Hi,
We crossed the Pyrenees by e-bike last July, from Bayonne to Perpignan, taking small roads as close to the border as possible (25 mountain passes in 10 days). It was an absolute delight, and we can share tips with anyone interested in this experience.
Hi,
I’m really interested in your route—I’ve been touring by e-bike for two years now.
I’d started looking at following the Pyrenees on the Spanish side because there are more roads running lengthwise than on the French side, but if you’ve done it on the French side, that means it’s doable—maybe there are more mountain passes?
Did you find it easy to recharge the batteries (campsites, gîtes)? And for supplies?
What kind of motor do your bikes have? Mine’s a rear-wheel motor, and I’ve heard they can overheat on mountain passes. Since I’ve never tackled a pass with it, it’s a bit of a mechanical adventure with 35 kg of luggage.
good evening
I was really drawn to the Pyrenees but worried I wouldn’t be able to cross them from east to west due to a lack of small roads.
Turns out I was wrong, and I’d love to hear any tips you can share.
Best regards
Great job on your e-bike ride!
You can tackle quite a few routes that would be too challenging without the assistance.
Next summer, I’m planning to take on the Alps completely self-supported.
https://solar-trike.jimdo.com/sun-trip-tour-2017/
Hi there,
Our bikes are Kinetto (Canondale for the bike part and Shimano for the motor: 250W), loaded with rear panniers and Vaud handlebar bags.
We completed our journey in 10 days, with stages ranging from 60 to 86 km, each including 1 to 3 mountain passes. In the evenings, we stayed at hotels with restaurants (a good shower, a comfy bed, and a nice meal without having to lift a finger—pure relaxation!). We’d done crossings before on regular bikes: the Vélodyssée from Roscoff to Bayonne, the Veloroute 6 from Orléans to Basel, etc., pulling a trailer with all our camping gear and sleeping in a tent... It’s great, but at our ages (66 and 70), it’s starting to take a toll.
As for the route itself, I can give you more details if you’re interested, but roughly, the stages were: Bayonne, Lecumberry (near St Jean Pied de Port), Bedous, Arrens, Ste Marie de Campan, St Béat, Seix, Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Artigues (after the Port de Pailhères), Prades, Céret, Perpignan. We took the train back.
Our budget was 120 € per day for two (picnic lunch, restaurant dinner, hotel, breakfast, and miscellaneous expenses like drinks, newspapers, extras, etc.).
We had an amazing 10 days—so much so that we’re heading back this summer to tackle the 15 legendary cols of the Tour de France in the Alps! !
Hi there,
Our bikes are Kinetto (Canondale for the bike part and Shimano for the motor: 250W), loaded with rear panniers and Vaud handlebar bags.
We completed our journey in 10 days, with stages ranging from 60 to 86 km, each including 1 to 3 mountain passes. In the evenings, we stayed at hotels with restaurants (a good shower, a comfy bed, and a nice meal without having to lift a finger—pure relaxation! We’d done crossings before on regular bikes: the Vélodyssée from Roscoff to Bayonne, the VéloRoute 6 from Orléans to Basel, etc., pulling a trailer with all our camping gear and sleeping in a tent... It’s great, but at our age (66 and 70), it’s starting to take a toll.
As for the route itself, I can give you more details if you’re interested, but roughly, the stages were: Bayonne, Lecumberry (near St Jean Pied de Port), Bedous, Arrens, Ste Marie de Campan, St Béat, Seix, Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Artigues (after the Port de Pailhères), Prades, Céret, Perpignan. We took the train back.
Our budget was 120 € per day for two (picnic at lunch, restaurant in the evening, hotel, breakfast, and miscellaneous expenses like drinks, newspapers, extras, etc.).
We had 10 wonderful days—so much so that we’re heading back this summer to the Alps to tackle the 15 legendary Tour de France climbs!
Thanks almigama for your reply. The little problem is recharging without relying on hotels in remote areas (like the high Pyrenees?), where there are no campsites or gîtes.
claude 19 has the right idea (solar power). By the way, I have a question for Claude: does your trike run directly off the solar panels, or do you recharge an auxiliary battery?
I saw that "Sun Travel" offers a solar trailer, but the solar panel is only 100W, and I see that most competitors have at least 300W.
Do you think 100W is enough to recharge a 432Wh 36V auxiliary battery during a sunny day?
Hi!
I forgot to mention that we each had an extra battery, which doubled our range and allowed us to tackle stages of 90 km with up to 3 mountain passes.
As for recharging the batteries, I carefully planned the route beforehand to find stops with hotels, gîtes, or guesthouses within our range, and with a bit of searching, you can always find options—even in some mountain passes or pretty remote spots.
