Je pars en voyage en VTT pour une traversée du désert du Negev, j'ai besoin d'un sac de couchage léger et très compact, et j'ai besoin d'un petit coup de pouce pour choisir le bon. Les températures ne devraient pas descendre en-dessous de 3 degrés la nuit, et nous dormirons probablement sans tente.
J'ai un budget d'environ 200 euros (légèrement flexible).
J'ai fais mes petites recherches et suis arrivé à la liste suivante :
J'ai tendance à m'orienter vers le Wilsa qui annonce 600g et 2.5L sur leur site... mais les données sur le site Rayon Rando sont moins optimistes... qui a raison ?
Le Alpkit m’intéresse particulièrement également ... annoncé 865g et 2.9L pour une température confort de -4.2 degrés... la marque m'a l'air plus serieuse et plus fiable, et j'ai l'impression que le duvet me durera plus longtemps : je me trompe ? Le fait qu'il soit hydrophobe m’intéresse également (je ne me rends pas trop compte du pouvoir de la rosée dans le dessert).
Avez-vous une recommandation quant à ces 4 modèles... ou à d'autres modèles que vous pensez être plus intéressants ?
Un dernier point : j'ai l'intention de faire des voyages similaires à températures plus hautes : si vous pensez que l'un des duvets réagit mieux aux plus hautes températures (15-20 degrés) que les autres, c'est un plus.
Bonjour Larry,
Peut être devrais tu poser ces questions aux habitants du Neguev , les palestiniens ..<<;
qu'en penses tu ?
Salut Nazzzz
Les habitants du Negev sont des arabes israéliens. A chaque fois que tu vas dans un pays musulman, personne ne te demande ce qu'en pensent les juifs ou les chrétiens qui y habitent (s'il en restent encore, d'ailleurs !). Ou ce qu'en pensent les femmes ou les homosexuels. Quant au duvet, chaque duvet à ses avantages et ses inconvénients. Il faut faire un choix.
La majorité des habitants du Néguev (Nakab en arabe) étaient des Bédouins palestiniens. En 1947-1948, à partir du partage de la Palestine mandataire par l’ONU et jusqu’à la création de l’État d’Israël, la plupart d’entre eux ont été expulsés vers Gaza et vers la Jordanie. Seuls 12 % de la population arabe originelle sont restés, devenant plus tard citoyens israéliens. Avant cette date, l’économie des Bédouins était essentiellement basée sur l’agriculture et l’élevage. Mais le mouvement sioniste, comme il l’avait fait au début du XXe siècle avec l’installation de colonies en Palestine, a propagé l’idée que le Néguev n’était pas habité, les Bédouins n’étant, à leurs yeux, que des nomades sans attache permanente et donc sans titre de propriété.
La propagande sioniste est suffisamment influente pour contrefaire la vérité...
Peut être devrais tu poser ces questions aux habitants du Neguev , les palestiniens .
et dès que quelqu'un pose une question sur un trek en Anatolie, vous lui suggérez de demander aux Kurdes ? Et pour un trek en république islamique d'Iran, il faut poser la question aux Zoroastriens ?
Sinon, pour revenir à la question initiale, pour des bivouacs à la belle étoile, sans tente, je prendrais plutôt du duvet hydrophobe. Ou alors un sursac. Mais mon avis n'est pas catégorique, vu que je préfère monter ma tente à cause des moustiques (même s'ils ne sont pas nombreux, ils savent me trouver)
J'ai la même chose avec mon épouse😎 10 000 km² , le vide sidéral, pas d'eau stagnante, pas de marigot... Un seul Mosquito dans le ciel et il est pour elle 😎
Et les séjours en Gwada avec le pyjama et les chaussettes pour éviter les attaques, elle connait !!!!
