I am 22 haven't regularly ridden a bike in about a decade. In the next couple of weeks I think I will buy a road bike and all the gear, get a ferry from Pompey to Bilbao and then just ride and ride till I get to the med.
Also I am doing this alone. I think it will be a good laugh personally but then I will admit I have little experience.
Can anyone give me some advice before I hit the road?
I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
Re: I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
First, consider whether you actually would be well suited by a "road bike". That term refers to a "racing bike" - other bikes designed for riding on roads are not "road bikes". A "road bike" is not really optimal for a journey with luggage, hills, rain, etc, especially for a rider who is not in current training to ride like a racing cyclist. For such a journey, many would prefer a selection of lower gears to make it easier to get up hills, and more generally for more relaxed riding, wider tyres for more comfort especially on minor roads with rougher surfaces, pannier rack for carrying luggage, and, given the time of year, mudguards to keep your bottom dry (or drier). You will get that with what used to be called a "touring bike", or these days may be called a "trekking bike" or even some lighter hybrids.
Second, be careful about "all the gear". A lot of "the gear" is fashion, aping racing cyclists. The actual gear you actually really do need will be panniers for carrying your luggage and waterproofs for keeping dry in the rain (it does rain quite a lot in extensive parts of Spain outside summer - though if you keep well south of the Pyrenees, through Zaragoza you'll probably keep fairly dry, once you have escaped the very wet northern part of the Basque country), spare inner tube, and some tools for roadside repairs and puncture fixing. Much of the rest is just fashion. Of course if half the point for you is to pose in lycra, no one is stopping you.
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32024 ... ntry-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32047 ... arre-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32061 ... agon-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32039 ... luna-Spain
It is the law to wear a helmet in Spain, but bizarrely only when cycling outside urban limits. In practice, most leisure cyclists don't seem to bother and I have never heard of any enforcement.
Second, be careful about "all the gear". A lot of "the gear" is fashion, aping racing cyclists. The actual gear you actually really do need will be panniers for carrying your luggage and waterproofs for keeping dry in the rain (it does rain quite a lot in extensive parts of Spain outside summer - though if you keep well south of the Pyrenees, through Zaragoza you'll probably keep fairly dry, once you have escaped the very wet northern part of the Basque country), spare inner tube, and some tools for roadside repairs and puncture fixing. Much of the rest is just fashion. Of course if half the point for you is to pose in lycra, no one is stopping you.
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32024 ... ntry-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32047 ... arre-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32061 ... agon-Spain
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32039 ... luna-Spain
It is the law to wear a helmet in Spain, but bizarrely only when cycling outside urban limits. In practice, most leisure cyclists don't seem to bother and I have never heard of any enforcement.
Re: I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
Whatever bike/equipment you end up with it would probably be a good idea to try it out for at least a weekend before setting off for Spain.
Here are some links to other people's packing lists, I'm not recommending them but they may contain things you haven't thought about or conversely think you would never need.
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/ligh ... cking-list
https://www.adventurecycling.org/resour ... w-to-pack/
http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/panam-b ... -packlist/
As to wearing lyrca or not it's up to you. Some people never wear it others do tour in it. It depends on what you find comfortable, is easy to wash/dry and pack. Same with footwear; trainers, sandals (spd or not), Crocs, spd shoes each have their fans who will tell you why their choice is best.
Here are some links to other people's packing lists, I'm not recommending them but they may contain things you haven't thought about or conversely think you would never need.
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/ligh ... cking-list
https://www.adventurecycling.org/resour ... w-to-pack/
http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/panam-b ... -packlist/
As to wearing lyrca or not it's up to you. Some people never wear it others do tour in it. It depends on what you find comfortable, is easy to wash/dry and pack. Same with footwear; trainers, sandals (spd or not), Crocs, spd shoes each have their fans who will tell you why their choice is best.
Re: I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
Are you camping or not? If not then you can travel fairly light so doable on a road bike, or any other sort of bike for that matter. I would try the bike out at home before you go. There might be some teething trouble, something that needs adjusting etc. Sounds like fun 
I've cycled Catalonia to San Sebastián but the long way round via Gibraltar in the height of summer!
I've cycled Catalonia to San Sebastián but the long way round via Gibraltar in the height of summer!
Re: I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
Take an open mind, a positive attitude and......a map, the rest is just detail.
Have a ball, and please let us know how you got on.......
Have a ball, and please let us know how you got on.......
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Barrenfluffit
- Posts: 797
- Joined: 20 Oct 2009, 5:31pm
Re: I plan to cycle from Bilbao to Valencia
My advice would be to listen to your body and work with it. Allow more rest days to get yourself fitter and do things that make you more comfortable. The main thing is to have a fairly dogged attitude and achievable aims. Achievable in the sense that you can recover overnight and do the next day too. Dogged in the sense that its often more about applying time to distance rather than speed. Have fun!