Voyage à vélo en Iran
by Fouziks
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour,
j'habite Montpellier. Je prépare un voyage en vélo de Tabriz à Bandar Abbas via Ispahan et Ciraz (retour par Dubaï). Environ 2200 km. Départ probable début août. Cherche éventuellement coéquipier(e) motivé(e). Je suis preneur des conseils de ceux qui ont fait ce parcours. Doit on prendre d'abord l'avion vers Téhran puis le train pour Tabriz ?
Doit on prendre d'abord l'avion vers Téhran puis le train pour Tabriz ?
c'est une possibilité. On peut aussi atterrir à Tabriz (il y a des vols internationaux pour Tabriz), ou arriver en train depuis Ankara.
Entre Tabriz et Ispahan, vous pouvez passer par le Kurdistan iranien. Ce n'est pas le plus court chemin mais c'est chouette.
c'est une possibilité. On peut aussi atterrir à Tabriz (il y a des vols internationaux pour Tabriz), ou arriver en train depuis Ankara.
Entre Tabriz et Ispahan, vous pouvez passer par le Kurdistan iranien. Ce n'est pas le plus court chemin mais c'est chouette.
par Bijar, Hamadan ? Prendre des photos est il dangereux ?
le Kurdistan commence une cinquantaine de km à l'ouest de Hamadan, et les vallées les plus jolies sont un peu à l'ouest de Sanandaj.
Prendre des photos en Iran ne pose aucun problème sauf si vous visez des objets "sensibles" qu'il est interdit de photographier (postes de police, ambassades, casernes, ministères, usines d'armement, etc). Théoriquement cette interdiction s'étend aussi aux aéroports et aux gares, mais il n'est pas rare que des Iraniens se photographient dans des gares. En cas de contrôle, si vous avez par mégarde photographié quelque chose qu'il ne fallait pas, restez calme et répondez poliment aux questions. Ca devrait se terminer par l'effacement des photos interdites sans trop d'autres ennuis, sauf si vous avez un comportement, un profil ou des documents qui éveillent les soupçons des agents.
Prendre des photos en Iran ne pose aucun problème sauf si vous visez des objets "sensibles" qu'il est interdit de photographier (postes de police, ambassades, casernes, ministères, usines d'armement, etc). Théoriquement cette interdiction s'étend aussi aux aéroports et aux gares, mais il n'est pas rare que des Iraniens se photographient dans des gares. En cas de contrôle, si vous avez par mégarde photographié quelque chose qu'il ne fallait pas, restez calme et répondez poliment aux questions. Ca devrait se terminer par l'effacement des photos interdites sans trop d'autres ennuis, sauf si vous avez un comportement, un profil ou des documents qui éveillent les soupçons des agents.
Merci de la réponse !
je suis à l'écoute de vos (tes) conseils éventuels.. la route au sud est elle désertique ? Peut on trouver de la nourriture régulièrement ?
bien cordialement
Daniel, 62 ans, (à Montpellier)
je ne connais pas la route Shiraz - Bandar Abbas. Ca doit être un peu désertique, mais sur cette route il y a des villages toutes les qq dizaines de km, donc a priori pas de problème de ravitaillement. Suffit de prendre un peu plus d'eau que d'habitude si on y passe en été. Ceci dit, même si vous n'avez pas un gros stock d'eau, il y a des chances pour que de temps en temps, un automobiliste s'arrête pour vous proposer de boire quelques gorgées de sa bouteille (les Iraniens sont très hospitaliers, et en plus, laisser quelqu'un souffrir de la soif est un grand péché dans la culture des chiites d'Iran).
Mais c'est mieux d'avoir du stock, ça permet de bivouaquer n'importe où en route si on est fatigué ou si on voit un joli coin.
Bonjour,
Je suis en train de préparer un voyage en vélo en Iran d'un durée de 15 jours. Je suis qu'a début de mes recherches. J'hésite entre l'ouest Iranien ou le Centre du pays (sud Theran). J'ai l'impression que le Centre est plutot touristique, tandis que l'Ouest est un peu plus typique.
