Je viens de me renseigner pour un vélo TDM chez un vendeur spécialisé en vélos de voyage. Il me propose un type de vélo :
1345€ tout équipé (sans les sacoches)
cadre acier
Portes bagages Tubus
Un moyeu-dynamo (je crois que c'est le nom) et il peut même ajouter un système pour charger des appareils avec un port USB, etc...
Bon pneus, bonnes jantes visiblement, le système de vitesse (le truc accroché à la roue arrière) très costaud (sauf en cas de choc)... Enfin je répète les paroles du vendeur...
Enfin, il me dit que c'est un bon vélo, clé en main, et que je pourrai facilement trouver de quoi réparer même à l'autre bout du monde.
Comme je suis novice, je doute bien sur, (sans remettre en cause les mots du vendeur) notamment concernant le moyeu dynamo, si je casse le truc, comment je fais ?
Je ne sais pas... Avez-vous des conseils ? Que pensez-vous du prix ? Le type n'était pas très causant, et étant novice, je ne sais trop quelles questions poser car je ne connais pas trop le jargon, la qualité que je dois demander, etc....
Et bien sûr, je ne suis pas bricoleuse, donc si je veux équiper un vieux vélo, je suis perdue.
Mais je compte bien sûr prendre des cours de réparation et d'entretien avant le départ ! 😛
Oui c'est bien ce qui me semblait qu'il y avait polémique sur le sujet des moyeux-dynamo.. Qu'en penses-tu ? Quels sont les problèmes rencontrés avec ce genre de produit stp ?
Je vais essayer de trouver les anciens posts sur le sujet....
En fait, il me semble que le vélo dont tu parles, le fahrrad xt 400, est celui que le vendeur m'a proposé car je l'ai trouvé sur son site, et c'est le même vélo, et comme il n'a qu'un seul modèle en vente :
Néanmoins, les freins hydrauliques sont bofs (galère à réparer si fuite ou bulle d'air) et je trouve que le pédalier n'est pas vraiment adapter à la randonnée 26/36/48. Les jantes sont des éléments importants et on ne sait qu'elle marque c'est.
Pour plus ou moins ce prix là, tu peux te monter ton vélo seule avec les matériaux adéquats et qui te conviennent. Tous les renseignements nécessaires sont sur ce site.
Bon je vais pouvoir réfléchir un peu mieux car je n'ai rencontré aucun avis négatif sur ce vélo, au contraire les gens l'encensent ! Reste à décider moyeu-dynamo ou pas, mais en même temps, elle est déjà installée sur le vélo.
Les freins, ce sont des V-brakes hydrauliques c'est ça ?
Si je tombe en rade en Mongolie par exemple, je ne vais pas galérer...? 😊
Alors aujourd'hui j'ai appelé un magasin de Besançon en demandant s'ils vendaient des vélos de voyage (car je ne veux pas acheter à Dijon) et le type, visiblement la 50aine je dirais, était super bizarre. D'abord je ne comprenais pas ces réponses, il a fait de l'humour bizarre, puis il a commencé à limite m'engueuler.... Alors bon je ne sais pas trop comment réagir, et direct il me dit d'un ton très sec "bah déjà faut savoir quel cadre vous voulez" et là, alors que j'ai précisé que je n'y connais rien, je réponds "acier" et là je crois que l'ai énervé, il me dit "mais pourquoi acier (méchamment), faut arrêter de penser qu'on est des guignols et qu'on connait pas notre métier. Maintenant on fait des super alliages alu/acier, testés par des voyageurs et des ingénieurs...!!!"
Ah bah heu ok... Pardon.... Il me demande combien je veux mettre, et comme ma seule référence c'est le TX400 je dis comme ça, "baah 1500 max"
"Quoi ?? Mais c'est beaucoup trop cher !"
Je luis demande, à tout hasard, s'il connait le Fahrrad, un vélo allemand, et il sort de ses gonds "mais j'en ai rien à faire des allemands, faut arrêter de croire que les allemands c'est les meilleurs (j'ai rien dit moi), ils ne fabriquent rien, ils font tout faire en Chine et ils assemblent, et après ils disent "made in Germany !" En France on est pas plus cons qu'eux, on fait du très bon matos, blablabla..."
