😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I 100% agree with this take on the 200 magazine.
It’s the only one that truly talks about the activity itself—not just a pile of advertorials like the rest of the press.
Sporty, scenic, and travel-focused cycling, plus initiatives to support local craftspeople...
And when they review bikes, they feature affordable models—not machines that cost as much as a car.
Hi there,
Personally, my average is 50 km per day. Because I love understanding a region, meeting its inhabitants, connecting with the plants, trees, animals, rocks, landscapes, and people. Reading about the area too. I’m not into masochistic or competitive challenges—with myself or others—but rather building a relationship of affection, tenderness, and friendship with the region I’m discovering.
We’re in Paradise, and I’m making the most of it. I have no desire to turn my life into hell.
Your post reminds me of my pilgrimage to Santiago. Me: 20 km a day, others: 30 to 40 km. Me: happy, smiling, welcoming, open. Them: suffering, aggressive, arrogant, and insulting me. In the end, I was one of the few who made it from Arles to Santiago in one go, during the 2003 heatwave. The tortoise and the hare.
Or that competitive Belgian cyclist I met at a gathering, who looked down on me when we were introduced and refused to speak to me.
To each their own, as long as there’s mutual respect.
See you around,
Pierre
tout le monde prétend que la Terre est ronde, mais ne le croyez pas, en fait elle est plate bien sûr!
http://mandolpierre.overblog.com
The praise for "slowness" or "cool" travel also fits hiking perfectly, but I don’t mind that...
Still, the small world of "long-distance hikers" (where "long" refers to the distance covered) is indeed a unique one, but very respectable... and, in the great tradition of the genre, it proves that the bicycle is without a doubt the most mechanically refined means of transport—the vehicle—and, relatively speaking, the most efficient.
Don’t confuse it with the world of hyper-protein-packed (or overloaded) competitors or the "athletes" trying to imitate them...
4000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days
Wow, wow
That seems impossible to me
And I don’t really see the point
But hey, to each their own madness
The guy probably didn’t see much
Personally, I used to be (oak-tree style) a fan of big rides, but this goes beyond comprehension
Beyond the physical toll it takes
What about blisters on the hands, feet, ... and the, uh, backside? And the energy?
10,000 kcal a day—you’ve got to find that? On your own?? That surprises me
And the gear—it wears out, it breaks, it squeaks
Kudos for the exploit
But this doesn’t belong in the travel section
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"
Hi Pierre, I have a lot of admiration and respect for everything you’ve done, but your comparison is completely unjustified. You do touch on respect at the end, and the 200 pieces are all imbued with real humanity, an ode to life, emotions, and nature.
When you read the opening of an article that starts with: "On August 6th in Bray-Dunes (Nord), Alexandre Godin set off on the French Divide. He rode without real preparation, without hang-ups, just for the joy of adventure. Eleven days and 2,000 km of backroads later, he finished the adventure in the lead group, on the Basque coast. The French Divide is back this year. The adventure is first and foremost internal. Above all, it should be happy." It makes me want to read on, and I don’t think we’re dealing with aggressive suffering or denial of others.
Or when an article with the wonderful title *The Passengers of the Cold* opens with this paragraph: "Samarkand, Zanzibar, Ulaanbaatar were a bit too far. So here we are: it would be Thurso. Samarkand, which I preferred when it was spelled with a *k*, breathes silk and opium. If it didn’t exist, Hugo Pratt would have drawn it. Its name alone is an adventure, an Oriental scarf... Zanzibar appealed to me too. A child’s lisp mixed with a bistro can only make you dream. But Zanzibar is 10,500 km from Clermont-Ferrand... Pierre Gouyou Beauchamps, whose double-barreled name seems to churn in oil like a boat engine. We only had a week. So it was Thurso." Once again, an article written in this style—I read it almost in tears to the end. We’re far, very far from petty human meanness.
When you come across an article that begins: *Up there, the world is pure and bare. Up there is Mont Mézenc... The backroads are the most direct path to cycling happiness...* Once again, the joy of reading it is immense.
When a cyclist on a crazy crossing of 300 or 350 km a day in the mountains writes: "Fatigue stretches time, the kilometers. And also the small attentions and kindness," we’re very far from the bad human experiences you’ve unfortunately had.
When an article about a Martian is titled *Absolutely Human*, I read it with delight.
