Suisse à vélo sur la route 9 avec un enfant de 3 ans
by Mezzo38
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour
Nous partons début Aout, 2 adultes + 1 enfant de 3 ans dans sa charrette, du lac Léman au lac du Bodensee, nous souhaitons emprunter la route n°9 , je suis sur le point de commander le guide qui répertorie l'itinéraire. cependant est ce le bon itinéraire sachant que nous avons un enfant dans une charrette, notamment en terme de dénivelé , en terme de qualité de chemin , de circulation automobile ou de facilité d'hébergemen ? est ce le chemin idéal , ou peut être faut il mieux utilisé la route n°1 puis n°2 jusqu'au Bodensee ?
je suis preneur d'infos
Une fois au Bodensee nous continuons en direction du Konigssee pour rejoindre la Bavière
merci
ecoutez la route suisse a vélo Numero 9 me semble tres trop difficile
prenez la 2 , plus facile tout de méme
mais ce n'est que mon avis claude
mais ce n'est que mon avis claude
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"
quand tu dit trop difficile , c'est plutôt en terme de dénivelé ? ou de route pas toujours bonne surtout avec une charrette ?
il faut que je couple avec la route n°1 puis la 2 effectivement parait plus cool mis a part vers Andermatt ou la y a de jolie col a franchir !
il faut que je couple avec la route n°1 puis la 2 effectivement parait plus cool mis a part vers Andermatt ou la y a de jolie col a franchir !
pas mal de dénivellée
claude
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,
Nous partons nous aussi tout debut Aout pour faire la route 9 (entre autres) de Lausanne au lac de Constance. Nous aurons les deux enfants dans la remorque. Avez vous toujours egalement ce projet ? Peut etre nous verrons nous en route ?
Nous partons nous aussi tout debut Aout pour faire la route 9 (entre autres) de Lausanne au lac de Constance. Nous aurons les deux enfants dans la remorque. Avez vous toujours egalement ce projet ? Peut etre nous verrons nous en route ?
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
toujours l'idée de traverser la suisse début Aout jusqu'au lac de constance , mais nous emprunterons la route n° 1 puis n°2 qui nous semble moins difficile en terme de dénivelée , alors peut être nous verrons nous vers le lac de constance !
bonne route à vous😉
Waouh je ne sais pas si la route 1+2 est moins difficile ...
La route 2 franchit l'Oberalppass a 2044m et avant ca la route 1 franchit le Furkapass a 2430m !!!??!!
Mais ca doit etre super beau, j'imagine !
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
Hello,
Nous allons traverser la Suisse fin Aout avec un enfant aussi. 🙂
Nous avions retenu la route 5 en ce qui nous concerne. La route 9 me parait difficile en terme de dénivelé. En terme de revêtement je ne me fais pas de soucis si c'est inscrit comme une piste cyclable en Suisse, c'est que le revêtement est bon et ne pose pas de problème.
Simon.
Nous allons traverser la Suisse fin Aout avec un enfant aussi. 🙂
Nous avions retenu la route 5 en ce qui nous concerne. La route 9 me parait difficile en terme de dénivelé. En terme de revêtement je ne me fais pas de soucis si c'est inscrit comme une piste cyclable en Suisse, c'est que le revêtement est bon et ne pose pas de problème.
Simon.
Bon voyage,
Simon.
Alors on va se croiser puisque nous rentrerons sur Lausanne par la route 5 fin Aout ...
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
Bonjour à tous.
alors, serait-il possible d'avoir vos impressions après être rentrés de vos voyages respectifs?
quelle était la route la plus adaptée?
des problèmes rencontrés?
pour l'instant dans cete discussion il y a bcp de questions. serait-il possible d'y ajouter des réponses à partir de vos expériences de cet été? merci pour les infos!
pour l'instant dans cete discussion il y a bcp de questions. serait-il possible d'y ajouter des réponses à partir de vos expériences de cet été? merci pour les infos!
Bonjour,
Oui c'est vrai il est temps de donner un retour sur ce periple en Suisse Pour commencer c'est un vrai regal de suivre les itineraires de la Suisse a velo. C'est extremement bien fleche, les carrefours dangereux sont amenages pour les velos avec des passages souterrains si necessaire, ... Bravo les Suisses pour ce superbe travail ! Et en plus il y a un nombre incroyable d'itineraires a travers tout le pays ! Notre equipage constitue de notre tandem+remorque a suivi la route des lacs (n°9) jusqu'au lac de Constance puis apres un petit passage par l'Allemagne et l'Eurovelo6 le long du Danube, retour par la route du milieu (n°5). La route des lacs est tres jolie. L'itineraire traverse toute la Suisse en serpentant a travers les montagnes. Attention : l'itineraire a velo ne passe pas le long des routes principales qui sont en fond de vallee, mais se fraie souvent un passage sur les contreforts des montagnes. Attention, nombreuses pentes extremement raides, il a parfois fallu descendre pour pousser (voire faire descendre les enfants de remorque) ! Du coup nous avons regulierement suivi la route principale au lieu de l'itineraire velo, la route principale ayant des pentes bien plus raisonnables. Le passage du col du Brunigpass est tres penible sur la route principale, 4 ou 5km a 10% et beaucoup de circulation. Je n'ose pas imaginer le denivele par l'itineraire officiel qui fait passer au-dessus du col !
Nous avons egalement du composer avec la meteo, pluvieuse en ce mois d'Aout. Pour ca, les hebergements Suisses "sur la paille" sont super. On est heberge dans des fermes qui mettent a disposition une grange specialement amenagee pour dormir sur la paille, une salle commune pour prendre les repas et des toilettes/douches. Ce sont des vraies fermes, en activite, avec vaches etc. C'est un bon compromis entre le camping (delicat sous la pluie surtout avec les enfants) et l'hotel (hors de prix). Nous avons toujours ete bien accueillis.
