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!

If you are going to start or finish a route in Lisbon, Faro or Porto in Portugal you will most likely use the Intercidades trains.

Their routes go to: Lisbon – Oporto / Guimarães / Braga / Viana do Castelo, Beira Alta, Beira Baixa, Alentejo (Lisbon Oriente / Évora) and Algarve.

This is their list of conditions for bike travel:

The 2nd class carriages on these trains have proper supports for traditional bikes, allowing 2 bikes to be taken in each carriage. The supports in the carriages do not have padlocks.

• Only one bike per passenger;
• The bike must weigh 15kg or less; (this could mean no eBikes)
• The carriage of bicycles is limited to the space available - places 15 and 17 in the 2nd class carriages on the northern line Intercidades Lisbon-Oporto/Guimarães/Braga/Viana do castelo and places 12 and 18 in the 2nd class carriages on the Beira Alta, Alentejo Lisbon Oriente/Évora and Sul line trains. If these places are not available, only bikes than can be folded or disassembled and stored as hand luggage can be carried. No more than one bike per person.
• Transport is free.
  
  

The fast trains, Alfa Pendular, require that you dismantle your bike, so we recommend you avoid travel on their service. There are other trains to choose from depending on your requirements and the bike you are traveling with.

More information can be found in English here:
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/passenger-information/Useful-information/bike-transport

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!

We had planned to go through the route of the Portuguese Central way in 3 days, from 27 to 29 October 2018. We settled with Cycling Rentals to receive the bikes (in boxes sent by a courier) to our Hostel in which we stayed overnight when we arrived in the city of Porto, the day before the planned start of our journey. Similarly, we would just have to return the bikes, leaving them at our final lodging location in Santiago de Compostela. These hostels/lodges where we stayed at the beginning (Porto) and at the end of the planned route (Santiago de Compostela) have to be affiliated with Cycling Rentals. And so we did.

But the conditions of various stretches of the route were quite harsh, beyond our initial expectations. So we only managed to complete the course in 4 days. Nevertheless, it was quite exhausting to complete the entire course, even in a 4-day period. The ideal for those who want to make the Portuguese Central way, in less time than walking, so as not to be so physically challenged as we were, and to enjoy many of the attractions along the way, is to travel the entire path from Porto to Santiago de Compostela by bike in around 6 days. On foot this same route is done, more commonly, in 10 to 12 days.

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Porto -São Pedro de Rates 

On October 27th, we started our journey to Santiago de Compostela in the hostel where we stayed, without worrying about going to the Cathedral of Porto to start the journey. We recommend not to start the journey to Santiago de Compostela as we did, as this may bring difficulties in the first KMS when leaving the city of Porto to find the indicative signs typical of the Camino de Santiago (yellow arrows and shells). Thus, the ideal start is always at the Cathedral of Porto, and then go following with attention the indications of the Portuguese way, through the yellow arrows and shells.

On this day we went until the village of São Pedro de Rates, where we stayed overnight in the cozy local hostel (Albergue de São Pedro de Rates). Just before this village, we went through the beautiful monastery of Vairão, where there is also a hostel that seemed very friendly (Pilgrim's hostel of the monastery of Vairão), and that may be also an interesting alternative, in case you decide to stop a little before arriving São Pedro de Rates.


São Pedro de Rates -Rubiães 

The next day, October 28th, in the morning, we left São Pedro de Rates towards Rubiães, a long journey that day. The scenery is quite distinct from the one found on the previous day, because the urban areas found in the previous stretch were replaced by rural areas, through trails of land, often with many stones and irregularities of the terrain along the trails. 

This stretch has moderately uneven terrain in general, but has a particularly high one at the end of the stretch (Alto do Portela - Labruja). The journey at this stretch also becomes more interesting, as we cross through an essentially wine-growing territory (producer of grapes and wines). 

The ascent of Labruja, for those who are making the Portuguese Central way on bike, is especially harsh (when passing through there, we could not avoid associating the name with the term in Spanish 'La Bruja '-the Witch!). After overcoming all this stretch from São Pedro de Rates, it is an immense joy to find the hostel in Rubiães, which is also very comfortable and welcoming.


