Two queries re biking on Portuguese Camino from Lisbon

[GDRD]

1 - Is a mountain bike with front suspension essential for this Camino?
2 - Can anyone suggest a place to stay about 70 km from Lisbon (in-beween the stage from Vila Franca de Xira to Santarem? Or is Vila Franca de Xira an essential stop (it is only 40 km flat biking from Lisbon).
Thanks again, Robyn.

 

[peregrina2000]

1 - Is a mountain bike with front suspension essential for this Camino?
2 - Can anyone suggest a place to stay about 70 km from Lisbon (in-beween the stage from Vila Franca de Xira to Santarem? Or is Vila Franca de Xira an essential stop (it is only 40 km flat biking from Lisbon).
Thanks again, Robyn.

Hi, Robyn,

Azambuja is an obvious place, about 18 km north of Vila Franca. Cartaxo is another, about 15 km further north of Vila Franca, I think. Both have accommodation options. I can’t imagine what would be essential about stopping in Vila Franca!

Sorry I can’t help with the bike question, having only walked. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Skinnybiker]

"1 - Is a mountain bike with front suspension essential for this Camino?"

Strictly speaking, no, but as with so many things it depends; age, ability, experience, preferences, amount of gear being carried, strictly camino or some road as well, etc. It's a wide ranging question and little point getting into detail here, you should know from your own riding ability & experience your preferences. In my case, early 70s, I have progressed(?) from a hybrid touring bike to a hard-tail touring bike but would prefer to tour on a full-sus now as they are so much more comfortable. Maybe you should ask yourself "do you enjoy riding downhill on trails as fast as possible?, if so take a hard-tail, if not a hybrid / touring bike will suffice.

Hope this helps to set you thinking.

Buen camino whichever bike you choose. Richard.

PS Maybe wider tyres are better but again not essential.

 

[dougfitz]

2 - Can anyone suggest a place to stay about 70 km from Lisbon (in-beween the stage from Vila Franca de Xira to Santarem?

I am not a cyclist, but knowing that the albergue at Porto de Muge had closed following the death of the hospitalero, I contemplated crossing the Rio Tejo and walking to Muge. It is on one of the southern routes to Fatima. While I wouldn't expect the section Porto de Muge to Muge to be waymarked, it doesn't look like it would present any navigational challenges. In the end I didn't cross the river from Porto de Muge, but took a bus and then the a train from there to Santarem, returning to Muge by bus the following day and walking to Santarem. The route is well marked and off the main roads except at the very end from Tapada, where it is on a major road as it (re-)crosses the Rio Tejo.

 

[Corned Beef]

The people with the best idea of which type is the most suitable would be the bike hire companies. They have to service / fix them when returned so would know which are suited and which give less reason for complaint from customers.

As you are flying in from The Shire, would assume you'll be hiring.

 

[Helen O'Shaughnessy]

1 - Is a mountain bike with front suspension essential for this Camino?
2 - Can anyone suggest a place to stay about 70 km from Lisbon (in-beween the stage from Vila Franca de Xira to Santarem? Or is Vila Franca de Xira an essential stop (it is only 40 km flat biking from Lisbon).
Thanks again, Robyn.

I’ve just cycled from Lisbon to Coimbra in September. I used the Buen Camino app to help me with planning stages and finding accommodation. I stayed at Vila F, but could have gone further. I used a front suspension bike and was glad of it. The terrain is very variable, tarmac, gravel, forest and unsealed farm roads, and cobbles! … so maybe not essential, but there were enough rocky, bumpy downhills that I was glad I had suspension. I hired from Bike Iberia in Lisbon…have used them several times, always good

 

[Jimmy Duggan]

I highly recommend a bike with front suspension as you will see a lot of cobblestone roman roads and they will knock your fillings out plus you will see forest tracks and trails so the suspension is a big help . Enjoy its a great trip .

 

[Maria Man]

I am not a cyclist, but knowing that the albergue at Porto de Muge had closed following the death of the hospitalero, I contemplated crossing the Rio Tejo and walking to Muge. It is on one of the southern routes to Fatima. While I wouldn't expect the section Porto de Muge to Muge to be waymarked, it doesn't look like it would present any navigational challenges. In the end I didn't cross the river from Porto de Muge, but took a bus and then the a train from there to Santarem, returning to Muge by bus the following day and walking to Santarem. The route is well marked and off the main roads except at the very end from Tapada, where it is on a major road as it (re-)crosses the Rio Tejo.

Just a side question, the albergue that you said was closed is it Quinta da Burra ? And that the hospitalero who died is Paula ?

 

[dougfitz]

Just a side question, the albergue that you said was closed is it Quinta da Burra ? And that the hospitalero who died is Paula ?

That is the information showing up on Gronze. I tried phoning, but never got through.

 

[trecile]

Just a side question, the albergue that you said was closed is it Quinta da Burra ? And that the hospitalero who died is Paula ?

Yes, it was Paula, as reported in this thread from February:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sad-news-from-quinta-da-burra-paula-de-menezes.73191/