Bien sûr, avant d'ouvrir une nouvelle discussion, j'ai fait pas mal de recherche dans notre rubrique.
Voilà, je suis entrain de choisir mes composants pour ma futur monture.
Et je me demande s'il est vraiment nécessaire d'avoir 3 plateaux. Sur mon Vtc j'étais en 28/38/48 avec une cassette 11-32 8v lors de mon tour de France et je n'ai jamais passé le 3ème plateau. Peut-être une fois en descente 'pour voir'.
J'aimerai savoir, pour ceux qui roulent en 3 plateaux du genre 22/32/42-44, s'ils utilisent leur 3eme plateau ?
Et dans quel cas, je m'orienterais sur un double 24/34 avec une cassette 11-34 9v.
J'aime les choses simples et utiles, pourquoi prendre un triple plateau si je ne me serre jamais du 3eme ?
Bien sûr, avant d'ouvrir une nouvelle discussion, j'ai fait pas mal de recherche dans notre rubrique.
Voilà, je suis entrain de choisir mes composants pour ma futur monture.
Et je me demande s'il est vraiment nécessaire d'avoir 3 plateaux. Sur mon Vtc j'étais en 28/38/48 avec une cassette 11-32 8v lors de mon tour de France et je n'ai jamais passé le 3ème plateau. Peut-être une fois en descente 'pour voir'.
J'aimerai savoir, pour ceux qui roulent en 3 plateaux du genre 22/32/42-44, s'ils utilisent leur 3eme plateau ?
Et dans quel cas, je m'orienterais sur un double 24/34 avec une cassette 11-34 9v.
J'aime les choses simples et utiles, pourquoi prendre un triple plateau si je ne me serre jamais du 3eme ?
Merci !
F.
Bonjour,
J'ai en Shimano XT un triple plateau 24-32-42 avec une cassette 11-34. Une variable importante : la taille des roues. Les miennes sont en 26". J'utilise régulièrement le grand plateau essentiellement sur le plat. D'ailleurs, j'utilise tous les plateaux. Donc, je ne regrette pas d'avoir monté un triple plateau.
Je ne peux pas te répondre avec des mots techniques, car je m'y connais rien en français. Ce que je peux te dire par rapport à ma façon de rouler ce que quand je prends en ville le vélo avec trois plateaux, je roule toujours avec le grand. Toulouse est assez plat et pour les trajets du quotidien je change simplement de pignon (on dit 'pignon'?), entre le 3 et le 8. Cela dit, normalement en ville j'utilise un vieux vélo d'un seul plateau et trois pignons, et ça va plutôt bien :)
En rando et chargée, c'est vraie que je suis en géneral au plateau moyen, mais ça me fait plaisir de temps en temps de passer au grand et ressentir que ça avance!
Tout n'est qu'une question de ratio plateau/pignon * diamètre de roue. Regardes les développements supérieurs et inférieurs que tu utilises sur ton vélo actuel pour te donner une idée et voir si tu veux te donner un peu de marge en mettant une ou 2 dents de plus (et du coup si tu le peux sans ajouter de 3e plateau).
bonjour,
Juste pour témoigner que moi non plus je n'utilise pas le grand plateau quand je suis chargé... ce qui me fait me poser la même question que toi.
voyez mon tableau de développements
Bonjour Biscaflo
Je suis où plutôt mon vélo est en 22-32-42 et avec une cassette 8v 11-30, et bien j'utilise les 3 plateaux même chargé à 15 ou 20 kg. Le 42 est utile parce qu'en 32 x 11 la chaine frotte très légèrement sur le dérailleur avant, si je passe en 42 x 15 ou 13 j'ai l'impression d'avoir un meilleur rendement, c'est sans doute psychologique…
42 c'est proche de ton 38.
redecor
Ce n'est pas psychologique 😉 Le rendement est moins bon sur les tout petits pignons (genre 11 dents) et quand la chaîne n'est pas dans l'axe (à rapport équivalent, il faut donc privilégier le couple pignon/plateau qui rend la chaîne la plus alignée par rapport au cadre).
comme toi je m'étais posé la question il y a 2 ans quand j'avais à neuf mon vieux VTT qui me sert à tout (voyage + velotaf). à l'époque, mon vélociste m'avait dit qu'il pouvait me mettre seulement 2 plateaux mais que ça couterait plus cher : un double plateau coutait plus cher qu'un triple. je ne sais pas si c'est toujours le cas.
du coup la différence de poids étant négligeable ...
