Will 2010 be the year I finally resume my Silk Road journey?
I’m hoping so, starting again from Yerevan in Armenia and continuing through Iran.
To simplify the visa situation, though, I might just do a round-trip flight from Lyon to Tehran and focus on exploring a single country: Iran. A three-week getaway in August, from the Armenian border to the Turkmenistan border.
I’ve got all winter to prepare for this next destination...
Change of plans. I’ve got my ticket to Tashkent. So from July 31 to August 20, 2010, I’ll be on the Silk Road after all, between Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, and Margilan near the Kyrgyzstan border.
Hi Corinne, hi Enzo,
Great news I just read! What made you decide to head back to South America? The movie? Going back to chase images left behind? Any regrets about missing certain routes, landscapes, or encounters during your first trip? When are you leaving? What’s your main motivation?
That’s a lot of questions—I’m just really curious!!!!!
Best to you both!
See you soon
For us, it’ll be the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal de Bourgogne with our 8-year-old daughter in July for about 3 weeks—around 400 km. Not bad for the little one!
Cheers,
Nico
Hi there,
I’m taking on a challenge and a dream: On July 18, 2010, I’ll be riding the Tourmalet stage with a few folks from Quebec http://www.veloquebecvoyages.com/destination-etape-du-tour-de-france-2010 and over 8,000 participants in the peloton.
After that, a more relaxed week from July 19 to 25, cycling from Bordeaux to Arcachon (vineyards and beaches) with www.espace-randonnee.com.
I’ve been prepping since September 2009 (training, nutrition), and I really think I’m gonna have a blast.
Hi Enzo and Corinne,
when are you leaving and what’s your itinerary? Who knows, maybe our paths will cross?
I’m planning to arrive in Ecuador in late September/early October. After that, it’s Peru , then Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
Speaking of Ecuador, there was a show on France Inter today about Charles Marie de La Condamine, an 18th-century French explorer and scientist who led an expedition in the Andes to measure the Earth’s meridian. Apparently, there’s a monument on the "line" with his statue where you can have one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. Where is it? I don’t want to miss it . I know you’ll say, "It’s on *the Line*," but *the Line* is 40,000 km long—I don’t feel like biking the whole way to find La Condamine’s monument .
Pierre.
Pierre, Corinne, and Enzo, I’ll be following your prep for this South America crossing with great interest—and even more so your actual trip, especially in Ecuador where you’ll have one leg in each hemisphere. That sounds magical!!!!
Enzo, will you be using your website to document your journey?
Looking forward to more conversations between you all, which I’ll be keeping an eye on through this post or another one you might start.
After Les Landes last summer with our 3-year-old son, we're heading to Sweden this summer: our flight tickets are booked. We're thinking about the hold transport bags for our gear (2 bikes + 1 Trek Go bug trailer).
By the way, if anyone has bike transport bags to sell or rent, we're interested!
We're going for about 10-15 days and haven't finalized our itinerary yet.
If you have any route suggestions, places, or spots to recommend, don't hesitate—we're flying in and out of Stockholm...
For me, living in Buenos Aires and needing to leave the country in May, things will wrap up with a counterclockwise tour of South America for at least 8 months: from Buenos Aires to Ushuaïa, then heading back up through Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina...
My goal is to be in Ushuaïa by December 31, 2010, to ring in the New Year there...
Hi there,
this is my first project, taking place in June 2010—a tour of Brittany starting from Pas-de-Calais, sticking as much as possible to the coast.
Departure on May 29, return on June 27.
Solo for now.
Anyone interested?
For info, search for "Brittany bike June 2010" in the search bar.
Hoping for good weather!
Hi there :)
For us, it’ll be a bike tour around Africa, starting from Lyon, and (hopefully) returning to Lyon.
We’re aiming to leave in July 2010.
In a month or two, we’ll have made enough progress on the project to share it here with the more experienced folks who can weigh in on its feasibility... (countries we’ll cross, gear we’ve chosen, etc.).
In the meantime, I’m reading, selecting, and dreaming ;)
I can’t see myself traveling any other way than by bike.
With gas, you get around. Without an engine, you *travel*.
So it’ll be by bike and a bit of boat.
