Arriving at the Plaza del Obradoiro, mounted on two wheels, is a unique experience, different from the pilgrimage on foot. It does not leave anyone indifferent and there are more and more pilgrims who decide to do the Way of Saint James by bicycle.

You may also be interested in: Tips for organizing the Camino de Santiago

It should be mentioned that, on many occasions, ordinary adventurers are people who are usually keen to ride a bicycle and who decide to make the pilgrimage normally on holiday.

It has nothing in common, to ride a bicycle on asphalt and as a hobby, to go through, day after day, the different stages that most of the time will pass through stone paths and constant ups and downs.

Previous preparation

The physical effort and the exigency of the Way make necessary an exhaustive physical preparation in the months before the beginning of the pilgrimage.

This preparation will be based, above all, on the previous simulation of the stages, going out to pedal day by day and, in this way, being adapted to the chosen bicycle and always with a weight similar to the one that is going to be used.

❓ Choosing the Way

Another factor to take into account is to know which route of the Camino to take, because depending on the route chosen, you will pass through towns and areas with very different orographic profiles.

The French Way is usually the ideal one for first-time users, because besides being the most travelled, it has a greater number of services and signposting. In addition, the localities are closer to each other compared to other Routes. This same features are present in the Portuguese Way.

On the Via de la Plata, fewer pilgrims can be seen by bicycle because the distances between villages are longer and the climate is excessively hot in summer.

All the routes have one thing in common, and that is that the stages tend to alternate in difficulty. Maybe you have 2 or 3 simple stages and then 2 complicated, marked by constant changes of level or by the course through paths or roads of difficult passage.

In general, the French and Portuguese routes are considered more accessible and simple, while the Northern and the Primitive Roads are more complicated.

Pilgrim helps you

We know for sure the difficulty when deciding the ideal route, which is why we have dedicated our efforts to make a series of experiences most recommended by different Ways. We hope you find them useful.

See the Best Routes

Season of the year

Statistics show that the majority of pilgrims choose to ride in the months of May to September, trying to avoid the frequent and dreaded rains and even snowfalls that occur during the rest of the year, especially in the final stretch by the Galician community.

Also, unless you avoid the hours when the sun hits harder, it is not recommended to do it during the hottest months, such as July and August, because due to the great physical effort, there is the possibility of suffering a heat stroke.

Our personal recommendation would be the months around the central summer time. May or September offer pleasant temperatures and a more stable climate.

? Choosing the bike

Once the route and starting date has been established, it will be time to focus on what, for days, will be the pilgrim’s main company, the bicycle.

First of all, you have to decide whether to rent or buy one. If you are going to use it many times we will recommend buying it. If you use it only for the adventure of the Camino, we would recommend renting it.

Types of bikes

There is the possibility of always riding on asphalt using roads near the Camino, for which you will have to choose a road bike with dynamo and reflectors.

On the other hand, if you decide to follow the original route, the ideal would be to have a mountain bike, with a good suspension and a good plate system, because you will pass through dirt or uneven firm paths, despite the fact that sometimes and due to the impossibility of passing, you will pass through sections of road, which will in any case be signposted.

There is the option of riding a hybrid bike, perhaps more suitable, many of them are made specifically for the Camino de Santiago.

Whatever the choice, the bicycle should be as light as possible, with a good gear system, greasing and tyres in optimum condition, as well as being informed in advance about the basic maintenance of the bicycle in case of a breakdown, which will almost certainly occur during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrim helps you

We give you two models of bicycles to choose from for the Camino de Santiago, as well as their accessories and extra services. Even if you already have your own bike, we can help you with the delivery of the bike, a bike set-up or help with your backpacks.

Megamo Natural 30

Megamo Natural 30

LAPIERRE Overvolt

LAPIERRE Overvolt

? Stages

The most frequent distance between stages is between 60 and 80 kilometres per day, covering an average of 11-13 kilometres per hour. Although as always, everything will depend on the physical resistance of each one and the stops that are decided to make to take rest and recover forces.

It is essential to study the terrain profiles in advance of the stages. They are not all the same and there will be some without complications but also others in which the legs will suffer more than usual.

As explained above, not all original routes can be made cycling, so it is sometimes necessary to detour to the nearest road to continue for a few kilometers until you find the original route.

