Depuis plusieurs semaines voire mois que je glane points de vue et infos sur le matos adapté, j'ai passé la journée d'aujourd'hui à mettre au point cette configuration.
J'ai tout organisé dans un tableau ICI
Mon projet est de monter un vélo de rando qui me servira d'abord à m'entraîner sur des parcours de 3 mois les deux ou trois été prochains, puis à entamer un tour du monde devant durer plusieurs années. Ce n'est pas ma maison que je suis entrain de construire, mais presque, au moins mon "cadre" de vie sans mauvais jeu de mots ^^.
Je ne me donne pas de contrainte budgétaire précise car j'estime que la qualité a un coût et qu'elle sera de toute façon rentabilisée par le temps que je vais passer dessus, tout en gardant un minimum de bon sens en essayant de rester sous la barre des 1800 euros. J'ai donc établi mon cahier des charges en privilégiant simplicité, robustesse et longévité. Il ne s'agit pas d'avoir un vélo dernier cri, mais un vélo capable d'encaisser les pires conditions à un rythme adapté.
Comme vous le voyez j'ai largement privilégié la gamme Deore de Shimano pour sa réputation et son bon rapport qualité prix. J'ai pris un cadre en acier Long Haul Trucker de chez Surly qui semble assez costaud et adapté à mes attentes. Pour le reste je me suis largement inspiré des vélos rando-cycles.fr notamment le basic, duquel ma config est la plus proche.
Toutefois comme je suis encore novice j'aimerais connaître vos avis, vos critiques et conseils surtout sur les détails, par exemple si je dois passer dans une gamme supérieure pour certaines pièces, etc. J'ai notamment des doutes sur les moyeux shimano deore, et les jantes dt swiss. Pour le cintre j'ai été intéressé par la forme du m-wave multiposition sur cyclo-randonnée.fr mais je ne sais pas ce qu'il vaut ni si cette forme est intéressante. De même sur certaines pièces comme le jeu de direction crane creek je n'en connais pas grand chose, ou encore la dynamo sous caisse de rando-boutique.fr. Enfin j'aimerais bien trouver un protège dérailleur, mais où ?
Voilà, je suis impatient de lire ce que vous en pensez, pour info je devrais commencer la construction vers fin mars !
Ca parait une bonne base, surtout pour le choix du cadre 🙂. Qqs remarques cependant : pourquoi le choix du pédalier octalink ? j'aurais tendance à déconseiller les combo shifters-manettes de frein. Ca ne revient pas bcp plus cher d'acheter les 2 séparés, et en cas de casse, ça revient moins cher à changer. bonne idée de prendre les cables en xt. Ils sont téflonnés ? je connais pas la dynamo que tu as choisie. je ne m'y connais pas trop en jantes, mais dt swiss, je crois que c'est bien (cherche les posts sur le sujet, il y en a plein le forum) protège-dérailleur : chez n'importe quel vélociste digne de ce nom vas aussi faire un tour sur fizzbikes, ils ont parfois des supers promos. Et puis on trouve aussi des pièces sur ebay à des prix plus qu'intéressants. tu as listé toutes les pièces, as-tu l'intention de monter le vélo toi-même ? C'est une très bonne idée, ça permet de bien maîtriser la mécanique. Cela dit, il va aussi falloir investir dans qqs outils spécifiques (pour le jeu de direction, le pédalier, la cassette). Si tu veux monter tes roues, sans centreur de roue, ça me parait compromis. Tu peux demander à ton vélociste de les monter, ça ne coûtera pas forcément plus cher, et il maîtrise le truc normalement.
Et puisque tu as choisi le surly, pourquoi ne demandes-tu à Alternative Bicycle un devis avec ton cahier des charges ? Surly propose sur le Long Haul de série un changeur de vitesse dit "bar-end" (aucune idée comment on appelle ça en français, "en bout de guidon") super fiable qui peut fonctionner par friction (les manettes en métal comme sur les vieux vélos de course) si le système indexé est mort, ce qui permet de continuer le voyage malgré tout. Mais cela impose un guidon type vélo de route.
En effet je souhaite monter le vélo moi-même pour le connaître avant partir tout seul avec dans la nature, et puis j'en ai marre de vivre dans un monde tout préconçu (enfin ça c'est perso...).
j'ai pris octalink car je pensais que c'était la même chose que de prendre toute les pièces shimano séparément, non ? mais je peux les monter moi-même également en effet. il me semble que j'ai pris les cables xt car il n'y avait pas de cable deore, et c'est justement sur ces détails que je ne m'y connais pas encore assez, sur quelles pièces est-il plus intéressant de prendre deore, lx ou xt ?? je suis tout à fait d'accord sur les manettes séparées et les leviers non indexés, c'était l'idée que j'avais au départ et merci pour le lien fizzbikes je ne connaissais pas ! je vais également essayer de faire mes emplettes sur ebay ou les sites d'occaz histoire d'optimiser les coûts je ne m'y connais pas encore en montage de roue, mais si je casse des rayons en chemin, est-il possible de réparer sans centreur de roue ?
