Cycling UK Forum

We stayed at the Owl Hotel. A small hotel in a quiet residential area a few minutes walk from the Rijkmuseum and other galleries, and Vondelpark. Also the start of the city centre is just a few minutes walk.

I found it on booking.com but contacted them directly re bike storage as there was reference on a booking.com review to having arrived on a bike. We were expecting to store the bike in a shed in the garden but as it was the end of the season it was full of garden furniture. We left the bike in the garden but it was very secure with locked gate access. I was happy to leave an expensive tandem there for a few days and would stay again with a bike even if the shed wasn’t available.

We had cycled from Stockholm and Amsterdam proved the hardest place on the trip to find accommodation with suitable bike storage. We wanted to stay near the centre and even a hotel with claimed green credentials and underground parking expected us to leave the tandem outside on the street. It might be easier with a solo bike but it was a relief to eventually find the Owl Hotel. Good luck with cycling in Amsterdam, it was certainly a challenge on a loaded tandem.

Or you could use a combination of tandem and one solo for the 3 of you. This could overcome the problem of needing to find a child's bike to hire and also some of the limiting factor to speed and range.

We have the Tandem Twosday, a tandem version of the Bike Friday, which more dismantles than folds and fits in 2 suitcases. Last year we did a 2 week tour in Menorca, with the bike and a lot of the other 'stuff' packed in the cases and a pannier each as carry on luggage. We booked accommodation a taxi ride from the airport, which we also used for a night at the end, and left the cases with them. We had just a bar bag and 2 rear panniers but also have a front rack for front panniers if required. We usually use a 'normal' tandem for longer trips but the Twosday worked fine and overcomes the problem of packing a normal tandem for flights. I have seen pictures of the Twosday being used for long camping trips so it is reasonably robust.

When flying you will always have the conflict of either returning via the same airport and being able to use the same cases/packing material or doing an A to B trip and having to find new packing material or somewhere to send the cases to. We have partially overcome that by flying somewhere in Europe and cycling home but it has starting resulting in 6 week plus trips. I would think Denmark would be very well suited to a round trip and has very good cycling facilities.

Yes would love to meet people on the way, I have now looked at a lot of the route on street view and there is often a walker or cyclist in frame so I don't expect to be alone! Is it normally a one-direction experience? i.e. to Santiago, not from?

Yes it is very much a one way experience, historically carrying out a pilgrimage to the bones of St James supposedly held in the cathedral. I suspect a large proportion of the people are not now following it for religious reasons, we weren't, but many are. We did however attend one of the pilgrim services held at the cathedral in Santiago which made a good end to the trip.

Only you will know whether you can do it in a month. We are what I refer to as long distance potterers. We spent a week in the UK, 3 across France and 3 across Spain to Santiago, although that included a few days with friends in the UK, days off and half days for rest, tourist things etc. We then spent a week continuing to Finisterre, on to Muxia and back to Santiago, and a week with car back to Santander. A bit of an early retirement trip.

If you are able to do the whole thing would the reverse of the second option not be better? Cycle across France and join the main Camino Frances at St John Pied de Port. Once at Santiago hire a vehicle to drive back to Santander for the ferry. This would allow you to join in the full experience of the camino, meeting the other walkers/cyclists, joining up with others for small sections, meeting up with the same group of people at different times as your paths continue to cross and finishing at the cathedral in Santiago. We did this by tandem a few years ago, making up our own route across UK/France. Across Spain we didn't follow the walking route but the closest most appropriate road/track, which in many places was also the walking route so still lots of people about. There were some sections of the walking route that would be only possible on a mountain bike and therefore I suspect not possible on a trike. We met lots of other cyclists doing similar to us and therefore still had the feeling of being on the camino. We picked up a vehicle at Santiago airport which is just out of town, and you pass on the way in, and dropped it off at Santander Airport, again just a short cycle ride from the ferry terminal. There is lots of information and web sites on the net if you do some searching, including camino discussion forums with cycling sub-forums. We found a Michelin map of the walking route in a small book format was useful. We met a few Dutch/German cyclists using the Bikeline Jakobs Radweg guide which although in German has detailed maps of what is becoming a well used cyclists version of the camino route. A very comprehensive guide, principally for walkers but with masses of information for anybody travelling the route, is "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino De Santiago: St. Jean - Roncevalles - Santiago" by John Brierly. This is updated annually so get the latest edition. Accommodation on the route is relatively easy as long as you are not at a busy time. There are very few people who camp with many of the pilgrims staying in dormitory style hostels/Albergues. We avoided these as they have a reputation of being noisy, with walkers leaving very early to make sure they get a place at the next one. There are plenty of small hotels and rooms available along the route mainly meeting the needs of the pilgrims. We mainly used Booking.com to book a few days ahead although there are plenty of lists of accommodation and other facilities available. For food, everywhere offers a cheap 3 course Pilgrim menu which is generally good if a bit repetitive at times.
In conclusion, yes perfectly possible by trike but following a cycling version of the walking route. Have a great time.

