Grande traversée du Massif Central à VTT début juin
by Sancir
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour à la communauté;
Je prépare la grande traversée du massif central à vtt pour début juin; je ne suis pas un superman mais plus un épicurien en quête de bon temps et de bon moments simples. J'aime la nature aussi je prévois de dormir dehors et de profiter au maximum. Ce projet est bien entendu ouvert à qui voudra m'emboiter la roue. A bientôt LAURENT
Bonjour a toi
j'avais prévu faire la GTMC mais plutot en juillet et me derouiller le corp en mai et juin je peu eventuelement essayer de m'organiser différement en combien de jours envisage tu de faire le parcours je l'ai déja faite en 2010 et c'est tellement bon que je veux recomencer je dois etre rentré en belgique pour le 21/06 au plasir de te lire bernard
j'avais prévu faire la GTMC mais plutot en juillet et me derouiller le corp en mai et juin je peu eventuelement essayer de m'organiser différement en combien de jours envisage tu de faire le parcours je l'ai déja faite en 2010 et c'est tellement bon que je veux recomencer je dois etre rentré en belgique pour le 21/06 au plasir de te lire bernard
Bonjour BERNARD;
Merci de ton mail plein de spontanéité; une qualité très rare aujourd'hui. Comme je le dis dans mon post, je veux prendre le temps de savourer la nature je pensais à 15 jours au moins mais tu est mieux placé que moi pour répondre à cette question puisque tu l'a déjà faite; qu'en penses tu? je suis en forme physique puisque je pédale tous les jours mais je ne suis pas dans les records tout du moins pas dans ceux qui sont en haut du tableau. Ce qui me fait un peu peur avec le mois de juillet et aout c'est le risque de voir du monde sur les chemins; c'est ce que je veux fuir justement. Dis m'en un peu plus sur cette traversée; est ce vraiment nature, dépaysant, quelle sensation as tu ressenti lors de ta traversée. 0 bientôt BERNARD
LAURENT
Bonjour Messieurs,
tout abord, je tiens à dire à Sancir félicitation pour ton projet. J'adore ce coin de FRANCE, j'y vais régulièrement pour y faire des raids en vélo ou en rando!! Et depuis trop trop longtemps, je me dis à chaque fois que je vais me faire cette belle et longue traversé!! A vrai dire, je me meurs d'envie de la faire en hivernal, ainsi qu'en vélo et le tout en autonomie intégrale!! Moi ce que j'ai fait à ce jour en traversé, c'est ce que l'on appelle dans le pays toutes les pointes= Mt Aiguail, Mt Lozère, Mt du Goulet, Mt Gerbier, Mt Mézenc et enfin le Mt Pilat cette trace je l'ai faite à deux reprise dans les 2 sens,1fois Nord/Sud, et l'autre fois Sud/Nord!!Sinon j'ai fait le GR 7 en inversé Sud/Nord, mode de transport VTT!!! Ensuite, pas mal de traversé en mixant Stevenson et GR 7 en rando!!Puis en hiver 2010, les fameuse pointe en hiver de nuit, là sur route au plus près des pointe!Et enfin, l'été dernier avec mes loulous le tour de la Margeride, là aussi un mixte entre Margeride et Compostelle!!
c'est juste trop trop beau!! Ensuite j'aimerai m'adresser à Alain(Rhume), pour ce type de traversé l'idéal est un VTT et une remorque type BOB! Car comme tu le dis, l'état des piste est très accidenté!! Avec un VTC oublie et avec un VTT sans problème, le problème du portage peut être résolu en mode BUL:http://www.expemag.com/recit/chamonix-zermatt-vtt.html http://www.expemag.com/technique/vtt-bul.html
Personnellement, je sais que je vais ma l'a faire cette grande traversé!! et je vais opté pour le même style Cham/Zermat!! Enfin voilà bande de veinard, profité bien et pensé à des gens comme moi durant les moments les plus dur!! Car je suis certain que nous sommes à paquet à vouloir partir avec vous (pour ma part si j'en avais la posssibilité grrrrrr les vacances, pas possible!!)
Ah oui une dernière chose, ne sous estimé pas cette région de FRANCE même en juin il peut y faire très très froid en journée comme la nuit!!! Bon raid, donné des news une fois finit!
à pluch les poto
tout abord, je tiens à dire à Sancir félicitation pour ton projet. J'adore ce coin de FRANCE, j'y vais régulièrement pour y faire des raids en vélo ou en rando!! Et depuis trop trop longtemps, je me dis à chaque fois que je vais me faire cette belle et longue traversé!! A vrai dire, je me meurs d'envie de la faire en hivernal, ainsi qu'en vélo et le tout en autonomie intégrale!! Moi ce que j'ai fait à ce jour en traversé, c'est ce que l'on appelle dans le pays toutes les pointes= Mt Aiguail, Mt Lozère, Mt du Goulet, Mt Gerbier, Mt Mézenc et enfin le Mt Pilat cette trace je l'ai faite à deux reprise dans les 2 sens,1fois Nord/Sud, et l'autre fois Sud/Nord!!Sinon j'ai fait le GR 7 en inversé Sud/Nord, mode de transport VTT!!! Ensuite, pas mal de traversé en mixant Stevenson et GR 7 en rando!!Puis en hiver 2010, les fameuse pointe en hiver de nuit, là sur route au plus près des pointe!Et enfin, l'été dernier avec mes loulous le tour de la Margeride, là aussi un mixte entre Margeride et Compostelle!!
