- Time of past OR future Camino
- First one in 2005 from Moissac, France.
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Fantastic! And not to be rude, mspath, but since you brought it up...you're 76?!? I'm inspired to just keep walking! Thanks.How right you are David! Fifty-six years ago this summer when 20 years old I biked from London to Rome in 4 months on a 3 speed Raleigh.
Hi. There is definitely a belief that one can only cycle the camino on a top rate expensive bike, wearing specialist clothing, handlebars at or lower than the saddle so one is leaning far forward - which causes stress on hands and arms (and stomach muscles) .... but this is only one way at looking at cycling.l
Hi Jenny, sorry to hear this news but delighted to hear you are still going on your Camino. September is a good bit away so you have plenty time to get fit and ready. If the Gods decree we might meet up in September.Hi David -
Thanks so much for this thread which has come at a really 'interesting' time for me ... since January I've been putting a lot of effort into bike training for my upcoming bike camino with Saint Mike II this September. However, on 9 April my training came to a halt as I lost control of the bike in windy conditions and fell - breaking my collarbone and scapula. A month after the injury I had to have surgery to pin and plate the collarbone as there had been no knitting of the bones in that period of time.
Since the injury all sorts of negative thoughts have crept in - all concerning the lack of fitness - and worries and sadness that I won't be strong enough to see my dream become a reality.
I do think it's an attitude - your thoughts ring very true ...
"The truth is that any bike will get you to Santiago on the conditions that 1) you aren't in a hurry. 2) you don't mind walking with it every now and then. It is attitude that is important. No one needs to be super fit (or even fit), they just need a bike and the willingness to go, relaxed, unhurried, and to have fun."
I won't be super-fit, even fit, but I do have the willingness to go and to be relaxed (but very careful!), unhurried, and to have fun.
Your thread has given me confidence and encouragement - thanks again.
Cheers - Jenny
Thanks so much Pat for your good wishes - I'll be on the Camino with bells on! (on the bike that is!) - I'm really looking forward to catching up if our dates match up. Fingers crossed.Hi Jenny, sorry to hear this news but delighted to hear you are still going on your Camino. September is a good bit away so you have plenty time to get fit and ready. If the Gods decree we might meet up in September.
I am starting my next camino in a couple of weeks time. For the first time on the bike and I am taking the bell off. A friendly Hola and Buen Camino is much more personal than an anonymous ringing of a bell. Of course, I'll be passing foot pilgrims slowly giving me and the other person a chance to react when caught by surprise.Speaking of cyclists and attitude - I trust you will all be equipped with and using your bells?
Thank you for the slowness and the hola. It can be quite a fright to have someone blow past you with no warning!I
I am starting my next camino in a couple of weeks time. For the first time on the bike and I am taking the bell off. A friendly Hola and Buen Camino is much more personal than an anonymous ringing of a bell. Of course, I'll be passing foot pilgrims slowly giving me and the other person a chance to react when caught by surprise.
Hello there when and where are you starting from as I am doing a route very soonI
I am starting my next camino in a couple of weeks time. For the first time on the bike and I am taking the bell off. A friendly Hola and Buen Camino is much more personal than an anonymous ringing of a bell. Of course, I'll be passing foot pilgrims slowly giving me and the other person a chance to react when caught by surprise.
If no bell - then the call is "bike passing - left or right" - but a bell/bull horn/musical horn is a lot more effective (imho). Also when approaching a group of pilgrims - say more than 3 be prepared to slow right down or even stop. Pilgrims walking/talking may not really be aware of anyone else being on the Camino. Cheers.I am starting my next camino in a couple of weeks time. For the first time on the bike and I am taking the bell off. A friendly Hola and Buen Camino is much more personal than an anonymous ringing of a bell. Of course, I'll be passing foot pilgrims slowly giving me and the other person a chance to react when caught by surprise.
Add one of these to your bike David and you will get to Santiago in no time.
Three times I was brushed/swiped by passing riders coming a wee bit too close and once had a substantial knock.
My experience was that those who rang their bells, seemed to be more polite and considerate.
