Choisir un vélo à assistance électrique randonneuse pour dame
by Bernana
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
des soucis de santé m'obligent à acheter un vélo à assistance électrique pour poursuivre mes périples vélo en autonomie (parcours de 750 à 800km) .
Une dame équipée pourrait elle me faire part de ses recherches pour acheter un "bon" vélo randonneuse, en ne dépassant pas 3000€ ? merci
Si vous avez déjà un vélo sur lequel vous êtes bien, vous pouvez l'équiper d'un moteur pédalier,
ce n'est pas une grosse modification et c'est beaucoup moins que 3000E, je suis moi-même équipé de ce moteur , un pur bonheur. Vous pouvez aller sur mon site , je suis avec un trike mais le principe est le même. Si vous voulez une adresse proche de chez vous en fonction de votre région Ouest ou Est je peux vous indiquer ça par un MP
Bonne soirée.
Je ne vais pas vite ...mais j'y vais !!!
https://facebook.com/claude.lagriffoul
je n'ai pas moi-même de vélo à assistance électrique (VAE) mais plusieurs de mes amis en ont un, je me fais l'écho de leur expérience.
Pour un usage plutôt rando, comme suggéré par Claude19, une très bonne solution peut être d'ajouter un kit de motorisation (par ex Bionix) sur un vélo de rando qui vous convient bien. En effet la majorité des VAE sont typés plutôt "urbains", avec une position de conduite plus redressée que sur une randonneuse.
Sinon, il y a quelques modèles suisses qui "décoiffent" , chez Swizzbee par exemple. NB : ces modèles suisses sont plus puissants que la norme VAE française, ils doivent être assurés comme un cyclomoteur.
Dans tous les cas vous devrez recharger la batterie quasiment chaque jour si vous faites de la distance.
Pour un usage plutôt rando, comme suggéré par Claude19, une très bonne solution peut être d'ajouter un kit de motorisation (par ex Bionix) sur un vélo de rando qui vous convient bien. En effet la majorité des VAE sont typés plutôt "urbains", avec une position de conduite plus redressée que sur une randonneuse.
Sinon, il y a quelques modèles suisses qui "décoiffent" , chez Swizzbee par exemple. NB : ces modèles suisses sont plus puissants que la norme VAE française, ils doivent être assurés comme un cyclomoteur.
Dans tous les cas vous devrez recharger la batterie quasiment chaque jour si vous faites de la distance.
Bonjour,
Pour compléter la réponse de Meg2 , je confirme qu'il est préférable de recharger la batterie
chaque jour, qu'elle que soit le nombre de kms, ce n'est pas une obligation seulement une
recommandation. Il est facile de trouver une prise de courant soit le midi (resto) soit le soir à l'étape (camping , hôtel....).
Pour mon cas je préfère le bivouac, donc je me suis équipé de panneaux solaires.
Je ne vais pas vite ...mais j'y vais !!!
https://facebook.com/claude.lagriffoul
je fais de la rando avec un vae depuis 2 ans et ça marche bien .
j'ai fais cette année plougastel _Perpignan (2000km ) par les voies vertes , avec un stop tout les soirs en camping ou gîte pour recharger les batteries ; avec une batterie de 430w je faisais environ 100km/jour sur terrain plat et certain jour avec 2 batteries je faisais 160km .(mais plein les pattes le soir ) je me suis limité à 100km/j en moyenne .
je transporte 35kg de bagage .
j'ai un modèle avec moteur-moyeu arrière , c'est très fiable .
je suis à 14000km sans soucis en 2 ans .
le moteur fait 350w et roule à 32km/h .
mais en randonnée je tourne à 20km/h de moyenne .
le modèle de vélo est un BH easy-motion 29er et on le trouve en modèle femme .( neo jet modèle 2014.)
le prix était de 2500 euros en 2014 .
le modèle femme "evo jet lite " de BH année 2017 est à 1999 euros .
voilà mon expérience avec un vae en randonnée et avec cette marque de vélo .