Photo of parallel walking and cycling route on the way to Leon.

iandusud wrote:

IanA wrote:

iandusud wrote:
Hi Ian, good to read of your experience with Supreme 26x1.6 which we have fitted to our tandem also. I would be interested in your experience with tyres pressures. I've experimented a fair bit and generally run them at 60psi f+r for an all up weight of around 175kg.

Thanks

iandsud, I normally don't pay much attention to pressure, just what feels/looks right. But I have just checked and it was below 40psi which is a bit soft and was intending to add a bit more before the next ride. I pumped it up to 60psi which feels about the top end I would normally do. So probably normally running 50-60psi. On tour that is probably about what I can easily get in with a small pump, after a flight for instance. Our all up weight for a day ride, people, tandem and rack pack, is about 145kg. Weight would be more when touring (credit card, not camping) but I don't think we would be going much above 60psi.

Wow, you're a pair of lightweights! Assuming that your tandem weighs in at 20kg, which is probably conservative, that means your combined weight is around 125kg. I thought I was light at 70kg for 6'1". Sounds like we're about on par with you on pressures.

At 5’7” and 4’10” perhaps we are on a different scale!

iandusud wrote:

IanA wrote:We've been using Supremes on tandems for about the last 8 years, initially on 700c but now on 26''. Use is generally day rides and multi-week touring. I recall 3 punctures in one trip but no other issues. At the moment using 26 X 1.6. Have found them to be good on road and gravel tracks. They roll well, are comfortable and reliable. A similar question was recently asked on the Tandem Club Facebook page and Chris J also recommended the Supremes.

Hi Ian, good to read of your experience with Supreme 26x1.6 which we have fitted to our tandem also. I would be interested in your experience with tyres pressures. I've experimented a fair bit and generally run them at 60psi f+r for an all up weight of around 175kg.

Thanks

iandsud, I normally don't pay much attention to pressure, just what feels/looks right. But I have just checked and it was below 40psi which is a bit soft and was intending to add a bit more before the next ride. I pumped it up to 60psi which feels about the top end I would normally do. So probably normally running 50-60psi. On tour that is probably about what I can easily get in with a small pump, after a flight for instance. Our all up weight for a day ride, people, tandem and rack pack, is about 145kg. Weight would be more when touring (credit card, not camping) but I don't think we would be going much above 60psi.

We've been using Supremes on tandems for about the last 8 years, initially on 700c but now on 26''. Use is generally day rides and multi-week touring. I recall 3 punctures in one trip but no other issues. At the moment using 26 X 1.6. Have found them to be good on road and gravel tracks. They roll well, are comfortable and reliable. A similar question was recently asked on the Tandem Club Facebook page and Chris J also recommended the Supremes.

TA, a French brand. We have one on a 30 year old tandem and I also have a more modern version on a solo. From the condition probably TA Cyclotouriste, around in the 70s/80s.

We did the bridge in July 2014 with a loaded tandem. There were roadworks on the bridge with signs indicating the works were to improve cycle access but it was still reasonably OK at the time. Having looked at streetview which is dated 2018 it now has a good cycle lane to each side. There are also good cycle tracks leading up to the bridge both on the island and mainland.

I am not aware of a ferry from Tremblade. I have come across some boats linking to other islands and the mainland to the north but these are very seasonal excursion type boats. Although it would have been a good way of going north off the island I wasn't confident we would get the tandem on so cycled back over the bridge.

We used the boat service a number of times last August during the Tandem Club rally.

The timetable doesn't appear to be available on the web site at the moment, just confirming restarting on May 13th. Last year it left Kalmar once an hour on the hour until the last ferry at 18.00. From Oland on the half hour. Sunday is a bit different but it was still running, I think started later. Departure point is easily found on the waterfront, just zoom in on Google maps. Cost was about 50kr per person with discounts available for the over 60s. Buy your ticket on board at a machine, card only, no cash. Lots of bike racks.

I also looked into a ferry from Oskarshamn to the north of the island but that is very seasonal and stopped around August the 12th. But it would give the possibility of one way on and one way off.

We arrived in Kalmar from the north on the time of the Kalmar Ironman event with great difficulty avoiding closed roads. We were allowed on the cycling route against the flow of competitors by some marshals and with the flow by others, resulting in great cheers for the loaded tandem from the spectators.

As noted in your previous thread we did almost exactly the route you describe last August/September in relation to the Tandem Club international event.

