bonjour
nous sommes un couple de 47 et 48 ans et nous avons decider de nous mettre a la randonnée a vélo en france (la loire)
aprés quelques années de rando pedestres
voici ma question:
nous avons fait le tour des marchands mais la on ne sait plus trop quoi choisir on as le choix entre giant, lapierre ice gitane vision
notre budget est de 1700 euros maxi avec bagagerie comprise
quoi choisir frein a disque v brake ou magura
merci de votre aide 🤪
parce que la nous sommes vraiment perdu c'est plus facile d'acheter une moto🙂
Bonsoir
Si vous êtes un peu juste au niveau budget, les v brakes seront le moins cher et suffisant pour l'usage que tu sembles décrire. Si tu comptes faire des chemins, il faudra peut être voir autre chose. L'avantage du Gitane vision, c'est qu'il est déjà équipé et prêt à partir. C'est un vélo de milieu de gamme qui suffit pour rouler sur des chemins de halage avec des bagages limités.
Veux tu mettre un porte bagage avant pour tes bagages? Dans ce cas, il vaut mieux éviter les fourches télescopiques qui seront inutiles sur des chemins goudronnés. Donne nous un peu plus ton usage (chemin, route uniquement?) et la durée de tes randonnées futures, on pourra mieux t'aiguiller. Si tu as des modèles, donne nous quelques références pour qu'on puisse t'aider.
Bon courage dans tes décisions
Quand vous doublez un cycliste, laissez-lui toujours la place pour tomber...
Salut1700 € les 2 ou chacun ?
La Loire c'est plat est facile. Les surfaces sont globalement lisse (ou on peut prendre des petites routes peu fréquentées en quittant le E6)
On l'a fait de Nantes à Mulhouse en vélo de courses adaptés avec des roues de 700C x 28
- si vous êtes randonneurs vous avez peut être du matos de camping léger - ce qui est parfait. Ou vous allez peut être utiliser un autre moyen de logement - en ce cas ça allège encore les bagages.
Le réchaud et popotes - on amène juste un petit truc pour le café le matin car on ne trouve pas toujours, puis on mange froid à midi et resto le soir - moins de matos à acheter et moins de poids - moins de course à faire et à transporter pour la bouffe- et resto ça fait plus 'vacances' et on découvre la bouffe et vin du coins qu'on visite - bien sûr le cout grimpe
On peut se faire plaisir avec des super vélos à 1500 ou plus sans bagages (je viens de le faire avec les sous de mes 50 ans!) mais je suis conscient que c'est pour le plaisir et que je vais juste gagner un peu en confort. Je viens de m'équiper en sacoches vaude et Ortleib. Avant j'avais des sacoches à 30 €, l'étanchéité était assurée par des poches poubelles sans incident, mais je ne suis jamais quitté l'Europe occidental donc toujours des possibilités de dépannage
Essayez pleins de vélos pour le confort et taille du cadre (il y en a qui vont mieux à différents morphologies, position sur le vélo et habitudes.)
J'ai fini avec un fahrradmanufaktur T700 car c'était assez sportif et je me suis trouvé bien en selle) Il y a des freins magura - c'est un plus mais non essentiel.
Il faut faire le choix entre les roues VTT (lourde, moins roulant mais passepartout) ou de type VTC plus roulant mais utilisable comme même sur pistes non lissées)
bonne chance - regardez les autres discussions sur le même thème dans le forum
bonjour
merci de vos réponse
pour le budget c'est 1700 les deux pas énorme mais j'ai pas plus
sinon, on compte faire beaucoup de chemin roulant (piste dfci , chemin de halage, etc ...pas de vtt )
on as déja tous le matos pour le camping
pour les modèles que l'on as vus il y a
le lapierre ice 799 €
le gitane vision 799 €
specialized crossover
et au niveau sacoches on pense prendre des vaude karakorum juste bagages arrière et sacoche de guidon
stef
La première question qu'il faut se poser, est-ce que je m'équipe uniquement pour cette randonnée (la Loire) qui semble être une première pour vous, ou, sans savoir si cela va me plaire je m'équipe avec du super matériel (onéreux) en me disant que cette première sera suivie de beaucoup d'autres ?
Si c'est pour faire que la Loire qui aujourd'hui est en partie aménagée de Nantes à Nevers de simples VTC du commerce suffiront, pas la peine de faire de lourds investissements. Si vous voulez faire du chemin de halage, ces mêmes VTC avec des pneus un peu plus gros, suffiront également, mais vous aurez plus de confort si vous avez une fourche avant suspendue.
Chacun voit selon son budget, mais il est tout à fait possible de voyager dans notre pays avec des vélos grand public d'un prix raisonnable, un vélo à bas prix bien entretenu ne posera pas plus de problème qu'un vélo très cher mal entretenu.
