cycling questions

[joshs]

Hello. Does anybody know where we can rent the bikes? Also is there a drop off for the bikes at the end of the trail or do we have to get the bikes back? And if we are cycling the trail would you recommend the north or south trail? Thanks.

Josh

[Leslie]

I spoke to this company some time back, they offer bike hire along the Caminos. Tournride Alquiler de bicicletas Camino de Santiago hire bicycle

I have not used them so I cannot recommend or not. If you do hire a bike from a company I would love to here of your experiences. This is an area that I know little about and one that I get asked questions about quite often.

If you could write an article on this I would be very grateful, I would publish it on the main part of the site for future reference.

Thanks

[scoutfinch]

Hi,

I am hiring a bike in July from Tour n Ride. They are recommended very highly by everyone.

The bike is available in 18 or 24 gears...Its a Mountain Bike and tested on the many elevations of the road...

The cost is abt 120 euros for a week. Includes Bike, Delivery to any place in spain, pannier, water bottle holder, handle bag.

Hope this helps!

Buen Camino!
Tanu

[robin]

I wish you the best of luck,you may need it.
My experience of rentalbikes is quite evil,they are inavariably cheap,ill maintained,and unsuitable for use.
It will probably be some sort of mountain bike,whatever that means,and might be appropriate if you are never ,ever,going on road.
Since you will spend more time on road than off you will suffer from all the manifold inadequacies of mountain bikes on road.
If I had to use one of these overweight,overtired,unpleasant horrors to ride the Camino I'd gladly walk,and I don't walk anywhere if I can help it,ask my dog!
robin
P.S.As a devout non-walker I'm right there with the walkers who detest being carved up by sweaty youths on "MountainBikes"!

[Amelie Vincent]

I just did the Camino Frances this year in March with a couple of friends and we did hire bikes for it. As most of people we were also skeptical of hiring a bike because they are often innapropriate and not good enough. After a quick search on the internet we found some companies who did hire bikes for the Camino, one of them being bikeiberia, who also come highly reccommended! Besides mountain bikes they also have other types of bikes, so it really depends what you're looking for. If you're doing the Camino I highly reccommend this company not only for all their help but for the quality of bikes as well! We're actually thinking of doing the Portuguese Camino next year and we'll definitely rent bikes from them again.

[Alejandro]

Hello
I made the camino from Salamanca to Santiago in 6 days, I'm from Barcelona and it was cheaper to buy a bike in Salamanca, that carry my own bike in the train and the plain.
You can buy a bike in the Decathlon stores and after you can resell it in Santiago.
You can see the site of the stores and try your bike.
It is that we made.

[ozziemandril]

Hi. I don't know about hiring. But in response to your question about the north (i presume you mean the northern coast) or south (camino st francis?) route I would recommend the camino st francis. I completed this route about 2 days ago and it wasn't too strenuous. I spoke to a couple who had cycled part of the north route before and they said it was VERY hilly and they had to resort to using the autovia (motorway) to cross some of the valleys/gorges. They didn't recommend it! Hope this helps!