In my haste, I didn’t take the time to look further into the discussions, but I see you’ve already answered a few, and I’ll be able to gather some info. For the Alps, I can tell you it was pure joy—so much so that we’ll definitely do it again in the opposite direction (Nice/Thonon). Once the mountains get under your skin...
We had panniers and stayed in gîtes or hotels in the evenings.
Best regards
Thanks almigama for your reply. The little problem is recharging without going through hotels in remote areas (like the high Pyrenees?) where there aren't any campsites or gîtes.
claude 19 has the right solution (solar power). By the way, I have a question for Claude: is your trike powered directly by the solar panels, or do you recharge an auxiliary battery?
I saw there's the "Sun Travel" offered as a solar trailer, but the solar panel is only 100W, and I see most competitors have at least 300W.
Do you think 100W is enough to recharge a 432W 36V auxiliary battery during a sunny day?
My solar panels recharge the battery via a solar charger.
I have a 16Ah 36V battery, which is 576W. I have a second identical one as a backup, though I admit I never use it.
For the number of panels, 200W is enough—so two 100W panels.
The Sun Travel is good, but I find it expensive for my budget.
I got a Yframe and built a small aluminum structure to mount the panels.
If you want links, I can send you some in a PM: trailers, affordable solar panels...
I don’t regret my setup—I’m completely self-sufficient. Pure bliss... nothing stops you from going to a campsite in the evening.
I always ask for a spot in full sun 😏
Hi,
If you'd like more details about our crossings, no problem—just let me know the topics.
On the other hand, if you could share details about your Alps crossing (stages, passes, mileage, accommodation), that’d be awesome since we’re planning something in that area this summer.
What kind of bike do you have?
Thanks!
Best regards
Good evening,
I’ll try to be as precise as possible.
Day 1: Thonon to Tanninge via the Dranse Gorges – 70 km (our only rainy day).
Day 2: Tanninge to Cluses via the Col de la Colombière and Col des Aravis (km?)
Day 3: Flumet to Seez via Les Saisies, Beaufort, and the Cormet de Roselend – 75 km. Seez is just after Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Day 4: Seez to the Roselend Dam, Col de l’Iseran, Bessans.
Day 5: Bessans toward Lanslebourg, Modane via Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Col du Télégraphe (short but tough – that’s just my take!!!) to Valloire. We hesitated to go through Modane – big road, but surprisingly empty and very pleasant.
Day 6: Valloire toward the Galibier, La Salle-les-Alpes, Briançon.
Day 7: Briançon to Col de l’Izoard, descent to Avrieux, Gorges du Guil via Guillestre.
Day 8: Guillestre to Col de Vars, descent to Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, Jausiers – 43 km.
Day 9: Jausiers to Col de la Bonnette, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée – 77 km.
Day 10: Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée to Col Saint-Martin, Colmiane Valdeblore, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Tourette-Levens.
Day 11: Tourette-Levens to Nice – short day, end of the journey.
Due to lack of time and work obligations, we cut the end a bit short. Normally, we’d have gone via the Col de Turini and Sospel, I think.
For accommodations, no worries – hotels and guesthouses line the route. This was the second half of September.
Our bikes are Gitane VTCs. We lightened the panniers as much as possible: a small stove, a mug for hot drinks (which we really appreciated a few times), some food for lunch, a windproof fleece, gloves, a beanie...
Hi,
Thanks so much for all this information—I’ll check it out on the map.
We’re torn between a crossing like yours or several loops starting from one spot (in which case we’d take the camper van and the bikes on the bike rack).
Thanks again!
Best regards
Last year I did the "Grande Traversée des Alpes" from north to south, 600 km on my e-bike.
Range: 500 km. 125 cc. Super E98 fuel.
No problem. It was a blast. 😎
From your past posts on this forum, I’ve read that you don’t like e-bikes—I respect your choice, so please respect ours too.
Personally, if I have an e-bike, it’s because I can’t do it any other way. A "normal" bike just isn’t possible for me anymore. In fact, I sold my car to get an e-bike—if I give up the e-bike, it’ll be to buy an old diesel that smokes and stinks... 😏
Hi there,
Here’s the route we took in July 2016 (quick reminder: we each had an extra battery, so our range was doubled!!)
1: Saint Pierre d'Irube - Lecumberry via Hasparren, Helette, Jaxu, and St Jean Pied de Port: 60 km with a rollercoaster profile but no real mountain pass (Hotel du Fronton, half-board for 2 = 90 €).