Stages of the French Way by bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Saint Jean Pied de Port – Roncesvalles 24,2 1
Stage 2 Roncesvalles – Pamplona 42 2, 3
Stage 3 Pamplona – Estella 42 4, 5
Stage 4 Estella – Logroño 50 6, 7
Stage 5 Logroño – Santo Domingo de la Calzada 49 8, 9
Stage 6 Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Burgos 72 10, 11, 12
Stage 7 Burgos – Carrión de los Condes 87 13, 14, 15, 16
Stage 8 Carrión de los Condes – León 89 17, 18, 19, 20
Stage 9 León – Astorga 49 21, 22
Stage 10 Astorga – Ponferrada 53 23, 24
Stage 11 Ponferrada – O Cebreiro 55 25, 26
Stage 12 O Cebreiro – Portomarín 62 27, 28, 29
Stage 14 Portomarín – Arzúa 54 30, 31
Stage 14 Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela 39 32, 33

Stages of the Northern Way by bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Irún – Zarautz 47 1, 2
Stage 2 Zarautz – Markina 46 3, 4
Stage 3 Markina – Bilbao 57 5, 6, 7
Stage 4 Bilbao – Castro Urdiales 54 8, 9
Stage 5 Castro Urdiales – Noja 41 10, 11
Stage 6 Noja – Santander 31 11, 12
Stage 7 Santander – Santillana del Mar 37 13
Stage 8 Santillana del Mar – Colombres 51 14, 15
Stage 9 Colombres – Ribadesella 55 16, 17
Stage 10 Ribadesella – Villaviciosa 38 18, 19
Stage 11 Villaviciosa – Avilés 55 19, 20
Stage 12 Avilés – Soto de Luiña 39 21, 22
Stage 14 Soto de Luiña – Luarca 39 23, 24
Stage 14 Luarca – Ribadeo 50 25, 26
Stage 15 Ribadeo – Abadín 52 27, 28
Stage 16 Abadín – Baamonde 39 29, 30
Stage 17 Baamonde – Arzúa 63 31, 32
Stage 18 Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela 39 French Way: 32, 33

Stages of the Portuguese Way by bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Lisboa – Santarem 69 15, 16
Stage 2 Santarem – Tomar 52 15, 16
Stage 3 Tomar – Rabaçal 65 15, 16
Stage 4 Rabaçal – Mealhada 55,3 15, 16
Stage 5 Mealhada – Oliveira de Azeméis 60,5 15, 16
Stage 6 Oliveira de Azeméis – Oporto 43,2 15, 16
Stage 7 Oporto – Barcelos 53 15, 16
Stage 8 Barcelos – Rubiães 51 17, 18
Stage 9 Rubiães – Redondela 53 19, 20, 21
Stage 10 Redondela – Caldas de Reis 41 22, 23
Stage 11 Caldas de Reis – Santiago 39 24, 25

Stages of the Portuguese Coastal Way by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Oporto – Esposende 77 1, 2, 3
Stage 2 Esposende – Baiona 77 4, 5, 6, 7
Stage 3 Baiona – Pontevedra 58 8, 9, Camino Portugués:22
Stage 4 Pontevedra – Santiago de Compostela 56 23, 24, 25

Stages of the Primitive Way by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Oviedo – Salas 50 1, 2
Stage 2 Salas – Pola de Allande 48 3, 4
Stage 3 Pola de Allande – Grandas de Salime 37 5, 6
Stage 4 Gandas de Salime – O Cádavo 53 7, 8
Stage 5 O Cádavo – San Romao da Retorta 51 9, 10
Stage 6 San Romao da Retorta – Arzúa 44 11, French Way:31
Stage 7 Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela 39 French Way:32, 33

Stages of the Silver Route by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Sevilla – Castilblanco de los Arroyos 39 1, 2
Stage 2 Castilblanco de los Arroyos – Monesteiro 63 3, 4
Stage 3 Monesteiro – Zafra 45 5, 6
Stage 4 Zafra – Mérida 65 7, 8, 9
Stage 5 Mérida – Valdesalor 61 10, 11
Stage 6 Valdesalor – Cañaveral 55 11, 12, 13
Stage 7 Cañaveral – Cáparra 57 13, 14, 15
Stage 8 Cáparra – Fuenterroble de Salvatierra 60 15, 16, 17
Stage 9 Fuenterroble de Salvatierra – Salamanca 51 18, 19
Stage 10 Salamanca – Zamora 66 20, 21
Stage 11 Zamora – Santa Croya de Tera 87 22, 23, Sanabres Way: 1, 2
Stage 12 Santa Croya de Tera – Puebla de Sanabria 67 Sanabres Way: 3, 4
Stage 14 Puebla de Sanabria – A Gudiña 53 Sanabres Way: 5, 6
Stage 14 A Gudiña – Xunqueira de Ambía 66 Sanabres Way: 7, 8
Stage 15 Xunqueira de Ambía – Castro Dozón 64 9, 10, 11
Stage 16 Castro Dozón – Santiago de Compostela 66 Sanabres Way: 11, 12, 13

Stages of the Sanabres Way by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Zamora – Santa Croya de Tera 87 1, 2
Stage 2 Santa Croya de Tera – Puebla de Sanabria 67 Sanabres Way: 3, 4
Stage 3 Puebla de Sanabria – A Gudiña 53 Sanabres Way: 5, 6
Stage 4 A Gudiña – Xunqueira de Ambía 66 Sanabres Way: 7, 8
Stage 5 Xunqueira de Ambía – Cea 44 9, 10
Stage 6 Cea – Outeiro 70 Sanabres Way: 11, 12
Stage 7 Outeiro – Santiago de Compostela 16 Sanabres Way: 13

