Anyone who has used handlebar mounted GPS navigation devices on a bicycle before knows that there are a few drawbacks such as a tiny screen and limited interactivity. Here's how we have changed all that! While we have been offering Garmin handheld GPS devices, pre-loaded with our meticulously researched routes since the early 2000s, we always knew that there had to be a better way for cyclists to navigate a foreign route.
To tick all the boxes, the new devices would have to be water resistant, impact resistant and offer a much larger screen and superior interactivity - as well as great battery life and ease of use. A tall order! But after many seasons of testing different solutions ourselves and with our closest customers, we finally launched our SmartGuides in the end of 2018. We use rugged, IP68 water & impact resistant Android smartphones running our spoken voice and visual cue navigation app, custom maps and our proprietary phone configuration. From 2020, at no additional cost, you get a SmartGuide on all our self guided bicycle tour holidays, to make your day to day cycling experience even more fun, interactive and enjoyable.
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A cheat sheet for first timers in the Spanish food capital When eating out in Catalonia for the first time, it can be rather overwhelming. Expectations are high as this part of Spain is home to a multitude of Michelin starred restaurants and boasts some of the finest chefs in the World. Add to that the deep rooted traditions of the Catalan kitchen and its unique style and you have a rich and complex assortment of dishes and tastes awaiting you - But what do I order? We have put together a concise list of the best traditional dishes from the Catalan region to look out for on menus:
Discover the rich cuisine of Catalonia and some of the best cycling in Spain on our Catalonia Girona Bike Tour. Vanya MaplestoneVanya is a part-time cycling guide and full time eater. Our Catalonia self guided bike tour starts in Girona, which is as famous for its food as it is for the fine cycling in the surrounding area. If you haven't yet experienced what all the fuss is about with Catalan cuisine, here are a few places to start!
By Vanya MaplestoneVanya is a part-time cycling tour guide with a deep affinity for Catalonia, having relocated from Australia 5 years ago, she now makes her home in the heartland of Spain's cycling Mecca. A guide to cycling the Camino de Santiago in Spain: When to go, what to pack and how to prepare for your bicycle pilgrimage across Spain. Cycling the Camino de Santiago can be a once in a lifetime adventure, and as such, to make the very most of your journey, here are a few suggestions from a fellow cyclist and perennial pilgrim to help you on your Way!
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When is the best time to take a Camino de Santiago bicycle holiday? is a question we get asked a lot at Cycling Rentals and one that has many answers. It will depend on the route chosen, the specific section, as well as what you are hoping to experience on the route. Generally, most pilgrims choose to travel from Spring to Autumn. The most famous route, the French Way or Camino Frances, for instance crosses very different regions, from the Pyrenees to Galicia, and the weather will change from region to region. Summer months can be very hot for cycling across the Meseta, the middle sections of the French Way, but if you are cycling the last section from Sarria to Santiago, temperatures won’t be as high; as you will be cycling in Galicia and its mild Atlantic climate. Coastal routes such as the Portuguese Coastal Way, Finisterre Way and Northern Way are best appreciated in the Summer months, when seaside towns come to life. If you are cycling in the Summer months, whether along the coast or inland, always make sure you bring essential items to avoid sunstroke such as hat, sunblock and plenty of water. You should also make sure you take breaks from the heat and avoid exposure to the sun around lunchtime, the hottest part of the day. We recommend leaving early in the day to get your cycling in before the sun can make your experience feel more extreme. The popularity of the Camino de Santiago has increased over the past few years and you will encounter fellow pilgrims on the French Way route most months of the year, but particularly during peak season. If you are looking for a quieter experience, we recommend other Camino routes such as the Portuguese Way. Winter months will be quieter on the French Way but the route will be more challenging due to the weather conditions. Mountain areas such as the Pyrenees and O Cebreiro are likely to get snow in the winter months; while lower areas can be wet and cold. In addition many cafes, restaurants and hotels may close during the winter months particularly in rural areas. Talk to the Cycling Rentals travel specialists if you are looking to travel on the Camino in winter and we’ll be able to advise you on your best options. With the growing amount of Camino Rental Packs we dispatch, we thought a Camino specific cycle packing list would be very helpful! We update this list regularly and count on your suggestions to make it better and better. (Scroll down for a printable packing list). The first thing to bear in mind with the Camino de Santiago is that you can essentially cycle the pilgrimage route any time of year - though our preference is for late spring, early summer or fall. Other times of year can be rather too cold or hot for comfortable cycling. Having said that, any time of year you choose to cycle the Camino, you should bear in mind that given the distance, elevation and natural micro-climates, the variation of the weather is something you must prepare for. From the