Nous avons besoin de conseils pour un trip aux US en mars, avril et mai.
Nous aurons 90 jours là-bas, serons en tandem pour parcourir lentement environ 3000 km dans cette période.
Nous avons la possibilité d'atterrir à New York, San Francisco ou Los Angeles pour un petit prix avec notre tandem, mais pour cette période il faut certainement mieux la côte ouest.
Du coup nous avons besoin de conseil pour un bon compromis itinéraire entre météos pas trop moche et lieux chouettes à voir. Nos centres d'intérêts se portent avant tout hors des grandes villes, vers les beaux paysages, la campagne, et connecté quand même avec la population.
Ce voyage c'est aussi et beaucoup pour remplacer par de vraies images et expériences le bourrage de crâne hollywoodien dont nous sommes victimes depuis toujours!!
Nous avons imaginé un truc comme ça, depuis LA vers San Francisco, ou l'inverse.
N'hésitez pas à faire toute proposition d'itinéraire!
Bonsoir
La route 50 ("the loneliest road") en RV c'était déjà bien long
En vélo je me poserais des questions...
Effectivement vous ne rencontrerez personne là bas
Vérifiez aussi que la rive Nord du Grand canyon sera ouverte
Noëlle
Noëlle vous a dit de vérifier si la rive nord du Grand Canyon sera ouverte parce que cette rive est bien plus haute que la rive sud. La rive nord est située à peu près à 2440 mètres d'altitude en moyenne. La route qui y mène est bloquée par la neige au printemps. Sur le site officiel du Grand Canyon, il est écrit ceci sur la rive nord :
"Lodging, restaurants and shops on the North Rim of the park are open from May 15th through October 15th of each year."
Nous craignons de ne voir que du désert sans jamais rencontrer âme qui vive... qu'en pensez-vous?
Stratele52: Pas du tout. Utilisez Google Street et vous verrez bien.
Fred, Sveta
Comme je vous l'avais mentionné précédemment, il y a beaucoup à voir à vélo aux USA, mais il faut composer avec les saisons!
En 3 mois, vous pourriez considérer une traversée ouest-est depuis LA, rouler vos 3,000 km sans trop vous approcher de la haute montagne avant la fonte des neiges, puis prendre l'avion vers la Colombie. Vous pourriez ainsi cibler Dallas ou même Atlanta comme aéroport international.
Néanmoins, compte tenu de toutes les splendeurs à voir en Californie et au sud-ouest du pays, ce que je vous propose, à défaut de ne pas vous faire rouler dans la neige, n'est pas particulièrement excitant ...
Pour bâtir un trajet cycliste vraiment intéressant sans vous embourber dans la neige des cols de haute montagne ou sous la pluie froide au nord de San Francisco, tout en se limitant à vos seuls mois de mars-avril-mai, il faut l'intervention d'un expert de ces régions!
Aquilegia, es-tu disponible pour aider nos jeunes amis cyclistes?🙂
J'ai bien plus confiance à tes conseils avisés pour tout ce qui concerne le vélo à travers les USA, incluant notamment le timing des saisons, qu'aux vues de Google Street View, nonobstant les toujours pertinentes interventions de l'ami Louis ...
Oui nous allons faire l'ESTA en premier, la réponse devrait être rapide alors on peut facilement attendre ça pour les billets d'avion.
Nous ne sommes pas butés pour le Grand Cayon, nous on cherche juste un itinéraire qui corresponde à la saison et à nos centre d'intérêt.
Bonsoir Fred & Sveta,
J'ai revu vos centres d'intérêts (Nos centres d'intérêts se portent avant tout hors des grandes villes, vers les beaux paysages, la campagne, et connecté quand même avec la population).
Compte tenu de la saison, je pense à
- une partie de la côte (celle praticable au nord de Big-Sur),
- Yosemite Valley,
- Death Valley (en mars, il ne fera peut-être pas trop chaud pour pédaler > vérifier la température à cette période),
- Valley of Fire SP,
- la scenic 9 au sud de Zion NP (si la météo le permet),
- les alentours de Page,
- Monument Valley,
- Grand Canyon rive sud (pas aussi haute que la rive nord, mais la rive sud est quand même à 2100 mètres d'altitude en moyenne > y aller plutôt fin mai à cause de la météo à cette altitude),
- le Canyon de Chelly,
- Petrified Forest NP,
- la région de Sedona,
- Joshua Tree NP (www.nps.gov/...yourvisit/blooms.htm)
Hiacinthe: .... Compte tenu de la saison, je pense à
- une partie de la côte (celle praticable au nord de Big-Sur),
Au nord de Big Sur, c'est Monterey et San Francisco, puis le nord de la Californie et l'Oregon. Pour avoir fait tout ça à vélo à l'automne 2016, je confirme que c'est magnifique à vélo!
MAIS!
Il faut tenir compte des saisons et des micro-climats, et du fait que Fred et Sveta se déplaceront ... A Vélo, et dormiront en camping!
Or San Francisco en mars, c'est la brume et la pluie, et qui plus est une pluie froide, pas du tout confortable et agréable à vélo!
Au contraire, je pense que la section de la côte qui sera plaisante en mars et avril sera celle au sud de Los Angeles; Je dirais de Santa Barbara jusqu'à la frontière mexicaine.
- Yosemite Valley,
Encore ici, je confirme que c'est un magnifique trajet à faire à vélo, en saison propice ...
