Just finished the Camino after biking from Bayonne to SDC via SJPP and then on to Fistera and Muxia.
Had not intended to bike it but circumstances meant that is was do it that way or not do it at all.
Had been reading this forum for a while (thanks for all the great info) and as I came to the realization that I could not walk it and that biking was an option started perusing posts on biking it. Came to realize that there was mixed feelings from some quarters about having bikers on the Camino even from a friend who had walked it and got me into planning to do the same (and he was elsewhere a keen biker).
So biked it with some trepidation as to how I might be received by the dominant walking community.
Got to say as a whole the experience from that perspective was a good one.
Made sure that I gave plenty of warning to walkers when approaching especially on difficult sections (steep uphills and tricky downhills, not good to get off at these points especially going up hill grunting and groaning along the way since losing momentum just means more grunting and groaning (lol)). And also indicated which side I was going to pass on-"Con Permiso, a su direcha(or on your left as the case may be), Buen Camino; came home hoarse from saying it and was glad when the road ran alongside the trail so that I could have a rest from doing that. Had a bell and used it but often I noticed it was not often heard by walking peregrinos and my usual greeting was better.
Generally was well received and had no problems with the walkers except on the odd occassion, generally when I was riding the trail and the road was along side (only did this if there was a lot of traffic). This was the case on the early part of going up to O'Cebrerio where the trail was pavement and ran alongside a busy road with trucks/lorries roaring by. In one instance when giving a group lots of warning an indignant walker gave me a loud and strident telling off and said I should be on the road. Between you and me I felt safer on the walkers side of the barrier-apologies to Rupert Brooke but I did not want to die on "some foreign field" just so that my fellow peregrinos did not have to move out the way.
When I could loved to slow down and spent 5 or 10 mins riding along side a walker or group of walkers and chat. Made many acquaintances that way who I sometime met again along the way. It was rare that I had the same experience with fellow bikers.
On some of the climbs when I had to get off and push (which was more than I wanted) walkers took pity on me and helped push my bike up. Thanks for all that did that it was really appreciated-especially on the way up to La Faba where I foolishly ended up on the trail (there is more than one use for a hiking pole).
In closing at least from my perspective given the numbers of walkers and bikers out there think relations were pretty smooth and mirrored life in general, we get along with most people most of the time with the odd exception.
Buen Camino.
Had not intended to bike it but circumstances meant that is was do it that way or not do it at all.
Had been reading this forum for a while (thanks for all the great info) and as I came to the realization that I could not walk it and that biking was an option started perusing posts on biking it. Came to realize that there was mixed feelings from some quarters about having bikers on the Camino even from a friend who had walked it and got me into planning to do the same (and he was elsewhere a keen biker).
So biked it with some trepidation as to how I might be received by the dominant walking community.
Got to say as a whole the experience from that perspective was a good one.
Made sure that I gave plenty of warning to walkers when approaching especially on difficult sections (steep uphills and tricky downhills, not good to get off at these points especially going up hill grunting and groaning along the way since losing momentum just means more grunting and groaning (lol)). And also indicated which side I was going to pass on-"Con Permiso, a su direcha(or on your left as the case may be), Buen Camino; came home hoarse from saying it and was glad when the road ran alongside the trail so that I could have a rest from doing that. Had a bell and used it but often I noticed it was not often heard by walking peregrinos and my usual greeting was better.
Generally was well received and had no problems with the walkers except on the odd occassion, generally when I was riding the trail and the road was along side (only did this if there was a lot of traffic). This was the case on the early part of going up to O'Cebrerio where the trail was pavement and ran alongside a busy road with trucks/lorries roaring by. In one instance when giving a group lots of warning an indignant walker gave me a loud and strident telling off and said I should be on the road. Between you and me I felt safer on the walkers side of the barrier-apologies to Rupert Brooke but I did not want to die on "some foreign field" just so that my fellow peregrinos did not have to move out the way.
When I could loved to slow down and spent 5 or 10 mins riding along side a walker or group of walkers and chat. Made many acquaintances that way who I sometime met again along the way. It was rare that I had the same experience with fellow bikers.
On some of the climbs when I had to get off and push (which was more than I wanted) walkers took pity on me and helped push my bike up. Thanks for all that did that it was really appreciated-especially on the way up to La Faba where I foolishly ended up on the trail (there is more than one use for a hiking pole).
In closing at least from my perspective given the numbers of walkers and bikers out there think relations were pretty smooth and mirrored life in general, we get along with most people most of the time with the odd exception.
Buen Camino.
