Cycling to Spain

iakobski said:

4. I'm fit enough - currently cycle 22 miles/day @ 17-19 mph and run
5-10 miles several times a week. What mileage should I expect per day?
Will I get there and back in two weeks while still enjoying it?

If you're doing more than about 100 miles per day, you definitely won't
be enjoying it. However, unless you do that kind of mileage, you won't
be there and back in a fortnight.

If "two weeks" and "Spain" are both firm requirements, why not take a
train halfway down France and skip the northern bit? Alternatively, take
the Plymouth-Santander ferry and spend the time cycling around Spain,
rather than to it.

I did Caen to St Tropez (one way only, note!) in nine days with my
brother-in-law, averaging 80 miles per day, but there wasn't much time
for sight-seeing.

http://tranchant.plus.com/cycling/france-1996/

--
Mark.
http://tranchant.plus.com/

Fly to Bilbao, then poodle round the Picos dos Europas mountains and
along the northern coast of Spain. Very pretty and the climbs are tough
and worth doing.

iakobski said:

So I said - "No problem, I'll be out of the country". I must admit, I'd
had a fair few glasses of Stolichnaya at that point, so when pressed I
said I quite fancied cycling to Spain. So now I seem to be committed.

I remember reading a book from someone who walked a pilgrim's route
from Canterbury to Santiago de Compostela.

I could have got that wrong though.
Quick web search turns this up:
http://www.csj.org.uk/routes.htm
Search me if any of these can be cycled.

And the Wikipedia turns this up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroVelo

That's really useful, thanks. That looks like a good starting point,
I'll get the maps out tonight - now I'm thinking of starting from
Paris, so Paris - Santiago looks interesting.

Good idea - had not thought of flying with a bike!

Going in May - what's the weather like in the mountains at that time of
year?

That's a good point - I'm not going for the feat of endurance, I'm
going for the experience.

Quoted message said:

From your reply and the others, I'm now thinking:

1. Eurostar to Paris.
Then cycle either
2a. Some variation on EuroVelo pilgrim's route to Santiago de
Compostela; or
2b. due south to Catalunya (Catalonia) then via Madrid to Asturia
Then fly back
3. Ovieda - Stansted on EasyJet for 13 Euros (plus ten quid for the
bike - the bike costs more than me and doesn't even get a seat!)

AA routefinder gives 2000 km - so probably about 2200 by the D-roads -
for either route, but the pilgrim's route gives the option of not going
all the way to Santiago and cutting it down to 1300 km.

iakobski said:

3. Ovieda - Stansted on EasyJet for 13 Euros (plus ten quid for the
bike - the bike costs more than me and doesn't even get a seat!)

But bikes do have seats.

Why do I have an image of a cargo aircraft with loads of clamps to keep
bikes upright whilst passengers perch?

Take it one stage further to a Belleville Rendezvous scenario and
install turbo trainers, coupled to the propellers.
Plenty of incentive there to keep up a decent pedalling rate...

"iakobski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So I said - "No problem, I'll be out of the country". I must admit, I'd
had a fair few glasses of Stolichnaya at that point, so when pressed I
said I quite fancied cycling to Spain. So now I seem to be committed.

My experience (using ferries from Portsmouth) is that it's better to get the
ferry to Spain (Bilbao) and cycle home than to cycle to Spain to catch a
ferry back. This is because:
a) ferries from Bilbao are not that frequent if you missed the planned one
b) the prevailing SW wind. This is a major factor.

Jon

Good point - I may reverse my route, though the idea of cycling south
(towards the good weather) is psychologically appealing.

I won't be using the ferry though - at 24 hours and about 150 quid it
makes more sense to fly.

Sorry to shamelessly BBTTT, and the answers so far have been excellent
- my route is sorted now. Anyone care to point me in the right
direction for the other Q's? Specifically - what to take, ie what kind
of tent/sleeping bag/spares/etc? I've never done any touring before, so
treat me as a complete numpty on this!

Will I need a tent big enough to get the bike inside? Will the £40
bike bag on wiggle be good enough for the flight back? My plan is to
post the bike bag from Paris to Spain and pick it up the day before the
flight back.

PS - everyone's been diplomatic enough not to answer Q5 - "Am I mad?" -
so I'll take that as a "yes".

Quoted message said:

PS - everyone's been diplomatic enough not to answer Q5 - "Am I mad?" -
so I'll take that as a "yes".

Actually we're all rather jealous. It's you friends an relatives that'll
think you mad.

