The photos in this article were taken in the León area: a seven-seat Mercedes taxi pulling a twin-axle trailer loaded with Bicigrino bikes, panniers still on. This is not a catalogue shot. It is an ordinary working day for David, one of the partners behind our Camino de Santiago bike assistance, there for the moments when something goes wrong.
We are sharing it because it sums up what we do better than any slogan. Bicigrino is much more than a bike rental. When you book with us you are hiring a logistics network we have been fine-tuning for years, kilometre by kilometre, with trusted people all along the routes. This is how our Camino de Santiago bike assistance works.
Renting a bike, or hiring an ecosystem
A bike, however good, will not get you to Santiago if there is nothing behind it. What you actually hire when you book is this: a bike checked and delivered at your starting point, someone on the other end of the phone who knows the ground, a network of partner workshops, bike shops and taxis along the way, and collection at the finish. The bike is the visible part. Everything else is what makes it work.
Delivery and collection where your Camino starts and ends
- Delivery and collection are included in the price, in any city in Spain and Portugal.
- We prefer to deliver to a bike shop at your starting point, where a mechanic checks the bike before you ride off.
- At the end you return it in Santiago de Compostela, at the Hospedería San Martín Pinario, or at another agreed point.
- We cover the French Way, the Portuguese Way (from Lisbon or Porto, inland or coastal), the Northern, Primitive and English Ways, Vía de la Plata and Sanabrés, the Winter, Aragonese, Catalan, Salvador and Lebaniego routes, and the extension to Finisterre and Muxía.
Camino de Santiago bike assistance: someone who knows the ground on the other end of the phone
Our assistance starts with a call or a WhatsApp message. To be clear: nobody has a mechanic waiting behind every waymark along 800 kilometres of Camino, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we do have is the experience to assess a breakdown in minutes and a network of workshops and bike shops we work with along the routes.
If something fails, we tell you where the nearest repair point is, ahead of you or behind, how to get there and what to do to be riding again as soon as possible. And when the answer is putting the bike in a vehicle, partners like David step in.
Taxi with trailer in León: David Transporte
David drives a large taxi with a twin-axle trailer that can move several complete bikes, panniers and all, without taking anything apart. He works with our customers and with any cyclist on the Camino who needs him around the city of León, whether or not they ride one of our bikes: a breakdown, a knee that has had enough, a rainy day not worth riding, or a group that needs moving with all its gear.
David Transporte – Taxi León: +34 639 63 13 62 (call or WhatsApp).
León is a key point on the French Way: many pilgrims start here and others arrive with the Meseta already in their legs. Having someone like David one call away is the difference between losing a day and carrying on as planned.
Bicigrino Full Assistance insurance
If you would rather ride without worrying about the unexpected, you can add Bicigrino Full Assistance when you book. It covers mechanical breakdowns and punctures, labour and parts included, a taxi to the nearest workshop and a replacement bike within 24-48 hours. It is the most complete Camino de Santiago bike assistance we offer. It does not cover theft, damage from misuse or personal accidents.
Our own workshop, bikes ready to ride
Our base in Lloret de Mar is an authorised Bosch eBike service centre. Bikes come back there for servicing between rentals and leave ready for each Camino. The fewer surprises a bike carries at the start, the less you will need to call us on the way.
Luggage, accommodation and planning
- Luggage transfer stage by stage with partner companies, or your bag sent straight to Santiago.
- A directory of bike-friendly accommodation: hotels on the French Way, hostels on the French Way and hotels on the Portuguese Way, sorted by distance to Santiago.
- The free Bicigrino planner to plan stages and accommodation on the French and Portuguese Ways, on your computer or as a mobile app.
- Transport for your own bike to the start or back home.
- Organised Caminos for groups with a specialist guide and support vehicle.
Why we work this way
Because on the Camino the real worry is not the bike; it is what happens if something goes wrong 300 kilometres from home. We have spent years building this network stretch by stretch, with workshops, taxi drivers, accommodation and carriers we know by name. That is Camino de Santiago bike assistance as we understand it: behind every booking there is a team and a network of partners working to get you to Santiago.
Check our rates and run a test booking in our booking system to see the exact price for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bicigrino provide on-route assistance on the Camino de Santiago?
Yes. Assistance starts by phone or WhatsApp: we assess the problem and point you to the nearest workshop or bike shop in our network and, if needed, a taxi that can carry the bike.
What if I need a taxi for my bike around León?
You can call David Transporte – Taxi León, a Bicigrino partner, on +34 639 63 13 62. He runs a large taxi with a trailer for several bikes and serves any Camino cyclist in the León area.
What does the Bicigrino Full Assistance insurance cover?
It is optional and covers mechanical breakdowns and punctures (labour and parts), a taxi to the nearest workshop and a replacement bike within 24-48 hours. It does not cover theft, damage from misuse or personal accidents.
Where is the rental bike delivered and returned?
Delivery and collection are included. We take the bike to your starting point in Spain or Portugal and you return it in Santiago de Compostela, at the Hospedería San Martín Pinario, or at another agreed point.