You’re never safe from the unexpected, but this trip is measured in years, not months.
We’ll have musical instruments and drawing paper to keep a travel journal.
Short stops to savor the mountains and countryside of France, the coast of Spain, surely the Portuguese beaches, and definitely the Moroccan ones. Then... always heading south.
Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina, Togo, Benin, (Nigeria??), Cameroon, Gabon, (Congo?), Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Réunion Island to visit my friend Doud, who’s moved back there.
After that, we’ll return to France via Kenya, Tanzania, then up through Egypt, and Israel, Turkey...? Or maybe head to Latin America? Asia? India, Nepal, China, Tibet—spending several months in a community to practice Kung Fu... The ideas are wide open, especially since everything could change depending on the people we meet.
Plus, in January 2011, there’s the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal.
http://www.africansocialforum.org/francais/forum.htm
A chance to dive into global and African issues, help shape alternatives to the dominant economic, political, and environmental systems. Another Africa is possible...
And biking the France/Dakar route would be a little jab at those who do it by motor.
That’s what’s been unfolding in my head for the past few months, and it’s becoming more concrete every day...
I’m already set with my budget, gear, route, and administrative formalities.
I still need to leave my apartment in March to get rid of a good chunk of my stuff.
And I’ve got to fine-tune the health, insurance, and visa aspects...
For my part, I'm planning to leave from Beijing in early July. I'll be cycling 700 km across China to reach Mongolia, then 1,000 km to cross Mongolia from south to north, followed by 700 km around Lake Baikal...
I’m scheduled to return in early September.
For now, I’m going solo and can’t wait to get started!
Hi everyone, I’m delightedly preparing a trip to Mongolia :) planned for August and September 2011. I’m looking for as much info as possible since I’d like to follow a clean, fish-filled river to help with my food supplies by fishing. Also, if anyone wants to get rid of an audio method for learning Mongolian like Assimil, I’m interested. In the meantime, I’ll be between Agde and Toulouse in June along the Canal du Midi, and in July, I’ll be canoeing and biking in the Marais Poitevin :) :) Safe travels, everyone.
Less exotic:
Starting from Haute-Provence by train to Bordeaux, then Bordeaux-Arcachon (to see the ocean), and returning to Haute-Provence. Departure at the end of July. Planned route along the lateral canal to the Garonne, up to Montech (Montauban), and then we'll see...
Mirabo junior (12 years old) has agreed to come. He’s talking about it more and more. This will make it possible to include people who might have been put off by the "sporty side 😉 "
hello
we're leaving Ankara in a few days, heading east, hopefully to Kathmandu. Maybe we'll see each other in Uzbekistan...
safe travels...and fair winds to everyone!!!
www.roulmaloute.com
Hi ipe,
Back in 2008 I bought Louis Simon Roy’s "conversation guide," which was super helpful (way more than Lonely Planet—like, knowing how to order steak fries in the Altai isn’t exactly a game-changer). Learning Cyrillic isn’t hard at all...
For spoken practice, I’ve been working with his "initiation method" for two months now, putting in 3–4 hours a week. I’ve gone through 8 of the 12 lessons, and it seems really productive—this little combo of themed texts, translations, grammar, plus audio discs to ease into the language. It’s one of those "agglutinative" languages, as the experts say, with sounds that twist our tongues and ears a bit.
There are a few noticeable typos, but they’re not too distracting and actually keep you on your toes. It’s super pedagogical, methodical, and practical.
I’m pairing it with an online Mongolian-French lexicon http://www.istb.univie.ac.at/mongol/dico/, in preparation for a six-week trip this May–June to put it all into practice.
You can find his method for sale on www.voyagemongolie.com.
Let me know if you need anything!
Hi there!
My plan for this year? Simple—I’m sticking modestly to France.
Leaving on May 17th from Tournon in Ardèche with two friends to visit the Roquefort caves and see the Millau Viaduct.
We’re set to return to Morestel in Isère on the 27th, so 10 days later and around 900 km, heading back up through the Drôme and Vercors.
Gilles
Hi everyone,
For me, things are getting more concrete—it's D-42! I leave from Toulouse, then fly to Toronto, take the train to Vancouver, and after that, I'll bike south.