On 30/3/05 10:56 am, in article
[email hidden], "iakobski"

Quoted message said:

Will the £40
bike bag on wiggle be good enough for the flight back? My plan is to
post the bike bag from Paris to Spain and pick it up the day before the
flight back.

My opinion on taking bikes by plane is that it is best to do as little
wrapping as possible. Some airlines will take them unwrapped (my favoured
option), others will require them to be wrapped in which case a clear
plastic bag is ideal.

This ounds counterintuitive, but if you have something that looks like
normal luggage it will get treated like normal luggage. A large flat case
will go on the bottom of the trolley with every tom [censored] and harry's
suitcase dropped on top. Fragile stickers are read as 'kick me harder'
A bike on its own gets treated as a bike and is handled separately.

The alternative is a hard bike case that will withstand 100kg of samsonite
dropped on top.

The only time I have had problems flying with a bike was when it was boxed,
the rest of the time it was fine.

...d

"iakobski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Sorry to shamelessly BBTTT, and the answers so far have been excellent
- my route is sorted now. Anyone care to point me in the right
direction for the other Q's? Specifically - what to take, ie what kind
of tent/sleeping bag/spares/etc? I've never done any touring before, so
treat me as a complete numpty on this!

Will I need a tent big enough to get the bike inside? Will the £40
bike bag on wiggle be good enough for the flight back? My plan is to
post the bike bag from Paris to Spain and pick it up the day before the
flight back.

PS - everyone's been diplomatic enough not to answer Q5 - "Am I mad?" -
so I'll take that as a "yes".

----

Sorry -- Output Excess refuses to indent the original.

What to take. As little as possible. Cycling clothes and a change for the
evening (polyester washes easily and dries fast), a couple of layers of warm
stuff and a waterproof. A tube of hand washing clothes detergent.

Perhaps a pair of flip flops for evenings.

Tent -- why? lock it to a fence or tree. Small tents weigh less. Dental
floss & a rape alarm? (Make sure the alarm is attached to the bike!!)

Spares -- France & Spain are awash with good bike shops. Take a minimum
tool & spares kit. Perhaps a phrase book -- though point & look hopeful
normally works. A mobile for phoning or a taxi in the event of a breakdown.

Bag -- don't know. How are you going to store it while cycling? Why not
blag a box from your LBS & use that (with bit of strengthening)? You would
then need to look up the words for 'can I blag a bike box' in French/Spanish
for the return journey

Mad -- Nooooooooo!!

David Martin said:

On 30/3/05 10:56 am, in article
[email hidden], "iakobski"

Quoted message said:

Will the £40
bike bag on wiggle be good enough for the flight back? My plan is to
post the bike bag from Paris to Spain and pick it up the day before the
flight back.

My opinion on taking bikes by plane is that it is best to do as little
wrapping as possible. Some airlines will take them unwrapped (my favoured
option), others will require them to be wrapped in which case a clear
plastic bag is ideal.

This ounds counterintuitive, but if you have something that looks like
normal luggage it will get treated like normal luggage. A large flat case
will go on the bottom of the trolley with every tom [censored] and harry's
suitcase dropped on top. Fragile stickers are read as 'kick me harder'
A bike on its own gets treated as a bike and is handled separately.

The alternative is a hard bike case that will withstand 100kg of samsonite
dropped on top.

The only time I have had problems flying with a bike was when it was boxed,
the rest of the time it was fine.

...d

I'm of the same view. Forget posting the bag and pop into a local DIY
store when you are ready to leave Spain, get some foam pipe lagging and
packing tape. Put the pipe lagging round the frame tubes and fork legs
and tape it on. Take the rear derailleur off and tape it inside the
rear triangle (or buy and fit one of those ugly rear derailleur
protectors that you can probably find in Hellfords) Hand it over and
collect again in the UK. You'll spend less this way than you would on
postage and your bike will be better for it.

Tony

Tony W said:

What to take. As little as possible. Cycling clothes and a change for the
evening (polyester washes easily and dries fast), a couple of layers of warm
stuff and a waterproof. A tube of hand washing clothes detergent.

Perhaps a pair of flip flops for evenings.

I can recommend Shimano SPD sandals. Work on and off the bike equally
well. You can add socks to show you are English and waterproof socks to
turn them into fast drying wet weather shoes.

Quoted message said:

Tent -- why? lock it to a fence or tree. Small tents weigh less. Dental
floss & a rape alarm? (Make sure the alarm is attached to the bike!!)

