Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[DG007]

I would value feedback from both Pilgrims on foot and cyclists with regard to cycling the actual Camino path as opposed to roads (which 'apparently' only 'follow closely' the original trail)....

Thanks for as much and varying 'insight' into what I can expect --
David

[William Marques]

I would value feedback from both Pilgrims on foot and cyclists with regard to cycling the actual Camino path as opposed to roads (which 'apparently' only 'follow closely' the original trail)....

I would start by disagreeing with the phrase that the roads "only closely follow the original trail". Originally the pilgrims followed the roads as foot and horse traffic were the traffic. If anything the roads are more "authentic" than the path. Much of the route has now been diverted away from the roads on to quiet paths that make more pleasant walking and some of the roads no longer exist as roads.

Answering your question about cycling the walkers path, with care and consideration to the walkers it is possible to cycle almost all of the path. There are places in the Pyrenees and Montes de Leon where it is probably better to take quiet nearby road than negotiate the steep narrow track on a fully loaded bike.

You will need mountain bike or 26in wheeled tourer if you are going to cycle the path without risk of damaging your bike, but as I started off saying you will be closer to the original route if you stay on the road much of the time and you can do this on any bike.

If you are cycling the path you daily distance will be 60% or so of what you would do on the road. This is partly due to the terrain and also to the need to slow down to a walking pace and give the walkers warning when you pass them. If you don't even the most Christian of them will make a derogatory remark about you, cyclists in general, your upbringing, your lycra etc....

Buen Camino
William

[super7]

My advise is: don't do it. Let the people walking the footpaths alone. I have seen people on ATB bikes scaring the living daylight out of unexpected pilgrims on foot. No consideration at all and creating a lot of dust for the walkers as well.

[Dael]

Hi,
I have both cycled (from Scotland) and walked from St. Jean. I would ask you please not to cycle on the actual path. When we cycled, on the rare occasions that we cycled the path, we used our cycle bells to warn walkers of our approach. While walking I was "brushed" 3 times by cyclists who approached silently and fast.
Was it wrong of me to be pleased when one "brusher" who stopped to take my photograph, without asking if I minded, dropped and smashed his camera?
Dael

[Peter Robins]

I would start by disagreeing with the phrase that the roads "only closely follow the original trail". Originally the pilgrims followed the roads as foot and horse traffic were the traffic. If anything the roads are more "authentic" than the path.

Much of the route has now been diverted away from the roads on to quiet paths that make more pleasant walking

A road is a path that's been widened, straightened, and covered with tarmac.

I'd agree for some sections. Much of Pamplona-Logrono-Burgos, for example, was created in the 11th century and remains a main road today. This used to be a problem for walkers, as there were lengthy stretches where you had to walk along the road. However, as you say, there are now new off-road paths for walkers to follow. These new paths are deliberately intended for both cyclists and walkers, so sharing shouldn't be a problem.

With Burgos-Leon on the other hand, once the administrative and commercial centre shifted south to Toledo and Madrid, there ceased to be much need for a road. Once the pilgrim traffic dried up too, the old Roman/medieval road was only used by local farm traffic. So the 'original trail' is now the waymarked Camino.

However, I'm not sure it makes sense to think of 'the original trail'. In Navarre for example the Roman road Pamplona-Burgos went to the north of the current Camino Frances; in the late Middle Ages, the road shifted from Roncesvalles to the coast, completely bypassing Navarre. Which of these is 'the original trail'? (And as for the 'original' pre-Roman road, who knows where that went!)

Answering your question about cycling the walkers path, with care and consideration to the walkers it is possible to cycle almost all of the path.

I would agree. In general, most of the Camino is track or minor road that can be used by both walkers and cyclists without problem (though some of the surfaces might be a problem for cycling, particularly in wet conditions). Only small sections are narrow footpaths that are really walkers only. The better guidebooks highlight the problem sections for cyclists and suggest alternatives.

[Covey]

If you are cycling on the marked paths, be aware that quite a number of walkers are plugged in to a walkman/ipod/MP3 player and may not hear the reasonably silent arrival of high speed cyclists behind them.

Some of the tracks are fairly rutted and walkers tend to move from side to side picking out the best steps up and down the tracks, so if you see someone walking up the left hand side of a track they might step across the track to get a better foothold and into the path of a silent cycle.

Most cycles have a bell but they can be difficult to hear especially if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. One of the squeeze horns is better but as a cyclist in the UK, it means you have to take one hand off the bar to operate and going downhill on a rutted track might not be very safe.

Last Sept there were quite a number of cyclists on the trail, and more than once I nearly had a set of tyre tracks up my rear end.

Given that most walkers have packs on their backs, rapid evasive moves can result in potentially serious falls for both walkers and cyclists.

Covey

[klarita]

we are planning to bike this june, avoiding the road as much as possible. we will of course be entirely courteous to walkers, and will certainly have a bell or horn on our bikes. i think it's more a question of mutual decency and respect that anything else.
What surprised me, however, was the comment above that lots of people wear MP3/walkman/discman players on the camino. I find that utterly ridiculous. isn't it supposed to be about leaving behind all the things that distract you in your normal everyday life? i mean seriously... [/code]

[Guest]

"...the actual Camino path as opposed to roads (which 'apparently' only 'follow closely' the original trail)..."

Sorry to say this, but based on research done by participants in other forums, 90% of today's Caminos are not thought to be the original Caminos that pilgrims took once upon a time. Whoever is interested, I could put u in contact with Spanish monoligual experts on the subject. Likewise for the Roman roads we so often walk upon-for that one I have an essay in Spanish, should anyone be interested in reading. They have been replaced by modern roads, economics, highways, politics, bridges, swamps, greed, etc. Example: check out "Yesa." Best, xm

[sussie]

My husband and I will also be cycling the Camino Frances in Oct 2008. What I am wondering, is whether pannier bags are really necessary, or if we can get away with keeping the bags on our backs if they are not too heavy?

[William Marques]

Many cyclists will say that cycling with backpacks is uncomfortable then go out on a ride with their camel backs. I have cycled the Via de la Plata / Camino Frances in August with a pack on one occasion and found it no problem. As long as you keep it small it is fine. If you do not want to use panniers how about a light pack and a large saddle bag (see Carradice for saddlebags).

I have now got round to using front panniers on the front and back as I find I can put nearly all my wife and I carry now into 4 front panniers.

Buen Camino
William

[KiwiNomad06]

My husband and I will also be cycling the Camino Frances in Oct 2008. What I am wondering, is whether pannier bags are really necessary, or if we can get away with keeping the bags on our backs if they are not too heavy?

As a cyclist who has cycled long distance- though not on the Camino- my opinion is that for safety, pannier bags are a must. With the stuff you will need for days on the trail, if you carry it all on your back your centre of gravity would be too high for the sake of safety, and your chances of injury would be vastly increased.

I saw many cyclists on the Camino during June. One of the major problems they had earlier on, if they followed the actual trail, was mud. I know that I was getting stuck in the stuff, slip-sliding in the stuff enough as a walker. But some cyclists ended up coming to a complete standstill when the mud clogged up all their gears.
Margaret

[sussie]

Thanks for the advice. I am considering rather going for the pannier bags as a safer option, then. Would not want a fall in the middle of the ride, and then srtuggle the rest of the way!