Bonsoir, je me présente, Sylvain, 34 ans, VTTiste depuis 95, et voyageur à VTT depuis 4 jours ;)
J'ai descendu le GR7 de Affoux (69) à Ste Eulalie en gros (07) ces 4 jours précédents sur mon Giant Reign équipé d'un porte bagages Freeload (freeload.co.nz, compatible avec les TS) et de sacoches Ortlieb 2x15 L + un camelbak Octane 18.
Le lien de mon Picasa :
Globalement ce fut une très belle expérience malgré les conditions météo un peu rudes, qui m'ont fait écourter la partie Ardéchoise.
J'ai opté pour les nuits en gîte et le pique nique froid pour ne pas m'alourdir trop avec la tente, le matelas, le duvet et la popote.
Je ferai un rapide résumé du trip bientôt, qui en fait m'a servi de test pour un voyage plus long prévu cet été pour lequel j'aurai besoin de quelques tuyaux ;)
PS : j'ai posté le même message sur expemag
J'ai découvert le Freeload dans un test d'O2Bikers et ça marche vraiment bien ;)
Première étape : Tarare (69) - la Grand Croix (42) :
80 km et 2200 m de D+.
Petit souci après une demi heure de vélo, il se met à pleuvoir. Plus d'une heure de pluie, j'ai franchement considéré l'idée de rentrer. Après la pluie cesse mais il fait assez froid (10° max). Grosses pentes dans les Monts du Lyonnais qui coupent les courbes de niveau perpendiculairement, j'en ai eu mal au bras à force de pousser. Arrivée à 21h au Formule 1 de Grand Croix, j'ai coupé par la route vu qu'il faisait nuit.
Deuxième étape : La Grand Croix - St Bonnet le Froid (43) :
65 km et 2050 m de D+.
Au programme de ce jour, l'ascension du Mont Pilat. La pente est forte sur la route du début, puis s'adouçit ensuite sur les chemins. Deux passages un peu galère, un avec des grosses dalles rocheuses, l'autre avec bcp de racines. Au 2/3 de la montée, on croise la route et ça devient plus compliqué : grosses pierres dans le chemin puis voix romaine avec bcp de pente. A la Jasserie du Pilat, les T° sont négatives (je n'avais que des cuissards courts) et on ne voit plus rien, tout est blanc. Givre et légère couche de neige au sol et aux arbres. Gros coup de froid dans la descente au Bessat, je sors le bonnet sous casque et les cho7 Gore Tex. Je me réchauffe dans un petit snack au col de la République. Montée courte mais rude après, puis on rejoint le chemin de St Jacques de Compostelle au Tracol. Je me trompe d'itinéraire, la bifurc affichée sur le GPS n'existe pas. Je retrouve le GR7 plus haut, arrive à St Bonnet vers 20h par 1°C au gite d'étape où je suis seul (je ne verrai même pas le proprio).
Troisième étape : St Bonnet le Froid - Le Béage (07) :
Début plus cool que la veille sur le plateau. Les T° montent à 10°. Mont Mézenc en point de mire après quelques bornes. En bas de Fay sur Lignon, gros bourbier, les roues ne tournent plus. Montée à Fay sur Lignon, village mort, tout est fermé et gris, c'est triste... Direction le Mézenc, au début l'ascension est douce, puis petit sentier avec névés et gués sur la fin. Sur le contournement du Mézenc, grosse boue ! Roues encore bloquées. Les plus beaux paysages se trouvent ici avec vue sur les sucs. Petite galère pour trouver un hébergement, les gîtes d'étape sont fermés ou n'acceptent que des groupes. Hôtel du Béage fermé pour Paques. A 20h30 , je trouve une chambre d'hôte où je serai vraiment très bien reçu, avec un super repas. Table d'Elodie
Le proprio ira même jusqu'à laver et sécher mon linge.
Quatrième étape : Le Béage - Montélimar (26) :
105 km et 950 m de D+.
