J'ai l'intention cet été (de fin juin à début septembre) de parcourir dans un premier temps à vélo la route côtière de tuléar à fort dauphin puis si j'ai encore du temps de remonter le long de la côte est vers vangaindrano ...
D'après que j'ai lu dans plusieurs discussions la piste réliant tuléar à Foort dauphin étant par endroit très sablonneuse il est impossible de suivre dans son intégralité. J'aimerais savoir par conséquent quelles sont les portions qui suivent la côte praticable en vélo? Y a t-il également des villages pour dormir et se ravitailler ? Des cartes détaillées sont elles nécessaire et si c'est le cas où se les procurer ? ...
Si d'autres détails importants vous viennent à l'esprit (carte visa mieux desservie que mastercard, compagnies aériennes mieux adaptées aux transport de vélo, le meilleur moyen pour atteindre tuléar depuis tana ...) je suis preneur.
Je sais que je vous demande beaucoup mais quelque soit votre réponse, je vous remercie d'avance pour votre aide.
Cyrille
J'avais fait la route de Tulear à Fort-Dauphin en 2001 avec 3 Malgache, et effectivement, ça peut être assez sablonneux. Il y a des villages pour se ravitailler et dormir, mais il ne faut pas hésiter à demander à l'habitant. Il y avait des hotels à Tongobory, Ampanahy et une chambre d'hôte à l'hygiène douteuse (genre vieux grenier) à Antanimora. Dans les autres villes, nous avions dormi chez l'habitant.
Pour la nourriture, pas trop de soucis, sauf encore une fois hygiène douteuse à Antanimora. Je me souviens avoir mangé ce jour la juste des biscuits pour ne pas prendre de risque.
Pour la route, elle n'est pas facile, et il faut mieux avoir un VTT. Jusqu'à Ampanahy, ça roule plus ou moins. Je ne me souviens pas avoir beaucoup poussé. Après Ampanahy, il ne faut mieux pas continuer sur la N10, mais rejoindre la N13 de Tranora à Andalatanosy. Ensuite finir sur la N13. Cependant de Antanimora à Ambovombe, il faut t'attendre à 70km assez infernale et sablonneux. Après Ambovombe, c'est de la route et plus de soucis.
Il y a aussi une autre route qui pars de la N10 et rejoins la N13 qui part de Ambatry et arrive vers Beraketra, mais je n'ai pas d'infos sur cette portion.
Comme je passe dans le coin avant toi, je devrais passer par la pour autant que j'arrive à Fort-Dauphin, ce qui est loin d'être certain. Si c'est le cas, je pourrai t'en dire plus sur l'état actuel de la piste.
J'ai aussi tracé les routes sur google earth, et peut t'envoyer les traces si tu me passes ton mail en MP.
Je garde un merveilleux souvenir de ce périple en 2001, même si je me souviens être un des plus dur que j'aie fait. Il faut avoir un bon entrainement ne pas devoir manger tout les dix kilomètres et supporter la chaleur, mais en juin, ça devrait aller mieux sur ce point. La route c'est peut-être améliorée depuis.
Pour les compagnies aériennes, attention aux arnaques avec Air-France, qui te disent prendre ton vélo dans le poids admis, et qui se passent de te dire que si ton carton dépasse 1m07, il faudra payer un supplément de 200roros par voyages. Seulement quel vélo rentre dans 1m07? En suite comme le billet n'est pas remboursable, c'est pour ta pomme. Air Mad, c'est pas beaucoup mieux, mais au moins pas de limitations sur les dimensions. Enfin je crois, mais je me méfie des surprises de dernière minutes.
Pour les cartes, à l'époque, il fallait avoir une Visa, mais aujourd'hui, d'après les nouvelles que j'ai du pays, Master Card serait mieux. Bref va savoir. Entre Fort-Dauphin et Tulear, ne compte pas trop sur une banque ou un distributeur. Peut-être Ampanahy, mais sans garanties.
