Bonjour,
J'ai le projet de traverser l'Afrique de l'ouest en vélo avec ma fille de 5 ans dans deux ans en adaptant un tandem.
Je viens de trouver une super occas d'un tandem KHS alite mais il est en aluminium. or j'ai souvent lu qu'il était plus fortement conseillé de partir avec un cadre acier pour réparer en cas de casse. que pensez vous de ce modèle pour un tel voyage? et que pensez vous du fait qu'il soit en alu?
Merci d'avance,
Claire
"Le voyage est ton Père. Quand tu te seras trouvé tu rentreras et la Terre sera ta Mère" Proverbe Zanskari
Salut
je ne suis pas spécialiste du tandem, mais je roule à vélo sur route et dans les bois depuis que je suis tout petit. Je trouve ce débat acier/alu ridicule:
- niveau rigidité, je n'ai remarqué aucune réelle différence quand je suis passé d'un VTT cadre acier à un VTT cadre alu
- niveau poids, l'alu est un peu plus léger, (quelque centaine de grammes...)
- c'est vrai qu'en cas de casse, un cadre acier peu se souder plus facilement, mais la probabilité de casser un cadre est très faible!! qui a déja cassé un cadre???
j'ai maltraité mes VTT dans tout les sens (autant cadre acier que alu), meme avec un poids de corps fleurtant avec les 90kg a une époque, j'ai jamais casser le cadre, ni meme un rayon... juste un leger voilage parfois...
Le cadre d'un tandem est surement plus solicité, mais a mon avis, l'alu fait largement l'affaire!
Merci de ta réponse. c'est difficile de se faire vraiment une idée avec tous ces débats sur le forum. Un peu rassurée car l'occas que j'ai trouvé en alu me parait interessante. Mais je veux faire au plus sécurit car je n'aimerais pas casser mon tandem chargé avec 4 sacoches et portant moi et ma fille au beau milieu de l'Afrique.
Claire
"Le voyage est ton Père. Quand tu te seras trouvé tu rentreras et la Terre sera ta Mère" Proverbe Zanskari
Je comprends ton inquiétude, je projette un tour du monde à vélo dans environ 2 ans, je me suis, comme toi, pas mal renseigné sur le matériel, et finalement je partirais sur un vélo cadre alu a priori.
Si pas malchance tu casses ton cadre dan s un endroit "désert" qu'il soit acier ou alu, il faudra quand même se débrouiller pour allez jusqu'à'a la prochaine "ville"...
Bon c'est plutôt convaincant...
Sinon pour les références du tandem c'est un KHS alite avec le matériel suivant:
Cadre Alu 7005
Tailles 51cm/41cm
Fourche CroMo special tandem (1 1/8" Aheadset)
Couleur champagne / bleu
Potence avant réglable 110/180
Potence arrière alu
Guidon avant alu renforcé relevé
Guidon arrière alu renforcé relevé
Tige de selle Kalloy alu, longueur : 400 min
Selle Vélo sport
Dérailleur AR Shimano XT , 24 vitesses
Moyeu avant Aluminium
Moyeu arriere Shimano Tandem FH-HF08
Jante Weinmann Zac 19, 40 rayons
Rayons 2 min constant
Pédalier avant Truvativ Five D 38 dents
Pédalier arriere Truvativ Five D 48/38/28 dents
Cassette 11-32, 8 vitesses
Développement 1, 74 m - 8, 69 m
Pneus KHS 47-559
Freins V-Brake Avid Single Digit 5
Pedale Plate VP 199
Charge maxi 180 kg
Poids du tandem 18 kg
Qu'en pensez vous? Qu'y aurait il à changer pour voyager 1 an en afrique? Le prix de vente est 800 euros (occas ayant presque jamais servi). A quel budget vais je arriver en changeant les pièces?
Claire
"Le voyage est ton Père. Quand tu te seras trouvé tu rentreras et la Terre sera ta Mère" Proverbe Zanskari
Je trouve un peu dommage de prendre un alu si tu n'as pas encore acheté ton cadre.
effectivement, entre le choix alu/acier... il ne faut pas en faire une jaunisse si on a déjà son vélo, car le plus important c'est de voyager sans craindre que le ciel ne nous tombe sur la tête. Mais si tu pars de rien, sélectionner un cadre acier est infiniment plus judicieux.
Comme le dit Loïc, dans les deux cas il faudra aller jusqu'à la prochaine ville, sauf que dans le cas de l'acier il suffit de trouver un plombier qui fait une petite brasure et ça repart le lendemain matin.
Alors qu'avec un cadre alu, il faut soit trouver un autre cadre compatible (bonjours les standards en tandem), soit bricoler "alarache" avec des rivets pop si c'est une casse bénigne, soit rentrer a la maison!