Les côtes devenant de plus en plus pénibles, ma femme c'est résolue à passer au VAE. Voici donc notre expérience. Si cela peut vous aider à choisir le votre.
J'ai d'abord essayé de définir la composition idéale d'une randonneuse à moteur.
Moteur Bosch 250W (active line) dans le pédalier et batterie 400W Vitesses dans le moyeu genre Nexus 7/8 vitesses Freins hydrauliques Magura HS11 ou HS22 (j'aime pas les disques). Cadre trapèze. Fourche télescopique et les petits plus: tige de selle suspendue, antivol de cadre.....
On a cherché! Plusieurs modèles correspondaient à peu près à ce que l'on recherchait sauf le cadre. La quasi totalité des VAE vendus en France sont avec un cadre col de cygne et se qualifient de "vélo de ville". Certes plus commodes çà enfourcher, mais plus lourds, surement moins rigides et moins solides mais surtout impossibles à porter car pas de prise (pour monter dans un train par exemple) et difficiles à équiper (bidon, sacoches de cadre...).
Et puis, par hasard, en visitant le site européen de Cube, on a trouvé notre bonheur; plusieurs modèles se déclinent en version col de cygne ET trapèze. Mais ATTENTION c'est uniquement sur le site cube.eu pour les vélos vendus dans toute l'Europe sauf la France! cube.fr n'importe aucun modèle électrique en version trapèze surement pour s'aligner sur les fabricants français qui n'en font pas! On s'est orienté vers le modèle "Travel One".
Un distributeur Cube et l'importateur contactés n'ont pas été foutu de nous dire s'ils pouvaient avoir ce modèle on l'a donc commandé sur un site allemand et mon épouse a le vélo de ses rêves (on y a rajouté la tige de selle et l'antivol).
Va falloir que je suive maintenant!..............
J'ai d'abord essayé de définir la composition idéale d'une randonneuse à moteur.
Moteur Bosch 250W (active line) dans le pédalier et batterie 400W Vitesses dans le moyeu genre Nexus 7/8 vitesses Freins hydrauliques Magura HS11 ou HS22 (j'aime pas les disques). Cadre trapèze. Fourche télescopique et les petits plus: tige de selle suspendue, antivol de cadre.....
On a cherché! Plusieurs modèles correspondaient à peu près à ce que l'on recherchait sauf le cadre. La quasi totalité des VAE vendus en France sont avec un cadre col de cygne et se qualifient de "vélo de ville". Certes plus commodes çà enfourcher, mais plus lourds, surement moins rigides et moins solides mais surtout impossibles à porter car pas de prise (pour monter dans un train par exemple) et difficiles à équiper (bidon, sacoches de cadre...).
Et puis, par hasard, en visitant le site européen de Cube, on a trouvé notre bonheur; plusieurs modèles se déclinent en version col de cygne ET trapèze. Mais ATTENTION c'est uniquement sur le site cube.eu pour les vélos vendus dans toute l'Europe sauf la France! cube.fr n'importe aucun modèle électrique en version trapèze surement pour s'aligner sur les fabricants français qui n'en font pas! On s'est orienté vers le modèle "Travel One".
Un distributeur Cube et l'importateur contactés n'ont pas été foutu de nous dire s'ils pouvaient avoir ce modèle on l'a donc commandé sur un site allemand et mon épouse a le vélo de ses rêves (on y a rajouté la tige de selle et l'antivol).
Va falloir que je suive maintenant!..............
Bonjour, j'ai equipé le vélo de ma femme , avec le kit www.cycloboost facile a monter, un vrai bonheur pour elle.
je suis équipée depuis un mois avec un SINUS TRIA 10 TRAPEZE DIT AUSSI MIXTE.
https://www.ovelo.fr/fr/vtc-sportif/1192-vtc-electrique-sinus-tria-10-500wh-2017.html
Il est vendu en France chez des vélocistes. j'ai acheté le mien prés de chez moi à Saint Gaudens. J'habite en demi montagne et en haut d'une colline. je sortais de moins en moins car le seul fait de devoir terminer en montant me démotivait. j'ai choisi ce modèle car il a une batterie et un moteur performant. Il est adapté aux voyages de plusieurs jours. Pour l'instant je suis sortie 10 fois sur des ballades de 35 à 45 KM avec 500 à 700 mètres de dénivelé. J'utilise l'assistance ' avec parcimonie" car je tiens à continuer à faire des efforts et garder une bonne autonomie pour des randos plus longues . je suis enchantée et apprécie particulièrement de passer des cols que j'avais délaissé depuis longtemps. je précise que j'ai 72 ans
