Nous prévoyons faire la traditionnelle vallée du Danube avec nos vélos de type "cyclotoureurs". Pouvez-vous nous dire si le trajet suggéré par le Danube Bike Trail est asphalté? Nos pneus n'apprécient pas vraiment le gravier...😕
Alternance de graviers, sable et asphalte, avec des pneus de 28 mini ça passe, expérience perso. Même si sous la pluie j'aurais aimé avoir des pneus un peu plus larges sur le sable stabilisé mouillé.
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
Bonjour
J'ai emprunté la voie cyclable le long du Danube pour mon tour d'Europe centrale ( de Passau à Vienne ) pas de problème particulier, très bien indiqué et de l'asphalte pratiquement tout le long.( c'est la route pour les promenades du dimanche pour les Viennois).
Laurent
J'ai fait une fois ce trajet, de Mulhouse aux portes de Vienne. Il est vrai que dans la partie autrichienne la vélo-route est toujours bitumée et très confortable. Mais en Allemagne j'ai rencontré aussi beaucoup de chemins de terre, assez accidentés et boueux par temps de pluie. Je pense qu'en Allemagne, la moitié des pistes cyclables ne sont pas asphaltées. Ca ne m'a pas empêché d'y tenir de bonnes moyennes... pour dire que si il y peut y avoir quelques portions un peu délicates, ça reste tout de même confortable avec un VTC (vélo tout chemin, pneus de taille moyenne).
Merci à tous pour vos informations. Et aussi pour la signification de VTC, ce n'est pas utilisé comme acronyme au Québec... On va donc probablement faire le chemin sur les routes "automobiles" du côté allemand, puis suivre la piste cyclable en Autriche. Je préfère les voitures au gravier... D'autant plus que vos automobilistes sont nettement plus civilisés avec les cyclistes que les nôtres! L'hiver ici fait oublier que les vélos existent...
Nous y sommes passés cette été(Passau/Vienne), pas de mauvaises surprises sur le revêtement du bitume tous le long et bien indiqué.
En revanche un peu galère pour trouver des cartouches de gaz à visser🙁
En Allemagne, beaucoup de Routes à grande circulation sont doublées par une ou 2 voies cyclables qui elles sont goudronnées. mais au niveau bruit c'est l'enfer
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
On ne pensait pas passer autant au nord, mais l'idée est excellente. On va la considérer sérieusement. Au départ, nous avions un trajet qui suit le Danube à partir de sa source, mais comme mentionné, il semble y avoir pas mal de routes non goudronnées. Merci à tous pour ces excellents conseils (et pour les cartouches de gaz aussi, j'en prends bonne note).
à propos de vélo et puisque vous êtes de ou du Québec, pourriez-vous me donner des tuyaux sur la véloroute des Bleuets
autour du lac St Jean si vous la connaissez :
- Est-ce que ça vaut le coup de venir d'Europe pour la faire ?
- en combien de temps ça se fait sans se presser ?
- la meilleure période ?
merci de vos éventuelles réponses
Bonjour Patrice,
En fait, pour des cyclotouristes, c'est honteux, mais j'ai l'honnêteté de vous avouer qu'on ne pédale qu'en Europe! La principale raison est que chez vous, les paysages changent, il y a des villages (donc des boulangeries🤪) aux 10 km, plein de trucs à visiter et surtout, les automobilistes sont courtois avec les cyclistes. Malheureusement, au Québec, les distances sont grandes. Si on sort de l'axe Québec-Montréal ou du Saguenay-Lac St-Jean, on peut faire beaucoup de km avec de la forêt, un peu de forêt, de grandes forêts, des lacs et en prime, des moustiques... bref, ou bien nous sommes blasés, ou alors on ne voit plus la beauté de notre paysage qui est devenu commun. De plus, les vélos ne sont pas vraiment sur les routes pendant plusieurs mois d'hiver si bien qu'à chaque printemps, nous sommes considérés comme des nuisances par ces rois automobilistes. Nous ne sommes plus habitués de faire attention et vérifier si un cycliste arrive. Il y a (pas toujours bien sûr) peu de courtoisie pour les cyclistes. Ne roulez jamais à 2 de largeur, vous allez vous faire klaxonner. Je mets çà au pire, mais c'est hélas quotidien. Alors en réaction, plusieurs cyclistes sont aussi vraiment casse-cou: brûle les feux, roulent sur les trottoirs ou à contre-sens bref, les torts sont des 2 côtés.