Pour un voyage à vélo, suariez vous me conseiller une région plutot qu'une autre ?
Quelles expériences avez vous eu en Iran ?
Merci
l'Iran est un grand pays. En 15 jours à vélo on n'a le temps d'explorer qu'une petite région. Les grandes villes du centre sont plus touristiques, et entre les grandes villes, c'est plus ou moins aride et peu peuplé, mais avec parfois de beaux paysages bien dépaysants. L'ouest est différent, un peu moins dépaysant au niveau paysages, et bien moins touristique en effet. "Plus typique", ça dépend de quoi. Le centre de l'Iran est persan au sens propre, l'ouest est kurde ou azeri. Et si les villes du centre sont touristiques, c'est parce qu'il y a de belles choses à visiter...
Un itinéraire limité au nord-ouest, et quand même intéressant et varié, pourrait être Ispahan - Kashan - Marivan - Tabriz , mais attention, ça fait déjà 1300 km. Je conseillerais de choisir des tronçons de liaison à faire en bus ou train, pour profiter des tronçons à vélo sans que ce soit la course (j'avais pris un bus de Kashan à Hamadan, et il me restait 3 semaines pour aller d'Ispahan à Tabriz)
Un itinéraire limité au nord-ouest, et quand même intéressant et varié, pourrait être Ispahan - Kashan - Marivan - Tabriz , mais attention, ça fait déjà 1300 km. Je conseillerais de choisir des tronçons de liaison à faire en bus ou train, pour profiter des tronçons à vélo sans que ce soit la course (j'avais pris un bus de Kashan à Hamadan, et il me restait 3 semaines pour aller d'Ispahan à Tabriz)
Merci pour ces infos. Votre blog est aussi excellent !
Quelle différence entendez vous entre "persan" et "kurde" ? Est-ce d'un point de vue architecturale ? Ou plutot culturel ?
Pour faire simple, notre idée est de partir en Iran à vélo. Et, nous cherchons la région la plus intéressante pour un séjour de 15 jours au mois d'avril. Les critères pourraient être une bonne roulabilité de la route (pas trop de montagne, route agréable pour un cycliste - pas d'autoroute, pas de longue ligne droite...). Aussi, la possibilité de faire du bivouac (endroits plutot discrets pour en pas déranger, avec rivières). Et, enfin, croiser un village chaque jour (pour le ravitaillement, et aussi pour les visites). Ma crainte en allant au centre est que les points d'intérêts soient trop éloignés les uns des autres (je dois vérifier les distances).
Nous pensons avancer sur un rythme de 70km par jour approx et ne sommes pas fermés à prendre bus ou train (pour gagner du temps) s'ils acceptent les vélos.
Mes questions sont très générales, j'en suis désolé. Je cherche un avis extérieur pour arriver à orienter au mieux mes choix. Encore merci.
Quelle différence entendez vous entre "persan" et "kurde" ? Est-ce d'un point de vue architecturale ? Ou plutot culturel ?
Pour faire simple, notre idée est de partir en Iran à vélo. Et, nous cherchons la région la plus intéressante pour un séjour de 15 jours au mois d'avril. Les critères pourraient être une bonne roulabilité de la route (pas trop de montagne, route agréable pour un cycliste - pas d'autoroute, pas de longue ligne droite...). Aussi, la possibilité de faire du bivouac (endroits plutot discrets pour en pas déranger, avec rivières). Et, enfin, croiser un village chaque jour (pour le ravitaillement, et aussi pour les visites). Ma crainte en allant au centre est que les points d'intérêts soient trop éloignés les uns des autres (je dois vérifier les distances).
Nous pensons avancer sur un rythme de 70km par jour approx et ne sommes pas fermés à prendre bus ou train (pour gagner du temps) s'ils acceptent les vélos.
Mes questions sont très générales, j'en suis désolé. Je cherche un avis extérieur pour arriver à orienter au mieux mes choix. Encore merci.
