Hi there, We’re leaving from Montreal and planning to bike the Petit Train du Nord route. Any ideas for loops so we don’t have to return the same way? We’re thinking of a one-week trip. Thanks in advance for your tips! Rachel

Hello,

I’m planning to cycle from Paris to Prague in three weeks. It’s the worst time of year temperature-wise, especially since I’m pretty sensitive to the cold. But I don’t have a choice about either the timing or the destination (it’s a break between two jobs that just happens to fall during this period, and I’m heading to Prague to meet friends for a specific event in mid-February).

So it’s going to be *very* cold. And while I’ve done a few relaxed one- to two-week bike trips before, I’ve never cycled in winter. That’s why I’d love your advice on two things! :)

1- Accommodation along the route On my previous trips, the weather was more forgiving, so I always brought my tent and didn’t have to worry about accommodation logistics. But this time, it’s a whole different story—I won’t be able to sleep outside (too cold + it gets dark too early). So I need to plan all my lodging in advance.

I’ve looked at a few existing threads about cycling from Paris to Prague, but they all focus on campsites/tents since the timing allowed for outdoor sleeping. Does anyone know: 1- If those campsites, which seem to be fairly evenly spaced along the route, have winter facilities (I assume most close in winter, but you never know)? This is especially important for the German and Czech sections (I’ll be fine in France). 2- How easy it is to find affordable youth hostels everywhere, and if so, whether I should book them in advance?

2- Winter cycling gear Since I’ve never cycled in winter before, I don’t have the right gear. I’m particularly concerned about gloves and shoes, since my extremities will take a beating. What shoes would you recommend for temperatures around 0°C? I don’t plan to cycle in winter again after this, and all my other trips have been in regular running shoes, which worked just fine for me. So I’d prefer not to spend a fortune on super technical gear that I’ll only use once. But I also don’t want to skimp on cold protection—being freezing could ruin the whole trip. So if the only solution is "super technical" shoes, I’ll go for it.

> What shoes do you wear or recommend for simple bike trips that keep your feet warm and dry? > Does the overshoe option (over a pair of regular sneakers, for example) seem like a good solution? (I just discovered overshoes—I have no idea how effective they are.) If so, are Decathlon’s overshoes good enough, or should I go to a specialty bike shop?

Thanks so much!

(Oops, sorry for the novel...)

Hi, Like every summer, I’m looking for a (not too distant) destination to cycle with my family for about 3 weeks. I’m drawn to the EuroVelo 1 route in Portugal. Do any of you have information to share? Are there sections that are more or less difficult? Routes that are more or less safe? I’ve heard that Portuguese drivers aren’t very cautious on the road, especially around cyclists. Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

Hi fellow bike-packers, so I’m heading out solo by bike this spring, like I do every year—around 1,500 to 2,000 km in total. This time I want to explore the south of France. I’ll start by meeting up with a buddy in Ariège, and after that the road’s wide open toward the east, aiming for Drôme. If anyone has route ideas—especially quiet backroads, places I can wild-camp pretty much anywhere, and climbs that aren’t too steep—I’m all ears! Thanks, and see you around here or on the road. Take care.

Bonjour, Je prévois de faire la partie hollandaise de l'Eurovélo 19, de Maastricht à Rotterdam. Comme c'est trop compliqué d'amener mon vélo en train, je cherche à louer un vélo sur place. Je suis preneuse de conseils ou d'adresses de loueurs de vélos, j'ai du mal à en trouver même à Rotterdam. L'idée serait de le louer à Rotterdam, de partir avec en train jusqu'à Maastricht, pour faire Maastricht/Rotterdam à vélo Merci d'avance pour vos conseils ou suggestions. Nath

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

Hi fellow travelers! I’m planning a trip to Japan from March 22 to April 12 and really want to bike the Shimanami Kaido starting from Onomichi, but I don’t cycle regularly. Has anyone here done it and could share their experience or tips? Is the weather in March-April favorable? Should I plan for 2 or 3 days? Electric or regular bike? What’s better—having my luggage forwarded along the route or leaving it in a locker? Any recommendations for accommodations or bike rentals? Thanks in advance for your replies!

I'm currently exploring how to create a travel itinerary using AI, specifically ChatGPT.