Stages of the Camino Vasco by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Irún – Tolosa 44 1, 2
Stage 2 Tolosa – Salvatierra/Agurain 61 3, 4, 5
Stage 3 Salvatierra/Agurain – La Puebla de Arganzón 45 6, 7
Stage 4 La Puebla de Arganzón – Santo Domingo de la Calzada 51 8B, 9B

Continue by the stage 6 of the French Way

Stages of the Camino Aragonés by Bike

Stage Path Km Stages on foot Difficulty
Stage 1 Somport – Santa Cilia 47 1, 2
Stage 2 Santa Cilia – Sangüesa 61 3, 4
Stage 3 Sangüesa – Puente la Reina 58 5, 6

Continue by the stage 3 of the French Way

? Luggage:

One of the advantages of doing the Camino by bike is that instead of a heavy backpack, it is possible to distribute the weight evenly in saddlebags. The back will not suffer as much as walking.

The most common thing when it comes to what to take with you on the Camino de Santiago by bikeis to carry saddlebags or rack on the back, a triangle with shoulder pad for bikes where to carry the corresponding tools, and more and more pilgrims choose to add a bag on the handlebars where to keep the documentation or objects of more use as the mobile phone or wallet.

You have to go as light as you can, facilitating cycling but at the same time avoiding falls or making easier stretches with steep rises in level. Later, we mention the basic elements that you should carry.

Pilgrim helps you

If, for some reason, you want to travel without too much load or want to carry more things than the bike allows you. We help you with the backpack transport, taking them from one stage to another until you reach the end of the Camino.

? Cost

According to the cost that the pilgrim has in mind, a low-cost pilgrimage will be possible, sleeping in shelters, feeding themselves with products such as cold cuts, sausages, cans, dairy products and fruit, and avoiding any superfluous purchases;or a more expensive pilgrimage where you spend the night in Hotels or Rural Houses, having lunch and dinner in fancy restaurants.

Pilgrim helps you

We customize the route for you as much as possible. You just need to contact us if you want to schedule the Saint James Way by bike so we can know what you are looking for. We will send you a free quotation according to your needs.

Circulation

The ideal is to always circulate in single queue. A V-shaped formation may be attractive due to less effort, but increases the risk of being run over.

The use of the helmet and the vest is fundamental, and on rainy days the raincoat of reflective strips should be used.

If you cycle at night or at dawn when visibility is lower, you should use Dynamo to feed the light bulb.

? Other tips

The most common thing among pilgrims who make the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago by bicycle is staying overnight in private hostels, for one simple reason: in public hostels priority is usually given to pilgrims who make the Camino on foot until 8 pm, since, if there is no room in a locality, the pilgrim by bike will arrive in less time to the next one.

On the other hand, the private network of hostels on the Jacobean route does not make these kinds of distinctions.

The bicycle path must always be done in a group or as a minimum accompanied by one person. This provides greater security and allows you to stop and contemplate monuments and churches that cannot be entered with the bike.

Going accompanied offers the possibility of establishing shifts and take advantage of all the possibilities of the Camino de Santiago in terms of heritage, culture and beauty. In addition, tools and knowledge can be shared in the event of a breakdown.

In any case, the main cities and towns on the Jacobean route have workshops where you can fix or tune your bicycle.

Material Review

Next, we give you an overview of the things you should not forget on your Way:

  • Comfortable shoes: For the moments of rest and flip-flops for the shower.
  • Good footwear for your bike: specific boots or cleats for clipless pedals
  • Seamless underwear and socks: Preferably cotton
  • Sleeping bag: Some accommodations only offer sheets and you will appreciate your sleeping bag.
  • A towel: To clean yourself up (in some places the towel has an extra cost)
  • High Protection Sunscreen
  • One or two good 550, 650 or 750ml drums with isotonic drink and water
  • A comfortable jersey or clothing: For long cycling runs
  • Reflective element for your body and bicycle
  • Gel Saddle Cover
  • Luggage carriers
  • Cycling helmet
  • Handlebar bell
  • Waterproof saddlebags or backpack
  • Lock
  • Handlebar bag
  • Multitool: With chainsaw and allen keys
  • Chamber, patches and air pump
  • Air adaptor to be able to put air in gas stations
  • First aid kit: plasters, gelatine dressings, mercromine or betadine, alcohol, analgesics and anti-inflammatory.
  • Pilgrim credentials
  • Identity Card or Passport
  • Health card or private assistance card

Pilgrim helps you

From Pilgrim, we put at your disposal all the services to be able to realize the Way of Santiago in bicycle, as well as also we have organized routes for the already decided pilgrims. You can contact us at info@pilgrim.es

We hope these tips have been helpful, and that they have answered all your questions.

Ultreia Pilgrims!