Bonjour à tous,
Nous prenons la route en Janvier pour un an en Amérique du Sud, de l'équateur à Ushuaiia.
Au fur et a mesure qu'on commande et qu'on choisi du matériel, on se rends compte que la qualité se paie de toute facon.
Alors pour notre lit ... on prends LA référence thermarest. Le problème est le choix de la monture. Vu qu'il sagit de notre lit pour un an on aimerait quelque chose de confortable,
D'ou l'hésitation entre:
1°) Prolite 4 Large (63*196) - épaisseur 3, 8cm - poids 936 g
2°) Trail comfort Large (63*196) - épaisseur 5cm - poids 1445 g
Vu la différence de poids est ce que le confort du trail comfort est vraiment très supérieur avec les 1, 2cm d'épaiseur supplémentaire ?
Merci aux utilisateurs de vos conseils éclairés par l'expérience...
A bientot
Le poids VS le confort, éternelle question. Ma femme dit que le le 5 cm est plus confortable et c'est vrai, c'est indégnable (nous avons les deux modèles). Néanmoins le 3 cm et confortable aussi. Personnellement je dors sur le ventre, alors un 3 cm est suffisant. L'important c'est de le poser sur une surface bien plane exempte de cailloux et branches. En terme d'isolation (car n'oublions pas que ces matelas isolent aussi du froid) ils sont équivalents. Pour moi le confort du 3 cm est suffisant, je préfère mettre les 500g dans une tente plus confortable, spacieuse) ou un duvet plus performant.
On essaie vraiment de privilégier le confort sans trop éxagérer dans le poids non plus, mais bon pour un an il vaut mieux etre bien chez "soi".
En lisant ton message j'ai l'impression qu'il vaut mieux qu'on opte pour les 5cm ...
Pour le moment on a une tente de 3, 8kg très spacieuse (la décath 4 ultralightpro) avec un auvent pour enfermer les vélos dans le volume, c'était un des critères pour la tente histoire de pouvoir passer le plus inaprcu possible quand il faut.
Et les sacs de couchages Bionassay -6 down en duvet de mémoire 1, 5kg environ.
7kg pour deux + les thermarest ... avec les 3, 8cm on rajoute 2kg
avec les 5cm on rajoute 3kg ... ce qui ferait 10kg pour le couchage donc 5kg par vélo ... est ce que c'est vraiment exagérer ??
J'ai un artiach de 3 cm d'épaisseur que j'utilise sur un matelas mousse à face alu de 0, 7cm d'épaisseur (200grammes, 5euros).
C'est confortable.
Cela protége l'autogonflant des petits cailloux et limite le risque de crevaison.
La mousse me sert en dehors de la tente directement sur le sol (sieste, repas ...) ce qui est trop risqué avec l'autogonflant (crevaison)
Le surcroit de volume n'est pas un inconvénient dans mon cas car j'ai une remorque, et la mousse est pliée au dessus du sac qu'elle protège.
Mon autogonflant est en 120 de long car mes jambes sont protégées par la mousse.
J'ai pris un modèle court pas uniquement pour le gain de poids ou de volume mais parce qu'il tiens mieux la pression "en haut" sous les épaules (l'air ne part pas dans la zone des jambes).
Mais au niveau thermique c'est un peut être peu juste pour le bas, (vers les jambes et vers Ushuaiia 😛).
C'est vrai que je pourrais prendre un regular avec mon metre 75, mais elle fait 1m85 donc le metre 83 du régular va etre un petit peu short.
Sauf que j'ai tendance à me balader pendant la nuit... et que sur 51cm avec une largeur d'épaule de 47cm ... je me dit que je vais souvent finir mes nuits par terre
🙂
A l'usage est ce que les 51cm te paraissent suffisants ou est ce que les 12 cm de plus seraient les beinvenus ?
C'est vrai que l'idée du mousse suplémentaire en dessous j'y avais jamais pensé !!
Et c'est vrai aussi que ca peut etre bien pratique pour manger etc...
On fait passer les 3, 8cm à 4, 5 cm donc gain de confort... je vais méditer à cette solution !!! merci 🙂
(pour le froid une autre technique efficace ... il suffi de mettre une couverture de survie entre le sol et son matelas et sa coupe le pont thermique !)
Pour moi ça va, je me plaint pas de la largeur (je ne suis pas un gros gabarit en largeur (64kg), je mesurerai ce soir :-))
j'ai jamais passé non plus un an d'affilé dessus....
12 cm de plus, c'est presque le luxe :-).
pour ton amie effectivement ça serait juste un regular.
l'idée du tapis en dessous est bien je pense.
