Cadre alu pour voyage à vélo: +6000 kms
by Turbulette
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
On m'a fortement conseillé d'avoir un vélo cadre acier pour un périple longue durée en pays sous-développé, mais quelle proportion de cadres alu abimés sur la proportion de cyclotouristes ?! la probabilité d'avoir un pb de cadre (alu) est t'elle grande, proportionnellement au nombre de gens qui voyagent avec ce type de vélo ?!
ca m'intéresse d'avoir vos avis ?! je n'ai pas encore le vélo.
voyage prévu à partir de sept.2008.
turbu
"Fait de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve une réalité..." Antoine de St Exupéry
une petite recherche, et hop... 😛
http://voyageforum.com/voyage/velo_en_acier_en_aluminium_D1292919/
Eh bien Turbulette! et la fonction recherche? J'ai lancé une discution sur le sujet il y a quelques jours
Tu y trouveras plein d'idées interressantes.
Je ne sais pas, par contre si tu trouveras une réponse nette et claire - Acier ou alu, les 2 ont des avantages et des inconvénients.
A toi de fixer tes priorités.
Pierre
On m'a fortement conseillé d'avoir un vélo cadre acier pour un périple longue durée en pays sous-développé,
Petit intermède linguistique: l'expression "pays sous-développé" a été depuis longtemps remplacée dans le language courant par "pays en développement" ou "pays du sud" ce qui correspond certainement plus à la réalité ou du moins donne une vision plus positive. (au même titre que "tiers-monde" qui n'est plus utilisé) Excusez mon passage hors sujet, mais ça me choque de voir cette expression ainsi utilisée. Ceci dit, bonne préparation!
Petit intermède linguistique: l'expression "pays sous-développé" a été depuis longtemps remplacée dans le language courant par "pays en développement" ou "pays du sud" ce qui correspond certainement plus à la réalité ou du moins donne une vision plus positive. (au même titre que "tiers-monde" qui n'est plus utilisé) Excusez mon passage hors sujet, mais ça me choque de voir cette expression ainsi utilisée. Ceci dit, bonne préparation!
Yannick
Tu as raison kik, excuse ce propros inapproprié, je parlais bien sûr de pays en voie de développement !
Maintenant, outre les mots, ceci est une réalité !
Tu avais le droit de donner ton avis sur ce post, concernant donc les cadres acier/alu.
a+
turbu
"Fait de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve une réalité..." Antoine de St Exupéry
oui Pierre, j'utilise pas souvent la fonction "recherche" à tord certes !! je vais donc jeter un oeil à ton poste, mais sinon, j'ai commandé le hors série de carnet d'expé sur le voyage à vélo ! il parait que c'est une mine d'info !
a+
sandrine
"Fait de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve une réalité..." Antoine de St Exupéry
Bonjour, si vous voulez partir avec des baggages pour 6.000 km un cadre en acier est necessaire avec des bonnes supports de baggages avant et arriere. Je ne partirais jamais avec un cadre en alu, il y a trop des cadres alu cassée. La randonee le weekend est pas une voyage de 6.000 km avec baggages. Ce sont deux utlisations totalement differente. De preference un cadre fait sur mesure - par example de Gilles Berthoud, Pond de Veaux.
Elimar A. Simon
Hi Turb. !
Le magazine "Carnet d'aventure" spécial vélo est effectivement très agréable à lire.😇 Mais la vraie mine d'info reste à mon sens "Voyage Forum " Si ! Si !😉
Comme le dit Pierre, la fonction "recherche" est incroyablement riche.
Carnet d'aventure possede également son site: http://www.expemag.com/voyage/viewforum.php?id=5
tandis que le site d'Azero http://veloartisanal.free.fr/forum/ est plus pointu. Et tellement bon !🙂
Quoi qu'il en soit, l'important reste toujours de renvoyer des info concernant l'evolution de nos choix de matériel afin que tout le monde puisse en bénéficier pour ce faire un avis...
Bonne recherche !
Kang.
Le magazine "Carnet d'aventure" spécial vélo est effectivement très agréable à lire.😇 Mais la vraie mine d'info reste à mon sens "Voyage Forum " Si ! Si !😉
Comme le dit Pierre, la fonction "recherche" est incroyablement riche.
Carnet d'aventure possede également son site: http://www.expemag.com/voyage/viewforum.php?id=5
tandis que le site d'Azero http://veloartisanal.free.fr/forum/ est plus pointu. Et tellement bon !🙂
Quoi qu'il en soit, l'important reste toujours de renvoyer des info concernant l'evolution de nos choix de matériel afin que tout le monde puisse en bénéficier pour ce faire un avis...
Bonne recherche !
Kang.
bonsoir
deja fais 15 000 km en 3 voyages avec un giant en alu acheté chez probike a bkk en 2000
part les pires des pistes en thailande au laos et cambodge
toujours pas de probleme avec le cadre, tout le reste a été changé plusieur fois je n'ai pas de porte bagages avant et essaie de me limiter a 20 kg sur le porte arriere
Concernant le débat Alu / Acier, je n'ai pas d'expérience à vélo sur des grandes distances hors Europe donc tout ce que je peux te dire c'est que je roule sur un VTT cadre alu 100% rigide (Cannondale) qui a plus de 10 ans et qui tient toujours le coup après plusieurs vies (VTT, route, cyclocamping, et maintenant les pavés et routes défoncées de Naples). Mais les VTT d'il y a 10 ans étaient peut-être plus solide que maintenant où on cherche les grammes... Donc je dirais pas indispensable l'acier, mais partir sur un cadre / fabriquant avec une bonne réputation? (ma belle-soeur a brisé un cadre de VTC gitane en roulant en ville, j'avoue qu'il y a de quoi se poser des questions quand on voit ça)
Ca reste mon petit avis isolé...
Ca reste mon petit avis isolé...
Yannick
merci pour vos avis; je prends note de chacune de vos expériences, mais je pense que je resterai sur du cadre acier, question solidité et confort ! je ne pense pas faire le mauvais choix, quitte à porter un peu plus de poids !!
a+
turbu
"Fait de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve une réalité..." Antoine de St Exupéry
Dès que j'ai vu "pays sous développés" j'ai voulu réagir, mais tu m'as bien devancé!😎