When you hear about the *Love Tour*—a fairly fast route organized every year by 200—it’s a huge community of cycling lovers, whether they’re fast or not.
When I read the fabulous article about the tour of Brittany’s bistros, we’re in ethnography, plunged into the heart of the roots of our amazing country, France!
When I read an article about the Margeride that starts with: "We climb toward the Margeride. The wind up there does a big wash. It’s the beautiful cleaning of the plateaus... You think you’re fighting against the wind and the kilometers, but they’re not the essential."
And then there are sentences like that—130 pages of them every quarter. We’re very far from your bad experiences. Unfortunately, we live in a world where we only seem to look for the negative. But I hear that’s a French specialty.
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"
I can confirm that the *200* magazine has been fantastic since the first issue, and on top of that, the latest one has a tandem test—everything’s great in *200*. Let’s support a magazine that doesn’t just talk about road "champions."
I have nothing against seeking personal achievement.
However, I don’t quite see the connection between this kind of pursuit of limits and hiking.
Why always want to walk at the edge of what’s possible?
It’s also great to stay within what you can do without constantly striving for "self-transcendence."
Competition isn’t the only way to live. Savoring simple pleasures is also a source of satisfaction and well-being.
Besides, to achieve that personal satisfaction, you often have to fight quite a few battles—not just physical ones. Personal reflection can sometimes be more complicated than using your muscles.
To be happy while hiking, I agree that you sometimes need to make physical efforts—mountain passes don’t climb themselves. You also need to push through when it’s raining or cold. And then there are personal, relationship, or other issues to work through because hiking isn’t always a two-person activity...
So that’s already quite a bit to overcome—why add more just for the sake of "I’m going to make myself suffer even more"?
Let’s try: "I’m going to give myself even more pleasure" instead!!!
I think the point of this thread is to draw attention to an interesting magazine that covers cycling in all its forms—not one that glorifies extreme feats.
Performance chasing is one way to ride, but it’s not mine. That said, it’s just as valid as any other.
No more, no less..
Hi Christian, indeed, as Mazzzz perfectly summed up, the purpose of this thread is to talk about beautiful writing on the practice of cycling in all its forms. However, it's true that through what I've written, you can detect a kind of fascination I have for fast journeys, but I also mentioned other articles whose reading brought me immense pleasure.
You touch on all the difficulties we face when setting off, especially when living with someone who doesn’t share the same vision of travel. We always leave despite a huge number of reasons not to, I know what that’s like.
When you suggest: let’s try "I’m going to have even more fun!!!" Fortunately, we’re not all wired the same way, and we don’t all seek pleasure in the same manner, nor do we all have the same abilities. I remember four years ago, crossing Laos from north to south on paved roads, I was caught up by a Chamonix local who had been on the road for 7 months. He rode with me for 3 days at my average pace, around 120 km per day, then he told me: sorry, but my flight is in Bangkok in 7 days and I still have 1,300 km to go, so I’m going back to my usual average of around 200 km, up to 250 km per day. Clearly, he was having a great time too.
On this forum, I’ve discovered true enthusiasts of impossible routes, but we quickly start communicating by email. I can assure you they feel immense pleasure traveling the way they do. And very often, the real "madmen" or "madwomen" of long-distance bike travel are humble people, undoubtedly consumed by passion. I remember encountering these "Martians" often solo, their gaze lost in the vastness when they showed me their routes through the highest mountains or the biggest deserts, far from everything.
When you practice mountaineering, even at a beginner level, you enjoy reading about the lives of Louis Lachenal, Lionel Terray, or Reinhold Messner. Likewise, sailors who do a bit of sailing during their vacations can’t remain indifferent to Armel Le Cléac’h’s feat in the Vendée Globe. And also, I’ll stop here, all hikers can’t stay unmoved by the journeys accomplished by Mike Horn, like "Latitude 0." In my opinion, this is part of the dream that helps us live. So, these "crazy" people who average over 400 km per day self-sufficiently, I can’t help but love their stories. And as far as I know, they don’t earn a cent from it, so the driving force behind their motivation is the search for adventure. But let’s not dive into the (in my opinion, sterile) debate sometimes brought up about the difference between vacation, travel, and adventure!!!😏
However, in conclusion, I’ll repeat (hoping I’m not being too repetitive), in 200 all the stories lived are told brilliantly, real literature, whether it’s a slow-paced hike over a few days or an incredible ride where you take the biggest risks by cycling all night.