Le lac de Constance est tres touristique, il y a des velos partout ! Le tour est agreable et plat.
La route du mileu, n°5, est toute plate le long de l'Aare. Rien a signaler de particulier, on s'y ennuie presque ! A noter quand meme le joli lac de Neuchatel ou nous nous sommes baignes.
A signaler que nous n'avons rencontre qu'un seul endroit ou une chicane interdisant l'acces aux voitures a la piste cyclable nous a oblige a deteler la remorque pour passer notre long convoi. Sinon c'est toujours extremement bien fait, c'est pense pour les velos charges avec remorque ! D'ailleurs on trouve enormement de velos en Suisse, que ce soit pour le voyage ou la circulation au quotidien. Nous avons vu bien plus de remorques pour enfants ou meme pour chien que nous n'en avions jamais vu en France !
Enfin a signaler l'excellent site la suisse a velo qui detaille tous les itineraires, hebergements etc : http://www.veloland.ch/fr/welcome.cfm et qui permet de preparer de facon exceptionnelle.
Un bon sejour, donc... Pour les suivants, pensez a reserver le soleil !!
Oui c'est vrai il est temps de donner un retour sur ce periple en Suisse Pour commencer c'est un vrai regal de suivre les itineraires de la Suisse a velo. C'est extremement bien fleche, les carrefours dangereux sont amenages pour les velos avec des passages souterrains si necessaire, ... Bravo les Suisses pour ce superbe travail ! Et en plus il y a un nombre incroyable d'itineraires a travers tout le pays ! Notre equipage constitue de notre tandem+remorque a suivi la route des lacs (n°9) jusqu'au lac de Constance puis apres un petit passage par l'Allemagne et l'Eurovelo6 le long du Danube, retour par la route du milieu (n°5). La route des lacs est tres jolie. L'itineraire traverse toute la Suisse en serpentant a travers les montagnes. Attention : l'itineraire a velo ne passe pas le long des routes principales qui sont en fond de vallee, mais se fraie souvent un passage sur les contreforts des montagnes. Attention, nombreuses pentes extremement raides, il a parfois fallu descendre pour pousser (voire faire descendre les enfants de remorque) ! Du coup nous avons regulierement suivi la route principale au lieu de l'itineraire velo, la route principale ayant des pentes bien plus raisonnables. Le passage du col du Brunigpass est tres penible sur la route principale, 4 ou 5km a 10% et beaucoup de circulation. Je n'ose pas imaginer le denivele par l'itineraire officiel qui fait passer au-dessus du col !
Nous avons egalement du composer avec la meteo, pluvieuse en ce mois d'Aout. Pour ca, les hebergements Suisses "sur la paille" sont super. On est heberge dans des fermes qui mettent a disposition une grange specialement amenagee pour dormir sur la paille, une salle commune pour prendre les repas et des toilettes/douches. Ce sont des vraies fermes, en activite, avec vaches etc. C'est un bon compromis entre le camping (delicat sous la pluie surtout avec les enfants) et l'hotel (hors de prix). Nous avons toujours ete bien accueillis.
Le lac de Constance est tres touristique, il y a des velos partout ! Le tour est agreable et plat.
La route du mileu, n°5, est toute plate le long de l'Aare. Rien a signaler de particulier, on s'y ennuie presque ! A noter quand meme le joli lac de Neuchatel ou nous nous sommes baignes.
A signaler que nous n'avons rencontre qu'un seul endroit ou une chicane interdisant l'acces aux voitures a la piste cyclable nous a oblige a deteler la remorque pour passer notre long convoi. Sinon c'est toujours extremement bien fait, c'est pense pour les velos charges avec remorque ! D'ailleurs on trouve enormement de velos en Suisse, que ce soit pour le voyage ou la circulation au quotidien. Nous avons vu bien plus de remorques pour enfants ou meme pour chien que nous n'en avions jamais vu en France !
Enfin a signaler l'excellent site la suisse a velo qui detaille tous les itineraires, hebergements etc : http://www.veloland.ch/fr/welcome.cfm et qui permet de preparer de facon exceptionnelle.
Un bon sejour, donc... Pour les suivants, pensez a reserver le soleil !!
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
merci pour ce témoignage très intéressant a plus d un titre
du bon et des inconvénients
je note cela dans mes tablettes
j avais noté que certains parcours sont difficiles en effet , et que le balisage est presque parfait
claude
j avais noté que certains parcours sont difficiles en effet , et que le balisage est presque parfait
claude
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"
merci!
Bonjour,
Nous partons du Valais Suisse pour rejoindre Prague en Juin via entre autre en Suisse la vélo route 9 en tandem avec une carriole. Je me demandais en fait si vous aviez pris tous les cols indiqués sur la carte ou si vous vous permettiez de temps à autre de mettre le vélo dans le train.
Merci pour les infos,
Fanny
Nous partons du Valais Suisse pour rejoindre Prague en Juin via entre autre en Suisse la vélo route 9 en tandem avec une carriole. Je me demandais en fait si vous aviez pris tous les cols indiqués sur la carte ou si vous vous permettiez de temps à autre de mettre le vélo dans le train.
Merci pour les infos,
Fanny
Bonjour