Question: Bike route from Bordeaux to Paris.

Rough response:

A bike route between Bordeaux and Paris is an incredible adventure, typically around 600 to 650 km depending on the chosen path. Here’s an example of an itinerary with key points:Main Option: La Scandibérique (EuroVelo 3) La Scandibérique is the French section of EuroVelo 3, connecting Bordeaux to Paris through stunning landscapes. This route is well-marked and takes you through small roads and greenways.Main Stages

Bordeaux → Libourne (about 40 km)

Follow the Garonne River, cross the vineyards of Entre-deux-Mers, and reach Libourne, a charming wine town. Greenways available.

Libourne → Périgueux (about 100 km)

Cross the Dordogne with stops in villages like Montpon-Ménestérol. Mix of quiet small roads and trails.

Périgueux → Châteauroux (about 160 km, in several stages)

Through the Parc Naturel Régional de la Brenne. This stage is longer but rich in nature and heritage.

Châteauroux → Orléans (about 110 km)

Reach the banks of the Loire to enjoy the famous Loire à Vélo, a beautiful section with châteaux.

Orléans → Paris (about 140 km)

Pass through the Forêt de Fontainebleau before joining the bike paths along the Seine all the way to Paris.

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

Hi, I’m planning a bike trip in Italy starting from Pisa to Cinque Terre and I’m looking for a company to transport two suitcases. The suitcases are picked up in the morning at our hotel and dropped off at the next hotel along our route. I’m looking for something like *La Malle Postale* in France, which some people use on the Camino de Santiago. Thanks for your feedback!

Hello, I'm looking for a small town where we can eat and stay near the canals of Brittany to do short bike rides of about 50 km round trip. Ideally, it would be a town at a junction of several canals, but I'm not sure if that exists. Otherwise, a town like Redon with the Nantes-Brest canal and, on the other side, the Vilaine River. But I don’t know if there are paths that can be used along these canals.

Thanks for replying if you have any ideas.

Cheers, Néo.

Hi everyone, We’re planning a trip to Cambodia from November 30 to December 21, 2025. We haven’t decided yet whether we’ll land in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. We’re thinking of covering between 800 and 1,000 km by bike, but we’d rather not bring our trusty rides all that way. Has anyone here already tried buying bikes locally? Do you know if it’s easy to pick one up once we’re there? We’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips you might have. Thanks so much, everyone!

Who among you has explored northern Italy along the Mediterranean, in Liguria? I’m dreaming of cycling there from Nice, crossing through villages like Menton, Ventimiglia, Dolceacqua, Apricale, Monte Ceppo, Triora, Ponte di Nava, Ormea, Garessio, Ceva, Mondovì, and Cuneo.

Beyond that, it’s the route toward Queyras in France via the Col dell’Agnello, on the slopes of Monte Viso.

A few questions for those who know the area: Is it interesting by bike? Is the road surface decent? Is car traffic low, or at least manageable?

We had this plan back in 2009 as part of a Nice-Rome crossing, but we ended up doing it differently. I might get to revisit it this summer (solo this time, not on a tandem like we usually do).

Looking forward to your thoughts and comments!

We’re planning to cycle along the Baltic coast this summer, from Flensburg all the way to the Polish border—and maybe even a little farther along the Polish coast. By e-bike and staying in hotels (we’re not exactly spring chickens). Any tips? Challenges, places to stay, signage? Other thoughts?

Hi! I’d like to cycle from Basel to Budapest in August and then take the train back to Besançon. Which website should I use to book, and how far in advance do I need to reserve my tickets?

Thanks for your help!

Hello, I have a TX400. We're heading to the Andes this spring, and I wanted to see about changing my cassette to switch from an 11-35 to an 11-42 so I can tackle the big climbs more easily. So far, I've only found discussions from cyclists who switched from a 48-36-26 chainring to a 44-32-22. Has anyone kept the original chainring and just changed to a larger sprocket?

Hi, I’d love some info on this GT20 route in Corsica. Thanks for your feedback!

Hi,

I’ve browsed the forum but can’t find an answer to my question: Which brand offers bikes suitable for bike touring for an 11-year-old / 140 cm tall? The D4 range is really limited... We’re looking at covering about 50/60 km max per day.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

A firsthand account of a 30-day cycling trip (the length of the visa) in southern Vietnam, from Hue to the Mekong Delta. 1,500 kilometers pedaled in December 2022 and January 2023.