La différence n'est pas énorme, de l'ordre de 5 ou 10e je crois. Ce n'est pas le prix ni le poids qui me fait hésiter. C'est juste que je me demande pourquoi avoir 3 plateaux si je ne me sers que de deux.
Nos vélos de cyclotourisme sont aussi nos vélos de route, qui nous permettent nos randonnées de fin de semaine quand nous ne sommes pas en voyage a vélo. Quand nous ne sommes pas chargés, le gros plateau devient alors d'usage assez courant.
Sur notre tandem de route, nos plateaux sont 52-40-30 et la cassette est une 13-32.
J'ai un cyclotourisme Mikado Radisson monté en 50-39-30 avec une cassette 13-30
et un vélo de route Opus Fidelio monté 50-34 et 11-27.
Le vélo de Hélène est un DeVinci Caribou monté 50-39-28 et une cassette 13-32.
Les 3 plateaux sont donc une question de polyvalence; Le gros plateau étant notamment utile par gros vent de dos, sur les faux-plats descendants, ou encore quand nous roulons en peloton avec nos amis avec de grosses cadences. Nos petits plateaux sont évidemment essentiels dès que ça monte raide quand nous sommes chargés. Le plateau du milieu est celui que nous utilisons le plus sur terrain plat par vent de face, avec ou sans sacoches.
Bonjour,
Il faut garder en tête deux idées fortes: ménager le bonhomme et ménager la mécanique.
Chacun d'entre nous a des préférences correspondant à ses qualités physiques. Le bon braquet est celui qui permet d'être toujours à la bonne cadence de pédalage sans se mettre dans le rouge.
Mon vélo est équipé en 3P: 42-32-22 avec une cassette 8V:11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30. ce qui donne des développements compris entre environ 7.80m et 1.50m. De quoi couvrir un large champs de difficultés sans se trouver "entre deux vitesses" .
Le pignon de 11 est inutile car en 42x11 le développement est trop grand pour conserver une cadence rapide et en 32x11 la chaîne travaille dans de mauvaises conditions et grogne. La prochaine cassette démarrera donc à 12 voire 13. Par contre elle sera toujours en 8 vitesses pour conserver une chaîne "normale".
L'intérêt du triple plateaux est qu'il permet d'éviter l'usure prématurée d'un des plateaux. Ainsi sur le plat, pour un développement d'environ 5m je peux choisir le 42x17 ou le 32x13, et à chaque fois que c'est possible, je mets le plateau de 42 pour ménager le 32 .
Mais le double plateaux a aussi des avantages: moins de "poids" environ 300g si l'on considère la masse d'un plateau en moins et la différence de masse entre un axe de pédalier long et un axe court. Il se dit également que les roulements du pédalier supportent mieux un axe court qu'un axe long pour une question de porte-à-faux côté droit.
Cependant, pour avoir une gamme de développements bien échelonnés une cassette à 9V est conseillée mais elle oblige à utiliser une chaîne plus fragile.
Pour visualiser les différentes combinaisons de développement voyez ici http://cyclurba.fr/braquet.php et n'oubliez pas qu'il y a un grand Monsieur , Heinz Stücke , qui parcours le monde depuis plusieurs décennies avec un vélo mono plateau. Tout est question de philosophie du voyage.
Je profite du fil pour poser une question : j'aimerais remplacer mon double Stronglight 46/34 par un 46/30.
Problème : ce type de pédalier double n'existe quasiment plus aujourd'hui, à moins d'y mettre une somme que je trouve exagérée (200-400€).
J'ai donc demandé à Stronglight s'il serait possible de modifier un triple 50/40/30 en…
- retirant le plateau extérieur, ou à le remplacer par une simple protection
- remplaçant celui du milieu par un 46.
Réponse : "En principe c'est faisable, mais la ligne de chaine ne sera plus bonne. nous ne préconisons pas de combinaison 46/30 dts. l'indexation du plateau 46 est calculée pour les plateaux 34 et 36 dents. Vous risquez d'avoir des problèmes de déraillement."
Que signifie la phrase "l'indexation du plateau 46 est calculée pour les plateaux 34 et 36 dents." ?
Alternativement, n'existe-t-il pas d'adaptateur pour installer un BCD 74 sur un simple plateau BCD 110 ou 130 et le transformer en double ?
Que signifie la phrase "l'indexation du plateau 46 est calculée pour les plateaux 34 et 36 dents." ?
Ça veut dire que lorsque tu changes de plateau, disons 46 à 34, la chaîne est bien allignée pour que les dents du 34 tombent pile dans les intervalles de la chaîne.
Hi there,
who has already done the EURO VELO 1 in Norway from the south to the North Cape, and what are the main difficulties:
elevation gain, etc.......