Best cycling wishes, Luc
Thanks Luc for promoting issue 200. My searches for "bike" magazines in newsstands had left me unsatisfied—this magazine seems to fill a gap.
Is cycling a crossroads between sports and philosophy (of life)?
At any rate, that’s the impression I get from the previous comments...
The important thing is that everyone finds "their" own pleasure in it. It’ll never be the same for everyone, and for each person, it’ll evolve over time: more athletic at one stage of life, more philosophical at another. But I completely agree with Luc—travel stories make you dream and add pleasure to pleasure...
Happy trails to all, at the pace that suits you!
Christian
I really enjoy this kind of exchange.
No issues when it comes to respecting others: everyone finds pleasure where they want, and I often cross paths with runners going at 17 km/h. I guess their pleasure lies somewhere in that, even if I struggle to picture it. Me, I struggle to maintain an average of 15 km/h over a whole day on a bike!!!
So, even if these people seem like aliens to me, I respect their choices.
The only thing that bothers me is when I sense a kind of fascination with feats or exploits—and I reject that because I’m tired of seeing everything turn into a competition, a performance, an achievement.
When people show admiration for me because I ride 70 km a day, I refuse that admiration. Because tomorrow I might do 60 or less, and I don’t care. I cover the distance that lets me get good exercise without breaking my back, while still having time to visit, pop into churches, picnic peacefully by the river... I don’t like being told it’s amazing to ride like that.
At the beginning, I’d sometimes be so exhausted in the evening that I’d just go to bed at 8 PM without enjoying the stop at all. I worked hard for 40 years—I don’t want cycling to become as demanding as my job. So I adjusted my pace to balance the pleasure of riding with the pleasure of enjoying the journey.
Back to exploits: we’re kind of in the "record book" generation, always wanting to do more and more.
I followed the Vendée Globe closely and read a lot of their accounts. I don’t really get the pleasure of going 60 km/h, with the constant risk of breaking down, the deafening noise (sailboats are *loud* at that speed), and 20-minute naps, etc.
The pleasure here is probably in achieving the exploit itself—not in admiring the landscapes or feeling the sun on your skin. They don’t have time for that.
All this to say that, even if I can admit that some people enjoy doing 200 km a day, I stand by my point: we’re not talking about the same activity or the same hobby.
But there are happy cricket players... and marathon runners too...
Me, I do bike touring.
I came across issue 200, displayed as it was on my bike shop's recommended reading shelf, and I really enjoyed it.
It's such a beautiful magazine that I found it worthy enough to give as a Christmas gift. I immediately gave it to my cousin Henri, who in return gave me *L'usage du monde* (quite the program) by Nicolas Bouvier...
Indeed, the writing in 200 is truly beautiful, vivid, inspiring, (poetic?)—quite comparable to Bouvier. It struck me as simple and welcoming too. You move from one article to the next with appetite, finishing with the urge to read more, and the desire for a magazine of the same kind to be called 70—or why not 27... (that’s more my usual cycling pace). I felt warmly welcomed by this magazine, even though 200 isn’t really my style.
I read with great curiosity and a touch of dread (a dread of desire—does that exist?) the articles about the Transcontinental Race (9 days to cross Europe, passing through all the Alps), and the way it was told made me reconsider my old opinion that guys who devour kilometers are necessarily brutes or show-offs... All of this makes me want to ride, maybe differently than usual, though I wouldn’t go so far as to wear cycling shorts.
It seems there’s very little advertising, if any. I wonder how a magazine like that stays afloat. It gives me hope that a 71.59 issue might see the light of day.
See you,
bernarth
Hi Luc,
Hope you're doing well!
Love your post—thanks for sharing that vision of cycling, that adventure/raid mindset.
Hope we get the chance to meet up and chat about it, maybe at the top of the Vosges ridges ;)
PS: You mentioned 80,000 D+ for the transcontinental, but I think it’s more like 40,000–45,000 D+ based on the few accounts I’ve read. Still an insane challenge, though!
Have a great weekend,
Gilles
Hi Gilles, yeah, it’d be great to go chat about it on the Vosges ridges—I’ll keep that in mind.