I am not sure we got the paper maps right, although it was difficult seeing the detail available of all the various options beforehand without buying them all to compare. We ended up using a 1:600,000 for planning and general routes and most of the time we were on roads marked on the map. However, we also spent some time on roads and cycle tracks not marked on the map which would have been difficult if that was our only source of information. We also had copies of the 1:90,000 Cykelkarten for most but not all the route. This is as good as you would need with campsites marked along with regional/national cycle routes. However they are expensive compared to UK maps, and I understand no cheaper to buy in Sweden, and have nothing like the level of detail we are used to from the OS. A number of other people we spoke to who had cycled to the event had only used similar large scale maps to ours and with pre-trip research and local info from tourist offices etc had not found any significant problems. Maps were bought from either The Map Shop or Stanfords.

The key for us was quite a lot of pre-trip online planning of info and maps. This included online information on the local/regional/national cycle routes which are also all marked on the OSM mapping which we generally accessed via the cycle.travel site. We used these for guidance for devising our own route and didn't follow any particular one all the time, although when we were following a section of designated route they were very well signed. I pre-loaded a route to a Garmin before we started although this was not to follow precisely all the time but again for guidance when needed. It was particularly useful for detailed sections in and out of Stockholm and bigger towns. The routes we followed were usually decided the night before based on all the information we had plus information picked up locally and the weather forecast.

Hope you get sorted. I would be interested to know what you end up with. Maps are always interesting.

foxyrider wrote: How long did your trip take?

About 21 days in Sweden, including 7 days at the tandem club rally, 7 days in Germany and 10 days in the Netherlands, all including occasional days off. Our mileages ranged from about 30 to occasional 60 plus mainly depending on accommodation.

Have a good trip.

The Tandem Club had their international rally on the island of Oland off the south east coast of Sweden this year so there were quite a few tandems wandering there way across Sweden to the rally. We chose almost the exact route you are asking about. We flew into Arlanda Airport, Stockholm and arriving late stayed at a hotel in the airport terminal. Then into Stockholm for a few days (another vote for the Vaasa museum - there will be a queue at busy times so get there early, but the wait is worth it), Nynashamn, ferry to Gotland, ferry to Oskarshamn, then generally followed the coast all the way round to Trelleborg.

There are lots of national, regional and local cycle routes all over Sweden aimed at everything from cycle tourists to local leisure cyclists and commuters. We used some of the national/regional ones for guidance but did not necessarily follow them precisely all the time. They are all generally well signposted once you know which one you are following. For the national and regional routes there are usually supporting web sites, such as https://www.sydostleden.se/en/, or https://swedenbybike.com/cykelleder/. The routes are also marked on the osm cycle mapping and some of the routes on the very expensive Swedish cycle maps. Most of the routes we came across or used were road based with occasional surfaced tracks. Nothing a reasonable road/touring bike wouldn't cope with.

Most roads either have a dedicated cycle track or are perfectly OK for cycling. Our route out of Stockholm to Nynashamn was about 40 miles and mainly followed roads along the Straket cycle route. There is a quieter more remote one detailed to the west of about 50 miles. Overall the roads, cycling facilities and driver attitudes are fantastic compared to the UK. You have to get used to drivers giving way to cyclists and there are so few potholes you can relax and spend more time looking at the views.

The ferry to and from Gotland is good. We booked on-line before travelling but I am not sure you need to. Bikes go on first so you get the good choice of seats. Snacks and bigger meals are available on board. We were taking it easy so didn't get out of Visby but it is a great town to wander round. There also looked a lot to do and see across Gotland so well worth exploring.

Following the coast you are never really remote and some of the bigger towns can be busy, modern and not particularly appealing. However, there are opportunities for routes on smaller roads through the forests/farmland which give a feel of what much of more remote Sweden must be like.

Re Karlskrona - I tried to look into ferries for the islands before we went but found very little information so stayed on the mainland. However, I picked up an 'Official Cycling Map' of Karlskrona while we were there and it shows ferries to and between all the islands. The western island of Haslo also appears to be joined by road to the mainland and also has a ferry to Ronnebyhamn to the west, which also then has one indicated to Karlshamn. I have no details of the ferries but the map/leaflet indicates that you can take your bike on archipelago ferries for a fee if there is space. Contact details include: cykel@karlskrona.se and visitkarlskrona.se.

In Ystad we stayed in an old timber framed hotel, Anno 1793 Sekelgarden, which I understand features in Wallander. A brewery a few doors down also proved very good for eats/drinks. A pleasant old town for a day off, although it rained when we were there. The south is less forested and more pleasant rolling farmland with small towns and ports. Try not to miss the old viking standing stones at Kaseberga on the way to Ystad.

