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
Souhaiterais faire la traversée des pyrennes coté francais en mai ou juin 2018 avec quelque amis de 60 ans qui a un programme a m envoyer et des plans merci
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Dans notre préparation de notre tour de France après avoir fait le tour de la Corse nous aimerions traversé les Pyrénées mais sans toutefois faire tous les…
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Bonjour
quelqu'un peut il nous renseigner pour aller au Cap Nord en partant de Lyon Gerland.
quelle est le trajet le mieux adapté pour rejoindre l'euro vélo 7 ?
Combien de km de Lyon au Cap Nord par l'euro vélo 7
Le meilleur mois pour partir nous pension début mai
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!
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?
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!
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
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
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?
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
