Bonjour,
suite a notre parcours en Colombie nous avons ecrit des petits conseils de trajet pour des amis, nous les partageons donc.
Contexte pour mieux comprendre : Nous sommes deux voyageurs avec des vélos sans fourche télescopique et avec des pneus marathons + assez larges. Au moment de la Colombie, cela faisait un an et trois mois que nous voyagions, avec une moyenne générale d’environ 50 km par jour. Et nous adorons surtout les belles montagnes.
- Route de Carthagène à Medellin par la numéro 25, en 13 jours fin mars
C’est assez plat de Carthagène à Puerto Valdivia.
TRES chaud, très peu d’eau. C’est une route assez passante mais pas trop jusqu’à Puerto Valdivia.
La place centrale de Sincelejo était très sympa, bien animée le soir.
La route n’était pas super intéressante et vraiment trop chaude.
Ensuite de Puerto Valdivia a Yarumal c’est l’horreur!
On passe de 150m à 2500m d’altitude en moins de 30 km.
La route est très étroite, les chauffeurs de camions s’en foutent des cyclistes, c’est très raide, il fait TRES chaud en bas, il n’y a pas vraiment de coins faciles pour camper, en saison sèche, pas vraiment de rivière… C’est un petit peu mieux sur la fin.
Yarumal est assez sympa, Santa Rosa de Osos aussi.
Avant de rejoindre la route 62 qui rejoint Medellin, il y a une super grande descente de 15-20 km qui n’est pas très visible sur les cartes.
CONCLUSION : Idéalement prendre une autre route en tout cas dans ce sens. Apparemment il est beaucoup plus sympa de tourner à gauche a Caucasia vers Zaragoza, Remedios et Vegachi.
- Route de Medellin a La Pintada par Fredonia
TRES belle route, on a adore, mais ça monte et ça descend sur une route un peu pourrie. Mais on n’a pas regretté.
A Caldas tourner a gauche en direction de « Amaga ». Puis quelques kilomètres plus haut, avant le grand pont, il y a un chemin non bitume qui part à gauche vers une carrière « Pierra verde ». Continuer toujours sur cette route jusque Fredonia. Apres Fredonia c’est de l’asphalte, une super descente (sauf a un moment ça remonte 10 minutes), puis on a suivi la rivière jusqu’à La Pintada (c’est pas plat, ça fait les montagnes russes)
- Route de La Pintada – La Felicia
On a beaucoup aime cette partie. Il y a des voitures mais ce n’est pas l’horreur et il y a une bande pour les cyclistes. Et le paysage est superbe ! Et il y a plein de rivières et de cascades pour se baigner (on y était après la saison des pluies)
En plus c’est assez plat, ça faisait du bien entre deux étapes montagneuses.
- Route La Felissa – Manizales par Filadelfia et Neira
SPLENDIDE ! Super moyen de voir la zone du café !
De La Felissa a Filadelfia on passe de 600 mètres a 1600 mètres mais c’est magnifique. A environ la moitié il y a un plateau avec quelques fincas. On n’a pas trouvé Filadelfia incroyable.
Juste après la ville ca redescend environ 200 mètres de dénivelés et en bas il y a une rivière super sympa pour se baigner. Puis ça remonte jusque 2000 mètres, Neira. Toujours aussi beau et on a adore.
La place de Neira est super typique et très sympas si vous avez le courage d’aller jusqu’en haut.
Apres Neira ça descend environ 300 mètres de dénivelés et en bas il y a une rivière splendide.
Quelques mètres plus haut en commençant à remonter il y a un restaurant super chic sur la droite. Passez tout doucement devant, si vous avez de la chance le gérant vous arrêtera pour vous offrir un verre de panela et faire un peu de publicité. Très sympa.
Puis ça monte non-stop jusqu’à Manizales qui est perche environ à 2200 mètres. Montée assez longue pour accéder au centre.
- Manizales – Parc Nevado del Ruiz – Murillo.
C’est la partie la plus belle que nous ayons vu en Colombie. Attention il faut aimer la montee et les routes pourries.