I just put my blog online here:
http://grandpedaleurlibre.org/
It’ll keep evolving over the next few days because I’m still making technical tweaks so I only have editorial updates to do during the trip.
hi pvirlo
if I understood correctly (D-42), you won’t be joining us for the Beaujolais weekend at the CCI?
Actually, your trip shouldn’t be too tough—you’re just heading downhill to Ushuaia.
Wishing you tailwinds for your ride.
Hi there,
Two mini plans on the agenda from April 6th to April 18th: the Cathar castles from Cucugnan to Pamiers, then the feeder canal for the Canal du Midi starting from Lake Saint-Férreol.
After that, I’ll continue along the Canal de Garonne (Toulouse to Moissac with its canal bridge, and Agen) and finish in Bordeaux, returning to Lyon by train.
I’m going east to west to keep the sun at my back (though if the weather’s bad or the wind’s against me, I’ll have it all wrong—so much for my great plan!).
See you on the trails,
JC
I’m from the Aude region, and you’ve got a good chance of hitting a headwind... and when it blows, it blows hard. I hope you get the Marin wind coming from the Mediterranean. Have a great trip in the beautiful Corbières area. Bye, Maxou11
Me too—after taking the train to Agde, I plan to ride up the Canal du Midi and then the Garonne. I thought the wind would come from the Mediterranean, at least at the start.
It’s true that in France, the prevailing wind comes from the west. Is it really that strong along the canal, or are we somewhat sheltered by the trees?
cyclo78
😏For me, departure on 05/01 from Bordeaux to Valence "FRANCE", passing through St-Émilion, Bergerac, La Roque-Gageac, Souillac, Gourdon, Cahors, along the Lot River to Capdenac, Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Laguiole, Aumont-Aubrac, Langogne, Pont de Labeaume, St-Pierre-de-Colombier, and what wasn’t planned—paying homage to Jean Ferrat in Antraigues-sur-Volane, Vals-les-Bains, St-Privat, St-Étienne-de-Boulogne, Freyssenet, Privat, St-Cierge-la-Serre, La Voulte-sur-Rhône, and finally Valence. Around 1000 km.
If anyone’s interested, I’ll finalize the roadbook and maps, which I’ll put in PDF format. As a bonus, there’ll also be the .kmz track for Google Earth. And even better—if you want to join me for the trip, you know the procedure => PM.
That’s for June.
Late May to early July: Paris => Gex => Valence => Aubagne.
And in September, Alsace or the D-Day beaches—I still don’t know yet.
Hey, has no one thought about putting roadbooks online? Or does it already exist, and I just didn’t search well enough?
biking in albania
from tirana heading to dagti park, burrel, skoder, theth park, fierze, koman, vlora, gyrokaster, berat, then back to tirana
quite the adventure on two wheels!
Hi Cyclo78,
I’m in Toulouse and I can tell you we get wind pretty often here. It’s either westerly winds (the most common according to weather stats) or the *autan* wind (southeast, less frequent but more annoying because it’s drier and can be more turbulent).
The weather is impossible to predict three months in advance, and in both cases, if you’re riding straight into it along the canal, it’s a nightmare. Westerly winds tend to blow in winter and spring, while the *autan* mostly blows in autumn but can also hit in the middle of summer (the worst, combined with heat) and in spring. It can even shift direction within the same week. However, for the *autan*, they say here it blows for 3, 6, or 9 days straight. In short, it’s impossible to recommend riding the canal in one direction or the other based on the wind—it’s totally random. That said, after Montauban, the *autan* pretty much disappears. (Unless it goes by another name there?)
To warm up a bit after an endless winter, we're heading south.
We’ve booked a flight from Basel to Cagliari on May 8, then we’ll cycle back along the west coasts of Sardinia and Corsica to reach Bastia via Cap Corse.
After crossing by ferry to Toulon, we’ll head to the Canal du Centre in Paray-le-Monial via Avignon and Entraigues/Volane.
We’ll return home via Dijon and the EuroVelo 6 route.
We’ll use an IGN Evadéo GPS powered by a dynamo hub with a 12V buffer battery for navigation.