Mis à part ça, je ne fait pas avancer le débat! J'ai néanmoins une question qui me turlupine concernant ce sujet:
Comment est-ce qu'on peut casser un cadre? Lorsqu'on fait du VTT ok, sur une chute, mais sur route...
C'est juste pour savoir, je n'arrive pas à m'imaginer casser un cadre... ^^
Mis à part ça, je ne fait pas avancer le débat! J'ai néanmoins une question qui me turlupine concernant ce sujet:
Comment est-ce qu'on peut casser un cadre? Lorsqu'on fait du VTT ok, sur une chute, mais sur route...
C'est juste pour savoir, je n'arrive pas à m'imaginer casser un cadre... ^^
* **Ximun***
avis en vrac😉
Il est simpliste de parler "acier" ou "alu".
Dans les deux cas ces vocables nomment des types de matériaux aux qualités différentes, dépendant du type d'acier ou d'alu mis en oeuvre.
L'acier peut être fragile, un cadre de randonné en 3/10e ne résisterais pas longtemps à un vrai usage rando chargé. Et la soudure de ce type d'acier demande une grande maitrise sous peine de le fragiliser et de lui faire perdre ses propriétés. D'ailleur, idem pour les PB Tubus..
L'alu, de quoi on parle? de l'alu costaud des vélo d'une dizaine d'années (mon cannondale n'a pas bougé en presque 20 ans) et des premiers prix, ou de l'alu "haut de gamme" des vélos actuels, ou la simple pression sur le tube donne l'impression de tater une canette, prix à payer pour un poids record?
Pour moi, qui préfére l'acier (mais on tandemise titane!), l'avantage vient du type de vieillissement: l'acier perd son nerf petit à petit, et se tord avant de casser, la rupture est plus brutale sur l'alu. L'acier DE BONNE QUALITE a aussi de meilleure qualité en confort, il est moins rigide (quoique) et donne la sensation que le cadre "renvoi" une partie de l'énergie.
Reste que j'ai un stock disparate de matériaux à la maison, chaque ayant ses avantages: titane pour le tandem, acier pour la randonneuse (25 ans), acier pour un VTT rigide top (20 ans), alu pour un vtt rigide (20ans), alu pour deux vtt avec suspensions, acier pour le course.
Comment est-ce qu'on peut casser un cadre? Lorsqu'on fait du VTT ok, sur une chute, mais sur route...
Il ne faut pas sous-estimer les contraintes du pédalages (mouvement en torsion), accentué par le balland des sacoches, ni l'usure provoqué par la sollicitation permanente lié au poids. la douille de direction souffre aussi, particuliérement si la fourche est rigide. Reste que la plus grosse part vient du pilote, souvent bourrin comme en témoigne les probléme de rayons et de jante, avec certain qui détruisent des roues taillé pour la descente ou le tandem....
Comment est-ce qu'on peut casser un cadre? Lorsqu'on fait du VTT ok, sur une chute, mais sur route...
Il ne faut pas sous-estimer les contraintes du pédalages (mouvement en torsion), accentué par le balland des sacoches, ni l'usure provoqué par la sollicitation permanente lié au poids. la douille de direction souffre aussi, particuliérement si la fourche est rigide. Reste que la plus grosse part vient du pilote, souvent bourrin comme en témoigne les probléme de rayons et de jante, avec certain qui détruisent des roues taillé pour la descente ou le tandem....
A voir :
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=993201;search_string=cadre%20cass%E9;page=unread#unread
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=993201;search_string=cadre%20cass%E9;page=unread#unread
Bonjour, au sujet du velo en alu, l'année derniere je suis parti pour 3500 km en Afrique du nord avec un vélo en alu Specialized Back Road, et je n'est eu aucun souci pourtant il a pris des chocs.
Dans 1 semaine je repars avec le même vélo pour 5000 km dans les pays des Balkans ( Italie, hongrie, Roumanie, Bulgarie, Grece Italie Sicile Tunisie et retour par l'Italie. C'est un Vélo leger et solide en même temps et que l'on peut bien charger.
A +
que pensez vous du cadre aluminium 7500 de chez koga miyata ( le world travel ) est il autant resistant qu'ils nous le disent
koga miyata me semble effectivement très solide.
Exellente réputation en tout cas. J'ai tjs vu les propriétaires de ces vélo extremements satisfait. Meme si se sont des cadres alu, au tarif elevé.
Aussi, ces vélo sont tjs équipés de tte une série de gadgets que je n'utiliserai jamais. Mais bon, ça c'est perso.
@+ et bon choix.
@+ et bon choix.
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Code source : https://github.com/patricklmarie/GPX-Route-Planner Démonstration en ligne : https://patricklmarie.github.io/GPX-Route-Planner/
L'application est implémentée en JavaScript et exécutée entièrement dans le navigateur Web. Elle utilise la bibliothèque Leaflet et plusieurs services basés sur OpenStreetMap. Initialement développé pour mes besoins personnels (je pratique la randonnées pédestre et le cyclo-tourisme), je serais heureux de la partager avec tous ceux qui peuvent la trouver utile. Elle est libre d'utilisation, ne nécessite pas de création de compte et le code source est disponible.
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Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance! Have a great evening
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam. My question is about getting back to Nantes. Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences. I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes. By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains. We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
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I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires. I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time). I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral. I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough? And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
Nath
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It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
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Coming soon:
https://www.Biclou.com/parcours/durance/
Starting from Faverges: 900 km over 9 days