Oui nous avons pris tous les cols indiques sur la route 9 (essentiellement col au-dessus de Gstaad et le Brunigspass) En revanche nous avons assez souvent quitte la route balisee velos pour prendre la route principale car la route a velo emprunte des contreforts vraiment trop difficiles alors que la route principale passe par les deniveles les plus faibles. Le col de Gstaad est assez facile, mais nous nous sommes fait doubler par des bus equipes de porte-velos a l'arriere. Donc si necessaire il doit etre possible de franchir le col par ce moyen. Le Brunigspass est bien plus difficile. Je pense que l'itineraire officiel "route 9" qui passe par un itineraire au-dessus du Brunigspass est encore plus dur ! Par contre, il n'y a aucun plaisir a gravir le Brunigspass car il est tres frequente par les voitures et c'est une file incessante qui double le tandem au pas... Il y a un train qui passe au Brunigspass, n'hesitez pas a le prendre !
Bon voyage !
Remi
Oui nous avons pris tous les cols indiques sur la route 9 (essentiellement col au-dessus de Gstaad et le Brunigspass) En revanche nous avons assez souvent quitte la route balisee velos pour prendre la route principale car la route a velo emprunte des contreforts vraiment trop difficiles alors que la route principale passe par les deniveles les plus faibles. Le col de Gstaad est assez facile, mais nous nous sommes fait doubler par des bus equipes de porte-velos a l'arriere. Donc si necessaire il doit etre possible de franchir le col par ce moyen. Le Brunigspass est bien plus difficile. Je pense que l'itineraire officiel "route 9" qui passe par un itineraire au-dessus du Brunigspass est encore plus dur ! Par contre, il n'y a aucun plaisir a gravir le Brunigspass car il est tres frequente par les voitures et c'est une file incessante qui double le tandem au pas... Il y a un train qui passe au Brunigspass, n'hesitez pas a le prendre !
Bon voyage !
Remi
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
Bonjour
Nous partons début Aout, 2 adultes + 1 enfant de 3 ans dans sa charrette, du lac Léman au lac du Bodensee, nous souhaitons emprunter la route n°9 , je suis sur le point de commander le guide qui répertorie l'itinéraire. cependant est ce le bon itinéraire sachant que nous avons un enfant dans une charrette, notamment en terme de dénivelé , en terme de qualité de chemin , de circulation automobile ou de facilité d'hébergemen ? est ce le chemin idéal , ou peut être faut il mieux utilisé la route n°1 puis n°2 jusqu'au Bodensee ?
je suis preneur d'infos
Une fois au Bodensee nous continuons en direction du Konigssee pour rejoindre la Bavière
merci
Bonjour Avez-vous fait la portion Bodensee-Konigssee ? Avez vous suivi l'itineraire officiel ? Pouvez vous nous en faire un petit retour ? Routes empruntees, pourcentage de pistes cyclables, difficultes, profil, passage possible avec une remorque, ... ??
Merci
Bonjour Avez-vous fait la portion Bodensee-Konigssee ? Avez vous suivi l'itineraire officiel ? Pouvez vous nous en faire un petit retour ? Routes empruntees, pourcentage de pistes cyclables, difficultes, profil, passage possible avec une remorque, ... ??
Merci
La vie est plus belle à Vélo
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Je suis en train de développer une application Web gratuite et open source permettant de planifier des voyages à pied et à vélo (voire en voiture). Un itinéraire peut être créé en cliquant directement sur la carte pour ajouter des points de passage et il peut être composé de plusieurs étapes. L'application fournit des outils pour modifier les étapes et l'itinéraire global, pour afficher des informations utiles (distances, altitudes et dénivelés). Un profil de relief peut être affiché sous forme de graphique pour une étapes particulière ou pour l'ensemble de l'itinéraire.
Quand l'itinéraire est prêt, il peut être exporté sous forme de fichier GPX, qui peut enseuite être utilisé avec un GPS ou une application mobile de navigation.
L'application est implémentée en JavaScript et exécutée entièrement dans le navigateur Web. Elle utilise la bibliothèque Leaflet et plusieurs services basés sur OpenStreetMap. Initialement développé pour mes besoins personnels (je pratique la randonnées pédestre et le cyclo-tourisme), je serais heureux de la partager avec tous ceux qui peuvent la trouver utile. Elle est libre d'utilisation, ne nécessite pas de création de compte et le code source est disponible.
Code source : https://github.com/patricklmarie/GPX-Route-Planner Démonstration en ligne : https://patricklmarie.github.io/GPX-Route-Planner/
L'application est implémentée en JavaScript et exécutée entièrement dans le navigateur Web. Elle utilise la bibliothèque Leaflet et plusieurs services basés sur OpenStreetMap. Initialement développé pour mes besoins personnels (je pratique la randonnées pédestre et le cyclo-tourisme), je serais heureux de la partager avec tous ceux qui peuvent la trouver utile. Elle est libre d'utilisation, ne nécessite pas de création de compte et le code source est disponible.
Code source : https://github.com/patricklmarie/GPX-Route-Planner Démonstration en ligne : https://patricklmarie.github.io/GPX-Route-Planner/
Hi there,
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.
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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?
Nath
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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.
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I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
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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).
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Coming soon:
https://www.Biclou.com/parcours/durance/
Starting from Faverges: 900 km over 9 days