Il est vendu en France chez des vélocistes. j'ai acheté le mien prés de chez moi à Saint Gaudens. J'habite en demi montagne et en haut d'une colline. je sortais de moins en moins car le seul fait de devoir terminer en montant me démotivait. j'ai choisi ce modèle car il a une batterie et un moteur performant. Il est adapté aux voyages de plusieurs jours. Pour l'instant je suis sortie 10 fois sur des ballades de 35 à 45 KM avec 500 à 700 mètres de dénivelé. J'utilise l'assistance ' avec parcimonie" car je tiens à continuer à faire des efforts et garder une bonne autonomie pour des randos plus longues . je suis enchantée et apprécie particulièrement de passer des cols que j'avais délaissé depuis longtemps. je précise que j'ai 72 ans
Bravo !
C'est vrai que l'AE à partir d'un certain moment devient bien utile et permet de faire des parcours
que l'on ne ferait pas, c'est aussi mon cas.
Je ne vais pas vite ...mais j'y vais !!!
https://facebook.com/claude.lagriffoul
j ai un lapierre trekking 800 avec moteur bosch et batterie de 500 w
sur le plat non chargé:200 km en mode éco
chargé et en cotes:mini 65 km
j ai acheté une 2 eme batterie de 500 w
je fais 100 km par jour
70km jusqu a midi, je recharge 1h 30 au bistrot
30 km l a midi
donc pas besoin souvent de l autre batterie
le vélo grimpe des montées jusqu a 14p cent chargé avec 40kg
environ 21 km/h sur cent km
2850 euros le vélo
850 euros la batterie
tu arrives vers 16 h pret à faire plein de choses
que du bonheur
On a à peu près le même matériel. Pour l'instant je pense me limiter à une seule batterie. Car je pense aussi me limiter généralement à moins de 100 km. plutôt 80. En plus je ne porterai pas 40 kg. Je ne pars pas en autonomie compléte c.a.d. pas de matériel de camping. Sur une sortie de 40 Km avec 650 mètres de dénivelé j'utilise moins de 40% de la batterie. Je prépare une rando d'une semaine entre chez moi et UZES , 400 km et 3000 m de dénivelé je pense le réaliser en 5 journées.
Au fait pour préparer mes circuits depuis que j'ai le VAE j'utilise https://www.ebikemaps.com/ en complément D'openrunner. On peut y rentrer son modèle de vélo et les tracés calculent l'utilisation de la batterie. par contre ils n'ont pas opencyclemaps en carte. On peut aussi y partager nos sorties.
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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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Starting from Faverges: 900 km over 9 days

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

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Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
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Thanks in advance
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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You can zoom in on the map and click on each stopover town to see the photos
Hi there!
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.

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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)?
Any info is welcome.
Cheers,
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
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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?
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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!
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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!
Hello there, pedal-powered Young Boys!
Claudio (still from Faverges)
dreaming about a cycling getaway in Italy from Faverges (train all the way to Turin)
from Turin down to Venice along the Po River and back via the Padana (Alta Italia da attraversare – Northern Italy to cross)
The tricky part is getting from Chioggia to Venice.
I read it’s possible by hopping on a boat from island to island,
but it sounds a bit stressful.
Has anyone already tackled this route?
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio

Hi there,
I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share. First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc. For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America. I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).
So, I’ve got quite a few questions:
* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?
* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?
* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?
If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share. First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc. For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America. I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).
So, I’ve got quite a few questions:
* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?
* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?
* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?
If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