I use one of those Kryptonite cables, thread round frame, pass one end
through loop at t'other end and pull down tight on the frame then take
loose end into tent and attach it to something you would notice moving
in the night - saucepans, arm.... Can be used as a normal cable lock
if there is something solid to lock the bike to.

Quoted message said:

Spares -- France & Spain are awash with good bike shops. Take a minimum
tool & spares kit. Perhaps a phrase book -- though point & look hopeful
normally works. A mobile for phoning or a taxi in the event of a breakdown.

....and zip ties; don't forget the zip ties. Fix anything. Even used
them to emergency space out a cassette when two cogs shattered and fell
off onto the road once

Quoted message said:

Bag -- don't know. How are you going to store it while cycling? Why not
blag a box from your LBS & use that (with bit of strengthening)? You would
then need to look up the words for 'can I blag a bike box' in French/Spanish
for the return journey

Forget the bag, send the bike naked.

Tony

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Spares -- France & Spain are awash with good bike shops. Take a minimum
tool & spares kit. Perhaps a phrase book -- though point & look hopeful
normally works. A mobile for phoning or a taxi in the event of a

breakdown.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

...and zip ties; don't forget the zip ties. Fix anything. Even used
them to emergency space out a cassette when two cogs shattered and fell
off onto the road once

And a small roll of duct tape and a tube of super glue -- then you can fix
just about anything :~)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bag -- don't know. How are you going to store it while cycling? Why

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

blag a box from your LBS & use that (with bit of strengthening)? You

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

then need to look up the words for 'can I blag a bike box' in

French/Spanish

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for the return journey

Forget the bag, send the bike naked.

By far the best option -- though less and less airlines seem to accept it.
Check in advance -- and get it in writing.

T

iakobski said:

Anyone care to point me in the right direction for the other
Q's? Specifically - what to take, ie what kind of tent/sleeping
bag/spares/etc? I've never done any touring before, so treat me
as a complete numpty on this!

Will I need a tent big enough to get the bike inside?

You may love your bike, but do you really want to share your tent with
it? If you are going to carry a tent you want the smallest lightest one
you can reasonably get. You will also need a sleeping bag, of course,
and some kind of mat - either a closed cell foam one, or a
self-inflating mattress. If you google back you'll find some recent
threads on this. This year I've been using a Coleman Viper, which I got
for an excellent price on-line from World of Camping. It's a very good
one man tent, packs small, and is fairly light at a shade under 2kg.
You could do better, but not easily without spending a lot more. The
bike spends the night outside locked to a tree.

Presumably you're thinking of wild camping rather than staying at
official camp sites? You might want to read the late Ken Kifer's pages
at <http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/camping.htm>. Although
these are based on American conditions there is a lot of good advice
here.

If you're touring with a tent I'd advise you to practice first. Load
the bike up fully and do a few miles on it. It'll probably be awful
because you've almost certainly taken too much and because you haven't
yet worked out the best way of distributing the load. When you've got
the riding bugs worked out go for a night in the woods to test your
camping gear and work out what's really essential to carry.

--
Dave...

David Martin said:

My opinion on taking bikes by plane is that it is best to do as little
wrapping as possible. Some airlines will take them unwrapped (my favoured
option), others will require them to be wrapped in which case a clear
plastic bag is ideal.

This ounds counterintuitive, but if you have something that looks like
normal luggage it will get treated like normal luggage. A large flat case
will go on the bottom of the trolley with every tom [censored] and harry's
suitcase dropped on top. Fragile stickers are read as 'kick me harder'
A bike on its own gets treated as a bike and is handled separately.

The alternative is a hard bike case that will withstand 100kg of samsonite
dropped on top.

The only time I have had problems flying with a bike was when it was boxed,
the rest of the time it was fine.

My experience is a bit different, though I agree with your reasoning so
far as the majority of airlines are concerned. I've always handed my
bike over to the airline with minimum preparation after riding it to the
airport; sometimes I've been handed a big plastic bag to put it in. It's
usually been all right, except perhaps some paintwork damage, but
Ryanair turns its planes around as fast as possible to keep the planes
in the air and its baggage handlers seem to be under orders to go flat
out with no respect for what they are handling. Therefore, Ryanair will
only take your bike after you sign a disclaimer and it will be treated
very harshly. It cost me over two hundred quid to fix my bike after the
last time Ryanair got hold of it, including getting a brake mounting lug
reattached to the fork leg after it was snapped off. This is not a
particularly delicate bike, its a Chas Roberts 531ST tourer. Anyway,
that removed any illusion that Ryanair is cheap.

--
Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap