Cuvette dans le jeu de direction cassée, est-ce réparable/changeable? (à vélo)
by Pluton2070
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour à toutes et tous,
J'aurais besoin de votre avis pour un soucis mécanique, j'ai un vieux cadre en carbone que j'aimerais remonter, mais je viens de m'apercevoir qu'une cuvette/cage est cassée au niveau du jeu de direction de la fourche, selon vous est-ce réparable ? et si oui comment faire pour changer la pièce défecteuse ? je joins une photo. Merci par avance.
Gilles
Mon petit reportage du 02 Juin au 28 Juin en mode Bikepacking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi5ykYxewDQ
bonsoir Pluton2070 est-ce que vous avez la partie cassée donc séparée ?
Si oui avec de la colle très forte en recollant cela pourrait être une possibilité mais il faut vraiment que ce soit solide.
Sinon étant donné qu'à vu d'oeil c'est une pièce qui a été emboutie à la fabrication, il y a la possibilité de mettre une soudure à froid mais ça ne sera pas suffisamment solide.
Ou alors tenter avec une scie à métaux de couper la partie déjà présente et essayer de retrouver dans une entreprise de récupération de métaux ou bien un magasin de vélo une pièce identique
Normalement, c'est un jeu de direction classique, les cuvettes sont enfoncées à force dans la douille du cadre.... à sortir en chassant au maillet...
michel mathieu
www.lethieu39.fr
en tentant de sortir la pièce avec un maillet étant donné à vue d'oeil que la pièce est serrée là c'est le risque de se blesser.
Il faut vraiment que le cadre soit enserré dans un étau.
Ensuite pour sortir la pièce il faut appliquer vraiment une certaine force
Pour sortir la cuvette, il faut bien sûr tenir le cadre (sur étau, peut-être, mais en prenant garde : serrage modéré, cadre protégé : plastique, caoutchouc ...) - On passe par l'intérieur de la douille de direction avec une tige : bois dur, manche d'outil par exemple.... appui sur le ressaut formé par le bas de la cuvette de ce jeu de direction et on frappe avec un maillet par petits coups sur le tour de ce ressaut (ça, si quand on a pas l'outil ad'hoc ... c'est mon cas : j' ai toujours fait comme ça.) Pour le remontage, en principe, les anciennes portées sont correctes, donc il faut seulement rentrer les nouvelles cuvettes "à force" (frappe au maillet ) et, pour le bricoleur lambda non équipé : toujours pareil, il faut y aller doucement, en intercalant un matériau qui ne blesse pas le métal, et en veillant à ce que la cuvette soit enfoncée à fond, sur tout le tout du tube ...
Théoriquement, pas compliqué, faut juste faire gaffe .... et pas essayer de sortir la cuvette en la serrant à la pince (c'est sans doute comme ça que l'on en a brisé le tour ...)
michel mathieu
www.lethieu39.fr
Salut Gilles
Idéalement, cela se sort avec un chasse cuvette comme celui-là : https://www.vartools.com/fr/chasse-cuvette-direction-1-1-1-8-1-1-4-var-p822.php
Dans l'atelier où je bosse, on l'a pas. On prend un vieux cintre droit en acier. On procède par quelques coups, fermes mais pas trop non plus. L'important, c'est de taper plusieurs fois, 4-5 coups, à plusieurs endroits pour que la pièce sorte dans l'axe au fur et à mesure et pas de travers.
Si tu rachètes un jeu de direction, les deux cuvettes doivent être fournies.
Idéalement, cela se sort avec un chasse cuvette comme celui-là : https://www.vartools.com/fr/chasse-cuvette-direction-1-1-1-8-1-1-4-var-p822.php
Dans l'atelier où je bosse, on l'a pas. On prend un vieux cintre droit en acier. On procède par quelques coups, fermes mais pas trop non plus. L'important, c'est de taper plusieurs fois, 4-5 coups, à plusieurs endroits pour que la pièce sorte dans l'axe au fur et à mesure et pas de travers.
Si tu rachètes un jeu de direction, les deux cuvettes doivent être fournies.
Le vélo, c'est bien, même pour celleux qui n'en font pas.
Salut
À ta place je commencerais déjà par procéder de la manière la plus classique, chasser la partie restante avec un chasse cuvette, puis chercher un jeu neuf (ou NOS ou d'occase) et remplacer le jeu entier (il te faudrait aussi enlever la cuvette du bas, sur la fourche). Il te faut d'abord t'assurer de trouver le jeu en vente en connaissant ses mesures (voir ici oulà). C'est un jeu à cuvettes extérieures, je ne pense plus que ça se fasse sur les vélos actuels, donc peut-être difficile à trouver.
Un chasse cuvette, c'est ça , il faut taper un peu au maillet dessus.

