into the list of necessities.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?