I've summarised here the vital statistics of my recent bike trip along the Loire River, together with a comparison with my previous two trips.
 |
| This type of meal won't break the bank |
A few things come out of these numbers:
The daily cost for the Loire trip was higher than the previous two trips, in fact more than twice that of the Camino de Santiago in 2014. The main factor here is the accommodation since the food, although getting higher each year, hasn't changed enormously. These numbers aren't really a surprise, in particular the accommodation which is comparing staying in hostels and dormitory rooms (the first Camino) with bed and breakfast type accommodation (Loire). Also, Spain is a cheaper place than France. I could have easily spent much more on accommodation on the Loire trip; it's not difficult in France to spend 100 euros/day on accommodation in a modest hotel for example.
The Financial summary:
|
Loire à
Vélo
(2016)
|
Camino
part 2
(2015)
|
Camino
part 1
(2014)
|
|
|
Food
|
234
(33/day)
|
320
(29/day)
|
430
(21/day)
|
|
Accommodation
|
287
(41/day)
|
317
(29/day)
|
308
(10.50/day)
|
|
Travel
|
0
|
31
|
247
|
|
Other
|
0
|
21
|
87
|
|
Total Cost
|
521
|
689
|
1,072
|
|
Daily Average
|
74
|
58
|
33
|
(all figures in Euros, daily averages
exclude special days)
Regarding the distances and hours spent in the saddle, I think the numbers reflect the style of the trip as well as to some extent the terrain. The almost flat terrain for the Loire trip explains the generally higher average speeds, and also the consistency of the numbers (I rode much the same distance and time every day).
 |
| Some tracks may slow you down or not be the shortest route (but will be more interesting) |
Four hours riding per day is an easily and realistically achievable average to use for route planning. This assumes you want to ride most of the day and not spend time visiting sights along the way or taking extended rests. Similarly, an average of 15 km/h (or 60 km/day) is a good planning number. In practice, the distance you ride is always longer than you've planned, as a result of detours, small sightseeing excursions and other unplanned riding. Bike paths generally also do not follow the shortest route between two points, but rather follow less-travelled minor roads or tracks through field and forests. That makes the riding much more pleasant, but does make the distance longer.
The Engineering Summary
|
Loire à Vélo
|
Camino part 2
|
Camino part 1
|
|
|
Total
number of days
|
8
|
14
|
18 *
|
|
Total
distance ridden (km)
|
572
|
1,110
|
1,031
|
|
Total
time on the bike (hrs)
|
34.2
|
75.8
|
66.8
|
|
Average
speed for the trip (km/h)
|
16.7
|
14.7
|
15.4
|
|
|
|||
|
Average
hours ridden / day
|
4.3
|
5.4
|
3.9
|
|
Average
distance ridden / day
|
71.5
|
79.3
|
60.6
|
|
|
|||
|
Longest
distance ridden in one day (km)
|
85.3
|
105.7
|
84.5
|
|
Shortest
distance ridden in one day (km)
|
63.2
|
49.7
|
34
|
|
Most
hours ridden in one day (hrs)
|
5.0
|
7.1
|
6.2
|
|
Least
hours ridden in one day (hrs)
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
2.1
|
|
Highest
average speed (km/h)
|
17.8
|
15.0
|
19.1
|
|
Lowest
average speed (km/h)
|
15.6
|
13.5
|
12.4
|
* Includes one rest
day
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