Mais pour s'y rendre à vélo depuis San Francisco, il faut rouler sur une route de montagne qui s'élève allègrement entre 1,000 et près de 2,000 mètres. J'ai fait cette route, à vélo en autonomie, à la fin septembre 2016, avec des nuits qui étaient déjà assez fraîches pour camper, et par un temps sec qui ne prévaudra pas en mars et avril, sauf erreur ...
- Death Valley (en mars, il ne fera peut-être pas trop chaud pour pédaler > vérifier la température à cette période),
- Valley of Fire SP,
- la scenic 9 au sud de Zion NP (si la météo le permet),
- les alentours de Page,
- Monument Valley,
- Grand Canyon rive sud (pas aussi haute que la rive nord, mais la rive sud est quand même à 2100 mètres d'altitude en moyenne > y aller plutôt fin mai à cause de la météo à cette altitude),
A l'est des Rocheuses et dans Death Valley, le temps moins chaud qu'en été sera effectivement propice pour une découverte à vélo.
L'enjeu dans tout ça sera de déterminer un tracé qui permet de s'y rendre à vélo en mars-avril, tout en évitant les zones montagneuses potentiellement enneigées.
- Joshua Tree NP (www.nps.gov/...yourvisit/blooms.htm)
Cette région, par ailleurs spectaculairement jolie, sera TRÈS difficile à vélo, avec beaucoup d'ascension et des bivouacs à 1,500 mètres d'altitude et plus. Un peu plus au sud que Yosemite, et peut-être dans une région plus sèche, sera t-elle néanmoins facilement accessible à vélo en mars ou avril? Neige possible, ou pluie froide, ou gel au sol pendant la nuit en camping?
Je ne connais pas assez cette région pour davantage commenter le timing des saisons, mais c'est certainement un beau défi à vélo, en camping!
--
Pour conclure mon analyse de leur projet de vélo en sol américain (3,000 km à parcourir en mars-avril-mai), je dirais que l'enjeu principal est de bâtir un tracé qui permet d'enligner une succession des plus beaux sites de voyage du sud-ouest USA, tout en tenant compte des contraintes météo propres à la haute montagne et celles du nord de San Francisco.
Death Valley étant bien sûr un bon choix coté timing météo, mais comment s'y rendre?
La Côte Ouest au sud de LA, bien sûr, mais quoi faire avant ou après?
Il faut aussi tenir compte qu'à vélo le rayon d'action est bien différent; Parcourir 1,000 km pour se rendre à l'entrée d'un parc national convoité, ça veut dire 10 grosses journées de 100 km, par des routes idéalement moins achalandées que les grosses Highways américaines, mais qui ne sont pas fermées pour la saison pour cause d'enneigement.
La quadrature du cercle? Qu'en pensez-vous Christine?
Nous avons étudié l'option d'ouest vers l'est et effectivement nous ne l'avons pas senti super excitant!
Bon on attend patiemment l'intervention de Aquilegia 🙂
Nous attendons de décider de cet itinéraire pour acheter les billet et faire notre ESTA, mais on a encore un peu de temps!
bonne journée à tous!
Bonjour,
J'etais en vacances (a velo) pendant quelques semaines. Donc voici ma reponse tardive.
Je suis d'accord avec Rikimiki concernant les destinations aux USA pendant cette periode. De SF a Los Angeles, la saison des pluies est typiquement de novembre a avril. Au nord de SF, surtout a partir de Eureka, la saison des pluies dure plus longtemps et la pluie est plus intense. En Oregon, Washington, et la Colombie Britanique, je conseille uniquement la periode mi-juin a mi-septembre pour le cyclotourisme. Comme Rikimiki a ecrit, une pluie froide n'est pas du tout agreable a velo.
L'ouest des USA est tres accidente. Donc les temperatures varient selon l'altitude. En mars, le sud d'Arizona aux environs de Tucson et Saguaro NP serait agreable. Je ne connais pas Organ Pipe NP, mais probablement ca aussi. Le sud de Nouveau-Mexique et le sud de Texas (y compris Big Bend NP) aussi, je crois.
J'ai fait un tour a velo dans le sud-ouest de Utah en mi-mai. C'etait un boucle qui commencait a St. George (pres de Las Vegas). Il faisait chaud a St. George (800m), et il neigeait a Cedar Breaks NM (3000m). Temperatures parfait a Zion NP et un peu frais a Bryce Canyon NP. A la fin, nous avons loue un voiture pour une journee pour visiter le North Rim du Grand Canyon NP. Il y faisait frais pendant la journee et froid pendant la nuit.
La cote de Californie au sud de SF est possible a partir de mi-avril, a mon avis, mais il y a encore la possibilite de pluie. En plus, la route est fermee a ce moment a cause d'un enorme glissement de terrain a Big Sur (la plus belle partie de la cote). Je ne sais pas quand cette route va rouvrir. Je trouvais la route entre Santa Barbara et L.A. moins agreable a velo qu'au nord de Santa Barbara. Entre L.A. et San Diego, le route ne suit pas toujours la cote a cause d'un camp militaire.
J'ai fait du velo au Mexique en hiver (dans le sud et dans le centre), et Baja California est populaire pour le cyclotourisme. Mars serait une bonne periode je crois, mais je ne connais pas cette partie du Mexique.
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
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!
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
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?😏
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
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.