Mais ça peut être remplacé par un tube de pvc de même diamètre que la base de la cuvette, ou une pièce en bois voire un gros tournevis que tu places successivement un peu de partout sur la partie interne de la cuvette et sur lesquels tu tapotes longtemps mais gentiment.
Je ne suis pas du tout partisan de serrer un tube de carbone dans un étau !
Pour le collage éventuel, attention ! Il existe deux types de cuvettes, les vraies cuvettes qui sont elles-mêmes le chemin de roulement des billes, et les cuvettes actuelles qui ne sont plus des cuvettes mais juste les supports d'un roulement scellé rapporté qui assure lui seul le déplacement des billes.

Un collage pour une cuvette classique (montage de gauche) risque d'entraver la rotation des billes qui se bloqueront (une fois le jeu serré, les billes supportent tout le poids pesant sur l'avant du vélo) et la direction aussi, gros danger. Si le roulement est rapporté (montage de droite), c'est moins problématique, la cuvette ne servant que de support. On a d'ailleurs maintenant de telles cuvettes (qui ne sont donc que des supports pour un roulement) directement fabriquées dans le tube du cadre.
Donc à toi de voir si tu as ôté un roulement scellé (billes invisibles) ou juste des billes libres ou en cage mais en contact direct avec la cuvette pour envisager l'option collage. Mais si tu trouves le bon jeu, que tu arrives à extraire les cuvettes, ça serait éminemment plus sûr de remplacer le JJD que de le bricoler.
Un chasse cuvette, c'est ça , il faut taper un peu au maillet dessus.

Mais ça peut être remplacé par un tube de pvc de même diamètre que la base de la cuvette, ou une pièce en bois voire un gros tournevis que tu places successivement un peu de partout sur la partie interne de la cuvette et sur lesquels tu tapotes longtemps mais gentiment.
Je ne suis pas du tout partisan de serrer un tube de carbone dans un étau !
Pour le collage éventuel, attention ! Il existe deux types de cuvettes, les vraies cuvettes qui sont elles-mêmes le chemin de roulement des billes, et les cuvettes actuelles qui ne sont plus des cuvettes mais juste les supports d'un roulement scellé rapporté qui assure lui seul le déplacement des billes.