Pour les cartes, tu peux t'en procurer à Tana ou Tulear, mais il n'y a pas beaucoup de routes. Toutefois, je te conseille de tracer sur Google et de charger un GPS, parce que je me souviens que des fois la route entre Tranora et Andalatanosy devenait un peu abstraite et que les Malgaches avait un peu de peine à demander le bon chemin au gardiens de troupeau, car ils avaient peur de moi et restaient à plus de 100m (vieille légende).
A l'époque, on avait mis dix jours (600km), le taxi-brousse 3 et l'avion 45 minutes. Les amis malgaches qui étaient revenus en taxi brousse, avaient regrettés le vélo 🙂
Bonjour,
C'est assez dur de s'orienter à partir de Beheloka. Franchement, j'ai du mal à arriver à Fort dauphin la première fois (en voiture). Il faut à chaque fois demander son chemin et si vous ne parlez pas Malgache, sa sera assez difficile. C'est un coin assez reculé et c'est rare que vous trouviez quelqu'un qui parle le Français.
Sur ma carte de mada il y a effectivement le village de Beheloka à 40 km au sud de anakao le long de la piste côtière (il peut exister deux noms différents pour un même endroit, l'ancient nom du temps de la colonisation française et celui d'après ..). C'est cette piste qui rejoint Fort dauphin par la côte que je voulais parcourir à vélo (les paysages sont soi disant très beau) mais il semble que cette soit trop sabloneuse et c'est pour cette raison que je demandait confirmation lors de cette discussion... en tout cas merci pour les infos
Oui, je l'ai trouvé entre Anakao et le lac Tsimanampetsotsa. Ca a l'air magnifique dans le coin. Ca fait partie d'une des traces optionnelle que j'ai tracé et que je t'ai envoyé. Je pense plutôt faire Anakao depuis Tulear que de passer par la avec les bagages.
En 2001 Nous n'avions pas passé par la, mais étions restés loins de la côte. En fait par rapport aux traces que je t'ai envoyé, nous avions faits.
D3, mais arrêt à Bezaha
D2
D1
14
13
12
11
Pour aller sur Tuléar, j'ai d'abord penser passer par Anakao, mais les 90km de ligne droite sans aucun villages entre Ambatry et Beheloka m'ont une peu dissuader de passer par la avec le vélo chargé.
Le long de la rivière Onilahy, ça à l'air sympa aussi, mais la route est difficile à voir juste aprés Tongobory. Après 15km, ça à l'air bon. Au pire passer par la N7, c'est plus long, mais c'est faisable.
Je cherche des infos sur la route Tuléar - Fort Dauphin au sud de Madagascar que j'aimerai faire à vélo cet été. La piste côtière est apparemment très…
Souhaitant voyager léger...léger de Tana à Tuléar sur la RN 7. Peut-on se passer d'une tente sur ce trajet? Pour la période de mi-décembre à mi- janvier, la…
Recherche coéquipière de voyage à vélo (arrivée en avion à Porto Alegre Brésil et pédaler direction Montevideo, Uruguay, retour par avion vers la France de Buenos AiresArgentine)1500 KM
Bonjour à toutes !
Je prépare un voyage à vélo à travers le Brésil, l'Uruguay et l'Argentine, avec un départ envisagé entre fin octobre, novembre ou décembre. Je recherche compagne de route pour partager cette aventure au long cours.
expérience :
J'ai déjà une bonne expérience du cyclotourisme Géorgie, Kazakhstan et Kirghizistan. Actuellement, je garde une excellente condition physique en pédalant en moyenne 250 km sur 3 jours par semaine.(chaque jour 4h , 20 km/h)
Le voyage & le rythme :
Rythme quotidien : Entre 50 et 80 km par jour, pour progresser régulièrement tout en prenant le temps de découvrir.
Hébergement : Mode flexible et authentique. Nous alternerons entre bivouac sauvage, camping, Warmshowers, petites pensions et petits hôtels selon les opportunités et la météo.
Au plaisir de lire ton message et de préparer cette belle traversée ensemble !
😎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?😏
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.
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.
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!
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!
