Je prépare mon périple en nouvelle zélande, j'ai parcouru le sud en voiture 3 semaines durant mon pvt australien il y a 2 ans, cette année direction ce magnifique pays pour une année magique, j'ai commencé à tout organisé pour un atterissage à christchurch afin d'y travaillé et ensuite acheter une voiture pour parcourir les contraits... mais l'idée met venu de faire ce voyage en vélo, après les récits de certains cycistes, qui m'ont fait rêvé ! Tout nouveau pour moi, j'ai plutôt l'habitude de voyager en train, car, et en voiture..
Je me renseigne sur les différents vélos .. mais ce n'ai pas donné, enfin me diriez-vous.. une voiture non plus !
Je regarde les annonces, forums... certains cyclistes voyagent avec une remorque, d'autres avec sacoches, certains en vtt, d'autre en vtc..
Un vélo oui, mais made in France ! Mon dernier peugeot en date à rendu l'âme après un retour de soirée un peu trop arrosé.. roue COMPLETEMENT tordu après une petite chûte.. pas assez costaud donc, je me tourne vers les vélos gitane, et tombe sous le charme d'un vtc robuste, très robuste, agrèable à conduire, avec vitesses au moyeux (nexus) : 3 vitesses pour l'instant, frein tambour, , et pédalier 26 dents, je pensais le modifié en 5 vitesses, ce vélo est conçu pour durer, et pour rando de vitesse moyenne, 20km/h max pour les caractéristiques d'origine.
Sachant que ce vélo sera mon compagnon de voyage pour de nombreux kilomètres, il faut que je le prépare , c'est pour cela que je viens vous demandez conseille :)
Pour l'instant, j'ai renforcé les sacoches latérales, je fabrique un porte bagage avant, je m’attelle maintenant à faire la liste exhaustive de ce que j'aurais besoin..
Avant tout, j'ai le droit à 30 kilos de bagages (vélo compris) + 7kg en bagage à main, voyage avec Quantas. L'idéal serait d'arriver à Christchurch et déposer mes quelques affaires inutiles pour le trip (y'a t'il un dépôt bagages quelques part ? des contacts ?) et parcourir le sud un bon mois, voir un mois de demi, avant de revenir pour travailler et continuer vers le Nord.
- Pour les repas ? (j'ai un petit réchaud)
- Eclairages ?
- Vêtements ?
- Sac à dos ? J'ai prévu un 65l, j'ai une tente light et un duvet en plume d'oie léger
- Sécurité en ville ? sur les routes ? dans les lieux touristiques ? Que faut-il emporter avec soi ?
Avant ce grand départ, le vélo sera testé sur le canal de Nantes à Brest, ainsi que sur des routes avec des grands dénivelés.
J'ai fais 6 mois en vélo en N-Z. Ça fait 15 ans de cela, mais ce pays est "immuable" alors ça doit avoir changé d'un iota... Je te fais des remarques générales, à toi de poser des questions précises...
Une source incontournable pour ceux et celles qui sont anxieux, et qui veulent tout controller...
L'île du nord souffre d'une circulation automobile et camionesque (un nouvel adjectif...) assez redoutable. Vaut mieux randonner au sud d'Hamilton. Mieux encore: éviter l'île du nord, car l'île du sud est moins peuplée, et moins fréquentée par nos ennemis à 4, 6, 12, 22 etc... roues. Et selon mes critères, bien plus intéressante
Quand est venu le temps de faire des routes et une soi-disant autoroute sur l'île du sud, on a déterminé au sort un gars qui avait un seau rempli de bitume et un autre qui le suivait avec un seau remplit de cailloux... ce qui fait que les pneus s'usent incroyablement rapidement surtout quand on transporte beaucoup de matériel pour le camping etc...
J'ai fait ce grand tour avec B.O.B (à ne pas confondre avec Bob que je ne connais pas personnellement...). Pour faire d'une longue histoire, une pas mal plus courte, il s'agit d'une remorque pour vélo. je crois savoir que les gens de l'extérieur de l'Amérique du nord ne connaissent pas ou mal... alors tu feras sacoches probablement et dans ce cas je ne peux te conseiller...
Le climat est très changeant là-bas, et tu apprendras très rapidement le sens à donner aux mots "high" et "low" que tu entendras dans les bulletins météo... Pour te mettre en appétit, on a surnommé la partie ouest de ces îles la "wet coast"... Ça dit tout... Je veux pas te faire peur inutilement, car ce pays mérite pleinement d'être parcouru sur nos montures, mais comme on dit par ici: un gars averti en vaut deux.
Hasta pronto!
Marc de Montréal
La vie étant particulièrement imprévisible, vaut mieux manger son dessert en premier, et garder les navets pour la fin...
Merci pour vos contributions paul0 et marclamarre,
je reviens tout juste du canal de Nantes à Brest où j'ai pû testé le vélo sur de long chemin plat, très plat, mes premiers retours : un GROS problème au niveau de la transmission, beaucoup trop courte !
