Des of Anerley BC
Regular
There are lots of reasons for going on a bike tour/cycling holiday and making the most of these greatly enhances the experience.
A couple of years ago, in 2010, I organised a ride to the Picos de Europa mountains in northern Spain for a friend of mine and his 14 year old son. But it was a bit more than just a bike ride. My friend's wife had died of a brain tumour and he wanted to raise some funds for a local cancer charity. Being a cyclist he asked me about doing a charity bike ride. From this enquiry grew the idea of organising our own charity bike ride, for the 3 of us. Our 2 weeks in the Spanish mountains was a great experience for all of us, especially my friend's 14 year old son, and we raised over £7,000 for our cancer charity. So another reason has now been added to my many other reasons for undertaking a challenging cycling holiday. Fund raising!
Another thing that I enjoy about cycling holidays is the planning. Where to go, how to get there, where to stay, etc. This is so much easier now with the huge amount of information readily available on the internet. Having decided on the basics, you can spend many more happy hours researching the finer detail, and over the past winter months I have been doing just that.
This year my friend Tom and I have decided to don sack cloth and ashes and return to Spain for a cycling pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a round trip of some 1,500k. This time we are to be joined by Tom’s eldest son, Christopher. Chris is currently a medical student and has offered to put aside his stethoscope for this three week ride and act as our Medic and First Aider, should the need arise. His first words of advice were: “Spain? Don’t forget the Immodium!”
We are again hoping to raise some funds for the South East Cancer Help Centre (SECHC) and so are joined by a fourth team member, Ricky, a fellow member of our bike club, the Anerley B.C. He has a very special motive for joining the team, his daughter being very ill with cancer.
GETTING THERE.
An important part of the trip is getting to Spain, and from previous experiences our favoured way is by Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth to Santander. Whilst flying might be quicker it is probably not cheaper (so many extras charges added by Ryanair, etc!), Even after all that there is no guarantee that your bike will arrive at its destination, or in one piece!
The above photo shows my back wheel on arrival at Strasbourg airport on an earlier trip. Not only was it seriously damaged but it did not arrive on our flight, but the next day! My friend lost a pedal from his bike, so we now avoid air travel if at all possible.
Crowded airports are a definite turn off. Add in the requirement to box or bag your bike, plus the intimidating security checks, and cycling onto the welcoming ferry is a real pleasure!
A LONG AND WINDING ROAD.
The next bit to be determined was our cycle route, of which there are many that lead to Santiago. Many hours were spent studying maps and finding out about interesting places that we could visit en-route. Here the internet is invaluable, with Google maps and Via Michelin being particularly useful for foreign tours. Of these Via Michelin is my favourite, for 2 reasons. 1. Scenic roads are lined in green and on a cycle tour you want to see the best of the countryside! And 2. You can select a "Bike" option which automatically chooses a route via quieter roads which are better suited to cyclists. Whilst not perfect it is the best that you will be able to get for an area about which you have no prior knowledge.
Having reached Ribadeo, the road inland starts a long climb, up and over the mountains where we hope to stay for one night at the beautiful monastery at Sobrado de los Mojes, shown on the diagram above. Los Mojes means the monks. Not too difficult to translate!
On the return journey, for a change of scenery, we will leave Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Frances (blue route on diagramatic map) and then divert onto the yellow route which is known as the Camino Primitivo. This will allow us to visit the World Heritage Site at Lugo and walk along it's famous, encircling, Roman walls.
From there we come to the most difficult part of our journey, three days in a mountain fastness, leading us to the city of Oviedo. From here we will divert to Covadonga and enjoy the not to be missed, Picos de Europa mountains.
So there are many reasons and so much to enjoy about planning and making a foreign tour. But after the planning, the hard work starts. Spain is all hills and mountains and since February we have been in training mode. Lots of miles and lots of hills, and we hope, lots of encouragement!
So if you should be feeling in a generous mood you could go to http://www.justgiving.com/el-camino
Muchas Gratias!
A couple of years ago, in 2010, I organised a ride to the Picos de Europa mountains in northern Spain for a friend of mine and his 14 year old son. But it was a bit more than just a bike ride. My friend's wife had died of a brain tumour and he wanted to raise some funds for a local cancer charity. Being a cyclist he asked me about doing a charity bike ride. From this enquiry grew the idea of organising our own charity bike ride, for the 3 of us. Our 2 weeks in the Spanish mountains was a great experience for all of us, especially my friend's 14 year old son, and we raised over £7,000 for our cancer charity. So another reason has now been added to my many other reasons for undertaking a challenging cycling holiday. Fund raising!
This year my friend Tom and I have decided to don sack cloth and ashes and return to Spain for a cycling pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a round trip of some 1,500k. This time we are to be joined by Tom’s eldest son, Christopher. Chris is currently a medical student and has offered to put aside his stethoscope for this three week ride and act as our Medic and First Aider, should the need arise. His first words of advice were: “Spain? Don’t forget the Immodium!”
We are again hoping to raise some funds for the South East Cancer Help Centre (SECHC) and so are joined by a fourth team member, Ricky, a fellow member of our bike club, the Anerley B.C. He has a very special motive for joining the team, his daughter being very ill with cancer.
GETTING THERE.
An important part of the trip is getting to Spain, and from previous experiences our favoured way is by Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth to Santander. Whilst flying might be quicker it is probably not cheaper (so many extras charges added by Ryanair, etc!), Even after all that there is no guarantee that your bike will arrive at its destination, or in one piece!
The above photo shows my back wheel on arrival at Strasbourg airport on an earlier trip. Not only was it seriously damaged but it did not arrive on our flight, but the next day! My friend lost a pedal from his bike, so we now avoid air travel if at all possible.
A LONG AND WINDING ROAD.
The next bit to be determined was our cycle route, of which there are many that lead to Santiago. Many hours were spent studying maps and finding out about interesting places that we could visit en-route. Here the internet is invaluable, with Google maps and Via Michelin being particularly useful for foreign tours. Of these Via Michelin is my favourite, for 2 reasons. 1. Scenic roads are lined in green and on a cycle tour you want to see the best of the countryside! And 2. You can select a "Bike" option which automatically chooses a route via quieter roads which are better suited to cyclists. Whilst not perfect it is the best that you will be able to get for an area about which you have no prior knowledge.
For our route to Santiago we settled on the most obvious, which is known as El Camino del Norte - the way of the north. This route starts on the coast at Irun in the Basque country by the border with France. Conveniently for us it passes thru Santander following an ancient Roman road, cutting inland at Ribedeo to cross over the mountains to our destination. The route provides stunning coastal scenery and lots of little fishing villages at which to enjoy a glass of Asturian cider with barbecued sardines. Or if we are more adventurous, octopus or some such Spanish delicacy!Having reached Ribadeo, the road inland starts a long climb, up and over the mountains where we hope to stay for one night at the beautiful monastery at Sobrado de los Mojes, shown on the diagram above. Los Mojes means the monks. Not too difficult to translate!
So there are many reasons and so much to enjoy about planning and making a foreign tour. But after the planning, the hard work starts. Spain is all hills and mountains and since February we have been in training mode. Lots of miles and lots of hills, and we hope, lots of encouragement!
So if you should be feeling in a generous mood you could go to http://www.justgiving.com/el-camino
Muchas Gratias!