Un collage pour une cuvette classique (montage de gauche) risque d'entraver la rotation des billes qui se bloqueront (une fois le jeu serré, les billes supportent tout le poids pesant sur l'avant du vélo) et la direction aussi, gros danger. Si le roulement est rapporté (montage de droite), c'est moins problématique, la cuvette ne servant que de support. On a d'ailleurs maintenant de telles cuvettes (qui ne sont donc que des supports pour un roulement) directement fabriquées dans le tube du cadre.
Donc à toi de voir si tu as ôté un roulement scellé (billes invisibles) ou juste des billes libres ou en cage mais en contact direct avec la cuvette pour envisager l'option collage. Mais si tu trouves le bon jeu, que tu arrives à extraire les cuvettes, ça serait éminemment plus sûr de remplacer le JJD que de le bricoler.
Pas de deuxième vague en Europe : https://tinyurl.com/y5ytqzej
Attention avec le carbone sur le tube de direction: ce qui est anodin sur un cadre acier peut vite devenir très problématique (dangereux) sur un cadre carbone. Ne pas griffer l'intérieur du tube, ce qui pourrait l'affaiblir.
Moi je me suis fait un chasse cuvette avec un vieux manche de balai en tube acier fin que j'ai scié longitudinalement (dasn la direction de l'axe du tube) de manière à avoir une fente sur 3 cm environ à 0, 90°, 180° et 270° du plan à 90° du tube.
J'ai ensuite légèrement écarté les sortes de lamelles que cette découpe a créées . Les bord écartés du tube viennent buter sur l'extrémité intérieure de la cuvette, à la jonction du tube.
Ca marche nickel (mais j'ai des vélos acier avec tube de direction de diamètre plus réduit que les vélos modernes). Il faut trouver le tube fin d'un diamètre proche, mais inférieur au tube de direction.
Merci à tous d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre.
Merci pour vos astuces et recommandations.
Alors, voilà, je pense que je vais me rendre directement chez mon réparateur vélo car moi je n'arrive pas à débloquer le restant de la cuvette cassée, j'ai essayé avec l'outillage que j'ai sous la main, mais j'ai peur de casser le cadre, en plus je n'ai rien pour bloquer le cadre et travailler dessus convenablement, je vous tiens au jus dès que c'est réparé ! :)
Bon vélo à toutes et tous !
Gilles
Mon petit reportage du 02 Juin au 28 Juin en mode Bikepacking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi5ykYxewDQ
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Bonjour,
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j'ai vu vite fait qu'il y'avait des lac en Argentine.
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qu'avez vous pris comme sac de couchage? un 0 degré suffit?
et ultime question, réchaud à essence ou est-ce que je peux m'en sortir avec mon réchaud gaz?
Nath
Ca y est j'ai mon billet d'avion, départ mi novembre, retour mi-mars. arrivée santiago et je repars depuis Buenos Aires. J'ai deja été dans le sud de l'argentine, notamment le parc torres del Paine, et j'ai très envie d'y retourner pour faire le grand W, j'avais fait le petit. Je souhaite aussi randonner qq foois et pourquoi pas faire un sommet. Je grimpe et je fais occasionnellement de l'alpinisme, donc ce sera avec un guide de toute façon.
Je compte démarrer vers temuco au chili, j'ai dans l'idée d'aller vers les lac, puis prendre la careterra austral. Je sais pas si je vais aller jusqu'à Ushuaia, parait que cela vaut pas tant que cela la peine, à part pour dire qu'on a été au bout de la terre.
j'ai vu vite fait qu'il y'avait des lac en Argentine.
Je n'ai pas d'itinéraire précis. Mais ce que je souhiaterai, c'est qu'une fois arriver le plus au sud de mon vooayage, faire une mini croisière pour voir des annimaux. Des conseils pour cela?
qu'avez vous pris comme sac de couchage? un 0 degré suffit?
et ultime question, réchaud à essence ou est-ce que je peux m'en sortir avec mon réchaud gaz?
Nath
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Toutes vos expériences partagées nous seront bien utiles et nous vous en remercions. Bonne soirée
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Bonjour,
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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
Hi everyone,
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https://thierry-thomas.travelmap.net/jose-de-toulouse-a-nord-cap-2026
You can zoom in on the map and click on each stopover town to see the photos
Hi there!
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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
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claudio

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

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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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hey everyone,
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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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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.
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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!
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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

Tout d'abord... bonne année ! De belles routes à vous en 2017 !
Je voyage depuis quelques années avec un VTT de très bonne qualité mais équipé de freins à disques hydrauliques. Je vis (pédale) avec l'inquiétude d'avoir une panne (fuite, bulle d'air, chaleur qui fait que le liquide...). Mon vélociste me dit qu'il est impossible de les changer pour des V brakes.
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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!
Calling all travelers.
We’ll be landing at Lyon Airport and want to bike to La Verpillière train station (with panniers and camping gear, etc.) to catch a TER to Voreppe.
What’s the safest route for this bike trip?
Thanks in advance
hi,
I'm planning a recumbent bike trip from the Pyrenees to Greece. On the EuroVelo 8 route, it doesn't specify the path through the Alps.
Are there any experienced cyclists here who can tell me where they go to avoid climbing too high?
Also, is there another traveler/bike forum better suited for broadening the responses?
thanks