We were there for the last 3 weeks of August. It was the end of a very hot summer and mainly pleasant cycling weather. Occasional rain but not a lot. Main problem was a head wind almost every day although I understand this is not usual. I think their traditional holiday season ends about the second week in August and it ends very quickly. Some dedicated tourist facilities finish at the same time. July would also be good cycling times but I understand things can get very busy at peak holiday times at destinations such as Gotland or coastal resorts. We didn't have much of a problem with mosquitos, perhaps because it had been so dry.

Although I understand bikes are allowed on trains we didn't pursue it as tandems are not allowed.

From Trelleborg we took the ferry to Lubeck, Germany and continued across northern Germany to the Netherlands and returned from Europort.

Brings back memories of our tandem trip in the area last year. We were there in April/May and it was certainly not quiet as shown in Conrad's video/photos. We must have covered a lot of the same roads and seen the same sights as it is all very familiar, even down to the Sibit route across the beach. The area next to Montalbanos house was packed with visitors using the bar/cafe in the tower and taking selfies in front of the house. I understand his house is available to rent but as it is a minimum of 3 nights we unfortunately didn't stay - but it wouldn't be very quiet/private. Also stayed in Scicli and had a drink at the bar opposite the inspectors office - again lots of visitors doing the tour. Then on to Ragusa Ibla and a meal in 'La Rusticana' which is at the end of an alley off the main road, and our very good B&B directly opposite (secure garage for the tandem). We had seen some Montalbano before going to the area but hadn't realised quite how much would be so familiar or how much tourism was attracted by it - a bit like 'Herriot Country'.

This was part of a longer trip around the coast from Catania to Palermo and then on to Sardinia, Corsica and finishing in France. Sicilly was probably the most interesting but also had the most 'rough' edges. Conrad, you mentioned dogs! Unfortunately a few days after this area we were 'harassed' twice by packs of stray dogs while going inland round Gela. No damage done but quite unnerving, particularly for the stoker as they would be the first ones to be picked off! But it hasn't put us off completely as we are going back for 2 weeks this weekend - not with the tandem but to see some of the sights we missed last year, mainly on top of hills!

Thanks for the video and info Conrad.

Another experience of a dog attack and the police response - hopefully not to rambling.

A route that we frequently used on the tandem went along a hedge/fence where a farm dog, a black Labrador, would bark and run along the inside of the field after us, but stop when it reached the farm gate. However, on one occasion earlier this year it started the barking and ran ahead of us, coming out of the entrance and back along the road towards us, biting my leg before then running back into the field and farm. I managed to stay on and came to a stop in the gate entrance. It was a proper bite with 3 fairly deep teeth punctures and while attending to this the farmer turned up on a tractor. The usual story, never done that before etc etc and he will go and lock it up. I pointed out that I wasn't worried now, as it had already gone, but that I was more concerned whether it would be able to get out and attack us the next time we passed. Having only recently embraced the smart phone, photographs were then taken of the leg in the farm entrance, with farm sign in the background.

Over the next few days I considered whether to report it to the police, eventually deciding that having spoken to the farmer and him having seen the injury caused by his dog, he would take the hint and control it better.

A few weeks/months later my wife was talking to a cycling group in the market square of our town where they were promoting local routes. It became evident that they had also recently been harassed by the same dog in the same way, but fortunately not actually been injured. The farmer had clearly not taken the hint so I thought a complaint was appropriate as it was clearly becoming a serial offender. I sent an e-mail to the police station most local to the farm explaining the situation, included photographs and explaining in the nicest possible way that we considered it to be dangerous in accordance with the definition of a dangerous dog indicated in the .gov website (noted in an earlier post). In the next day or so we received a phone call from a community police officer who was very helpful and said he would follow it up with a visit and get back to us. A few days later we received a message that he had tried to contact the owner but he was out, but he would keep trying. We missed a final call but had a message explaining he had spoken to the farmer and that he had been assured the dog would be kept under better control. I thought the reaction of the owner was a bit weak but as there are other equally convenient routes in the area we haven't been back to test it. We have also both now become particularly nervous of dogs after 2 further incidents in one day with packs of stray/wild dogs while on the tandem in Sicily.

My thoughts on lessons learnt in reporting to the police: by sending an e-mail they have a written record that they have to react to and perhaps importantly you also have a record of reporting it. An appropriate level officer can also give due consideration as to how they are going to react rather than just the telephone operator thinking on their feet. Photographs are clear evidence identifying the place and if appropriate the injury, and perhaps hopefully the dog. By including information as to what you understand the definition of a dangerous dog is in law confirms you have done you homework and are not just a time waster. Should it happen again, by having sent an e-mail they, and importantly you, have a clear history of reports.

In this case I think the police reacted to and handled the complaint very well but, as noted above, we haven't yet tested out the effectiveness of the response.