Rubiães - Pontevedra 

From Rubiães onwards the next day, October 29th, we had a challenge to travel another great distance to Pontevedra. We passed through Valença do Minho (last city of Portugal) and Tuí (first city of Galicia), on the banks of the river Minho, which we crossed to leave Portugal and enter the territory of Galicia.

After passing through Tuí, we proceed to O Porriño. In this city there is an alternative itinerary (which we strongly recommend!) by a natural grove called As Gándaras, by the left bank of the Louro River, which avoids the industrial polygon of O Porriño, the largest in Galicia, with heavy traffic, buzz and pollution (visual, sound and air).

After passing through Redondela further forward, we finally get to Pontevedra, to finish the long journey of this day. Throughout this day, the unlevelling is moderate and the route follows alternating the asphalt of local rural roads with trails of land and gravel, passing through beautiful woods and bordering streams with crystalline waters. The hostel of pilgrims of Pontevedra is at the entrance of the city, and is very large, with good accommodation and welcoming.


Pontevedra-Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela 

Finally, on the last day of the journey, we left Pontevedra towards the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Passing by Caldas del Rey, we went towards Padrón. Padrón is a locality of high cultural and historical interest, along with Iria Flávia, which is aside, and was founded by the Romans during the occupation of Galicia to explore the large amounts of gold found there at that time.
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This whole last stage is simpler to accomplish and presents only small undulations, always following the national road N-550. This final stretch is largely made on asphalt and urbanized areas, with the mention of the moderate and progressive uphill in the Milladoiro, which required a lot of effort because we already had enough accumulated fatigue from the journeys of the previous days.

Home to many current (and retired) pro cyclists, this area has everything you need for endless riding pleasure, here you will find mountains, rolling hills, epic seascapes, lush apple orchards, even volcanic craters. Home to some very famous climbs, Girona province is the training ground for many cycling teams and individuals alike. Professional cyclists like Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma), Dan Martin (UAE - Team Emirates), Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (CCC-Liv) all call the Girona region home, and for good reason, the area is busting with challenging climbs and long, rolling, quiet roads.

Three famous climbs near Girona:

Els Angels
Stats: 10.1km, 3%, 344m, Category 2

• Only 10 minutes out of Girona, this ride takes some twists and turns up a quiet, leafy forest road featuring hairpins, downhills, flat and fast sections, and a few short steep rises. The big crucifix marks the official summit for cyclists, but you should continue up toward the Santuari dels Àngels church (where Salvador Dali was married) and take in the sweeping view of the surrounding terrain.

Mare de Déu del Mont
Stats: 18.5km, 5%, 919m, Category: HC

• With a spectacular 360 degree view that includes the peaks of the Pyrenees and Costa Brava coastline on a clear day, there aren’t many better cycling climbs in Catalonia. Two roads will get you there, the least popular (and slightly longer) going through Besalu or the approach via Cabanelles, with both roads converging for the final 7 kilometres. At the 13km point, you will have an exposed section and a 500m flat/downhill - so take in the view and prepare for your final ascent! At the top, make sure you park your bike and venture up to the church and cafe so you can get the whole 360 experience (and rest your legs!).

Rocacorba
Stats: 10.7km, 7%, 742m, Category 1

• A legendary climb, in anyone's books. Used for over a decade by many local pros as a testing climb, the famous mountain is a challenge to all who ride it. The 10.7 kilometre climb has a deceptive overall gradient of 7%, with sections of up to 11% and the final half averaging 9%, this ride will require disciplined pacing but is a must for any cyclist exploring the Girona area. A quiet, tree-lined road is popular for the pro and weekend warrior alike, and if you do ride it on the weekend, reward yourself with a coffee and a cupcake from Rocacorba Food Truck on your way down. 
  
  

For the relaxed scenic rider, you will find bike paths linking the mountains to the sea and lots of pretty medieval villages to explore, rest your legs and find an ice-cream or cold drink along the way.

Curious to discover this fabulous little bike tour? Find out more here.