Pour cet été, j'ai comme idée de remonter la Loire de Nantes à sa source avec une remorque Bob. Je prévois environ 2 semaines...si tout va bien.
Je fais appel à vous pour trouver des hébergements à prix modiques (20 à 30 euros la nuit au maximum dans des gîtes d'étape) pas trop loin du fleuve. En effet, comme je serai tout seul, la solution du camping me paraît trop éprouvante physiquement. Je ne suis pas un grand athlète capable de porter ou de tirer de lourdes charges.
Pour les gites, voir http://www.gite-etape.com/RechercheGite.php3
Quelques auberges de jeunesse aussi, voir http://www.fuaj.org/ et http://www.auberges-de-jeunesse.com/index.php
attention, même en gite, la place n'est pas garantie sans réservation. Des groupes entiers peuvent investir le gite, surtout le week-end.
Les gites ne sont pas toujours juste au bord de la Loire, il faut parfois s'en écarter de 5 à 10 km.
Belle et bonne randonnée.
PS Le pb de la charge en vélo ne me parait pas aussi cruciale qu'à pied avec le sac à dos. Quelques kilos de plus sur le vélo, ça se compense par un changement de pignon au dérailleur. Bien sur on va moins vite, mais l'effort reste à peu prés le même.
- si tu vas uniquement en gîtes, pourquoi trainer une Bob ? c'est des kilos inutiles (7, 3) sauf si ton vélo n'accepte ni sacoche de guidon (cintre carbone ?) ni grosse sacoche de selle (tige de selle carbone ?).
- je ne vois pas trop ce qu'il y aurait d'éprouvant physiquement dans le camping avec un matériel adéquat ?
Sinon super parcours (j'ai descendu la Loire de Digoin à Nantes en avril dernier), bonne idée.
Une AJ a Saumur, près du camping, qui n'est pas mal, et pas trop chère (dans les 15 €) mais je pense qu'il faut réserver. Sinon, warmshower est un site de cyclos qui peuvent t'héberger gratuitement si besoin. Plein de gens sympa le long de la Loire. Cependant, je trouve moins fatigant de porter une tente dans mes bagages que de me taper des longues étapes pour rallier des hébergements réservés depuis longtemps (ya du monde, sur la Loire, en été...). La liberté est au prix de quelques efforts supplémentaires!!!
Merci pour toutes vos suggestions qui me font découvrir des possibilités insoupçonnées, mais me posent aussi de nouvelles questions...
J'avais choisi les hébergements en dur parce que le matériel de camping me semble à la fois lourd et encombrant à transporter (tente + popote + matelas...). Et comme en plus, je dois transporter un peu de bouffe d'avance à cause d'une allergie alimentaire 😕 qui ne me permet pas de passer au dernier moment dans n'importe quelle boulangerie ou épicerie, je me disais que ça faisait lourd.
Finalement, la question se déplace un peu et se pose maintenant en termes de : camping ou gîtes ?
Je crois que camping ou gite, c'est une question de budget. Maintenant, pour le prix de 3 ou 4 nuits en gite ou hotel, tu peux te payer une bonne tente légère et un duvet correct dans une grande surface qui commence par d et finit par on.
L'avantage du camping, c'est que tu n'as pas besoin de réserver et qu'alors le voyage se fait vraiment à ton rythme: tu t'arrêtes quand tu veux, voir où tu veux si tu aimes le bivouac en sauvage, mais sinon c'est pas les campings qui manquent le long de la Loire, ce qui n'empêche pas de "réserver" une ou deux nuits auprès de gens sur warmshowers ou couchsurfing pour rencontrer des gens sur la route, en donnant d'abord un ordre d'idée de la date puis en téléphonant deux jours avant pour confirmer ta date d'arrivée.
Pour la question du poids, vu que le chemin de la Loire à vélo, c'est (quasi) que du plat, tu peux allègrement charger ta bob, je n'ai jamais vu de différence à la tirer avec quelques kilos de plus en terrain plat (pour les côtes, c'est vrai, c'est pas la même 😕...) C'est vrai que pour ta bouffe, il faudra prévoir trois quatre jours d'avance, mais pas plus, tu trouveras partout des grandes surfaces (dont tu peux te procurer les coordonées à l'avance si ça te stresse, et même les appeler pour savoir si ils ont ce qu'il te faut avant).
Pour répondre à miju69, Je prévois de partir de Nantes entre le 16 et le 20 juillet. Ca ne dépend pas que de moi, mais ce sera dans cette "fenêtre" là.