Roads and Traffic The roads are generally in very good condition. The secondary road network is limited. Since Vietnam is a densely populated country, needless to say, traffic is often heavy, including on secondary roads. Cyclists, along with pedestrians, are at the very bottom of the road-user hierarchy. In short, when you're on a bike, you never have the right of way. The atmosphere is deafening—Vietnamese people honk all the time. For a Western ear, it's hard to tell the difference between a honk that just signals someone's presence, one that warns of imminent danger, or an angry honk. 😏

Weather Vietnam is a long, narrow country (1,600 km). The weather isn’t the same in the north, center, or south. I cycled through the central part in December. Even though the monsoon peak had passed, I still encountered a lot of rain. Since the monsoon usually lasts until January, it might be better to cycle there starting in February. I was in the Mekong Delta in January. The best season, as it’s the driest month with the least hot temperatures. At this time of year, the prevailing winds come from the northeast. So, it’s better to travel from north to south. That way, you’ll usually have the wind at your back.

Accommodation I always stayed in hotels without ever booking in advance. Typically, I paid between 10 and 20 € for a double room with a private bathroom and AC. To find hotels, I used Google Maps and Maps.me. Wi-Fi is available for free almost everywhere.

The Route Hue → Danang → Hoi An → Nha Trang → Phan Rang → Tan Son → Dalat → Di Linh → Mui Ne → La Gi → Vung Tau → Nha Be → My Tho → Tra Vinh → Can Tho → Cao Lanh → Tranh Hoa → Trang Bang I took the train from Danang to Nha Trang. Not all trains accept bikes, so you’ll need to check beforehand. The railway handles bikes—they’re packed by staff and travel in the same train but in a freight car. I paid 14 € for the ticket plus 7 € for the bike (there’s an extra 0.50 € to pay upon arrival).

The Verdict So, is cycling in Vietnam worth it? If you enjoy biking in traffic, then yes. Otherwise... 😎

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.

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

Hello young cycling enthusiasts, I’m starting a thread about the bike route known as venaissia.

Claudio took advantage of this February 2026’s mild weather to check out what it looks like.

Here we go—story and photos coming soon: http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-venaissia/

The plan was to go from Faverges to Cavaillon and explore the Via Venaissia a bit. A crazy idea? Maybe, but don’t forget that the month of February—"februare" in Latin—means "to purify," so it’s the Month of the Lupercalia, a Roman festival that was a purification rite. So, to purify himself after the feasts of the Saturnalia, Claudio set off (from an oak tree, no less) to pedal south.

He returned a little soaked but alive: The stages were as follows: (to be continued)

overall impression: good signage, but Claudio still managed to get lost in cities like Orange and Carpentras... Cavaillon... got lost several times, but thanks to the map and GPS, he got back on track... Nice route, sometimes a bit boring, quiet, deserted (normal given the weather), threatening skies, but he escaped the rain.

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! !

Hello, I’m 72 years old and I’m flying to Beijing from Rome on March 26th. My return is planned for May 11th from Ulaanbaatar to Frankfurt. I’m thinking of buying a cheap bike in Beijing and riding to Hohhot, stopping to see the Great Wall of China along the way. From Hohhot, I’ll take the train to cross the border and get off at Sainshand in Mongolia, then continue to Ulaanbaatar. Can anyone give me some tips? Thanks! Gérald

I have 5 months left to prepare for the most ambitious project of my life...

In 5 months, I’ll hit the road, heading to Nepal. Not by plane. Not by train. But by bike.

13,000 km, 18 countries crossed. Powered only by my legs, my will, and a dream.

This journey isn’t just a physical challenge. It’s:

🌍 A human and cultural adventure, meeting locals, landscapes, and traditions. 🌱 A meaningful project: discussing climate change and, above all, listening to those who experience it daily. 🔥 An inner quest, to push my limits and inspire others to step out of their comfort zones. A message of hope for self-discovery.

I have 20 weeks left to: ✅ Finalize my route ✅ Gather the budget and equipment ✅ Sort out the logistics ✅ And most importantly… find committed sponsors to bring this adventure to life.

Any help is welcome!