Quelle différence entendez vous entre "persan" et "kurde" ?
ce sont des cultures un peu différentes. Les Azéris d'Iran sont très proches des Persans au niveau culturel et architectural mais parlent une langue proche du turc ; le Kurdistan est plus différent (sunnite et non chiite, plus patriarcal, plus traditionaliste). Au niveau architectural, le nord-ouest de l'Iran est moins riche, par contre pour rouler à vélo, j'ai trouvé ça sympa. Mais attention : c'est montagneux. En avril il pourra faire encore frais en altitude dans le nord, mais c'est une bonne saison pour visiter l'Iran.
la possibilité de faire du bivouac
on peut facilement, simplement selon les régions, soit il faut porter de l'eau, soit on n'est jamais très loin d'une ferme. Dans ce 2ème cas, il y a d'assez fortes chances qu'on soit invités chez l'habitant. Cet inconvénient est très agréable, c'est juste un petit peu fatigant à la longue si on veut rouler à la fraîche le matin...
Ma crainte en allant au centre est que les points d'intérêts soient trop éloignés les uns des autres
oui. Sur certains trajets transverses dans le "centre" (un centre assez étendu) de l'Iran, on peut avoir des tronçon de 100 à 150 km sans rien, et les distances entre les grandes villes touristiques sont de l'ordre de 400 km. Mais assez souvent, il y a un petit hameau tous les 60 à 80 km : c'était la distance entre caravansérails à l'époque de la Route de la Soie.
ce sont des cultures un peu différentes. Les Azéris d'Iran sont très proches des Persans au niveau culturel et architectural mais parlent une langue proche du turc ; le Kurdistan est plus différent (sunnite et non chiite, plus patriarcal, plus traditionaliste). Au niveau architectural, le nord-ouest de l'Iran est moins riche, par contre pour rouler à vélo, j'ai trouvé ça sympa. Mais attention : c'est montagneux. En avril il pourra faire encore frais en altitude dans le nord, mais c'est une bonne saison pour visiter l'Iran.
la possibilité de faire du bivouac
on peut facilement, simplement selon les régions, soit il faut porter de l'eau, soit on n'est jamais très loin d'une ferme. Dans ce 2ème cas, il y a d'assez fortes chances qu'on soit invités chez l'habitant. Cet inconvénient est très agréable, c'est juste un petit peu fatigant à la longue si on veut rouler à la fraîche le matin...
Ma crainte en allant au centre est que les points d'intérêts soient trop éloignés les uns des autres
oui. Sur certains trajets transverses dans le "centre" (un centre assez étendu) de l'Iran, on peut avoir des tronçon de 100 à 150 km sans rien, et les distances entre les grandes villes touristiques sont de l'ordre de 400 km. Mais assez souvent, il y a un petit hameau tous les 60 à 80 km : c'était la distance entre caravansérails à l'époque de la Route de la Soie.
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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?
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here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
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the trip was completed story being posted online soon 1100 km in 11 days beautiful and varied regions
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A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
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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

Tout d'abord... bonne année ! De belles routes à vous en 2017 !
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Qu'en pensez-vous ? Est-ce que je prends un gros risque à continuer (seule) avec ces freins ? D'avance je vous remercie pour vos bonnes idées.
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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!
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?
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio

Hi there,
I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share. First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc. For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America. I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).
So, I’ve got quite a few questions:
* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?
* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?
* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?
If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share. First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc. For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America. I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).
So, I’ve got quite a few questions:
* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?
* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?
* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?
If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Calling all travelers.
We’ll be landing at Lyon Airport and want to bike to La Verpillière train station (with panniers and camping gear, etc.) to catch a TER to Voreppe.
What’s the safest route for this bike trip?
Thanks in advance
hi,
I'm planning a recumbent bike trip from the Pyrenees to Greece. On the EuroVelo 8 route, it doesn't specify the path through the Alps.
Are there any experienced cyclists here who can tell me where they go to avoid climbing too high?
Also, is there another traveler/bike forum better suited for broadening the responses?
thanks