I’m re-reading issue 10 of *200* from autumn 2016, and on page 36 there’s a rough map of the TCR 2016 route. Basically, it says 3,956 km and 86,000 meters of positive elevation gain!!! 😏
See you soon, Luc
Hi there,
I’m also a subscriber from the very first issue and I totally agree with your take on this unique magazine that never fails to inspire me with every new edition.
It’s true that the physical benchmark is high and often feels out of reach. That’s actually why I haven’t dared to join their annual love tour, even though I’d really love to.
It’s also true that performance isn’t an end in itself but rather a way to put body and mind in a position to soak up everything around them, freed by the effort and fatigue from all constraints.
I can’t wait for the next issue.
Best regards
Hi Christophe, yeah, 200 km is some great reading material. But since we're not all equal when it comes to physical ability or the desire to push ourselves, the correlation between fatigue and distance isn't always straightforward.
But if it's worth checking out the "Love Tour," even if it's just in the evening for a beer or in the morning for breakfast—if it's the latter, go on a short-stage day, with a departure around 9 a.m.
You’ll see some amazing bikes and real "Martians." During the half-stage I did, while I stopped for a quick break, I didn’t catch up to them until the midday snack stop in Vesoul—just long enough to say goodbye, since I was heading back to my car parked about 50 km away, and they were already on the second part toward Besançon. But I rode about 30 km in a great peloton, and we had a good laugh. Then, when I got dropped (even though a cyclist tried to pull me along), I rode with another straggler, and it was still fun. A great experience, even if I was completely gassed. And I’ll go back, even if it’s just for the beer!
Luc
Thanks, Luc, for encouraging my desire to ride part of the Love Tour while also confirming that it’s a smooth ride at a good pace!
Happy travels to you
Lorsque j'ai lu cette critique (Le Canard Enchaîné du 22 juillet) j'ai pensé à toi. Vélo et littérature, deux de tes passions.
Peut-être as-tu lu ce petit livre prometteur ? La critique, avec l'esprit maison déchaîné, est déjà un plaisir de lecture.
A tous les pédaleurs, les fondus de la bécane, les acharnés de la petite reine, les voyageurs en tout genre. Je vous souhaite un joyeux noël, et une très bonne…
J'ai quelques projets cyclistes mais aussi un gros souci: mes fesses sont décharnées et je souffre très facilement sur une selle. Je suis donc ici en quête de…
Vous l'avez constaté Osmand ne peut pas calculer un itinéraire longue distance. Pour certains comme moi ça n'a pas d'importance je n'en ai pas besoin je…
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
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
Hello,
Has anyone here had experience using a gas stove in Sardinia and Sicily? I’m wondering if screw-on gas canisters (not the blue Campingaz ones, but brands like Coleman, Primus, etc.) are easy to find.
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to 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?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.
Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !
Hi everyone,
Happy owner of a Pegasus Estremo bike with a Rohloff hub, which is giving me trouble with the SF11-NCX-FT-E-LITE 700C TS 300/0 fork (serial number TD01329060). It’s starting to show its age, and I’d like to repair it to extend the life of my beloved bike.
The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info.
Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)?
Any info is welcome.
Cheers,
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena
vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
I’d love to start with a section of the Via Rhona to explore and share (route to be decided).
Looking forward to exchanging tips!
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
I'm passionate about Morocco, which I cycled through back in 2009.
Last year, my wife and I explored the High Atlas by tandem. Completely smitten, we're heading back in April (Anti Atlas) and May (High and Middle Atlas), still on our tandem.
Do you have any info on the track between Amezri and Ali Ait Nito? Are the river crossings in the Tessaout still there? It's not easy to navigate with a loaded tandem... especially if the river level is high due to this year's heavy snowmelt!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes
Here are his travels
Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné
Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way
Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place
Rural and quite peaceful
A road cycling route created by Serge B...
First of all... happy New Year! Wishing you great roads in 2017!
I’ve been traveling for a few years now with a high-quality mountain bike, but it’s equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. I live (pedal) with the constant worry of a breakdown (leak, air bubble, heat causing the fluid to...). My bike mechanic tells me it’s impossible to switch them out for V-brakes.
What do you all think? Am I taking a big risk continuing (alone) with these brakes? Thanks in advance for your great tips!
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025.
It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border.
We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
Hi there,
I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner.
Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026.
In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically).
So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip?
Thanks in advance for your great tips.
Have a good evening.
https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection