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

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I’m planning to build a new touring bike. I want to prioritize lightness. That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads. The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper. I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork. Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm. It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring. And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear. More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
Thanks in advance
Hi everyone,
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
Hi there!
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.

It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.




One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.


We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.



Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
S.
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.

It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.




One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.


We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.



Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
S.
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
claudio

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

Hi, I'm looking for a Pino tandem bike for sale in Quebec and I can't find any. Does anyone have any info, please? Thanks a bunch!
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.
Thanks for your help! Have a great day, Alexandre
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.
Thanks for your help! Have a great day, Alexandre
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
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!
hey everyone,
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?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
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?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
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!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
A shout-out to a cycling colleague from Savoie
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php

The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php


The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

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!
Hi everyone,
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
Hi there,
I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner.
Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026.
In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically).
So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip?
Thanks in advance for your great tips.
Have a good evening.
https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
Hi, has anyone recently bought Primus or Butagaz gas, possibly puncture-style, in Dubrovnik or the surrounding area? Same question for Albania... thanks. aichatou
Hi there,
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Hi there,
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Hi! I’m planning to visit the Stockholm Archipelago by bike in early April.
Do you know if the boats will be running between the different islands at that time of year? For those who’ve already been, all your tips and recommendations are welcome—accommodation, etc. Also, do you know where I can rent a bike in Stockholm? Thanks so much in advance for your help!