Le vélo, le voilà, tout le monde le connais, pour de bonne ou mauvaise nouvelles dans vos boites aux lettres :)
Un vélo créer pour durer ! Et après 400 bornes, il est très très confortable !
Mon but étant de parcourir de longue distance à travers la nouvelle Zélande du Sud, dans un premier temps, sur tout type de chemins, avec le plaisir de rouler avec le vélo de mon facteur :) qui à changer pour un vélo electrique.
J'aimerais le modifié pour les routes sinueuses et montagneuses de N-Z, avant tout j'aimerais régler ce problème de transmission, je pensais modifier la roue arrière avec une nexus 8 vitesses 26" en jantes ZAC 2000, pignion 21dents, pneus Schwalbe marathon plus (bouchon de valve avec indicateur de pression d'origine ;) ) supprimer la dynamo et remplacer par un système d'éclairage sur batterie.
J'ai un problème au niveau de la béquille, celle d'origine était cassé, elle était central comme sur les scooters, mais je l'ai remplacé par une latéral, mais avec le poids le vélo tiens très mal debout... très ingénieux aussi, il y a un frein parking :)
Le pédalier est parfait... pour les grosses côtes avec du poids, mais sur du plat... je me fais doubler par les escargots :(, je pensais le passer en plateau de 3, avec tendeur de chaine (j'en ai vu adaptable sur le pédalier directement..) Est-ce adaptable, je vais le vérifier prochainement.. ah oui.. forcement trop facile, la manivelle à un casse d'origine (baîonnette en langage de plombier ^^) pour ne pas taper dans les renforts du cadre alu..
J'aimerais aussi changer les pédales par des plus robustes avec griffes et attaches plastiques pour pédaler avec n'importe quelles chaussures.. mais être en confort dans les montées et sur le plat! Plus jeune, j'avais des chaussures avec attaches rapides mais pour ce voyage je préfère réaliser un vélo type "backpacker" et non cycliste sur piste :D
Pour ce qui est du stockage, j'ai réfléchi à ce que je comptais faire là bas, certes du tourisme mais aussi pouvoir m'arrêter où je veux, pour pouvoir faire des treks de quelques jours, travailler quelques semaines et repartir et ainsi de suite.. je suis dans le bâtiment, donc un minimum de vêtement serait à envisager, mais ceci "intelligemment" et sans sur-poids inutile.
Je garde donc les sacoches rigides arrière latérales de "La Poste" ainsi que le porte bagage avant en alu.
La compagnie aérienne accepte les vélos, dans un conditionnement : long 140, larg 30, hauteur : 80, poids total avec bagages soutes et à main : 38 kilos, j'ai réussi à me procurer un carton de vélo renforcé, conviendra-t-il avec du papier à bulle ? Je crains surtout pour les jantes ..
Je prévois aussi quelques accessoires utile mais ci-possible à moindre frais : mini rétroviseur à droite :) vu que le circulation ce fait du côte gauche.. il me faudra popotte alu, d4 doit faire ça, quel type de réchaud me conseillez-vous ? j'aimerais fabriquer un mini sac isotherme solaire, quel type de panneau solaire compact me conseillez-vous ? (recharger batterie reflex, telephone, éclairage, peut être une petite bouilloire compact, et bouillote pour les nuits glaciales ..?)
J'ai trouver via ebay, un siège alu super light et compact, je possède une tente ultralight de chez Mc Kinley et un sac de couchage plûme d'oie -5 de Yet.
Je prévois d'emporter avec moi un sac à dos de randonnée, TFX Kongur 65l, que je placerais sur le porte bagage à l'arrière, à l'horizontal dans la largeur du vélo ci celui passe, sinon envisager de créer un support pour celui-ci, un siège bébé m'est venu à l'esprit, garder le support mais supprimer le plastique, .. mais le problème de la prise au vent me fait peur.. ainsi que la stabilité.. en revanche le poids sera pris sur le cadre et non pas sur le porte bagage.. et plus j'aimerais qu'il soit facilement accessible et en cas d'arrêt pouvoir le retirer aisément, sur les lieux touristiques par exemple, dans les endroits difficiles d'accès, et pour les départs en treks... en laissant un minimum de choses dans les sacoches pour éviter les problèmes de pertes...
Merci d'avance de suivre mon topic =) et au plaisir de vous lire.
Mon premier voyage à Vélo (Vélodyssée Roscoff-Hendaye en Août 2018) m’ayant beaucoup plu, j’ai dans l’idée d’aller visiter la Nouvelle Zélande d’ici un an. A…
Je souhaite partir en nouvelle zélande au mois de mais pour 2mois et visiter l ile du nord en vélo. j ai l intention de m équiper d un vélo a assistance…
Je prépare un voyage en Nouvelle-Zélande en décembre ou janvier 18 ou 19. Lors de mon séjour, je prévois 1 semaine de vélo avec mes 2 neveux (11 - 13 ans).…
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 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’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
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 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
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.
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?