c'est juste trop trop beau!! Ensuite j'aimerai m'adresser à Alain(Rhume), pour ce type de traversé l'idéal est un VTT et une remorque type BOB! Car comme tu le dis, l'état des piste est très accidenté!! Avec un VTC oublie et avec un VTT sans problème, le problème du portage peut être résolu en mode BUL:http://www.expemag.com/recit/chamonix-zermatt-vtt.html http://www.expemag.com/technique/vtt-bul.html
Personnellement, je sais que je vais ma l'a faire cette grande traversé!! et je vais opté pour le même style Cham/Zermat!! Enfin voilà bande de veinard, profité bien et pensé à des gens comme moi durant les moments les plus dur!! Car je suis certain que nous sommes à paquet à vouloir partir avec vous (pour ma part si j'en avais la posssibilité grrrrrr les vacances, pas possible!!)
Ah oui une dernière chose, ne sous estimé pas cette région de FRANCE même en juin il peut y faire très très froid en journée comme la nuit!!! Bon raid, donné des news une fois finit!
à pluch les poto
pour Laurent et Alain
svp regardez cette vidéo!!
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbqNu9-D1A&feature=player_embedded
svp regardez cette vidéo!!
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbqNu9-D1A&feature=player_embedded
Salut DROPKA;
Merci pour ton post et la belle vidéo. Joli palmares à ton actif. je pars avec une remorque en effet car pour 2 semaines, il faut un peu de bouffe et matos même si j'ai l'habitude de voyager léger. Ecoute si l'envie est trop forte sache que la porte est ouverte et que tu sera le bien venu; c'est sincère. J'aimerai faire une longue traversée genre pointe nord de l'alaska vers l'ouest du canada; ça me démange de plus en plus mais en cyclotourisme. Encore merci pour tes encouragements et à bientôt j'espère.
Salut LAURENT
Bonjour ALAIN;
Biensur que c'est faisable avec des saccoches surtout si ton vtt n'est suspendu qu'a l'avant. Tu peux surement me renseigner sur la météo locale à cette époque de l'année? Merci à toi
A bientôt LAURENT
Bonsoir Laurent
heureux que mon message t'ai plu alors en 15 jours pas de probleme et même en un peu moins peut etre 12 mais comptons 15 pour le moment au sortir de l'hiver j'ai du gras a revendre et ne roule pas beaucoup je n'aime pas rouler sous le froid. j'avais prevun de m'entrainer en avril mai et juin et faire le 23 juin le raid des hautes fagnes http://www.rdhf.be/fr/accueil ensuite etre pour le 7 juillet a l'eurovelogex a mijoux http://eurovelogex.over-blog.fr/pages/Acces_facile_pour_Mijoux-4449303.html et ensuite rejoindre clermont a velo pour entamer la gtmc en mai/juin pour la remise en forme je voulais suivre la gtmv itineraire flèché de la traverssée du massif vosgien 400km de chemin forestiers en pleinne nature et enchainer avec la traversée du jura j'ai deja parcouru tous c'est itinéraire mais comme c'est bien sauvage et beau je reitere avec plaisir alors juillet il n'y avait pas tellemnt de monde sur la gtmc en general les pietons sont vite dépassé et oublié et les cyclistes vont chacun a leur rythmes si je devais modifier mes plans pour avoir le plaisir de rouler en ta compagnie ma difficulté serait d'arriver a clermont soit en train et la avec un velo c'est pas si simple soit en voiture et la je ne sait pas ou laisser ma voiture pour 15 jours en securité mais je suis assez disponible pour trouver ue solution je ne sais pas bien decrire mes emotions et ho je suis un mec et ça n'as pas d'emotions un mec ho lol mais elle devaient quand meme etre bonne sinon je resterais a la maison j'aime camper sauvage ou camping et meme je dors parfois dans des lits, mange froid ou chaud au resto ou au bord du chemin j'aime me lever tot meme tres environ 5/6h et rouler en regardant la nature s'eveiller
alors une reponse a celui qui demandais des infos pour les bagages sacoches ou remorque je suis un adepte des sacoches et trouve assez contraignant l'idée d'etre suivi de pres par une remorque mais j'avais rencontrer un cyclo avec un velo en carbone tirant une remorque et il n'avait pas de difficultée si ce n'est le cadre carbone qui avait félé