Au départ, bcp de brume, T° de 2-3 °, vent, et la pluie s'invite par dessus tout ça. Je comptais quitter le GR7 et m'installer deux jours en Ardèche méridionale pour faire du VTT sans sacoches mais c'est compromis. Je ne vois plus rien, en plus sur la carto du GPS il y a qques soucis et pas mal de petites routes n'apparaissent pas. Dans un village, une habitante me donne la direction pour quitter le plateau au plus vite, direction le Burzet. La descente fut un calvaire, pieds et mains gelés, je ne vois presque rien. Au Burzet, petit resto pour se réchauffer, le patron me dit que le mauvais temps est parti pour durer, je prends la décision de rentrer au plus vite, peut être une dernière étape avant Montélimar. Sur la route d'Aubenas, j'appelle mon père pour qu'il me trouve un hébergement pour la nuit. A Aubenas au syndicat d'initiative, ils me trouvent le même hébergement. Sur la route de Montélimar j'appelle, pas de réponse, il reste moins de 30 bornes jusqu'à Montélimar, je décide d'y aller direct pour pouvoir dormir chez moi le soir. La nationale 102 n'est pas super adaptée pour les vélos, encore plus sous la flotte, mais je suis bien visible avec un bon feu clignotant à l'AR et ça passe sans trop de frayeurs. Arrivée à Montélimar à 17h30, une demi heure d'attente pour le train pour Lyon, gros coup de fatigue dans le TER, puis à Lyon correspondance quasi immédiate pour chez moi.
Bonjour, joli trip, je ne sais si je ferai ce genre de chose! Venant du VTT et plus enclin maintenant à du cylo-camping moins hard! Mais l'envie d'équiper mon Santa Cruz pour des terrains plus rugueux, comme quoi l'envie est toujours là! Ma question: ou as tu acheté tes portes bagages Freeload ? Merci.
Bonjour,
Intéressant ce système de PB pour un tout suspendu. J'ai regardé le système d'attache au cadre, c'est avec des sangles d’après ce que l'on peux voir.
Quant est il en utilisation? le serrage se fait bien et le PB ne bouge pas et n'a pas tendance à glisser surtout en usage vtt?
Autrement, pas trés beau temps, dommage pour votre périple.
Il n'y a aucun souci ce sont 2 sites Allemands très sérieux. Par contre bike-components ne montre pas le stock en temps réel, donc ça peut prendre un petit moment. Chez bike-discount ce qui apparait sur le site est en stock. La livraison se fait en 3 à 5 jours par DHL/Chronopost.
Aucun soucis avec ces deux sites, les sites allemand en génèral, je suis client de l'un des deux cité par Lédino69 , je n'avais preté attention à ce type de P-Bagage , je l'ai dailleurs commander, il est en route! Une question à Ledino69 :a premiere vue tu l'a utiliser sans prendre le"side frame" appelé panier sur le site de BD? A premiere vue ça n'a pas l'air necessaire meme avec des sacoches de vingt litres
Au contraire si je l'ai pris avec les side frames, qui :
1 - permettent de rabaisser les sacoches.
2 - permettent une meilleure accroche des sacoches : en particulier le petit crochet en plastique souple en bas de mes Ortlieb rentrait dans une fente des side frames. Par contre comme il est vraiment souple il en sortait facilement, il faudra que j'utilise une sangle à ce niveau là la prochaine fois. Sans les side frames, ça risque de gigoter pas mal.
Maintenant j'avais posé la question aux concepteurs du PB, ils m'avaient dit qu'à priori ça marchait sans, mais je vois pas trop comment garantir une bonne accroche des sacoches...
Bonsouère J'habite près de Strasbourg et j'envisage de partir en vacances à vélo cet été. Je pars en vacances à Cavalaire, donc du Strasbourg- Cavalaire à vu…
Voyager à vélo › France › Sud-Ouest / Centre · 6 replies
Je me présente, Michael, je suis nouveau sur le forum. Tout d'abord je tiens à remercier d'avance les personnes qui m'aideront dans mes recherches pour ce…
Je suis nouveau sur ce forum, bien que j'ai lu certains articles depuis quelques semaines, je viens tout juste de m'inscrire. Je prépare mon premier voyage à…
Voyager à vélo › France › Bretagne / Sud-Ouest · 21 replies
Bien le bonjour, En date du 20/08/2018, je vais démarrer mon premier voyage en cyclotourisme et j'ai choisi la Vélodysée (Eurovelo 1) pour à la fois découvrir…
Nous désirons passer 3 semaines sur la route en juillet 2016. Nous serons 3: papa, maman et fiston de 12 ans. Nous pensons pouvoir parcourir environ 600 à 800…
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!
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
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!
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
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.