C'est vrai que les 12 cm de plus c'est du luxe ... 🙂 (mais je fais plus 85 kg que 65 😉 )
Mais ce n'est pas une grande folie au niveau budget pour une fois !!!
Tout doucement (et grace à vos précieux conseils !!) je me dit que je vais me tourner vers les prolite 4 Large avec un mousse d'un 1 cm pour la sieste et la bouffe etc ... il y a de l'idée la dessous !! et des combinaisons innatendues !
Disons qu'on a un petit confort très rapide et facile à replier !
J'utilise deux 183cm/50cm/3cm (le tout premier regular de chez ThermARest) que nous couplons ensemble par un systeme de lanières cousues en 8 qui permet de maintenir les matelas cote a cote pendant la nuit. Le gain de place est significatif meme si qd on est désolidarisé la largeur de 50 me parait suffisante. les bras sont parfois a l'exterieur du matelas mais cela ne gene pas vraiment. Je pense que les matelas cours sont bien opur les expeditions courtes avec un climat chaud, mais la longueur sous les jambes me pariat necessaires des qu'on veut une isolation thermique efficace. Les matelas long permettent aussi de monter une treck cher (toujours chez TAR) tres confortable (pour le repos des reins) et bien utile pour les pauses dejeuner. Je n'ai pas constater de mauvaise répartition de l'air comme il est dit précédemment, mais cela doit dépendre des modeles
et des marques.
Rapport a la tente, la D4 est super spacieuse c'est vrai, mais je lui reporche d'avoir une tente interieure devant se monter obligatoirement avant le double toit. Sous la pluie c'est la galere.
C'est vrai que pour la tente "intérieur" de la D4 c'est un peu galère en cas de pluie mais je trouve qu'en rapport - prix - poids - encombrement - dimentions ... elle était vraiment imbattable ...
Merci pour les infos d'utilisateurs des tar .
Maintenant on va encore un petit peu discuter et pi il faudra trancher ...
Choisir n'est pas renoncer ??
Si vous avez d'autres avis ou d'aurtes astuces n'hésitez pas !!
Les matelas longs permettent aussi de monter une treck cher (toujours chez TAR)
Tu parles du système qui permet de faire une sorte de chaise de camping avec le matelas ??
Ca m'intéresse, as tu des références pour le trouver ?
liens internets ect... prix, photo ; TAR c'est une marque ????
Je n'ai pas constaté de mauvaise répartition de l'air comme il est dit précédemment, mais cela doit dépendre des modeles
et des marques
Je me suis mal exprimé ;
ce n'est pas une question de marque ou de modèle, c'est physique.
L'air se déplace là où il y a moins de pression.
Quand je m'allonge, mes 70kg s'appuient principalement sur les épaules et les fesses, et comme il y en a peu d'appui vers le bas, au niveau des jambes, c'est donc là où va aller l'air.
Si tu marches sur un matelas pneumatique de 180cm de long, tes pieds touchent le sol ("il passent à travers").
Si tu marches sur un oreiller gonflable de même épaisseur mais que de 40cm de coté tu ne toucheras pas le sol.
Donc plus c'est court plus ça tient la pression (heu plus le matelas est court ...)
Bonjour
as-tu regardé chez exped.com Suisse
super produit : matelas fourré de duvet ou de micro-fibres se gonflant avec le sac d'emballage, bien plus isolant et confortable qu'un thermarest, environ 150€ pour 7cm (downmat7 ou syntmat7) en 178cm de long pour 1kg et encombrement mini( plus compact qu'un thermarest long en 2, 5cm).
peu diffusé en France
à+
François
TAR = ThermARest, désolé pour le raccourcis un peu rapide.
Le site de la marque présente la treck chair. Je pense qu'il est meme possible d'en faire une avec un matelas court. La treck chair existe en 2 dimensions (2 largeurs). On la trouve facilement dans tous les magasins de montagnes le vieux campeur a lyon doit la proposer.
Le site sportshop.fr propose une réduction sur certains matelas Thermarest. C'est l'occasion pour moi et ma copine de nous équiper. Nous hésitons entre deux…
Ca fait plus d'une heure que je recherche un comparaison entre ses deux matelas sans avoir trouvé une réponse, je m'en réfère donc à vous!!! Mon copain et moi…
Lors de mes recherches sur le net je suis tombé plusieurs fois sur ce forum donc je me suis dit que ce serait intéressant d'y demander de bons conseils. Après…
Je prépare actuellement une traversée de l'Europe et de l'Asie à vélo (départ prévu pour Avril 2021 sauf si contre-indication du COVID). Je me pose aujourd'hui…
Devons changer nôtre réchaud car l'équilibre est très instable avec la bonne dimension de casserole...avez vous des suggestions de rechaud pour une casserole…
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?