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

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Hi there,
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I’m planning to build a new touring bike. I want to prioritize lightness. That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads. The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper. I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork. Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm. It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring. And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear. More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
Thanks in advance
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One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.


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Our full story:
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You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
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S.
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.

It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.




One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.


We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.



Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
S.
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hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed story being posted online soon 1100 km in 11 days beautiful and varied regions
claudio

the trip was completed story being posted online soon 1100 km in 11 days beautiful and varied regions
claudio

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Happy owner of a Pegasus Estremo bike with a Rohloff hub, which is giving me trouble with the SF11-NCX-FT-E-LITE 700C TS 300/0 fork (serial number TD01329060). It’s starting to show its age, and I’d like to repair it to extend the life of my beloved bike.
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The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Thanks for your help! Have a great day, Alexandre
Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info.
Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)?
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diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
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hey everyone,
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
I'm passionate about Morocco, which I cycled through back in 2009.
Last year, my wife and I explored the High Atlas by tandem. Completely smitten, we're heading back in April (Anti Atlas) and May (High and Middle Atlas), still on our tandem.
Do you have any info on the track between Amezri and Ali Ait Nito? Are the river crossings in the Tessaout still there? It's not easy to navigate with a loaded tandem... especially if the river level is high due to this year's heavy snowmelt!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
A shout-out to a cycling colleague from Savoie
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php

The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php


The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

First of all... happy New Year! Wishing you great roads in 2017!
I’ve been traveling for a few years now with a high-quality mountain bike, but it’s equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. I live (pedal) with the constant worry of a breakdown (leak, air bubble, heat causing the fluid to...). My bike mechanic tells me it’s impossible to switch them out for V-brakes.
What do you all think? Am I taking a big risk continuing (alone) with these brakes? Thanks in advance for your great tips!
Hi everyone,
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
Hi there,
I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner.
Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026.
In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically).
So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip?
Thanks in advance for your great tips.
Have a good evening.
https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
Hi, has anyone recently bought Primus or Butagaz gas, possibly puncture-style, in Dubrovnik or the surrounding area? Same question for Albania... thanks. aichatou
Hi there,
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Hi there,
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Hi! I’m planning to visit the Stockholm Archipelago by bike in early April.
Do you know if the boats will be running between the different islands at that time of year? For those who’ve already been, all your tips and recommendations are welcome—accommodation, etc. Also, do you know where I can rent a bike in Stockholm? Thanks so much in advance for your help!