In August, though, we think it’s best to avoid the southern campsites, so we’ll head due north to reach the Elbe in Hamburg. From there, we’ll follow the cycle path to the North Sea up to the Danish border, then take the Baltic Sea cycle route into Poland. The return route isn’t set yet, but in Germany, the network of cycle paths gives us plenty of options.
We're preparing a bike tour of France!!!
Might as well enjoy our own country before heading off to other lands....
There’s so much to see and discover right near home!
So here we are, two "dromedaries" who’ll be setting off with our bikes fully loaded in early August 2010. Maybe this trip will last 2 or 3 months, depending on the people we meet along the way.....
For now, we’re training... hehe
*
See you soon, and good luck to everyone with their ambitious plans!
As usual, the other one’s gonna tap me on the shoulder, so I’m hitting the road to grab my saddle— Paris / Grasse / Dax / Paris. We call that paid leave; it’s been going on for 15 years now.
Hi there,
For me, the chosen route will normally be through the Cantal mountains, via Puy Mary, then Le Lioran, heading next toward Lozère and the Cévennes to climb Mont Aigoual and catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea in the distance...
Returning via slightly flatter lands in Aveyron, then Lot, and finally Dordogne.
Hoping for sunshine in the sky and in the welcome, since I’m planning to stay with locals as much as possible or pitch my tent in your gardens!!! Just sayin’!!!
A solo journey of about 1000 to 1200 km in early July over 15 days.
See you soon,
Hi Joan,
I’m planning to bike through your region (Alsace, via Mulhouse) in September. Are there any must-see spots I shouldn’t miss?
I’m cycle touring and plan to spend 3 weeks there.
Thanks!
I just stumbled upon this forum I didn’t know about. It’s like a big breath of fresh air this morning (with birds going wild outside as the soundtrack to celebrate the sunrise and their loves).
Since last year, I’ve been preparing a somewhat special Alpine crossing from Salzburg to Nice. My route covers all the mountain passes (103 in total) over 1,900m, and I’ve given myself 15 days to cover these 5,000km.
I’ve checked out a few forums, and it’s kind of funny to see that it doesn’t quite fit in—it’s neither a race, nor cycle touring, nor an adventure trip in the traditional sense, since there’s still an extreme performance aspect to it.
I’ll have my luggage with me—clothes, my camera, and food—on a 6.5kg bike with 4kg of gear plus water.
Preparing for this is super niche; it’s a sort of balance on the edge of breaking point. An experience I’m really excited about, even if it could still go wrong. I’ve already gotten a taste of the thrill.
I’m working on a little book about this experience while waiting for the day I can finally set off like you all with my wife and without any time constraints...
Wow! 5,000 km of mountain passes in 15 days? Hats off!
Still, my bike alone weighs around 12/13 kg, my trailer adds another 4/5 kg, and my luggage maybe 15 to 20 kg! So I’m also setting off to do 5,000 km, like you, but... entirely on flat terrain... and over 2 months ;)
Good luck and all the best with your journey—it’s really amazing!
It's funny how traveling with just 4 kg of luggage makes you weigh everything. You cut off straps that are too long and probably won’t be used. You build your own luggage rack because the commercial ones weigh a ton. You pick ultra-tech clothes that cost an arm and a leg...
And since you’ll be spending 15 to 17 hours on your bike, you tweak the ergonomics. You study your daily movements, how you pedal in the right gear... etc. The goal is to try not to suffer too much...
All that for a little bit of happiness—but what happiness!
That’s over 300 km a day if I’m calculating right? I say: impossible! Even the Tour de France aliens wouldn’t last a week at that pace. And that’s on mountain stages, no less. Even if you pull it off, I honestly wonder where you’d find any enjoyment in it?
I’ll have my luggage with my clothes, my camera, and my food with me, but on a 6.5 kg bike with 4 kg of gear plus drinks.
With my 11 kg bike and 10–13 kg of luggage, I already get looks like I’m some kind of extremist here. Unless you’re doing credit-card touring, I don’t see how you’d get under 7 kg (including pannier weight).
