Once we decide to undertake the Camino de Santiago many doubts arise: When to do it? Where to start? How to do it?
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED: THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO BY BIKE
If you have come this far at least something you have clear, the way to do it, so we are going to give you all the information you need to know what to bring to do the Camino de Santiago by bike.
We know that once we consider doing the Camino de Santiago by bike we are assaulted by thousands of doubts, and almost all related to the luggage or the necessary accessories for the bike that we must carry along such a fantastic adventure.
AS A BICIGRINO, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING I SHOULD DO?
We must decide which bicycle to use to cover the hundreds of kilometres that the Jacobean route has in store for us, because not just any bicycle will do , we must use one that is at least mid-range, that is well equipped and that has, at the very least, front shock absorption, given that along the Camino we will cross places full of bumps and uneven surfaces, and a bicycle without shock absorption can be fatal for our joints.
In this entry we will share everything we need to complete this journey in the most comfortable way possible, we will analyse both the accessories that will be necessary for the bicycle and the luggage that will be useful for the bicigrino.
BICYCLE ACCESSORIES FOR THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
If we talk about how to equip our bike for a journey that involves some difficulty as is the Camino de Santiago, there are two basic elements that any bike must have:
CARRIER
Element that will be used to fix the saddlebags on the rear wheel, it is an essential accessory so we must acquire one that is highly resistant and adaptable to the characteristics of our bicycle.
If any element deserves that we take the time to acquire it and even spend a few extra euros, it is this one, given that it suffers a lot when crossing uneven areas and, as we said, it is going to be one of the fundamental pillars in our ride to Santiago de Compostela.
BIKE SADDLEBAGS
We must also pay close attention to this accessory, as not all saddlebags are compatible with all carriers, so we must get ones that fit perfectly.
Our recommendation is to only buy saddlebags for the rear wheel of the bike, we will be able to fit all our luggage inside them, and we all know that the more storage space we have at our disposal the more we tend to want to fill that space.
Carrying other saddlebags on the front would be encouraging ourselves to carry more “just in case”, one thing we should carry is a waterproof saddlebag cover, just in case the weather is bad.
Another essential item is a small luggage holder on the handlebars, in which you can store the most common objects such as your mobile phone, documents, wallet, etc.
A good option, and to which more and more pilgrims are turning to is the bike hire; these come fully equipped so that you only have to worry about pedalling along the different Caminos.
PILGRIM
In Pilgrim we have the best bikes for hire to do the Camino de Santiago, you can take a look at them. In addition, they come with all the equipment included and the best attention in terms of repair and maintenance.
OTHER ACCESSORIES
The rest of the recommended elements to be a complete bicigrino and do the Camino de Santiago by bike are:
- Hydration backpacks: It will be very useful to have one of these, as they speed up the hydration process enormously compared to the classic water bottles.
- Elastic bands: In case it is necessary to attach something to the carrier, such as a mat or a tent.
- Front and rear light: Although we do not recommend cycling stages in low light hours, it can always be useful to avoid going unnoticed on days of low visibility.
- Lock
- Speedometer and heart beat monitor
- Inflation pump
- Multi tool kit
- Bottle of water
BICIGRINO’S LUGGAGE
As we indicated before, we only recommend to carry two saddlebags in order to carry all the necessary luggage for our Camino, because even if we go on wheels, the weight is also noticeable, especially on the climbs.
With this we do not want to say that you do not take anything to do the Camino de Santiago, you must have everything you need, but that is the key, the basics, we must forget everything that is not fundamental and go to the essentials.
By following the list below, you will have just the right amount of luggage to make this experience easier to enjoy:
CLOTHING
Bicycle clothing
- Two breathable short-sleeved shirts or maillot: The maillot can be short or long, depending on our resistance to the cold and the time of the year in which we are going to do the Camino de Santiago.
- Breathable long-sleeved T-shirt: If it rains, this will prevent the waterproof jacket from sticking to your skin, which can cause a very unpleasant feeling of dampness.
- Two cycling shorts
- A pair of three-quarter length tights: Very useful to wear over the cycling shorts if it rains so that the rain trousers don’t stick to you and make you feel damp.
- Windstopper jacket: To keep out the wind.
Rainwear
- Rain trousers and rain jacket: These can be replaced by a rain cape, but we do not recommend this, as the cape can reduce mobility when riding the bike.
- Waterproof boot covers: As we all know, there is no more unpleasant sensation than having wet feet, especially for a long period of time, which is why we consider this item indispensable.
Underwear
- Two or three changes of underwear
- Three pairs of socks: Ideally, you should get a pair of blister-proof socks, otherwise you should wear sports socks without seams.
Streetwear
- A couple of cotton T-shirts: We will use them when we are resting, or when we want to visit something in the village where we are staying.
- A thin warm layer and a thicker one: We can wear a thin fleece or a jacket depending on what we consider most appropriate. As for the thicker coat, we can take a stronger fleece than the previous one or some kind of jacket or jacket designed for trekking. In cold weather it is always better not to economize, we are sure that all pilgrims who have already walked the Camino will agree on this.
- Flexible long trousers: It is essential that they are flexible in order to be able to cycle with them in case the ambient temperature is low. We can also use them at the end of the stages when we take our rest time. These can be trekking, modular or tracksuit, depending on our preferences.
- Neck scarf or neck brace: Very important to prevent the cold from hitting us in this area, and to cover both neck and mouth when riding our bike.
FOOTWEAR
- Cycling shoes: Footwear with cleats to be able to attach to the pedals and thus minimise effort, it is essential, in order to obtain suitable footwear, that at the same time they have soles suitable for walking.
- Sandals/resting footwear: Normal footwear, both slippers and open or closed sandals are fine. They will be very useful at the end of our stage, they will help us to relax our feet and avoid the appearance of the dreaded blisters.
- Slippers for the shower: Essential whenever we are going to stay in accommodation with shared bathrooms. We are sure that none of you want to take some “wonderful” foot fungus as a souvenir of the Camino.
HYGIENE/HEALTH
- Toilet bag: It is essential to carry a small/medium-sized one, depending on what we are going to carry in it, although we should always bear in mind that we should only carry what is essential, and in any of the villages we are going to pass through along the Camino we will find all kinds of hygiene products
- Quick-drying towel: Very useful for experiences of this type, as they weigh very little and take up very little space compared to traditional towels.
- First aid kit: As we said before, include only and exclusively the essentials; painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and creams with cold or heat effect, for the treatment of muscles after long pedaling rides.
OTHERS
In this section we include items such as torches, external batteries for the mobile phone (it can save our lives at some point, especially if we use the phone as a GPS), camping equipment, we must think carefully about which ones to take and which ones not to take, in order not to carry an unnecessary load.
We always recommend taking a sleeping bag (even a thin one) as it is light and most hostels don’t provide sheets, so it can be very useful on colder nights.
IT IS TIME TO PLAN
Now that you have all the essential information to start pedalling along the different routes of the Camino de Santiago, what are you waiting for to start enjoying this adventure that will change you completely?
Ultreia, pilgrims!
Plan your adventure!
We can fill you in, no strings attached!