Bicigrino

[Bicycle Pilgrim]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

 

[SabsP]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

Hi and welcome here @Bicycle Pilgrim . Sorry to hear about your injury.
Yes, a friend of mine had to get a bicycle box for shipping the equipment back home ( this was for the plane of course.I know of some fellow Belgians that they were able to transport over land in a regular van ).
This company specialises in biking and helping out cyclists on the Camino.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover the answer to your doubts in our frequently asked questions site. Start your adventure with TournRide today! Regarding the bike hire and the

www.tournride.com

Camino Stages

Do you want to do the Camino? Tournride offers you the best stages of the Saint James Way by bike proposal for free. Check it out!

www.tournride.com

I guess there must be more of them on the market.

Make yourself familiar with this forum. The right uppercorner has a searchbox which might be helpful.

Also @Paladina might give you some more detailed information.

Happy planning and if another question...just ask!

 

[IngridF]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

try Acacio & Orietta he helps with bikeline. Plus one of the nicest refugios to stay in Rioya. https://www.acacioyorietta.com/?fbclid=IwAR1sWpd4CfQzOimBF-UtFM3SCRNB0dGCAKVl-VvrNASXbLrjSseg3kmGTWo

 

[naplesdon]

Check out the site Cycling Rentals, I used them and they can deliver and pick-up the bike and all of the other gear literally anywhere on the Camino. FYI, I rented a bike from Pamplona to SdC after walking to Pamplona from SJPdP, I did this because I have neuropathy in my right foot. Believe me biking can be more stressful than walking, especially going up hill. I ended up walking the bike on most of the up slopes. Not fun.

 

[Tandem Graham]

Have you considered buying bike(s) in Biarritz/Bayonne, cycling them to St Jean and from there to Santiago, then either selling them or shipping them home? It must be at least worth a price comparison.
Do be wary of the cheapest supermarket bikes - stick to reputable brands.
There is at least one company who will collect your bike in Santiago, pack it for transit then 'post' it to your home address, or you could pay for extra baggage on your flight tickets.
You could bring your own panniers (even pannier racks).

 

[Paladina]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

Assuming you have a bike that’s fit for the purpose, I suggest that you save yourself the price of bike rental. Ask your local bike shop for a bike box — they’re free because the original packaging of new bikes is otherwise sent for recycling —and pack the bike at home for whatever transport you can use to the airport. (You need only remove the wheels and pedals and turn the handlebars.) Reassemble the bike at your destination airport, leaving the box for recycling. For the return flight from SdC you can either cycle along the service road to the airport and buy a box there or use the packing and transport service offered by Bicicletas Velocipedo in Rua de San Pedro. They will box your bike expertly and arrange a taxi to the airport for it and you at a reasonable price. I’ve used this service once and found it efficient, reliable and stressfree.

Be aware that cycling the Camino is not a soft option. Will you, or rather your leg, be able to tackle some steep climbs? Whatever you decide to do, buen camino, bicigrino!

 

[Bicycle Pilgrim]

Have you considered buying bike(s) in Biarritz/Bayonne, cycling them to St Jean and from there to Santiago, then either selling them or shipping them home? It must be at least worth a price comparison.
Do be wary of the cheapest supermarket bikes - stick to reputable brands.
There is at least one company who will collect your bike in Santiago, pack it for transit then 'post' it to your home address, or you could pay for extra baggage on your flight tickets.
You could bring your own panniers (even pannier racks).

Thank you! That’s helpful.

 

[Bicycle Pilgrim]

Hi and welcome here @Bicycle Pilgrim . Sorry to hear about your injury.
Yes, a friend of mine had to get a bicycle box for shipping the equipment back home ( this was for the plane of course.I know of some fellow Belgians that they were able to transport over land in a regular van ).
This company specialises in biking and helping out cyclists on the Camino.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover the answer to your doubts in our frequently asked questions site. Start your adventure with TournRide today! Regarding the bike hire and the

www.tournride.com

Camino Stages

Do you want to do the Camino? Tournride offers you the best stages of the Saint James Way by bike proposal for free. Check it out!

www.tournride.com

I guess there must be more of them on the market.

Make yourself familiar with this forum. The right uppercorner has a searchbox which might be helpful.

Also @Paladina might give you some more detailed information.

Happy planning and if another question...just ask!

Thank you - and thank you for your welcome!

 

[SC Krys]

Check out the site Cycling Rentals, I used them and they can deliver and pick-up the bike and all of the other gear literally anywhere on the Camino. FYI, I rented a bike from Pamplona to SdC after walking to Pamplona from SJPdP, I did this because I have neuropathy in my right foot. Believe me biking can be more stressful than walking, especially going up hill. I ended up walking the bike on most of the up slopes. Not fun.

Check out the site Cycling Rentals, I used them and they can deliver and pick-up the bike and all of the other gear literally anywhere on the Camino. FYI, I rented a bike from Pamplona to SdC after walking to Pamplona from SJPdP, I did this because I have neuropathy in my right foot. Believe me biking can be more stressful than walking, especially going up hill. I ended up walking the bike on most of the up slopes. Not fun.

My son and I just did Leon to SDC by bikes we rented from Tournride.com. Highly recommend them. That was the hardest 5 days. I, like you walked my bike up a lot of hills. So glad I finished but I would definitely rent an ebike next time.

 

[Tandem Graham]

Thank you! That’s helpful.

No worries. @Paladina (above) had the details of a bike pack-and-deliver service.
Cycling the Camino isn't the same as walking, but it can be just as fulfilling. You may need to divert from the walkers' path sometimes, for your and their safety. But it does give you the opportunity to see things just off the route and the flexibility to go further when accommodation capacity is tight.
Wishing you and your dodgy leg a Bueno Camino!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

Hi. I'm pretty sure you cannot rent a bike in France for return from Santiago. In the same situation, I bought a very good second hand bike in Hendaye for 300E, brought it to St Jean in the pilgrim transit bus and donated it when I got to Santiago. No hassle. Rentals cost you at least that much.
The biggest enemy of Cycling the Frances is weight - less pushing up mountains. I agree with comments above to avoid unsuitable sections and include some road riding. You will pass through the same villages as the rest of the pilgrim community. I've never walked, so I am unable to compare the experience, but I've enjoyed it so much I keep going back for more.

 

[Martin.P]

Hi,
Bicigrino. com! I would not go past them.
Top of the range specialised mtb.
Used them twice, on Frances & on Via de la plata. Deliver & collect bikes & luggage, affliated bike shops on route for repair.
Best of luck & enjoy.
M.

 

[PeteD]

Definitely likely to be some pushing of your bicycle up steeper hills and at times through very sticky mud that clogs up fenders and brakes if you stick to the pilgrims path. There is always the road option if you find the path too stressful for your leg at anytime. Seemed to me that there was always an option to suit the conditions and your ability. As others have mentioned, there would be bike boxes available at bike shops in SdC as they they are only too happy to have someone lessen there waste! You only need a few tools to assemble and disassemble the bike at either end with pedal spanners being the only specific tool that you might not normally carry.
Enjoy the ride.

 

[Anthony Coyne]

I hope I'm wrong but I think Velocipedo may no longer be in business!!! Their website is down and I cannot get in contact with them! I had planned using them to ship some bicycles back to Ireland in May. Now I'm trying not to panic and look for alternatives. Anyone with suggestions or advice?

 

[Xali1970]

Have you considered using a pedelec? (Class 1 ebike for our american friends).
Having been injured as well that's what I'll be using.
Requires a bit more thoughtful planning but helps you over that climb

 

[Skinnybiker]

Ahaa, the old byo / rent / buy trilemma; there are pros & cons to each. Riding your bike is wonderful, travelling with a bike is a pain. At times I have thought about renting or buying for a tour but never have, the disadvantage of heaving a bike-in-a-box to & from airports is (to my mind) hugely outweighed by the advantage of riding your own bike, a lot depends, I guess, on the old cost / benefit ratio.

• Buy at start / sell at end: you could search for second-hand bikes in the Biarritz, SJdeLuz area and post a for sale advert in the Santiago area. Depends how much free time you have for looking at bikes, advertising, selling etc. Time consuming but you could save a lot of money. Also, as mentioned, don't buy a cheap supermarket or Decathlon bike, you will regret it. Another option is to buy a good bike in France then take it home with you; I did that once for a ride in West Australia.
• Rent: saves all the hassle of travelling with a bike, panniers, tools, spares will be available if you don't bring your own bags, probably quite expensive, bicigrino (look good), tournride (used by a friend, about €250 for the trip) & cycling-rentals (Spain & Portugal) are three companies, as already posted probably not available from France but ask.
• BYO: then you have a bike that fits, your own saddle, pedals, bars, fittings, bags, racks etc. Get a bike box from your LBS, there's plenty of info available about packing a bike, airline charges are normally around €50 / flight. As you're from the UK how about taking the ferry to Bilbao or Santander then ride from there? You can take bikes on most long-distance buses and local & media distancia trains in Spain.

Enjoy the ride - personally I'd rather ride 100km than walk 10km but that's another discussion. Richard

 

[jrothwelluk]

Hi everyone,
Having broken my leg badly last year, I am hoping to cycle from Saint Jean to Santiago next May/June as I cannot walk. I’m wondering about whether it would be best to hire bikes in St Jean? If we were to transport them by plane we should have to cope with getting bicycle boxes from Bairritz or St Jean to Santiago for the return flight. Does anyone have any advice? Any general advice about the Bicigreno would be welcome! Thanks.
John

I am looking for a bicycle shop in Bilbao to hire a bicycle which I can leave in Santiago after 7 days. Decent quality touring or gravel bike with pannier rack if possible. Any advice on a good Bilbao bike hire shop?

 

[SC Krys]

tournride.com may deliver to there, have you tried them?

 

[Xali1970]

Www.cycling-rentals.com

 

[Martin.P]

Bicigrino.com will deliver bike to your first night's accommodation & you can drop off in Santiago. They are also affiliated to repair shops en route, free repairs for your run of the mill breakdowns.

I used them for Specialised MTB's on Frances & La Plata - bikes in very good condition.

M.