Trike rental

[ackernan]

I am disabled but would like to ride on the el Camino de Santiago with a trike. Does anybody rent trikes ? I've seen a couple that rent bikes.

 

[Tincatinker]

Google says “no”. But there are several companies offering ebikes.

 

[ackernan]

Google says “no”. But there are several companies offering ebikes.

That's the info I see from Google, but thought I'd ask. Kind of disheartening if no-one rents trikes.

 

[sunwanderer]

The best option might be to package up yours (if it's foldable) and put it in checked luggage.

I think there are plenty of places on the Camino where a trike wouldn't fit very well because of it's width. And blind curves with no pull off space would make them especially dangerous for you on some of the roads.

 

[Tincatinker]

That's the info I see from Google, but thought I'd ask. Kind of disheartening if no-one rents trikes.

There are multiple, nearly a dozen on a first search, companies trading directly on the Camino who do bike hire or bike-the-camino packages. If you want to do this it has to be worth your while to email each of them with your requirements. If your Spanish isn't up to it, mine certainly isn't, then Google Chrome (other mega-corporation search engines are available) will help with translation.

 

[debra]

I would write to the bike rental company saying that you are looking for a trike. It is very possible that one of the companies has a trike or know an person that has one they might rent to you.
Second folding trikes can to checked so I would also look into a folding tadpole trike, which has the advantage of being able to be used on other trip and riding before you go on Camino.

 

[Barbara]

Where do you live? It's no good telling you to bring your own if we don't know what transport you will be using. Is this a solo trip or will you have (do you need) help?
Where are you intending to start?

 

[ackernan]

Where do you live? It's no good telling you to bring your own if we don't know what transport you will be using. Is this a solo trip or will you have (do you need) help?
Where are you intending to start?

I live in the US and was planning to make the trip with a few others. I'm not sure where I'd start, I know very little about the el Camino.

 

[Barbara]

Okay, this is a good place to start. I suggest you think about how much time you have available, then where you want to finish.
You can then decide where to start. Depending on your daily mileage allowing for rest days you should be able to calculate this so as to start from somewhere easy to reach.
There are other options than trikes. You can hire a little donkey cart in France bourricot.com will help here, look for randoline. They require a helper to lead the donkey, you don't get to steer, as they are made specifically for people with a disability. You might want a tandem bike, or maybe an ebike. There are also options to book with companies that will arrange accommodation and baggage transfer.
You could buy a trike (try cyclo-eko in Pau, who sell a folding trike with electric assist) and sell or donate it when you have done what you want with it.
Your friends will need to work out what they want to do, as well. You might decide to use an assist vehicle, but that would exclude them (not you, if you are disabled) from some accommodation.
You may want to do a test run if you have a locally available walking route.
I suggest a good think about your objectives and ability to ride on a regular basis before coming to a decision. Remember that transport costs from the USA will be a very large part of your budget, and the others will need to be willing to move at your pace. Don't worry about path width. There is always an alternative route. It's not an obligation to follow the track markers.
Hope this helps. It's just a few ideas to help you research.

 

[debra]

Flying with a folding trike is possible as a checked item about 150 each way on top of ticket price. I don’t know a lot about train/bus in Spain to your starting location.

One question is how long (time) you have as riding from airport to airport is easiest with a trike.

One place to look https://www.utahtrikes.com/SEARCH-0:999999: : :Fold.search
But there cheaper models available such as trident trikes
And Azub is not cheap but fold down to 26*24*14 inch box

Please reply for more information on trikes and planing for a camino.

 

[debra]

I live in the US and was planning to make the trip with a few others. I'm not sure where I'd start, I know very little about the el Camino.

I would highly suggest a recumbent/tadpole trike with two wheels in front over a granny trike with one wheel in front.

Tadpoles steer better, handle tilt perpendicular to the bike much better with lower amounts of tip over, and are less likely to tip over in turns.

As you want to travel with others,I have a few notes on trikes. The performance window is much different than bicycles on trikes you can easily go up a hill at 2 to 3 mph speed that a bicycle cannot perform. If your friends are walking, riding a trike it’s not hard to accompany those who are walking due to the fact that you can never fall over no matter how slow you go.

The e-bike is a good option if the strength of leg is the reason you want a trike not balance issues.

 

[ackernan]

Thanks for the info. I have a Trident Spike, http://tridenttrikes.com/jouta-delta/products/spike/, it's a folding trike with 2 wheels in front, fenders on all the wheels, and a rack over rear tire.

 

[debra]

Thanks for the info. I have a Trident Spike, http://tridenttrikes.com/jouta-delta/products/spike/, it's a folding trike with 2 wheels in front, fenders on all the wheels, and a rack over rear tire.

That is a fine trike which folds. So why are you looking at renting a trike instead of taking that one?

To fit it in a box for the airplane remove rack, fold, remove all wheels, push boom 100% in and turn 90 degrees or remove boom, loose and turn steering tube until flat, then pad it’s bubble wrap and with wheels, seat, rack.

At the airport tell the ticket person it is a bike for the 150-250 depending on which airline used fee which is for 70bl and 115 linear inches.
United https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/baggage/sports-equipment.html look at Bicycle.

As your trike will not be in a standard bike box you may be required to open your box. Pack in the box extra tape.

In Santiago you have two option A have shipped your box to Santiago to wait for you or B find a new box.

Take all tools used to take apart the trike even if it is not a tool you usually take on a daily ride. You could carry or ship those Santiago.

The largest problem with taking your trike is that you have a very heavy box without wheels and what to do with it if you travel Europe before or after the camino.