Merci pour toutes vos réponses à la fois sur le matériel et les possibilités d'hébergement. je vais prendre un peu de temps pour aller consulter les sites que vous m'avez indiqués.
bonsoir
nous avons fait la loire à vélo l'an dernier avec ma femme et mes 2 enfants , remorque +vélo et sacoches , seulement sacoche pour ma femme , j'ai pratiquement tout porté :2 tentes , duvet , réchaud, dans la remorque , vu le parcours plat c'est pas difficile, quand au manger , les villages traversés permettent de s'approvisionner facilement;les tentes sont vites montées ;le chargement est correct:(le plaisir était pour mes garçons qui me lachaient avec aisance sur ces parcours)
bonne aventure pour cet été
Bonne route, je viens d'en faire une portion, évitez absolument le camping Belle-rive à Candes Saint martin, il est sale et une guinguette passe de la musique jusqu'à 1h du mat.
Bjr Hervé ; As-tu fait ton périple le long de la loire comme tu l'envisageais ? Si oui ;je serais intéréssé de savoir en combien de temps tu l'as fait et si la partie orléans à la source est aussi facile que la 1ere partie ? Car c'est une rando que j'aimerais faire de bout en bout.Je connais la LOIRE de part et d'autre de TOURS de GENNES à BLOIS et donc pourquoi pas entièrement . Merci
Djack
J'ai fait ce voyage cet été en 11 jours de Nantes à la source. Pas de problème particulier pour la route même après Saumur. Il suffit de suivre les panneaux et le fleuve en changeant de côté de temps à autre pour ne pas avoir la tête tournée toujours du même côté et risquer le torticolis. 😉
Il y a parfois des passages un peu longs et pas très intéressants à mon avis. Mais c'est un avis personnel. J'ai beaucoup apprécié la fin du parcours à partir de Saint Rambert avec les gorges de la Loire et la dernière étape à partir du Puy.
Merci pour ta réponse ; donc en me prévoyant 15 jours...c'est faisable car je roule trankil cool .Certes il y a des passages cetainement moins agréables à l'oeil mais n'est ce pas la mm chose un peu partout. Quoique j'ai fait le tour du lubéron et n'ai pas de souvenirs d'endroits moins beaux les uns que les autres...tout n'était que charme...mais tout est en fonction des goùts de chaque individu. Bon vent à toi Djack
je sais qu'il est tard pour la réponse mais ça peut servir à d'autres
aller sur le site www.openrunner.com
pour l'instant l'outil n'est complet que pour utilisation avec "carte google"
là vous pouvez tracer votre route (un peu moins facile qu'avec googlemaps)
choisir le mode piéton
vous pouvez demander l'affichage des gites d'étape, gites ruraux, chambres d'hôte
(à partir d'une certaine échelle)
remarque :
- vous pouvez basculer vers "carte ign" pour visualiser sur carte ign
- l'aide s'obtient à partir des "?", je n'ai pas trouvé de doc générale
- pour retrouver vos cartes il faut utiliser "recherche"
- pour ceux qui veulent embarquer une cartographie minimale :
une fois votre route au point
enregistrez votre route sous votre compte
vous avez alors accès à différents renseignements et la possibilité d'imprimer le morceaux de carte affiché telquel.
il suffit d'imprimer morceau par morceaux
bien sûr l'impression de votre système vous donne la possibilité d'enregistrer dans un fichier (sous linux vous pouvez imprimer dans un .ps ou un .pdf)
Voyager à vélo › France › Bretagne / Ouest · 5 replies
Quelques infos avant de repartir vers l'est (si quelqu'un sait comment suivre la marne jusqu'au canale de la marne eu rhin je suis preneur!). En attendant,…
Voyager à vélo › France › Bretagne / Ouest · 8 replies
Je reviens d'une très belle aventure, ou chacun de nous s'est bien amusé! Joao (moi) et Séverine, 35 ans; Amandine 12 ans et Julien 9 ans... A NOUS LA JOIE DU…
Voyager à vélo › France › Centre / Ouest · 5 replies
Début Juillet, avec un ami nous avons pour projet de réaliser le parcoure suivant: Nantes (44) Azay-le-Rideau (37) via Angers (49) par les bords de Loire. Et…
Nous sommes 4 couples tourangeaux, la soixantaine passée et nous habitons Tours. Nous préparons notre "rando cyclo" via la Loire à Vélo pour mai 2015. Départ…
Hi,
what are the easiest ways to get back from Nordkapp without pedaling—
train, boat, or plane?
Has anyone already done this?
Thanks for sharing your tips!
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!
Hi,
I need to arrive in Thessaloniki by bike at the end of September and I plan to head to Istanbul along the coast.
Could anyone help me pick the best route? Safety, difficulty.
Thanks in advance.
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?