Nine years ago, I covered 9,300 km of mountain terrain in a month under some pretty unusual conditions—all documented in a book published to benefit my association. The money later went toward organizing mountain-biking expeditions for people with leg amputations (prosthetics are my job). It’s not impossible, just very specific. Nothing like the tour—I averaged 20 kph for 15 hours a day.
I’m lucky enough to work with carbon fiber: I made a carbon-Kevlar "box" molded to the top tube with a 2L capacity, extended laterally by two carbon struts on either side of the seat tube. At the end of these struts, I’ve bolted the nylon tensioner for the frame of my 20L ultra-light backpack. All I have to do is clip it on. The whole setup weighs exactly 676g empty.
I also have two carbon bottle cages and two one-liter water bottles.
In all that, I pack my Windstopper jacket (220g), my Gore-Tex Packlite 2.5-layer shell (217g), my Oldo top and bottom (225g—it’s both for cold weather and my pajamas), a spare pair of underwear and socks (not weighed), a spare jersey and bib shorts (280g), silk gloves, silk socks, waterproof overshoes, a camera (220g), a phone (65g), my essential ID, some cash, my Mastercard, food and drinks, my roadbook, laminated road map excerpts, and little plastic bags for salt and sugar I snag from hotels... I’m definitely forgetting a bunch of stuff...
You know, I have a blast with all this, and I love those endless rides that let me explore several regions in a single day.
Plus, it’s a discipline of excellence—it forces you to stay sharp throughout the whole prep process.
I love my two half-pints of beer in the evening....
I’ve got the book on my shelf and I’ve read it, of course 😉. It’d be great if you could post a photo of your carbon bike case—I’m thinking of trying out these kinds of long-distance rides over a few days, but I’m having trouble picturing what it looks like. Any issues with thigh discomfort?
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!
Hi, does anyone have recent info on the Shikoku pilgrimage? We’re traveling as a pair by bike, and I plan to camp whenever possible because from what I’ve seen, accommodations are pretty expensive, especially for long trips. I’d love any info or tips—thanks in advance! Aichatou
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.
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 everyone! Thanks for welcoming me to the forum :)
I’m preparing for a long trip heading to Nepal, with stops along the way depending on my mood, work needs, and the season. I cycle a lot, but this will be my first big touring adventure. I’d like to camp regularly to keep costs down, so I’ll be riding on all kinds of surfaces: smooth and rough roads, main highways and rocky paths to find my camping spots, flat terrain and the occasional steep slopes.
For my bike model, I’m prioritizing durability, versatility, and repairability. From that perspective, I prefer a steel frame and fork with rim brakes since I’m used to them. I’ve narrowed my choices down to four models:
- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur T-700 LTD (1400 €): steel frame, aluminum fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 28" wheels, 40mm tires, 36 spokes (2 mm), lightweight rear rack (max 20 kg), no front rack included, smallest gear ratio of 0.72, weight of 13.9 kg.
- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 (2200 €): steel frame and fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 26" wheels, 50mm tires, 36 spokes (2.34 mm), front and rear racks included (40+18 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 15.9 kg.
- The Genesis Tour de Fer 30 (2150 €): steel frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, 28" wheels, 36 spokes, 40mm tires, front and rear racks included (27+10 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.77, weight of 15.9 kg.
- The Rockrider ADTV 900 from Decathlon (1700 €): aluminum frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, USB port, 28" wheels, 47mm tires, 28 spokes, front and rear racks included (40+20 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 17.1 kg. This is the successor to the Riverside Touring 900, which was a hit.
I’ve got a few questions:
1/ Should I go for 26" or 28" wheels for my trip? 26" wheels seem better for rough terrain, but 28" wheels feel more comfortable on roads. I’ve also read that 26" tires/tubes are easier to find.
2/ Do you recommend a steel frame and fork over aluminum? I’m guessing a high-quality aluminum frame and fork would be better than a low-quality steel one, right?
3/ Regarding the smallest gear ratio, is 0.71 a good number for a loaded bike in the mountains?
4/ Finally, what do you think of these four models for my project? My heart leans toward the TX-400—it seems to combine the versatility and robustness I’m looking for. But the price difference with the T-700 LTD is making me think twice!
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
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,
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!
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,
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.
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