2: Lecumberry - Bedous: via Iraty, Larrau, Ste Engrace, and La Pierre St Martin: 86 km with the Burdincurutcheta, Bagargui, Soudet, and Hourarate passes (Maison Luard, half-board for 2 = 80 €). The toughest stage of them all!
3: Bedous - Aucun: via Sarrance, Bielle, Laruns, and Gourette: 76 km with the Marie-Blanque, Aubisque, and Soulor passes (Hotel Le Picors, half-board for 2 = 104 €). A really beautiful stage!
4: Aucun - Ste Marie de Campan: via Argelès Gazost, Luz St Sauveur, and Barèges: 62 km with the Tourmalet pass (Auberge des Pyrénées, half-board for 2 = 96 €). The legendary Tourmalet!
5: Ste Marie de Campan - St Béat: via Payolle, Arreau, and Luchon: 76 km with the Aspin and Peyresourde passes (L'abri d'Arlos near St Béat, half-board for 2 = 100 €).
6: St Béat - Seix: via Castillon en Couserans: 75 km with the Menté, Portet d'Aspet passes, and the Port de la Core (Auberge du Salat, half-board for 2 = 80 €).
7: Seix - Tarascon sur Ariège: via Aulus les Bains and Vicdessos: 58 km with the Latrape, Agnès passes, and the Port de Lhers (Hotel Bellevue, half-board for 2 = 107 €).
8: Tarascon sur Ariège - Artigues: via Bompas, Cassou, Ascou, and Mijanès: 76 km with the Pas de Souloumbrie, Marmare and Chioula passes, and the Port de Pailhères (Le Sapin Rouge, half-board for 2 = 88 €). Le Sapin Rouge is definitely worth recommending!
9: Artigues - Prades: via Escouloubre les Bains, Mosset, and Molitg les Bains: 60 km with the Moulis, Garavel, and Jau passes (Hotel Rich, night + breakfast for 2 = 45 € plus dinner). Quiet little roads and beautiful scenery!
10: Prades - Céret: via Finestret, Valmanya, and Oms: 68 km with the Palomère, Xatard, and Llauro passes (Hotel des Arcades, night + breakfast for 2 = 67 € plus dinner).
11: Céret - Perpignan: via Le Boulou, Sorède, Argelès sur Mer, and Cabestany: 59 km with the Col del Fourn.
We returned to Pau, where we live, by train with our bikes via Narbonne and Toulouse.
Feel free to ask if you need more details!
Best regards
Thanks for this great itinerary! Now we just need to pore over a good map and plan our route—so far, we’ll be relying on the strength of our calves. Could you confirm that all these stages have light traffic? There’s nothing worse for me than having to share the road, unless it’s for a few unavoidable kilometers! On the Route des Alpes, we were really lucky on that front—it was mid-September 2016.
Best regards,
Hi,
The only sections where you might encounter other people are during the 4th stage between Argelès-Gazost and Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the 5th between Luchon and Cierp-Gaud, the end of the 7th between Vicdessos and Tarascon-sur-Ariège, and the 11th from Argelès-sur-Mer to Perpignan. For the rest, you're often (almost) alone or with just a few others, but we found it very manageable.
In the end, aren't you doing the crossing by e-bike?
Best regards
Hello, while doing some research I came across your post. It really caught my interest: at 65, I’ve just retired, and my teenage dream was to hike the GR 10 when I had the time (so, in retirement). Unfortunately, a recent knee problem is keeping me from racking up the kilometers on foot. Since I regularly ride an e-MTB in the Alps or the Lyonnais mountains, I thought I could swap hiking for cycling. I won’t be going off-road at all (I’ve already plotted a route on Land)—mostly small roads, around 60 km per day, staying in B&Bs or hotels. What I’d love to hear about from your experience is the technical and gear side of things.
If you’re still active on this forum, I’d be really happy to connect with you.
I traveled from Bayonne to Rivesaltes via what is now the V81, right at the foot of the Pyrenees.
We constantly ride alongside stunning landscapes. It’s flat with just one rare hill where I had to push my bike for 3 km.
It’s doable with a muscle-assisted bike.
Hello and thank you for your reply! My goal is to figure out what to pack and how to carry it.
Since October and the start of my retirement, I’ve been able to tackle routes of around sixty kilometers with some nice elevation gains. But I always head home at the end of the ride, so I have zero experience traveling for 15 days. I’ve got a Megamo VTTAE with two batteries, and the crossing is planned over 15 days with 60 km stages, staying in guesthouses or hotels. So, what clothes should I bring (in June, it can be hot, cold, sunny, or rainy)? I’m planning to cross a few mountain passes—what should I wear for the descents? Also, where and how should I store the second battery (3.5 kg)? For first-aid and repair kits, I’m guessing it won’t be too different from what I take for a day trip.