Good evening, I’m planning a solo bike road trip along the EuroVelo 6, starting from Orléans all the way to Budapest, beginning May 1st, 2026! Question: Have any of you used the Warmshowers site, and if so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on using this app—whether responses to hosting requests are generally satisfying, especially for the different countries I’ll be crossing! Thanks in advance for your tips! Philippe

Hey fellow cyclists, Cyclists on trails, paths, or greenways—why do so few (if any) of you use your bells to warn walkers, runners, and other pedestrians when they’re moving in the same direction as you? I exercise every day (brisk walking) among you in France and abroad, and it’s something I’ve noticed—often with a few scares (and I’m guessing some accidents between cyclists or with pedestrians). Personally, I always stick to the rules, walking on the left (facing traffic) so I can see you coming, but not everyone does that—neither pedestrians nor cyclists, and let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a free-for-all. 🤪 Your bikes make little to no noise, so why take risks and put others at risk too? A quick, light *ding-ding* would be enough to warn people—what do you think? 😅

Hi everyone, We’re planning to spend 5 months cycling as a family in Central Asia. To align with the weather, we’re thinking of arriving in Uzbekistan in April, heading toward the Ferghana Valley in late April/early May, and wrapping up with a long stretch in Kyrgyzstan from mid-May to early August.

I haven’t really dug into the third part (Kyrgyzstan) yet, but from what I’ve seen on the forum and online, cycling across Uzbekistan doesn’t seem all that appealing: long, straight desert stretches with lots of trucks.

Has anyone come across any "hidden gem" routes they’d be willing to share? I’ve already noted that it’s best to avoid riding toward Tashkent. I’m looking for routes between Bukhara and Samarkand, and any nearby areas that are nice for cycling.

I’d love to fly into Dushanbe to reach Samarkand, but we all agree that it’s not a good fit for the season (early April) if we’re cycling, right?

Thanks for your feedback! Ludo

Hello fellow cycling friends,

I’m heading out very soon for a few weeks in France and elsewhere on my trusty two-wheeled steel steed, with a total of me + luggage = around 120 kg gross weight, and I’ve never really tackled mountain passes before—something I’ll definitely be facing this time...

Currently, I’m running 700c wheels and a Deore XT 10-speed drivetrain (long-cage derailleur) with a 26/36/48 chainring setup and an 11-36 cassette. I’m considering two options (and possible modifications) to get a lower gear ratio (currently 0.72) and spin more easily on steep and mountainous climbs...

1 – Install an 11-42 cassette This would give me a gear ratio of 0.61. Would this be feasible with my current rear derailleur, please?

I have several new chains with 116 links—would these work for this cassette, which would have 6 more teeth on the largest cog, or would I need a longer chain?

2 – Swap the 26-tooth small chainring for a 24-tooth one This would give me a gear ratio of 0.66. Would this be feasible, please?

When switching to a 24T, will the gap be accepted by the 36-tooth middle chainring, and will shifting remain as smooth as it is now? Will this setup (24/36/48 + 11-36 cassette) still work well together, in your opinion?

Which of these two options do you think would be more feasible and preferable?

What drivetrain and gearing do you use on your bikes for loaded touring that sometimes involves climbing mountain passes and other steep ascents?

So many questions... Thanks for your answers and advice! Have a great day,

Spady

Hi everyone, I’m seriously considering going bikepacking with my Brompton (6-speed model) on a mixed route of roads and bike paths for a trip lasting a few days or even a week. I know the Brompton isn’t the typical touring bike, but its compactness and practicality really appeal to me for combining train + bike travel and staying super mobile. I’ve got a few questions, and I’d love to hear your experiences or tips:

What panniers or luggage setup do you recommend for a Brompton in travel mode? Have you run into any specific limitations (comfort, carrying capacity, elevation gain, etc.)? Should I adjust any components (tires, gearing, saddle) to make it more durable for multi-day trips? Do you prefer wild camping or lightweight accommodations (hostels, campsites, etc.) with this kind of setup? Finally: what types of routes do you think a Brompton handles well? (And what should I absolutely avoid?)

I’d love to chat with others who’ve tried (or are considering) the Brompton bikepacking adventure. Thanks in advance for your insights! 🚴‍♂️ Happy riding,