Je suis nouveaux sur le forum.
Comme ils est difficiles de trouver de très bon vélo au Laos, quel est la procédure pour emmener sont vélo par avion?
Si vous avez des bon plans pour louer des vélo au Laos, ils seront les biens venu.
Merci à vous tous pour une réponse à se sujet.🙂
Quelles zones veux tu visiter ?
A Vang Vieng on peut louer des VTT.
Pour l'avion il faut démonter le vélo et le mettre dans un carton.Voir les sites des différentes compagnies .Sur Lufthansa c'est 300€ aller retour
C'est bien d'avoir un très bon vélo au Laos. Encore faudrait-il qu'il y ait de très bonnes routes ... !
Les grands axes seront corrects, mais c'est surtout en sortant de ceux-ci que les découvertes sont intéressantes. Et parfois le vélo n'est pas le meilleur moyen, plutôt le scooter.
laurent
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
en Février 2011 ma soeur et une amie nous ont rejoint à Vientiane pour trois semaines de vélo au Laos. Nous voyagions depuis un an avec nos vélo et elles venez nous visiter et faire du vélo avec nous. Nous sommes arrivés une semaine avant elle pour leur trouver deux vtt a louer ou à acheter. Honnêtement nous avons tout fait et ça a été très difficile: nous avons fait plusieurs marché à vélo mais c'est vraiment du bas de gamme, nous avons fait les agences de voyage qui propose des circuits vtt mais ils ne louent pas leur vélo en dehors, nous avons été au magasin de vélo de bonne qualité tenu par un français mais il ne louait pas non plus etc...
Nous avons finalement parlé avec le proprio de notre Guest House (Syri 1 guest house à Vientiane, près du stade en centre ville) qui nous a dégotté deux VTT avec 3 plateaux , 27 vitesses. Bien sûr les VTT n'étaient pas exceptionnels mais on les a un peu retapé: frein, selle etc... et finalement ma soeur et sa copine ont fait trois semaines avec et ça a été nikel. Elles n'ont pas eut de problème mécanique ni rien.
Le vélo est un des meilleur moyen pour visiter le Laos, effectivement les routes ne sont pas bonnes mais on a fait moins de kilomètres c'est tout! Et au contraire le scooter ne me parait vraiment pas recommendé car nous sommes passés par certaines pistes praticables seulement en vélo ou à pied et surement pas en scooter. En plus tu es obligé de faire le plein d'essence ce qui limite vraiment ton indépendant car il n'y a pas des pompes partout...
Bon je concède, le vélo est certainement un bon moyen, mais comme tu le dis, sur certaines pistes c'est rude. A cause des trous, des cailloux et surtout des dénivelés !
Nous avons parcouru par exemple le plateau des Boloven en moto (une Honda 223cc) sur des pistes et du goudron, cela aurait été faisable en vélo, mais nous y avons passé 4 jours, alors en vélo c'est minimum x 2. Autre exemple, depuis Luang Prabang, tu peux aller aux chutes de Kouang Xi. La route est goudronnée et excellente, mais ça grimpe sacrément ! Enfin, je sais que cela ne fait pas peur aux passionnés de la petite reine.
Autour de Vang Vieng, il y a aussi quelques pistes sympas, elles sont faisables tant en vélo qu'en scooter ou moto, mais là aussi, les dénivelés peuvent être importants et certains chemins peuvent être des lits de rivière et dans ce cas-là, le vélo est moins pratique. Quant à l'essence, on en trouve partout, il y a plein de petites échoppes qui en vendent, au litre, au demi-litre même, en bouteille ...
Bref, peut-être que mon jugement était dû à mes mollets peu entraînés, mais si vous parcourez le Laos en vélo, attendez-vous à de sacrés dénivelés, à des pistes où cela secoue bien. Par contre, ce qui est certain, c'est qu'avec ou sans moteur, le 2-roues est un moyen idéal de découvrir le pays.
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
Salut
Vélo sur place
Je n'ai jamais vu de très bons VTT au Laos, on en a loué, ... mais c'est vraiment du basique chinois, en mauvais état en plus. Si tu pratiques assidument le VTT, tu vas forcément être très déçu.... Emmener son VTT est svt la meilleure solution, mais... selon les compagnies aériennes c'est cher ou compliqué.
En gros 3 cas de figure
- une fois rien à payer, rien à emballer, tu devais toi même amener le VTT près de la soute de l'avion , et des employés le chargeaient et l'attachaient dans la soute.
et gratuit, destination la Crète. Je crois que c'était Air Méditerranée. (pas sûr)
- une fois sur le Maroc, il fallait emballer le VTT dans un carton, selon certaines dimensions, donc il fallait démonter pas mal de choses, pédales, guidon, roues pour respecter les dimensions autorisées et c'était une somme modique, je dirai 30 €. Je crois que c'était la RAM (Pas sûr). Le pbm ensuite, était de trouver un coin dans l'aéroport pour stocker le carton pour le retour. (On l'avait caché derrière un stand de location auto avec l'accord des employés)
- une fois je m'étais renseigné pour la Thaïlande , j'avais déjà le billet d'avion, et le supplément transport VTT était assez élevé: 250 € je crois, et là aussi il fallait emballer le VTT et j'avais laissé tomber, surtout qu'après, on allait sur le Laos en bus et train.
