🚴‍♂️ Is it advisable to do the Camino de Santiago on a gravel bike?
Gravel bikes have become an increasingly popular option for cyclotourism: fast, light, comfortable over long distances and very efficient on compacted trails. It is not uncommon for many future bicigrinos to wonder if this type of bike is suitable to tackle the Camino de Santiago.
The short answer would be: yes, it is possible… but it is not always ideal.
The full answer – the one that really matters – is explained here.

✅ Real advantages of using a gravel bike on the Camino
1. Efficiency and speed on favorable terrain
On hard-packed dirt tracks and secondary roads, the gravel bike flies.
Its geometry and wheels allow for fast, smooth, and effortless progress.
2. Lightness
Compared to a mountain bike or an e-bike, a gravel bike usually weighs less.
This is especially noticeable on climbs, during accelerations, and on long rides.
3. Ideal for rolling trails
On routes like the French Way, the Portuguese Way, or especially the Silver Route, gravel bikes perform wonderfully.
These routes feature many farm tracks, stable terrain, and flowing kilometers where this type of bike truly shines.
In fact, the Silver Route is probably the Camino best suited for gravel bikes.
4. Compatible con portabultos y alforjas
Si el cuadro es de aluminio —como nuestras Cannondale Topstone y Focus Atlas—, se le puede instalar portabultos y alforjas sin problema.

❌ The limitations of a gravel bike on the Camino
The Camino is not a uniform bike path. It has broken sections, mud, loose stones, narrow trails, and very technical descents, where a gravel bike is not the most suitable.
1. Narrower tires
38–45 mm tires work well on good tracks, but suffer more on loose stones or mud.
2. Less forgiving geometry
The racing position transmits more vibration and requires more technique to maintain stability with panniers.
3. Roads that are not suitable for this type of bicycle
Technical routes such as the Camino Primitivo, or some sections of the Camino del Norte, can be very demanding for a gravel bike.

⚠️ Key point: Have you ridden a road or gravel bike before?
This point is crucial and worth emphasizing.
🚨 If you’ve NEVER ridden a bike with drop handlebars…
Choosing a gravel bike for the Camino could be a mistake.
Why?
The brakes and shifters integrated into the levers aren’t intuitive for someone who’s never used them.
The riding position requires some adjustment.
The balance and weight distribution are very different compared to a mountain bike.
More technique is needed on uneven terrain.
👉 If this is your first experience with drop handlebars, it’s safer and more advisable to use a hardtail mountain bike.
It will give you more control, more stability, and a much more positive experience.
✅ If you already have a gravel bike or usually ride a road bike…
Then yes:
A gravel bike is a fantastic option for you.
You’ll enjoy its efficiency and comfort on long, smooth rides.

🧳 What about with panniers?
Gravel bikes allow you to carry luggage, but keep the following in mind:
The center of gravity is slightly higher.
Stability is reduced in technical sections.
The wheels are pushed to their limits on certain terrains.
That’s why it’s important to choose your route carefully and manage your weight.

🏆 Bicigrino Ranking: Roads suitable or unsuitable for gravel bikes
Ranked from most suitable to least suitable, with important nuances.

🟢 HIGHLY SUITABLE (highly recommended)
Rolling terrain, good tracks, few technical sections.
1. Vía de la Plata
The best route for gravel: wide farm tracks, uniform terrain, and long, smooth distances. It is paradise for this type of bicycle.
2. Portuguese Way (Central and Coastal)
Local roads, compacted tracks, and very good continuity. One of the best options.
3. French Way
Although it has some stony sections, in general the terrain is balanced and very suitable for gravel.

🟡 SUITABLE WITH CAUTION
Affordable, but with areas where the gravel bike may suffer.
4. English Way
Varied but manageable terrain. It alternates good tracks with some technical areas.
5. Southeastern / Levante Way
Very smooth sections, although there are sectors with demands.
6. Sanabrés Way
Very beautiful and largely suitable, but with sections of loose stone and steep slopes.

🟠 DEPENDS ON THE ITINERARY — Northern Way
Here we add the most important nuance.
❌ If you follow the original pilgrim route
The traditional Northern Way is NOT recommended for gravel.
It has:
narrow paths,
technical areas,
loose stone,
mud,
dangerous descents for curved handlebars.
Only very experienced cyclists could face it, and even then they would have to push the bike frequently.
✅ If you follow local roads and cycleable variants
Here everything changes.
The Northern Way done by secondary roads, with very little traffic and connections between towns, is an excellent option for gravel.
In Bicigrino we have an official GPS track “Camino del Norte Ciclable”, designed specifically for bicigrinos who want to avoid technical areas.
👉 We provide it to anyone who requests it.
With this track, the route is smooth, safe, and very enjoyable on gravel.

🔴 NOT SUITABLE (not recommended for gravel)
Primitive Way
The most technical and hard way of all.
It is not suitable for gravel bikes unless it is done almost entirely by road, losing part of the charm of the original route.

🧩 Bicigrino Conclusion
Do we recommend doing the Camino de Santiago on a gravel bike?
👉 Yes, if you already have experience with gravel or road bikes.
👉 Yes, if you choose smooth routes such as the French, Portuguese, or Vía de la Plata.
👉 Yes, if you do the Northern Way with the cycleable track on local roads.
👉 No, if it is your first time with road handlebars.
👉 No, if you choose a technical Way such as the Primitive or the Northern Way in its original layout.
For many pilgrims—especially those who are starting out—a rigid MTB is still the safest, most stable, and versatile option.