Quelqu'un a t'il fait le trajet manaus-Georgetown via boa Vista?
est on loin des tepuis?
peut on faire la route en Bicyclette?
quels sont les centres d'interet?
relations avec les indiens? securite?
derniere question, comment obtient on le visa pour le Surinam?
Desole pour la rafale de questions, pas trop le temps d'ecrire.
Merci d'avance de la par d'un francais et d'un colombien qui voyagent en bicy depuisla colombie sa fait 3mois et qui sont actuellemnt a Guayaquilcity ecuador.
Via Boa Vista au nord de Manaus sur la route du Vénézuela ? Il y a une route ? J'ai fait Manaus - Santarem - Macapa - Saint George de l'Oyapok - Cayenne - Suriname - Guyana il y a des années, avant que la route Saint George de l'Oyapok - Régina soit ouverte !
Côté Guyane française, il y a des tepuis du côté de Régina, à 3 ou 4 h de pirogue + marche.
Voici qqs infos qui datent de presque 8 ans !
En bateau Manaus-Macapa, puis tout le reste possible à vélo. Piste roulante (sauf quand il a plu) entre Macapa et l'Oyapok. Nouvelle route goudronnée entre Macapa et Cayenne, puis jusqu'à Saint Laurent. Ensuite, côté Suriname et Guyana, c'est plus ou moins goudronné. Qqs pistes assez chaudes au Guyana quand il a plu. Traversée des fleuves en pirogue et/ou bac (facile).
Coin sympa au Suriname : monter au Bronsberg, très chouette. Un peu en hauteur, havre de paix (sauf le week-end).
Côté sécurité : les bêbêtes en forêt, si tu ne connais pas du tout, ça peut craindre un peu de bivouaquer (il faut un hamac, pas de bivouac au sol). Le Guyana et le Suriname à l'époque, ça craignait parfois un peu, surtout dans les villes et vers les camps d'orpailleurs. Par moment des troubles sociaux au Suriname. Au Brésil, il y a parfois des risques de braquage, mais davantage vers la côte et dans les grandes villes (pas sur le bateau sur l'Amazone). J'imagine que si vous venez de Colombie, vous savez gérer ce genre de risque, assez commun en Amérique du sud.
Relation avec les indiens ? Plusieurs zones protégées donc normalement inaccessibles sans permi (difficile à obtenir), et zones difficilement accessibles d'un point de vue logistique. Ailleurs, ils ont été très acculturés, pbs d'alcool, les contacts ne sont donc pas forcément évidents. Si tu connais des instit ou médecins ou infirmiers qui habitent sur le fleuve en Guyane (Oyapok ou Maroni), c'est l'occasion d'aller leur rendre visite et de découvrir et comprendre les cultures amérindiennes.
Visa Suriname : à l'époque, on l'obtenait en qqs jours à Cayenne (il y avait un consulat).
salut, je peut te répondre pour le visa surinamais:il y a effectivement un consulat a Cayenne il te faut une photo et 30euros pour un visa 1 entrée valable 2 mois mais tu doit te signaler au services de l'immigration a Paramaribo, Havelaan noord -nieuw Haven complex(40 31 01) pour un sejour de + de 8 jours mais tel que je comprend tu seras a Georgetown avant donc voici l'adresse de l'ambassade Surin. dans l'angle de Crown street et Peter rose street dans le quartier de Queenstown.
Je n'ai pas fait ce tronçon précisément, mais je suppose qu'une partie des routes (en tout cas au Guyana) sont des pistes en latérite, comme partout dans la région. Or, la latérite en saison des pluies, c'est une terre collante, lourde, qui abîme beaucoup et oxyde. Quant aux bourbiers...Bref, en vélo (pas en bicyclette de ville, hein...) c'est une belle galère en perspective...
Vue de Guyane, la situation au Guyana semble tendue (on parle de pirates de la route, de violences graves...). Mythe ou réalité? Je ne me prononcerai pas là-dessus, mais je suppose qu'il faut une assez grande vigilance.
Merci a tous pour vos reponses. Le but est d'eviter l'autoroute de Cargo entre Manaus et Belem et decouvrir une region qui semble ne pas appartenir reellement a L'amerique du sud.
Il parait en effet dificil d'entreprendre Manaus-Georgetown en bici, mais bon nous ne pouvons pas nous separer de nos belles montures alors on va y aller et voir sur place les possibilités...
quand a la securité, c'est vrai qu'au fond ça ne m'inquiete pas trop, la buena onda atrae a la buena onda, no?
Tout autre renseignement est le bien venu,
encore merci et Ciao
paul
Disons que face à un bourbier d'une cinquantaine de mètres avec un bus dedans enfoncé jusqu'aux portes, tu te dis qu'il faut mieux éviter de traîner une remorque! 🤪
Par ailleurs, il est assez fréquent que l'on s'enfonce jusqu'au genoux dans cette terre, et il y a de quoi se fatiguer...
Néanmoins, il suffit parfois sur les grands axes du passage d'une bulle pour transformer une route impraticable en billard...C'est tout ce que je vous souhaite 😉
Il y a biern une route-piste de Georgetown à Boa vista
Vas voir la rubrique camping car sur le forum, il y a une famille qui l'a fait.
Leur site décrit bien la portion, en vélo ça doit passer. Par contre, pour la sécurité, je ne sais pas. Les Guyaniens ont mauvaise réputation ici à cayenne mais les policiers las bas sont bien moins tendre que chez nous alors j'ai entendu dire que le pays n'était pas si dangereux que ça. Après faut voir.
JLDM
Trajet Manaus-Boa-Vista: une route bitumée quelquefois défoncée sur environ 800-900 kms avec des longs passages (pour un cycliste) sans ames humaines ni habitation.
Trajet:Boa-Vista Bonfin (ville frontalière avec le guyana): route bitumée monotone dans une longue plaine environ 100 kms.
Bonfin(br)-Lethem (guyana) une rivière d'une cinquantaine de mètres de largeur que les locaux font passer au moyen de petite barque ( environ 1 euro).
Lethem-Georgetown: piste qui traverse la foret amazonienne (Parc surveillé car traversant des villages amérindiens "interdits"). Des checks-points ouverts à certaines heures... On ne passe pas comme cela ... Autorisation indispensable. Tous les passagers sont controlés à + postes. En effet, on ne peut s'évaporer dans le parc et le visiter. Se renseigner directement auprès du bureau immigration (visa) à Lethem.
Si pas d'autorisation pour la longue promenade à vélo (attention pas de buvette et autres pousadas sur les centaines de kms de traversée du parc...), les mini vans qui partent tous les SOIRS de Lethem (vers 2oh) peuvent charger sur leur toit les vélos.La durée du trajet en mini van varie entre 12h et 15 h si tous va bien.Le prix est de 30 à 40 euros (supplément bagage vélo???).
Pour + info, m'écrire à mon e-mail perso en Guyane Française: marc.lacaille@douane.finances.gouv.fr
salut voyage, sac a dos de caracas vers st elena boa vista manaus santarem , macapa, puis vers regina cayene st laurent et visa pour le surinam a cayene en 2jours puis traversee du surinam en bus du gouvernement puis vers georgetown et de la bus depart vers 20h vers letherm , 2 controles par la police et l armee mais tout a fait normaux , le temps de controler la liste des passagers ds le bus puis arrive a letherm. en taxi pour arriver a la traversee de la la riviere en pirogue , car le pont n est pas encore en service puis en bus jusque boa vista puis bus manaus vers pacaraima a la frontiere puis stop a st elena et retour vers coro via caracas avec autocar rouge du gouvernement chavez et -cher que d autres compagnies .
apres 1 semaine a coro retour a caracas avec car de mr chavez et retour caracas pour assister au defile du 1 mai puis avion caracas paris puis belgique .
tres beau voyage et aucun problemes a signaler bon voyage ds ces 5 pays.
maicob papybert
finalement je suis parti vers le Sud, au Bresil apres etre rester 6mois en Amazonie á la triple-frontiere entre Colombie-Bresil-Perou. Je voulais changer de la foret amazonienne alors je me suis lancé depuis Belem do Para sur le litoral bresilien. Et en 4mois je suis á Rio de Janeiro, et ne suis pas du tout déçu du trajet.
