Touring - Touring Camino De Santiago advice?

I'm moving to Gijon, Spain next month, planning to ship everything except a bike, panniers and essentials. Then fly to S. France and spend 1-2 weeks cycling the Eastern section of the Camino de Santiago, starting in Roncevalles and turning off at Leon. Has anyone on here toured the Camino by bike? I have a few questions, hope someone can help:
1. I have a choice of Fuji Touring or Kona Smoke, which would be best bearing in mind I want to stick to the route as much as I can?
2. I understand the pilgrim's pass which allows you to stay in hostels along the way is available in Roncevalles - do you need to apply in advance for this or just turn up? Anyone know where exactly to get this pass and any other requirements.
3. Any other advice would be welcome!

Thanks,
Fergus

Hi Fergus,

I know the Camino, I made it from Sto Domingo de la Calzada to Santiago two years ago.

If you want to stick to the original route please be aware that several parts are very hard (in the original route), so in this case I would recommend a MTB. You can always choose alternative and less hard road/paths, so a touring bike will do the job as well.

As for hostels, probably several will be closed at this time, but you don't need to apply in advance.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any more questions.

Tomas.
Madrid, Spain

1. If you're sticking to walk path than a mtb would be good, but they're also doable on a touring bike of course.

2. Just show up will do, if they don't have more beds, they'll let you just sleep on the floor. No requirements to get the pass, not necessarily to be catholic. I got mine from a local church or you can get one directly from the refugios.

If you got any more questions just ask.

Thanks for the tips and the offers of advice guys, very helpful. If I have more questions as my plans develop I will post here.

Regards,
Fergus

I did it last summer via the bicycle path, which crosses the foot path or runs right along it so often that you don't notice much of a discrepancy. Stick to the Camino bike path, and you won't need a mountain bike.

There is a Yahoo Group with files and members to ask:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiago_Bicicleta/

Hope this helps,
Lee

+1 on the Yahoo group.

Although low traffic, the archives and files are very helpfull.

I would also recommend the Camino de Santiago cycle guide by Bikeline (Esterbauer).

www.esterbauer.com

I don't know aboiut Roncavalles, but I k´now for a fact that you can walk into the Pilgrim office in St Jean Pied du Port and obtain your pilgrim's passport. I think it costs a €2 donation, it might even be free.

And also, the bike maps I mentioned by Esterbauer are in German, and are called the Jakobs radweg. Jakobsweg is German for Camino de Santiago.

Ah ha! Finally I found it on the internet, been giving me a hard time not remembering its name nor its publisher. I used A practical guide for Pilgrims (http://www.libreriadesnivel.com/fichalibro.php?id=7068) on my tour, it's got maps (apart from the ones in the book mine's got seperate maps for handlebar bag, but don't know about other editions), elevation charts, pics, background histories, everything you need to know, pretty good.

Thanks to all for your tips and advice. I joined that Yohoo group and it is full of useful information. Now to start planning!
Fergus

Fergus, did you get my private message?

Fergus, did you get my private message?
Yes just picked it up now becnal, thanks. I am not used to PMs on this site yet, I have sent you a reply hopefully it will reach you.

By the way, I have decided to take the Camino Del Norte which follows the coast from San Sabastien via Gijon, looking forward to it.

Make sure you take good clothes for rainny days and low temperatures. The month of march is still very cold.

FergusF, The June 4 thru June 12 pages are along the route you will be taking. They are in reverse order for you since we rode from Gijon to San Sebastian.

http://www.dulcinea.crazyguyonabike.com

Glad to answer any questions not covered in this journal. I will be riding, in the correct direction this year, from Lyon to Santiago, Aug-18 to Sep 18.

Bruce

Take rain gear! I rode a section of the route in the oposite direction once and saw many ill prepared pilgrims riding in the pouring rain. Quite a few were close to hypothermia.

Take rain gear! I rode a section of the route in the oposite direction once and saw many ill prepared pilgrims riding in the pouring rain. Quite a few were close to hypothermia.
Bruce, thanks for the link, some nice photos - it looks like a beautiful route.

Thanks to all who advised on the rain gear also. As a regular commuter in the West of Ireland I carry rain gear with me every day and will definitely take it along on my trip to Spain also.