J'ai fait le même choix que toi y'a 6 mois et j'en suis super content :)
Quelques remarques :
pour les câbles de vitesse et de freins, j'en avais avec les manettes et les leviers de freins, donc c'est pas nécessaire d'en prendre à côté, sauf si tu veux du matos de rechange. pour les roues, lorsque tu achètes chez xchainereactioncycle, tu peux choisir les différents élements et ils te les assemblent. Monter ses roues soi même c'est trés instructif mais quand même bien galère quand on a jamais fait 😕 Rien à voir avec le dévoilage d'une roue je pense ... Enfin, je dis ça mais j'ai jamais fait. J'avais pris 2 roues avec des jantes sun rhyno XL, moyeu Shimano LX en 36 rayons (il faut le préciser en commentaires de ta commande, c'est pas plus cher que le 32 et un chouilla plus solide) et c'était du bon boulot. pour les portes bagages, je connais pas nice rack. Pour moins cher que 109€, tu as de trés bons portes bagages chez Tubus, trés utilisé par les cyclotouristes de ce forum :) pour les sacoches, je te conseille de les acheter en allemagne, chez outdoors-work.de ou sur ebay, elles sont beaucoup moins chères ! Voilà un post qui parle des ortlieb (excellente marque tout comme Vaude d'ailleurs).
aprés pour le choix précis des composants, je peux pas trop te donner mon avis. Faut juste faire gaffe que tout soit compatible (par exemple, manette 9 vitesses, cassette 9 vitesses, chaine, etc ...) mais à vue de nez t'as fait gaffe 😛
tu pourras me dire ce que ça donne tes gardes boues ? Parce que j'en ai pas sur mon vélo et j'aimerais bien en rajouter, mais des bons, pas des gardes boues qui se coincent tout le temps contre les roues 😏
voili voilou ! Tu verras, tu fais un excellent choix de monter toi même un vélo, c'est trés instructif 😉
POURQUOI ACHETER UN VELO EN PIECE DETACHEE LORSQUE LE BUDGET EST LIMITE???????????????
Il est inutile de prouver qu'un vélo monté coute moins cher qu'un vélo en pièce.
Donc pour un vélo identique, il te couterait moins cher. Ou pour le meme prix, tu aurais de meilleurs équipements.
Tu vas me dire que tu ne peux pas choisir toutes les pieces une a une. C'est vrai. Mais voila l'interet d'aller chez un vélociste et de négocier la reprise du matériel que tu désires changer (selle, pédales...). Ou au pire, tu revends les pieces que tu as changé.
et comme tu le dis, tu es novice en therme de voyage a vélo. Meme avec les conseils des cyclo les + expérimentés, rien ne vaut sa propre expérience. Apres tes premiers voyages de 2-3 mois, tu voudra peut etre adapter ton équipement...
parce que si tu veux du shimano Deore ou +, tu n'as plus le choix, c'est Octalink ou rien et c'est pareil dans les autres marques, les cannelures sont devenues la norme, sauf que chaque marque utilise des cannelures différentes.
Si tu veux du carré, il faut prendre du vieux stock ou du bas de gamme ou éventuellement du T.A ( qui va surement passer aux cannelures aussi)
Le LHT en taille 58 doit, à ma connaissance, être monté avec des roues de 28" et pas des 26" ...
Si tu veux du 26", il faut prendre un cadre taille 54 maxi ... ( Cfr le site d'Alternative ... et celui de Surly ).
2 - Monter ou pas son vélo ? ...
Moi, jusqu'à présent, j'ai acheté mes vélos "montés" mais, après en avoir assuré l'entretien complet pendant plusieurs années, j'ai - moi aussi ... - décidé d'en monter un de A à Z ...
Seule réserve : les roues que je suis incapable de rayonner ...
De plus, j'ai choisi de l'équiper d'un moyeu-dynamo qui est, aujourd'hui, d'une efficacité sans pareil au regard des inconvénients d'une dynamo (même "sous base" ...) 😉
Oui merci, je m'en étais rendu compte heureusement ! Mais cela me rajoute un dilemne, dois-je prendre des roues 700c et un cadre à ma taille, ou perdre 4cm pour avoir des roues 26" plus standard ?
Prendre deux tailles en dessous ca fait enorme, evetuellement une taille en dessous parce qu'on a un buste court ca passe mais deux tailles, c'est comme faire mettre du 39 a quelqu'un qui chausse du 45!
Après un 1er voyage l'été dernier sur le Canal de Nantes à Brest, nous envisageons un nouveau périple été 2015 sur une partie de l'Euro Velo 6. Nos enfants…
Je suis en train de configurer un vélo qui me suivra de nombreuses années je l'espère. Je me base notamment sur le site suivant pour mes réflexions sur les…
Je suis entrain de m'équiper pour partir, et je cherche une installation correcte pour me mettre de la musique sur le vélo, comme l'indique l'intitulé du…
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
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?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
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
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
Hello,
Has anyone here had experience using a gas stove in Sardinia and Sicily? I’m wondering if screw-on gas canisters (not the blue Campingaz ones, but brands like Coleman, Primus, etc.) are easy to find.
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
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.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
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.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
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?
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
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.
Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !
Hi everyone,
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.
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.
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
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
I’d love to start with a section of the Via Rhona to explore and share (route to be decided).
Looking forward to exchanging tips!
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?
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!
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...
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!