pour d'autre info n'hésitez pas
bernard
heureux que mon message t'ai plu alors en 15 jours pas de probleme et même en un peu moins peut etre 12 mais comptons 15 pour le moment au sortir de l'hiver j'ai du gras a revendre et ne roule pas beaucoup je n'aime pas rouler sous le froid. j'avais prevun de m'entrainer en avril mai et juin et faire le 23 juin le raid des hautes fagnes http://www.rdhf.be/fr/accueil ensuite etre pour le 7 juillet a l'eurovelogex a mijoux http://eurovelogex.over-blog.fr/pages/Acces_facile_pour_Mijoux-4449303.html et ensuite rejoindre clermont a velo pour entamer la gtmc en mai/juin pour la remise en forme je voulais suivre la gtmv itineraire flèché de la traverssée du massif vosgien 400km de chemin forestiers en pleinne nature et enchainer avec la traversée du jura j'ai deja parcouru tous c'est itinéraire mais comme c'est bien sauvage et beau je reitere avec plaisir alors juillet il n'y avait pas tellemnt de monde sur la gtmc en general les pietons sont vite dépassé et oublié et les cyclistes vont chacun a leur rythmes si je devais modifier mes plans pour avoir le plaisir de rouler en ta compagnie ma difficulté serait d'arriver a clermont soit en train et la avec un velo c'est pas si simple soit en voiture et la je ne sait pas ou laisser ma voiture pour 15 jours en securité mais je suis assez disponible pour trouver ue solution je ne sais pas bien decrire mes emotions et ho je suis un mec et ça n'as pas d'emotions un mec ho lol mais elle devaient quand meme etre bonne sinon je resterais a la maison j'aime camper sauvage ou camping et meme je dors parfois dans des lits, mange froid ou chaud au resto ou au bord du chemin j'aime me lever tot meme tres environ 5/6h et rouler en regardant la nature s'eveiller
alors une reponse a celui qui demandais des infos pour les bagages sacoches ou remorque je suis un adepte des sacoches et trouve assez contraignant l'idée d'etre suivi de pres par une remorque mais j'avais rencontrer un cyclo avec un velo en carbone tirant une remorque et il n'avait pas de difficultée si ce n'est le cadre carbone qui avait félé
pour d'autre info n'hésitez pas
bernard
rebonsoir Laurent
peut etre d'autres volontaires se joindrons a nous pour ce périple ? n'hésitez pas a nous contacter a bientot
peut etre d'autres volontaires se joindrons a nous pour ce périple ? n'hésitez pas a nous contacter a bientot
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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!
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https://curieuxcyclos.eklablog.fr/
https://curieuxcyclos.eklablog.fr/
😎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?😏
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?😏
Hi there,
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.
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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?
Nath
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?
Nath
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.
Source code: https://github.com/patricklmarie/GPX-Route-Planner Online demo: https://patricklmarie.github.io/GPX-Route-Planner/
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.
Source code: https://github.com/patricklmarie/GPX-Route-Planner Online demo: https://patricklmarie.github.io/GPX-Route-Planner/
Heinz Stucke has passed away.
He never stopped traveling the world since 1962.
So sad.
https://www.facebook.com/heinzstucke
https://www.facebook.com/heinzstucke
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
claudio

the trip was completed story being posted online soon 1100 km in 11 days beautiful and varied regions
claudio

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
Hi there,
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’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!
Hi everyone,
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
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
Coming soon:
https://www.Biclou.com/parcours/durance/
Starting from Faverges: 900 km over 9 days

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

Here’s the detailed Durance route starting from Briançon

Hi there,
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?
Thanks in advance
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?
Thanks in advance
Hi there!
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
S.
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
S.