Le Bresil est un pays super agreable, avec des plages de rêve, des gens chaleureux, un clima qui repose apres l´Amazonie...
Et puis mon vélo a tenu le coup jusqu´ici, apres avoir souffert beauvcoup dans la Selva
Merci á tous pour vos réponses,
les Guyanes ce sera pour un autre voyage
alors je me suis lancé depuis Belem do Para sur le litoral bresilien. Et en 4mois je suis á Rio de Janeiro, et ne suis pas du tout déçu du trajet.
hola pabloco
on serait super interesse par plus de details sur ton trajets en velo de rio a belem... as tu un blog ¿ pourrais tu nous donner des precisions , les parties que tu as preferee, tes conseils ... on aimerait faire ce trajet mais on a un lapse de temps plus restrinct, on pense faire qq parties en bus ... quels sont les portions a faire de preference en bici¿
merci bcp
camille
bonjour
de curitiba a cayenne en velo cest par la sur mon site mais en portugais, paysage, coins pour dormir, villes, et autres delires. pas fabuleux en fait, vu que la cote est en general a 10 - 50 km de la cote, avec un vent dingue de face pour y arriver, et du sable, qui bousille le velo et empeche de rouler. un vrai delire, toutefois, une experience forte dans un monde tres different.
Salut Pierre,
Tu parles de la route Curitiba a Rio ? c'est bien ça ?...
Tu connais également le nordeste bresilien?
Merci en tout cas, on se met au portuguais, on va essayer de comprendre tout ça ..
Camille
oui jai fait toute la cote bresilienne entierement en velo, de curitiba a cayenne, 9.000km, donc je connais le sudeste et le nordeste.
jai aussi fait le sud entre uruguay et curitiba, et curitiba iguazu, 3500 km.
tout ca cest sur mon site.
pour les 2 autres grands trajets, rio brasilia caceres et brasilia belem, jai des infos, surtout climat et trajet, vu que jenvisage de le faire.
jai aussi toutes les infos sur les treks au bresil, mais la aussi en portugais, regardez un site mochileiros
et jai aussi des infos pour le nordeste pour 2 detours dans des sierras, si le temps le permet.
pour la route 163, cuiba belem, allez voir le site de jeff kruys.
a + pierre
tout le monde prétend que la Terre est ronde, mais ne le croyez pas, en fait elle est plate bien sûr!
http://mandolpierre.overblog.com
Ok Chapeau! Tu as vraiment parcouru toute l amerique du sud!
Bon je dois être nulle, je trouve pas sur ton site ce qui concerne le nordeste bresilien (je trouve uniquement pour le sud) ... Pourrais tu m eclairer ?
Merci
de curitiba a cayenne en velo cest par la sur mon site mais en portugais, paysage, coins pour dormir, villes, et autres delires. pas fabuleux en fait, vu que la route est en general a 10 - 50 km de la cote, avec un vent dingue de face pour y arriver, et du sable, qui bousille le velo et empeche de rouler. un vrai delire, toutefois, une experience forte dans un monde tres different.
Quelqu'un pourrait me dire les conditions de Route et les points d'eau entre Tinogasta et Copiapo en passant par le paso San Francisco? Gracias! Florence
Est ce que qq'un aurait fait la Route 40 en velo entre Susques et San José de jachal depuis San Pedro Atacama? Je suis a san Pedro et je voudrais avoir des…
Je compte effectué une petite sortie en velo de 4 jours entre cayenne et st Georges aller-retour. J'aimerai savoir: Peut on dormir au bord de la route? carbet,…
Bonjour
quelqu'un peut il nous renseigner pour aller au Cap Nord en partant de Lyon Gerland.
quelle est le trajet le mieux adapté pour rejoindre l'euro vélo 7 ?
Combien de km de Lyon au Cap Nord par l'euro vélo 7
Le meilleur mois pour partir nous pension début mai
merci de nous renseigner
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!
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
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
Hello,
Has anyone here had experience using a gas stove in Sardinia and Sicily? I’m wondering if screw-on gas canisters (not the blue Campingaz ones, but brands like Coleman, Primus, etc.) are easy to find.
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
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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.