Et contrairement a ce que l'on peut croire... un cadre ça casse. pas forcément un gros tube, seulement une patte ou un haubans sous la charge.. ça arrive, les exemples ne sont pas rares du tout!
bonjour,
je roule sur nos routes asphaltées et parfois sur des chemins forestiers avec un tandem aluminium et pas de soucis même en pleine charge ......
Autant la différence alu/acier sur un vélo classique pourrait permettre d'opter pour l'alu mais pour un tandem .......
Pour ma part je ne ferais pas le pari de l'alu , surtout pour les routes africaines car un cadre de tandem chargé de sacoches , va encaisser beaucoup plus de chocs qu'un VTT solo
et les risques d'endommagement du cadre vont être multipliés par n ............... faire ressouder le cadre alu en Afrique cela risque d'être difficile ......😕🤪😠
A plus Alain
+1
25000km en asie, pistes dures et vtt avec uniquement des sacoches arrieres quelques rayons cassé mais le cadre ne bouge pas
idem avec d'autres velos
faut vraiment avoir pas de chance pour casser un cadre
bonne route
Et comme tu peux le constater sur leur site, ils sont plutôt chargés et n'ont pas chômés. Avec une fille de 5 ans au niveau du cadre, tu ne risque pas grand chose.
Le plus gros point faible sur les tandems, sont les freins, les roues, l'axe de pédalier arrière et la roue libre qui est dans le moyeu arrière. Pour l'axe de pédalier arrière, je ne te serai pas d'un bon conseil, car j'utilise des shimanos XT de 1998 introuvables aujourd'hui. Pour le moyeu arrière, je conseillerais le DT Tandem, le même qu'ils ont sur leur tandem, avec une roue libre de réserve. Il a le gros avantage que la roue libre se change à la main sans outils et en dix minutes.
je connais au moins deux tandem KHS alite qui ont fait des grands voyages sans trop de soucis l'un appartenant à une famille de Chambéry (un an via l'Amérique du sud , l'océanie...) et un couple qui a exposé son tandem avec remorque et porte bagages av et ar) au Grand bivouac à Alberville il y a 10 jours; Au bout de deux ans sur les pistes il était encore assez frais et sans soudure.
Il est trés simple et fonctionnel (fourche rigide en Crmo avec oeillets de fixation, freins a patins) Il y a aussi un moyeu shimano spécial tandem. il y a peut être mieux mais pas à ce niveau prix et le gros avantage du KHS c'est ses 41 cm de taille à l'arrière bien pour un enfant
Oui merci encore pour le bon filon de cette annonce. Je me suis décidée. Et suis vraiment contente de cette occasion.
J'attends le colis avec impatience!
Il ne restera plus que la phase bricolage!
Merci pour ces conseils,
Claire
"Le voyage est ton Père. Quand tu te seras trouvé tu rentreras et la Terre sera ta Mère" Proverbe Zanskari
Les velos alus sont très fiables, pour ma part plus de 20 ans de compet avec vélos alus et une traversée de l'amérique du sud, aucun problème. En plus faire souder un cadre en acier doit pas être évident surtout en afrique...
Pour ma part je me soucierai plus pour ma fille car beaucoup de choses sont compliquées en afrique et je sais de quoi je parle car je suis rentrée depuis 6 mois...
...En plus faire souder un cadre en acier doit pas être évident surtout en afrique...
Euh...c'est ce qu'il y a de plus facile à souder l'acier (comparé à l'alu), je ne pense pas que ça pose problème.
Je roule moi aussi sur des vélos alu depuis un bon bout de temps (cyclo-camping, freeride/descente, xc) et n'en ai jamais cassé un seul, enfin, presque...
Le seul cadre alu que j'ai explosé (tube du bas au niveau de la colonne de direction), c'était un BMX (une des premières série de cruiser alu de Sunn qui avaient quelques fragilités) qui n'a pas vraiment aimé que je tape de la roue avant sur une réception de saut...
J'ai eu un KHS de XC. A part un léger enfoncement dans le tube supérieur du à une chute, le cintre à fait pression dessus, jamais eu à m'en plaindre.
Il est toujours en état de rouler...même si il ne sort plus du garage du papa.
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Voyager à vélo › Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre · 13 replies
Avec mon ami nous prévoyons de traverser l'Afrique du Caire au Cap à vélo tandem à partir de décembre prochain et pour 6 mois. Voici le parcours prévisionnel…
Bonjour
quelles sont les moyen les plus simple pour revenir du Cap Nord sans pédaler
train, Bateau, avion ?
qui à déjà fait l’expérience ?
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!
Bonjour,
Je dois arriver en vélo à Thessalonique à la fin Septembre et je prévois de rejoindre Istambul par la côte.
Quelqu'un pourrait m'aider à choisir la meilleure route.Sécurité, difficulté.
Merci d'avance.
Marc
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
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?