Otherwise, who has already done the EURO VELO 7 from south to north, crossing Sweden up to the North Cape? If so, what are the difficulties, elevation gain, and does it pass through villages for supplies, etc.......
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Madagascar in early October to cycle from Tana to Diego along the east coast.
I really want to visit the Masoala Peninsula and its primary forest. If anyone’s interested, I’m open to company.
Maybe see you soon!
I’d been watching this ultra-light travel movement or trend for a while.
So I gave it a try—goodbye to the 5 panniers and rear racks.
A 15L saddle bag for clothes and a stove cookset.
Two cages on the fork blades: 2x5L—mattress on one side, tent on the other.
A 5L frame bag for miscellaneous items: battery, camera, small bits and pieces.
And one on the handlebar for the sleeping bag.
I tested it this summer on a crossing from Valence to Perpignan via the Massif Central.
My conclusions:
The obvious advantage is the reduced weight. In total, I had 12 kg on the bike, which makes climbing in the mountains much easier.
Another benefit I hadn’t considered is the significantly lower wind resistance compared to a traditional setup—you really feel it when the wind’s against you.
Of course, it’s not all perfect...
For example, it’s impossible to carry a food stock. You buy just enough before each meal or go to a restaurant!
You also have to accept a more spartan comfort level at stops.
In conclusion, I think for summer trips in regions where resupplying is easy, it’s an interesting option—especially if there’s significant elevation gain.
On the other hand, it doesn’t allow for enough autonomy, so some trips are off the table.
On the bike side, I swapped my Shimano 11/34 cassette for an 11/40. Even though Shimano doesn’t recommend it with a 105 derailleur and a 46/30 double chainring, it works really well.
The only limit is avoiding the 46/40 gear ratio.
Hi,
what are the easiest ways to get back from Nordkapp without pedaling—
train, boat, or plane?
Has anyone already done this?
Thanks for sharing your tips!
Hi, does anyone have recent info on the Shikoku pilgrimage? We’re traveling as a pair by bike, and I plan to camp whenever possible because from what I’ve seen, accommodations are pretty expensive, especially for long trips. I’d love any info or tips—thanks in advance! Aichatou
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
Hi,
I need to arrive in Thessaloniki by bike at the end of September and I plan to head to Istanbul along the coast.
Could anyone help me pick the best route? Safety, difficulty.
Thanks in advance.
Marc
Hi everyone! Thanks for welcoming me to the forum :)
I’m preparing for a long trip heading to Nepal, with stops along the way depending on my mood, work needs, and the season. I cycle a lot, but this will be my first big touring adventure. I’d like to camp regularly to keep costs down, so I’ll be riding on all kinds of surfaces: smooth and rough roads, main highways and rocky paths to find my camping spots, flat terrain and the occasional steep slopes.
For my bike model, I’m prioritizing durability, versatility, and repairability. From that perspective, I prefer a steel frame and fork with rim brakes since I’m used to them. I’ve narrowed my choices down to four models:
- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur T-700 LTD (1400 €): steel frame, aluminum fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 28" wheels, 40mm tires, 36 spokes (2 mm), lightweight rear rack (max 20 kg), no front rack included, smallest gear ratio of 0.72, weight of 13.9 kg.
- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 (2200 €): steel frame and fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 26" wheels, 50mm tires, 36 spokes (2.34 mm), front and rear racks included (40+18 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 15.9 kg.
- The Genesis Tour de Fer 30 (2150 €): steel frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, 28" wheels, 36 spokes, 40mm tires, front and rear racks included (27+10 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.77, weight of 15.9 kg.
- The Rockrider ADTV 900 from Decathlon (1700 €): aluminum frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, USB port, 28" wheels, 47mm tires, 28 spokes, front and rear racks included (40+20 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 17.1 kg. This is the successor to the Riverside Touring 900, which was a hit.
I’ve got a few questions:
1/ Should I go for 26" or 28" wheels for my trip? 26" wheels seem better for rough terrain, but 28" wheels feel more comfortable on roads. I’ve also read that 26" tires/tubes are easier to find.
2/ Do you recommend a steel frame and fork over aluminum? I’m guessing a high-quality aluminum frame and fork would be better than a low-quality steel one, right?
3/ Regarding the smallest gear ratio, is 0.71 a good number for a loaded bike in the mountains?
4/ Finally, what do you think of these four models for my project? My heart leans toward the TX-400—it seems to combine the versatility and robustness I’m looking for. But the price difference with the T-700 LTD is making me think twice!
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.