brisk mornings in the Pyrenees to the hot plains in and out of Leon, to the chilly heights of O Cebreiro and the possible rain showers around Santiago de Compostela, you will be exposed to a range of temperatures and weather conditions. With that in mind and because you don't want to pack too heavy (despite the 40 liter capacity of our Ortlieb panniers!), here is our suggested packing list - scroll down for a pdf to print-out and you can check items off as you pack. Cycling Gear 1 x Bike helmet 1 x Cycling cap 1 x Sun glasses 1 x Clear lens glasses (or changeable lenses) 1 x Fingerless gloves 1 x Full finger gloves 1 x Cycle Shoes 2 x Padded cycle shorts 2 x Cycle Jersey 4 x Cycling socks 1 x Light Water-proof wind breaker 1 x Warm, light Fleece (makes a great base layer for your rain jacket on cold days) 1 x Arm warmers / sleeves 1 x Sunscreen - small 1 x Small first aid kit 1 x Small packet of tissues (for pit stops!) 1 x Shower cap (for your seat on rainy stages) Clothing 1 x Long sleeve "dinner" shirt / blouse 1 x Short sleeve "dinner" shirt or polo or blouse 1 x Long trousers / practical skirt / dress 1 x Warm, light Sweater or Cardigan 1 x flip-flops or light-weight walking shoes 5 x Underwear (rinse them out in the shower on rest days!) 1 x Compact toiletry kit (including hand-washing liquid) Tools & Equipment 1 x Smartphone and charger 1 x Spare battery pack (Optional but great if you take a lot of pictures and video) 1 x Camera (or save space and weight and just use your smartphone) 1 x Multi tool 1 x Spare tube (and / or patch kit) 1 x Small bottle chain oil Download your packing list right here:
If you have found any other items to be useful, or any listed items to be superfluous, get in touch and let us know! Buen Camino! You can get by on as little as €10 if you are buying your supplies in supermarkets and grocery stores. A ham and cheese sandwich (Bocadillo con jamón y queso) or slice of Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish omelette with potatoes) and a soft drink will set you back 4-5€, for lunch in most small bars, coffee will be 1-2€. Some cafes and bars do a Pilgrim's lunch menu, consisting of a starter, main course/entree, dessert, drink and bread for anywhere from 5-15€. These can be great value for the main meal of the day. Be sure to refill your Cycling Rentals water bottle at fountains along the way - always look for the sign 'AGUA POTABLE' (Drinking water). I would recommend quite a lot of cycling before going on the Camino de Santiago. It ranges from challenging mountain passes to flat stretches of farmland and to complete the distance in a reasonable time you must have had plenty of TIME IN THE SADDLE (TITS - hehe!). Getting accustomed to long stretches riding just takes repetition and time. Start training a few weeks before you go. Try to ride 2-3 times a week in the months preceding your Camino, and if possible ride a few days in a row, so you become used to spending time on the bike, without sore saddle bones and start to find your rhythm. Test out any gear that is new, such as shoes, helmet and padded cycling shorts if they are new to you. These tips will make your trip that much more enjoyable and you will finish your Camino in great shape with lots of photos rather than blisters! By Martin Thompson Avid Mountain biker, Bike Tourist & Founding partner at Cycling Rentals By Sigurd SolbergCycling abroad makes for an exciting holiday, nice and challenging. Four friends have made successful journeys in 14 different countries over the last 17 years. Although they have experienced some uncommon challenges (including brain & heart infarction),they have kept their fitness and are still cycling! We were 49-56 years when we started along Donau and have since cycled within the borders of Ireland (W), Poland (N), Croatia (E) and Spain(S).
Although we have experienced some common challenges (brain/heart infarctions), we have kept fitness and are still cycling. We are following the same kind of planning, adapted to age, conditions and experiences. Our advice is: Do not go more than 4 persons together, carry your own luggage, spend the nights at hotels, perhaps bed & breakfast. We have learned that four people are convenient, 2 double rooms, you can eat together, you can split up easily for one night – if you feel its necessary, its easy to arrange. To carry the luggage is something to learn. You do not need much clothing. Wool is essential (also in summer), also daily washing (of something). One pair of shoes is maybe sufficient. We use always watertight bags. Regularly you need only one bag for a 1 week trip (2 bags for 2-3 weeks). We often like to go down along rivers, it is a guarantee for nice travel. How do we decide where to go? Desires and initiative counts. Often we want to visit people we have met at cycling-journeys before or who have visited us in Norway - sometimes we end or start the journey there. Commonly we buy the air transport and two nights- the first and the last- in advance. The other lodging we arrange during the journey (if advice does not tell us that this will not be possible). We have never lacked accommodation – from 87 spontaneously arranged lodging – every time, although difficult, was arranged. Sometimes, these stories have become our most beloved moments: once a closed hotel was opened by help from the neighbors, another time we were handed over the hotel keys and locked the hotel in the morning - because the owners went on holidays. In our last journey, in northern Portugal the first week of November, we happened to use the firm Cycling Rentals and their services. It was an unambiguously positive experience, the most reliable bicycles we ever experienced, reasonable priced and very practically arranged (hotels, transport). Thank you! |