Un exemple, cet été j'ai fait deux randos de 1000 kms chacune sur chemins de halage avec un VTT d'occasion à 100€ et tout s'est bien passé, il est prêt à repartir pour de nouvelles aventures !
merci de vos conseil
c'est sur que l'on va débuter facile en commençant par la vallée de la Loire mais a lire tous les forum de voyageur a vélo on est facilement pris par le virus du deux-roue
je pense que l'on va partir sur les lapierre ice c'est celui qui nous as le plus taper dans l'oeil même si les freins sont à disque et hydraulique et fourche verrouillable on verras de toutes façon on reste en France pour les débuts
stef
pour voyager, sur route, piste gravillonnée -type voie verte-, ou même chemin blanc ... les vélos de trekking "courants" suffisent largement - perso, je rechercherais plutôt (en occas., ça ne manque pas) un VTT non suspendu (même fourche avant, si possible) et mettre un peu de sous sur un moyeu-dynamo haut de gamme et un ensemble "régulateur + batterie tampon" pour la recharge des appareils électriques (gps, i-phone, ou autre ) + l'éclairage ... ou sur les équipements perso (chaussures vélo, pédales auto, vêtements "techniques")
Pour les bagages : malgré mon poids (95), et une charge d'au moins 18/20 kg ... je n'ai jamais eu besoin d'autre chose que sacoches et porte bagage AR + sac de guidon !!! et j'ajoute que mon porte-bagage est de type courant et qu'il tient sur des colliers "rapportés", que mes sacoches ne sont plus étanches (contenu placé dans des sacs plastiques ...) - Malgré cela, j'ai testé sur près de 2000 km et 3 semaines, sans problèmes...
Bonne préparation ...
Bonjour Stef3080,
Je te conseille ce modèle Stevens Galant lite. Il correspond à ton budget.
Position trekking cyclotourisme. Fourche (oeulliet) et géométrie adaptée. Transmission fiable. Eclairage avant arrière sur dynamo moyeu. Selle de qualité avec Gel.
Modèle homme et dame. Jante double paroi, pneus roulant bande anticrevaison Continental.
De plus , ce marchand vend le modèle de sacoche Vaude que tu envisages en négociant pour deux vélos tu dois pouvoir obtenir une remise sur ta bagagerie.
Stevens dame.
Stevens homme.
Sacoche Karakorum.
Bonne découverte, vive le cyclotourisme.
Bonne route.
hello
bravo pour ce projet
je confirme ce qui est dit ici
un vtt vtc a 500-600 euros de base devrait faire l'affaire
les différentes marques proposent toutes des vtt a peu pres sérieux partir de 400 euros
cez devrait suffire
faudra juste eviter de monter des pneus type tracteur agricole, des pneus Sch .. de rte (30 euros) serait un plus..
reste a prévoir d'entrée la bagagerie
et il faut qu'elle soit sérieuse, le cadre doit prévoir ca d'origine
a moins d'avoir une bonne carte bleue, le bagage sera conséquent
claudio a entamé une étude sur ce sujet
Claudio de la Faverges.
Bonjour amis cyclotouristes, claude passionné de voyages à vélo favergien et défenseur du cycliste.
plus la carte bleue est foncée et plus le bagage est léger
en anglais "the more the card is blu the less the luggage is heavy"
bonjour
merci de tout vos conseils
je vais voir ce week-end un vélo pégase en occasse on verrras bien sinon j'ai trouvé ce site allemend qui parait correct
http://www.radonline.de/ mais j'ai un peu de mal avec l'allemand🤪
stef
Un petit mot pour dire que la Loire c'est pas très difficile. J'ai fait le parcours entre Nevers et St Brévin pour mes 60 ans. en 2014. Si vous voulez quelques impressions de voyage, vous pouvez consulter mon blog :
Je reviens vers vous car j'ai toujours trouvé de bons conseils par ici:) J'ai déjà parcouru les différents posts sur ce sujet mais je n'ai pas trouvé les…
Voyager à vélo › France › Centre / Ouest · 22 replies
Avant d'écrire ce post j'ai effectué des recherches dans le groupe concernant cette requête: j'aimerai avoir votre avis sur ce vélo https://www.probikes... je…
Quel est le poids maximum en materiel que je peux transporter dans mes sacoches: - Pour une femme en vélo électrique - Et pour un homme vélo musculaire Merci
Longtemps en projet, cette fois en cours de réalisation. Cet ancien chemin de halage impraticable par temps humide est à présent cyclable bien que les travaux…
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?
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.
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.
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 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
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?
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share with you the incredible feat my friend José, who’s 72 years old, is currently undertaking. He left Auterive near Toulouse on Monday, May 18, 2026, on his non-electric bike, heading for the North Cape in Norway!
You can follow his route on the link below—he’s currently in Sweden:
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
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.
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
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!
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
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