La route des bleuets est sans doute une des exceptions. Le circuit est agréable, passe par de nombreux villages. Le Lac St-Jean est immense et magnifique. C'est balisé "voie cyclable" partout et très plat. C'est donc une randonnée facile et bien aménagée, parfois sur piste, parfois en bordure de chaussée. La température peut toutefois être très variable: fraiche, pluie, vent ou alors superbe. C'est çà l'été au Québec. On ne sait jamais, c'est pas la côte d'Azur.
Quant au circuit lui-même, certains le roulent en trois jours, ça dépend si vous considérez être en "voyage" ou en camp d'entraînement!! Mais ne vous attendez pas à devoir rester 3 jours à Chicoutimi pour en visiter tous les attraits, c'est pas Rome ou Strasbourg. Et pour les bleuets (myrtilles), ce n'est pas avant début août. Mais la légende veut que les bleuets sont tellement gros au Saguenay qu'il n'en faut que 3 pour faire une tarte!!!
merci de votre réponse si rapide . Cela fait maintenant plusieurs fois que je lis des choses semblables sur le comportement bien peu sympa des automobilistes de chez vous envers les cyclistes et c'est une découverte .
En tout cas merci pour le lien qui va me permettre de creuser le sujet .
Bonjour Patrice,
On exagère sans doute un peu car vous ne vous ferez pas happer en arrivant, n'ayez crainte. Mais malheureusement, le contraste est réel entre l'attitude chez vous et ici. Si une voiture vient en sens inverse, un camion ne va pas ralentir pour prendre votre vitesse en attendant de pouvoir changer complètement de voie. Il va garder sa ligne et tant pis pour le souffle de vent qu'il va vous imposer. Même chose pour plusieurs voitures qui, même si elles le pouvaient, ne font aucune déviation pour vous laisser plus d'espace. Et il faut faire attention aux feux de circulation (il y en a beaucoup plus que chez vous, nous n'avons pour ainsi dire pas de rond-points: trop difficile à déneiger l'hiver). Les autos peuvent tourner à droite aux feux rouges, si bien que vous devez faire attention pour ne pas vous faire pousser. Bref, avec un petit guide de survie du cycliste (!), il y a peu de problème!!! Mais bienvenue chez nous quand même, vous trouverez sans doute que ce n'est pas "aussi pire" que vous l'imaginez.
(Ici, j'ai fait exprès pour utiliser "aussi pire" car on utilise vraiment beaucoup: pas si pire, moins pire, aussi pire, pas pire... et les enfants en rajoutent: plusse pire!!! Çà c'est vraiment terrible, c'est quand le grand frère a frappé plus fort que soi...)
Chantal ,
sur le forum il semble y avoir un nombre considérable de Français ou autres Européens qui ont été faire du vélo au Québec donc ça marche bien dans les deux sens . Personnellement j'ai horreur du mélange contre nature vélo/auto et , autant que possible , j'aime bien rouler sur véloroute "en site propre" , donc je recherche systématiquement les endroits où les cyclistes sont" entre eux "comme les Pays-Bas, le Danemark e.t.c
Je n'ai pas la moindre intention d'aller de Montréal ou de Québec au Lac St Jean en vélo ne serait-ce que parce que l'échelle des distances est trop différente par rapport à l'Europe mais l'idée de faire le tour du lac me semble sympa et puis la région semble bien organisée pour ce type de tourisme .😉
En effet, la région a bien "travaillé" pour offrir ce type de tourisme et tant mieux. Mais effectivement, on ne part pas de Québec à vélo pour aller au Lac St-Jean, il faut traverser le Parc des Laurentides = 200 km de forêt montagneuse n'ayant qu'un poste d'essence + restaurant au beau milieu. Kamikaze!
Faudra toutefois vous renseigner si vous apportez votre vélo d'Europe car le transport en autobus à partir de Montréal ou Québec n'est pas assuré. Quant au train, on oublie le projet. Mais la location d'un vélo est, quant à elle très facile.
Bon voyage!
Chantal
Bonjour, qqn a-til des informations récentes sur le pelerinage de Shikoku, on voyage à 2 à vélo, je compte camper quand c est possible car pour ce que je vois, les hébergements sont assez chers, surtout quand on voyage longtemps. preneuse d'informations et de conseils, merci d' avance, 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,
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,
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.
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