En fait tout dépend de la compagnie, chacune a ses propres règles niveau emballage et prix. Il faut le demander au moment où tu achètes le billet d'avion, après c'est trop galère.
Au Laos le VTT est parfait ... à ceci près qu'en juillet aout, c'est un peu galère à cause de la chaleur... et de la boue , puissance 10 ici selon les pluies tombées dans la nuit....
Il n'y a pas de difficultés particulières à propos du terrain, du moins si tu pratiques le VTT en France... Mais les vélos loués étaient assez minables....et pas en très bon état en plus. On en a utilisé du côté de Muang Sing, luang nam Tha, Champassak, Houssay .
Par contre pour visiter les villes, il n'y a pas mieux que le vélo...
Bon voyage
Gilles
Bonsoir,
Effectivement, il vaut mieux avoir ton propre vélo si tu veux sortir de la route 13. Ça dépend aussi de la durée de ton voyage, comme certains en témoignent ici, un VTT de loc doit pouvoir tenir 2 à 3 semaines, après, c'est peut-être plus aléatoire s'il est bien secoué.
Je pense que tu as déjà un vélo, sinon, penses au vélo pliable; ça permet de prendre l'avion plus facilement.
Bon voyage
Thaïlande/Laos à vélo 2017/2018 voir récit, itinéraire et photos sur mon site
Je suis alle a velo de Vientiane jusque la frontiere chinoise et puis a l'ouest vers Thailande. C'etait en hiver donc la saison seche. Je trouvais les routes assez bonnes et il y avait tres peu de voitures, une belle combinaison. La denivelation, oui, mais des paysages magnifiques et des villages traditionels. La route entre Vang Vieng et Luang Prabang n'est pas facile, mais des centaines de cyclotouristes traversent cette region superbe chaque annee. Je ne voulais pas visiter Laos "facilement" en voiture, en bus, ou a moto. J'imagine que c'est pareil pour les autres cyclotouristes. Chacun a sa maniere de voyager.
Bonjour,
Emporter son vélo est assez facile mais tend à coûter de + en + cher. AF/KLM font depuis peu payer 400 euros AR.
Si tu pars de Paris tu as un large choix de compagnies qui incluent le vélo dans la franchise bagages (la Thai par exemple).
De ma province, il reste BA avec un tarif correct et une durée de vol courte.
Sinon pour éviter de payer le supplément il faut prendre Easyjet vers Paris...mais c'est compliqué.
Pour aller depuis BK au Laos : Thai et AirAsia sont égales : la Thai est généralement plus chère mais AirAsia fait payer l'équipement sportif.
Sinon tu peux de BK voler vers Udon Thani dans l'Issan puis faire le trajet jusqu'à Vientiane en vélo (3h).
Sinon, évite de penser à la location sauf si tu veux faire de courts trajets.
Pour l'avion, j'ai utilisé la première fois le système du carton que j'ai abandonné (mal commode à l'aéroport, carton ouvert systématiquement, etc...) pour le sac le plus léger possible que je ne ferme pas avec un cadenas. Le vélo, roues démontées, est bien identifié comme tel et je l'entoure de couches de papier alimentation (que l'on trouver dans tout 7/11).Le tout pèse 18 kgs avec casque, pompe, trousse de premier secours, outils, camelbag, etc
Il faut consulter les sites des compagnies aériennes pour les conditions d'embarquement pour les équipements sportif. Paris Bangkok avec Ethiad en janvier 2012, nous avions nos vélos dans des sacs décathlon, roues et pédales démontés 23 kg maxi en soute et 7 kg en cabine, 585 € aller retour, aucun probléme, les vélos sont récupéré à l'arrivé dans un endroit reservé aux bagages hors gabari.
Cordialement, PILAN
D ici quelques jours j arriverai a Luang Parbang avec mon velo (je fais le trajet depuis la frontiere thailandaise en Bateau). De la je compte descendre tout…
Je prevois un parcours a velo de Paksé à Vientiane en décembre avec qq crochet à l'est (boloven, Lak sao...) J'hésite à amener tente et sac de couchage, pensez…
Je suis en Thailande et je pense passer la frontiere avec le Laos, au pont de l'amitie, dans les prochains jours. Savez-vous si le passage est toujours…
Je prépare un tour de Vientiane à Sukhothaï, en suivant le Mékong, puis Loei, à partir de là quelqu'un pourrait-il me renseigner sur la suite de l'itinéraire:…
Peut on mettre son velo sur le toit ou dans la soute des bus au cambodge et laos ou l'acces sera refuser a chaque fois. Je parle des bus non vip. si quelqu'un…
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?
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 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.
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.
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 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 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
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.