Bonjour Larry, dormir avec tente ou sans tente? C'est certain qu'avoir une petite tente genre MSR de 1200 g c'est mieux, mais ça a un coût. Pourquoi pas prendre un abri MUL genre 300 g. Concernant le sac de couchage il te faudra une couverture de survie pour le poser, sable et roches sont abrasifs et le sac fragile. Pourquoi ne pas essayer la formule sur sac avec sac à viande en soie. Des sur sacs il y en a des pas mal au Vieux Campeur dans les 700 g moins fragiles qu'un sac de couchage, je crois me souvenir l'avoir payé 56 euros il y a 4 ans. Un sac à viande en soie (j'ai horreur de ce terme) une cinquantaine de g et pas très cher.
Le désert, souvent il y a du vent, je l'ai constaté dans mes traversées en Mongolie et dans l'Atacama entre Pérou, Bolivie, Chili et Argentine. Si tu dois dormir dehors sans protection avec vent, c'est dur. Tout dépend de la longueur de ta traversée, une semaine l'absence totale de protection passe mieux que durant un mois ou plus.
Les déserts je ne sais pas s'ils se ressemblent tous, mais l'Atacama à la période favorable, septembre novembre, hygrométrie zéro, absolument pas de rosée le matin, seulement parfois une gangue de glace sous le matelas gonflable à cause de la condensation du corps. Mais tu ne devrais pas être confronté aux températures des déserts d'altitude pas loin de la Méditerranée.
En tout cas bonne balade et si le cœur t'en dit, un article pour la revue CCI au retour ce serait sympa.
Luc
Il faut se dire aussi que le Néguev n'est pas immense. Deux coups de pédales et on est dans la civilisation consumériste !
Dernière précision, il y a des sites "sensibles", où les arrêts impromptus et appareils photos ne sont pas les bienvenus. Donc, bien observer les panneaux d'interdits.
Merci pour ta réponse - nous dormons à la belle étoile (ni tente ni abris). Nous prévoyons de faire ça en 4-5 jours, rien de trop long.
Pour ce qui est du sol, je pensais prendre un tapis de sol gonflable mais c'est vrai que ça a un coût également, et ce n'est pas si léger... du coup la couverture de survie me paraît être une super bonne idée !
Pour le sac de couchage en lui-même, je ne savais pas qu'un sursac pourrait suffir, je vais voir ce que je trouve au vieux campeur.
En ce qui concerne la rosée, le Neguev est un peu plus humide que le désert d'Atacama, mais ça reste très raisonnable. Pour le vent en revanche, quand on pourra on se mettra à l'abris... et puis quand on ne pourra pas on fera avec 😄
C'est à quelle période? je fais souvent du vtt dans le désert de Judée et Néguev, en avril l'année dernière j'ai eu 41° à 11h et lorsque j'ai retrouvé ma voiture à 22 h il faisait au minimum 25°, grand frileux j’étais encore en manche courte (pas sortis mon manche longue)
En octobre 2018 je vais faire un raid avec mon fils de 3 jours entre le Néguev et Judée mon duvet sera Milet 10° confort je pense pas avoir besoin de plus au pire je peux dormir avec mon maillot manche longue.
je n'emporterai pas de d'autogonflant vu le sol rocailleux du coin ..
Quant à dire que toute civilisation et a portée de main rapidement je mets un gros bemol, oui en voiture, quad ou moto, à vtt vu l'état de certain terrain tu es plutôt à plusieurs heures de pédalages de la civilisation..😉
Non non il a 25 ans l'animal (la rando sera de 3 jours) 😎
j'arrive pas à modifier le message.. en dessous de 14/15 ans sur plusieurs jours dans le désert c'est pas une bonne idée de toute façon...
Bonjour
quelles sont les moyen les plus simple pour revenir du Cap Nord sans pédaler
train, Bateau, avion ?
qui à déjà fait l’expérience ?
Merci de nous renseigner
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Bonjour,
Je dois arriver en vélo à Thessalonique à la fin Septembre et je prévois de rejoindre Istambul par la côte.
Quelqu'un pourrait m'aider à choisir la meilleure route.Sécurité, difficulté.
Merci d'avance.
Marc
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
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.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎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’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'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.
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
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
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?
