Planning my ride to Lisbon

[Thierry bike]

After 2 years of delay due to the pandemic, I hope to make an old dream come true by the end of this summer. I'm going to cycle the Camino Frances and Camino Portugues (this one in the opposite direction) on road ways. The departure date from Belgium will be early August. If all goes well, the arrival in Lisbon is planned around Friday 2 September.

I still have several questions that I am looking for an answer to or trying to gather more information about.

What are the average temperatures around at the middle of August? I fear that temperatures can be high and that is why I am also thinking about cycling a part at night. I therefore wonder if the roads in Spain and Portugal are lit at night? Are the roads safe and how is the driving behavior of Spanish and Portuguese drivers?

Are there special or bike-friendly hotels in Lisbon or on the way?

I am also looking for a suitable method to have the carbon racing bike transported back home from Lisbon.

I also wonder if there are good bicycle shops in Lisbon to have the bicycle packed in special cardboard boxes for transport.

So many questions still. For the time being I still have some time to plan everything, but useful information is always welcome, for which thanks already.

 

[mspath]

Thierry,

Welcome to the forum.
You are planning quite an adventure!
To begin your research do scan the titles of the the many threads in the forum topic Bicycling on the Camino.

Several members/readers are biking now or planning a trip. Therefore you might check for their posts.

If you Google the two terms, Lisbon bikes, you will get many possibilities of shops/services.

Bicigrino.com and PedalPortugal may offer further helpful suggestions for your trip.

Good luck with your plans.

​

 

[Former member 22438]

I read about your plans.
hmm driving at night in Spain and Portugal. There are hardly any cycle roads and hardly any lights on So if I were you, I should think twice before to do that.
most of the time you will cycle on narrow roads and sometimes at national roads which you share with cars ,trucks and busses.
in Portugal lots of drivers have Formula 1 driving style Lots of them they think they are like Max Verstappen.

wish you a safe journey and safe back home

 

[Skinnybiker]

What are the average temperatures around at the middle of August? I fear that temperatures can be high and that is why I am also thinking about cycling a part at night. I therefore wonder if the roads in Spain and Portugal are lit at night? Are the roads safe and how is the driving behavior of Spanish and Portuguese drivers?
Are there special or bike-friendly hotels in Lisbon or on the way?
I am also looking for a suitable method to have the carbon racing bike transported back home from Lisbon.
I also wonder if there are good bicycle shops in Lisbon to have the bicycle packed in special cardboard boxes for transport.

So Brussels to Lisbon is at least 2500km in 30 days means an average 100km / day, quite doable on a CF road bike, but you will race across the flatlands of France at 150km / day enabling slower / shorter days in Spain & Portugal. For weather statistics look up weatherspark, if you can start later in the year, say mid - end of August temperatures will be tolerable. The only lit roads will be in towns & villages and the Autopistas which you cannot cycle - assume no street lights. Hence you will need good rear & front lights for night riding and your most dangerous times will be dawn & dusk for obvious reasons. From experience Spain & Portugal are no more dangerous / safer than any other country, just stay very aware. Most heavy traffic at night will take the Autopistas but there will always be an exception, beware early mornings when the all-night party goers will be heading home. It would be fun to ride the camino at night when all the peregrinos are tucked up in their albergues but you're on a road bike. Correos (Spain) and the equivalent in Portugal will transport your bike but you'd better pack it yourself else find a specialist bike transport company, I've heard there is one to Nederlands etc, Google will find a transport company for you. If CF and expensive maybe you'd be better to send your own hard bike case to Lisbon for the return trip - why not fly home with your bike?
PS you will acclimatise to the heat, there's nothing like finishing a hot day with a cold beer -aaah!

 

[Thierry bike]

Thierry,

Welcome to the forum.
You are planning quite an adventure!
To begin your research do scan the titles of the the many threads in the forum topic Bicycling on the Camino.

Several members/readers are biking now or planning a trip. Therefore you might check for their posts.

If you Google the two terms, Lisbon bikes, you will get many possibilities of shops/services.

Bicigrino.com and PedalPortugal may offer further helpful suggestions for your trip.

Good luck with your plans.

​

Many thanks for the very useful links and info!

 

[Thierry bike]

I read about your plans.
hmm driving at night in Spain and Portugal. There are hardly any cycle roads and hardly any lights on So if I were you, I should think twice before to do that.
most of the time you will cycle on narrow roads and sometimes at national roads which you share with cars ,trucks and busses.
in Portugal lots of drivers have Formula 1 driving style Lots of them they think they are like Max Verstappen.

wish you a safe journey and safe back home

I read about your plans.
hmm driving at night in Spain and Portugal. There are hardly any cycle roads and hardly any lights on So if I were you, I should think twice before to do that.
most of the time you will cycle on narrow roads and sometimes at national roads which you share with cars ,trucks and busses.
in Portugal lots of drivers have Formula 1 driving style Lots of them they think they are like Max Verstappen.

wish you a safe journey and safe back home

Partly cycling at night is, as mentioned, an alternative. Lights and the wearing of an fluorescent vest, for me is a must at night.

Thanks for your response and I appreciate your concerns.

 

[Thierry bike]

What are the average temperatures around at the middle of August? I fear that temperatures can be high and that is why I am also thinking about cycling a part at night. I therefore wonder if the roads in Spain and Portugal are lit at night? Are the roads safe and how is the driving behavior of Spanish and Portuguese drivers?
Are there special or bike-friendly hotels in Lisbon or on the way?
I am also looking for a suitable method to have the carbon racing bike transported back home from Lisbon.
I also wonder if there are good bicycle shops in Lisbon to have the bicycle packed in special cardboard boxes for transport.

So Brussels to Lisbon is at least 2500km in 30 days means an average 100km / day, quite doable on a CF road bike, but you will race across the flatlands of France at 150km / day enabling slower / shorter days in Spain & Portugal. For weather statistics look up weatherspark, if you can start later in the year, say mid - end of August temperatures will be tolerable. The only lit roads will be in towns & villages and the Autopistas which you cannot cycle - assume no street lights. Hence you will need good rear & front lights for night riding and your most dangerous times will be dawn & dusk for obvious reasons. From experience Spain & Portugal are no more dangerous / safer than any other country, just stay very aware. Most heavy traffic at night will take the Autopistas but there will always be an exception, beware early mornings when the all-night party goers will be heading home. It would be fun to ride the camino at night when all the peregrinos are tucked up in their albergues but you're on a road bike. Correos (Spain) and the equivalent in Portugal will transport your bike but you'd better pack it yourself else find a specialist bike transport company, I've heard there is one to Nederlands etc, Google will find a transport company for you. If CF and expensive maybe you'd be better to send your own hard bike case to Lisbon for the return trip - why not fly home with your bike?
PS you will acclimatise to the heat, there's nothing like finishing a hot day with a cold beer -aaah!

Change of departure date is still possible. If two weeks might really make a big difference. From your curriculum vitae and response I can deduce that you already have a lot of experience with cycling on Spanish and Portuguese roads.

I checked and the Dutch company would no longer drive to Lisbon so late in the year.
Sending a hard box in advance is indeed a good idea that I hadn't looked at yet.

 

[Xali1970]

Mid August you'll have high chances of temperatures in the mid to high 30°c.
If you can aim for arrival late September you'll have more liveable (for a Northern European) temperatures

 

[Thierry bike]

Mid August you'll have high chances of temperatures in the mid to high 30°c.
If you can aim for arrival late September you'll have more liveable (for a Northern European) temperatures

September would indeed be much better in terms of climatic conditions. But for myself I wouldn't have the real holiday feeling if the normal work regime has been resumed again. Thanks for the reaction.

 

[Corned Beef]

Partly cycling at night is, as mentioned, an alternative. Lights and the wearing of an fluorescent vest, for me is a must at night.

As well as hi-vis and lights, have a look at the Garmin Varia bike radar. It's a bit costly but so is being knocked off your bike.