Finally, how should I pack everything? Traditional panniers with Ortlieb’s quick-rack system, or bikepacking style with a saddle bag, handlebar bag, and frame bag?
Since e-bikes aren’t always welcome on cyclotourism sites, I’d latched onto an old thread that was somewhat similar. But I’m open to any experience that could help me plan this trip. I’d briefly considered doing the Pyrenean foothills on a regular bike, but on my test rides (I’ve got an old Lejeune racing bike—it’s a bit of a relic—that’s been with me for 50 years), my knee doesn’t handle headwinds well. The electric assist solved that problem. Thanks again!
- Optionally, cycling shorts to protect your perineum.
- A spare pair of swim trunks and a t-shirt.
- A lightweight fleece jacket.
- Gloves to protect your hands, especially in case of a fall.
3-4 L of water isn’t too much when it’s 35 °C all day.
A first-aid kit:
- Your medications.
- Supplies to clean a wound (hydrogen peroxide + cotton).
- Supplies for a bandage (sterile gauze + adhesive tape + scissors).
- Tweezers for splinters.
A toiletry kit with Marseille soap for washing your body, hair, and doing laundry.
A tool kit:
- You should be able to unscrew any nuts or screw heads. Skip multi-tools—they don’t cover all needs and are heavier.
- Brake pads (or start with new ones).
- Brake cables (or start with impeccable ones).
- 3 thin, long zip ties.
- A 50 cm strap.
- A mini foot pump.
https://www.zefal.com/fr/pompes-a-pied/24-profil-travel.html
- A puncture repair kit and a spare inner tube.
- Self-sealing Michelin Protek inner tubes combined with Schwalbe tires like Marathon Plus, which are heavily reinforced.
A handlebar bag (5 L minimum, ideally 7-8 L) and two small 10 L rear panniers will be more than enough.
In the handlebar bag, keep everything you need quick access to: sunscreen, horsefly repellent, the small towel, your hat, snacks, etc.
One rear pannier will be for food + pump + tool kit, and the other for clothing + first-aid and toiletry kits.
>> Electric bikes aren’t exactly popular on cycle-touring sites,
Don’t be mistaken—we’re all getting older. There comes a time when you either stick to flat routes or get some assistance. We’re the first generation (born in the 1940s–1950s) to benefit from electric bikes, letting us extend our enjoyment despite a few aches and wear. Let’s not dismiss this option. Isn’t a bike itself already an enhancement tool? Long live assistive tech for mobility!
Thanks for all this info—it’s starting to come together in my head. With a 15-day trip, I still feel like I’m gonna forget something, and like all newbies, I’m sure I’ll overpack. The key is just not to forget the essentials. On that note, your comment about horseflies totally makes sense—I’d never forget them on a hike, but I wouldn’t have thought of them for biking. Actually, I’m realizing I can just adapt what I’d bring for a hike and not break the bank on gear (clothes, water, first aid). I’ll take the chance to tweak my bike a bit to make it more mountain-road-friendly.
Thanks again
Voyager à vélo › Espagne / France › Sud-Ouest · 7 replies
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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 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?
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
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 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?
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share with you the incredible feat my friend José, who’s 72 years old, is currently undertaking. He left Auterive near Toulouse on Monday, May 18, 2026, on his non-electric bike, heading for the North Cape in Norway!
You can follow his route on the link below—he’s currently in Sweden:
https://thierry-thomas.travelmap.net/jose-de-toulouse-a-nord-cap-2026
You can zoom in on the map and click on each stopover town to see the photos
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.
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
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
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure!
Thanks in advance.
Hi, has anyone recently bought Primus or Butagaz gas, possibly puncture-style, in Dubrovnik or the surrounding area? Same question for Albania... thanks. aichatou
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food
I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics
Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads
The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route
I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Hi! I’m planning to visit the Stockholm Archipelago by bike in early April.
Do you know if the boats will be running between the different islands at that time of year? For those who’ve already been, all your tips and recommendations are welcome—accommodation, etc. Also, do you know where I can rent a bike in Stockholm? Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Hello there, pedal-powered Young Boys!
Claudio (still from Faverges)
dreaming about a cycling getaway in Italy from Faverges (train all the way to Turin)
from Turin down to Venice along the Po River and back via the Padana (Alta Italia da attraversare – Northern Italy to cross)
The tricky part is getting from Chioggia to Venice.
I read it’s possible by hopping on a boat from island to island,
but it sounds a bit stressful.
Has anyone already tackled this route?
I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share.
First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc.
For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America.
I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).
So, I’ve got quite a few questions:
* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?
* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?
* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?
If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!