Allez dans la direction des thermes del Otoño (ça descend beaucoup depuis Manizales puis ça commence à remonter)
Jusqu’à après les thermes c’est de l’asphalte, puis ça commence avec la rocaille. Ça monte dur. A environ 16-18 km des thermes il y a un mémorial immense en face d’une maison d’un garde forestier qui peut vous servir une agua panela con queso
Allez voir « la grota » qui est une cascade et des sources d’eau chaude derrière le mémorial. Magnifique ! Quelques mètres plus haut sur la route a gauche, il y a un terrain sur lequel on peut camper et où il y a une piscine d’eau thermale. Quand on y étais le gars nous a fait payer 30000 pesos mais c’est possible qu’il augmente avec le temps, ça ne faisait que 3 mois qu’il avait acheté le terrain. En tout cas c’était super agréable et une bonne étape pour dormir.
30 km plus haut il y a « Los thermales del ruiz ». C’est le budget au-dessus, 70 dollars la nuit. Montez encore un peu et vous pourrez camper sans rien payer mais sans la piscine d’eau chaude en plein air.
Des thermes a l’entrée du parc Nevado Del Ruiz il doit y avoir 12 km. Au km 9 vous croiserez une route qui repart à gauche vers Manizales, tout en descente et tout en asphalte. On vous conseille de quand même prendre à droite pour faire au moins les 3 km jusqu’au parc, c’est magnifique !
A la fin la route continue à gauche vers Murillo et un chemin monte jusqu’à l’entrée du parc (1 km). La haut il faut payer pour faire un tour dans le parc en voiture parce que c’est interdit autrement a cause des risques du volcan. On ne l’a pas fait. Il y a une buvette.
Si vous avez un peu de temps, les 10 km suivants en direction de Murillo sont une pure merveille. Ça monte et ça descend et la route est pourrie, mais c’est splendide !
Vous allez croiser une première finca sur la gauche, et a la fin de la montée suivante, une laguna magnifique sur la gauche puis une finca-tienda sur la droite. Apres la descente commence vers Murillo. Vous pouvez faire demi-tour pour retourner vers Manizales, nous on a continué vers Murillo.
La route est mauvaise de l’entrée du parc jusqu’à 5 km avant Murillo. VRAIMENT MAUVAISE.
Nous on a dormit a 4000 mètres dans la deuxième finca… Un peu dur de faire jusque Murillo dans la journée pour nous, mais possible pour des gens plus efficaces.
Il y a aussi un aute moyen plus long et plus dur de faire le parc Nevado del Ruiz en passant par l interieur, mais il parait que c est magnifique aussi, surtout la Laguna del Otun. Nous ne l avons pas fait mais vous trouverez des informations ici :
http://www.brianlucido.com/bike-touring-colombia-medellin-to-nevado-del-ruiz/
- Murillo – Ibague
A partir de Murillo la route est de nouveau bonne. Les paysages sont encore beaux jusque dans la vallée. Ça descend beaucoup bien qu’il y ait quelques surprises.
Puis dans la vallée il fait bien chaud et les 77 km jusqu’à Ibague n’ont pas beaucoup d’intérêt. Ça monte légèrement tout le temps.
Voila,
on espere que ca vous donnera des idees.
Celine et Origan
Merci!
Vos conseils et suggestions arrivent juste à point. Nous prendrons la route au début juillet pour un voyage de 2 ans au départ de Calgary au Canada, en tandem et en autonomie. Nous prévoyons arriver en Colombie au début de 2017, après avoir descendus la Côte Ouest USA, Baja California, le reste du Mexique et l'Amérique Centrale.
Ce que vous écrivez sur la Colombie nous sera donc de grande utilité.
Avez-vous un blog ou une page Facebook?
Salut,
nous n'avons pas toutes ces choses la 😉
mais si tu as des questions n'hesite pas et on y repondra sans probleme.
En amerique nous n'avons pedale que Cuba et la Colombie
Nous sommes actuellement à Cartagène en Colombie, à notre 11e mois de voyage à vélo depuis l'ouest du Canada; 16,000 km parcourus à ce jour. Notre prochain…
Je suis actuellement à San José au Costa Rica et je galère un petit peu. le cadre de mon trike ICE a lâché à cause d'une remorque Bob qui exerce un couple de…
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!
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!
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!
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.
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?
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