Have been using it for 2-3 years now and it is surprising how many speed demons are out there coming up behind you. Useful in unknown terrain. Thankfully they are a very small minority but you get an early warning and can position yourself.

 

[Thierry bike]

As well as hi-vis and lights, have a look at the Garmin Varia bike radar. It's a bit costly but so is being knocked off your bike.

Have been using it for 2-3 years now and it is surprising how many speed demons are out there coming up behind you. Useful in unknown terrain. Thankfully they are a very small minority but you get an early warning and can position yourself.

I had already noticed these "flickering lights" several times but only recently learned that this was a sensor. I just read the Garmin user comments and they are as enthusiastic as your response.
I'm going to look for a place on the bike, where I could hang the sensor. Thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[Xali1970]

There's a version with integrated camera...
Hope one never needs to use it for evidence

 

[Slowninja]

Are there special or bike-friendly hotels in Lisbon or on the way?

I recently cycled from Lisbon to Aveiro and every place I stayed offered secure storage for the bike.

 

[Thierry bike]

I recently cycled from Lisbon to Aveiro and every place I stayed offered secure storage for the bike.

I'm glad to hear that secure hold is the rule rather than the exception.

 

[TerriS]

I’m thinking about doing a similar ride in Sept this year and am curious what the ride from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon (on roads) would be like. Is it scenic? Is it possible/easy to stay on quiet, low traffic roads? What roads would you take? I’m eager to hear from people who’ve cycled these roads. Thanks!

 

[Thierry bike]

I’m thinking about doing a similar ride in Sept this year and am curious what the ride from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon (on roads) would be like. Is it scenic? Is it possible/easy to stay on quiet, low traffic roads? What roads would you take? I’m eager to hear from people who’ve cycled these roads. Thanks!

I'm on the eve of a training ride to the Vosges, so not much time to answer now. I'll keep you informed. regards

 

[Skinnybiker]

I’m thinking about doing a similar ride in Sept this year and am curious what the ride from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon (on roads) would be like. Is it scenic? Is it possible/easy to stay on quiet, low traffic roads? What roads would you take? I’m eager to hear from people who’ve cycled these roads. Thanks!

Take a look at crazyguyonabike for possible journals on this route, use the search function. Remember that this is a peregrino forum, only about 1% bicigrinos, but there's plenty of information on the www. "Is it scenic?" - all of Europe is scenic. For route planning use Komoot (or any route planning app that's based on OSM) not Google Maps in Europe. Finally, don't think about it; just do it and enjoy.

 

[Thierry bike]

I’m thinking about doing a similar ride in Sept this year and am curious what the ride from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon (on roads) would be like. Is it scenic? Is it possible/easy to stay on quiet, low traffic roads? What roads would you take? I’m eager to hear from people who’ve cycled these roads. Thanks!

I'm sorry I can't give you any news about road conditions and traffic between Santiago de Compostella and Lisbon. I started my journey on August 15 in Belgium but was forced to cut it off a week later in Pamplona due to family circumstances (illness). The roads in Spain over the short distance I traveled there were ok. The landscape was very beautiful. I hope for you that you can make your dreams come true. Good luck!

 

[Slowninja]

I’m thinking about doing a similar ride in Sept this year and am curious what the ride from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon (on roads) would be like. Is it scenic? Is it possible/easy to stay on quiet, low traffic roads? What roads would you take? I’m eager to hear from people who’ve cycled these roads. Thanks!

Hi,
I went from Lisbon to Santiago using the Brierly guide loosely. When exiting Lisbon it is very industrial and you do not really have a choice other than to follow the N roads. Some of the Brierly green routes are very scenic but obviously geared to walkers, which can make it a struggle with a fully laden bike on uneven, loose, or steep ground. Once you are past Vila Franca it's mainly rural/agricultural and very scenic. As others have suggested try to avoid using Google maps as it can send you down a rabbit hole occasionally. Other than the N roads it's a very enjoyable experience and one I will remember for a long time. I have detailed the journey here if that is of interest. I hope you have a great time and wish you safe travels.