I've often felt the same. But recently, while riding my bike and startling a pedestrian when I rang my bell, I stopped to ask her about this, an ongoing Forum dilemma. She said she would prefer to be warned, so I will continue to warn pedestrians of my approach - just give them a bit more warning than I gave this lady. By the way, this lady had close friends who had walked the Camino, but she herself was hoping to walk Britain's Coast to Coast.To me the bell too often says"move over for me"
There are many hybrids. The worst I saw was a young Spanish guide showing off for the bike tour he was leading. He had panniers but still rode like the walkers were slalom poles. Heck, we wear real bike clothes just because they work so well, but no one would describe us as fast.I may be wrong - I often am - but don't the Camino cyclists fall mainly into two groups/types? The rainbow clothing tight fitting as if sprayed on Spanish mountain bikers who whizz along as fast as they can, doing their one day or weekend racy event for whom pedestrians are just annoying objects that get in the way, and the cycle pilgrims laden down with panniers and pilgrim hearts who are exactly like the walking pilgrims except that they are on bicycles? Or do I mistake?
No you do not!I may be wrong - I often am - but don't the Camino cyclists fall mainly into two groups/types? The rainbow clothing tight fitting as if sprayed on Spanish mountain bikers who whizz along as fast as they can, doing their one day or weekend racy event for whom pedestrians are just annoying objects that get in the way, and the cycle pilgrims laden down with panniers and pilgrim hearts who are exactly like the walking pilgrims except that they are on bicycles? Or do I mistake?
Hi,
Lesson 26 (La Faba): don’t suddenly fall sideways into the main path when you get a stabbing pain in your knee; there could be an unknown cyclist behind, who will crash into you.
Hi. There is definitely a belief that one can only cycle the camino on a top rate expensive bike, wearing specialist clothing, handlebars at or lower than the saddle so one is leaning far forward -.
For over a hundred years tens of millions of people throughout the world have transported themselves over unmetalled roads and tracks on heavy single speed bikes, wearing only what they were wearing before getting on the bike. Quite a lot of the time using the bikes as heavy load carriers - and they have all got on fine.
A big hill comes? Means going slow or getting off the bike and walking with it for a while.
Hey - you mentioned steel rims - do you remember how frightening it was trying to get those bikes to stop in the rain? Number of times I went pale with fear!
Hi David - that's not a bike, it's a party! I presume all the canapés are in the bag on the rack!
As previously mentioned in this thread, I cycled the Camino (Mozarabe and Via de la Plata) without a bell and finished three days ago. I had no issues apart from one occasion on a not so busy country road when a group of about 7 foot pilgrims (obviously taking advantage of the muchila service) took up the whole road not paying attention of possible traffic coming along. I approached in my usual manner slowing down to walking speed and saying my friendly hola, buenos Diaz and Buen Camino. It always worked very well for me and the foot pilgrims and I even engaged in conversation with most people I passed.
However, on this occasion one lady in the group reacted in a total exaggerated and unnecessary manner and was clearly shouting some unpleasant things, which were probably not very lady like. I could hear the Spanish C word and other things.
Yes, I am sure there are cyclists that have no consideration whatsoever, but so are some walkers who are equally just as bad. So it's not only some of the cyclist who have bad manners.
Developed a bad back problem that prevents me walking but not biking, so thinking about biking the Camino. So you had bought a second hand bike. How did you arrange that?Interesting post David. Riding a bike is a great way to do the camino. Your point about low handlebars is spot on. I always have mine raised right up so that I can ride in a more or less upright position, and so enjoy the scenery.
My first camino, I rode in ordinary clothes and was basically fine, except for getting saddle sore. Since then I've bitten the bullet and gone for padded cycle pants, which make a huge difference.
I'm leaving for the Frances in just over a week and have arranged to buy a second-hand bike in Anglet. Hopefully your premise about bike quality will prove correct.
I bought the bike from a bike hire business in Anglet/Biaritz called Bikeatlantic. They have a website. It was in very good condition.Developed a bad back problem that prevents me walking but not biking, so thinking about biking the Camino. So you had bought a second hand bike. How did you arrange that?
Thanks I will check it out.I bought the bike from a bike hire business in Anglet/Biaritz called Bikeatlantic. They have a website. It was in very good condition.
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