Ensuite il me demande si je veux des porte-bagages ou remorque, j'hésite, je me dis qu'il va péter son téléphone si je réponds à côté de ce qu'il attend... "Porte bagages..."
"Grmbllmb... Mouais, mais pourquoi, maintenant tous les voyageurs prennent des remorques, parce que ci, ça....."
Je dis que non, visiblement, il y en a plus qui prennent des portes bagages, et là il argumente, comme si je ne savais pas qu'un porte bagage va bien évidemment donner plus de fil à retordre au vélo....
Il me demande aussi la largeur de mon entre jambe.... "Hein..?".... Le type je crois qu'il faut être un pro pour s'adresser à lui, il doit pas aimer les novices....
salut ladyzepelin
en effet (période crise de nerf), il faut reconnaitre aussi a la clientèle de nos jours achète comme au supermarché du village avec un portable pour savoir quoi mangé (des cacahuètes) pour le ricard😉
je soutiens ce brave velociste acheter merd-in France vs deutch qualitate germany😇
PS:sauf qu'en France pour le prix 1 velos non equipé, en Allemagne on en n'a 2 tous equipé transmition xt, tubus
toutes les pièces vienneet de singapor😏 et beaucoup plus serviable
Bonjour Laure,
Déjà pas très commerçant le gars c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire, après un accueil pareil, j'irais voir ailleurs.
Le TX 400 pour le voyage à mon avis :
Les + roues de 26 pouces, c'est la dimension la plus répandue dans le monde et les pneus sont des pièces d'usure.
cadre en acier peut se réparer au fin fond de l'Afrique ou de l'Amérique du sud contrairement à un cadre alu.
Fourche rigide acier. idem.
Les - :
les freins hydrauliques même si le système est très fiable rien n'est infaillible et en cas de pépin en pleine cambrousse la réparation peut être délicate. Un câble c'est léger dans un sac de pièces détachées à emmener et on en trouve presque partout.
la selle à voir le confort mais vu la fiche technique bof : une mauvaise selle ou une selle inadaptée peut faire énormément souffrir sur des long trajets. Les selles Brooks en cuir sont très confortables mais il vaut mieux la faire à son anatomie au début par des petites balades comme des chaussures de randonnée pédestre.
les ? :
Les jantes sont elles à double paroi c'est une partie du vélo qui souffre énormément sur mauvais chemin, pour un TDM il faut des doubles parois.
Les rayons c'est pareil pour un TDM il vaut mieux des rayons renforcés. Avec le moyeu dynamo, il faut une longueur adaptée. Par contre même au bout du monde on trouve des ateliers vélos qui fabriquent les rayons à la demande (en France ils ont tendance à changer la roue) J'ai eu au droit au Mexique à un bricolage un peu spécial qui m'a permis de faire 400 km jusqu'à Mexico ou j'ai trouvé la pièce cassée ( le moyeu arrière avec disque de frein qui avait cassé au niveau de l'attache des rayons)
Dernier conseil avant de partir pour la grande aventure si tu le peux essaye de faire un circuit d'une semaine ou 15 jours en France pour te tester et tester le matériel.
Bonne route Bye Cycle !
Je ne sais pourquoi mais les vélocistes au niveau sympathie, sont souvent comme celui que tu viens de d'écrire.🙂
Ne te précipite surtout pas dans ce premier achat, prends ton temps, regarde un peu partout et va voir les vélos qui t'intéresse et il faut surtout les essayer.
Tu ne parles pas de ta taille, mais je pense que tu dois savoir qu'un cadre de vélo s'achète aussi en fonction de ce critère, évidemment très important.
Le Fahrradmanufaktur a effectivement une bonne réputation, mais ce n'est pas le seul vélo, il y en a d'autres.
L'idée d'avoir un moyeu dynamo et un bon éclairage n'est pas inutile, voir et être vu et tout aussi important niveau sécuritaire. ( pour les éventuelles pannes, ça sera de toute façon pareil avec tous les autres systèmes )
Il y'a peu, j'ai rencontré un type qui voyageait depuis 34ans sur un vélo type TDM ( tour du pâté de maisons ) en alu massif avec une selle en plastique véritable ...
Sinon, c'est les soldes en ce moment et pour qui sait monter un vélo ( ce qui me semble impératif pour qui entreprend un TDM ), on trouve des groupes Shimano XT ( haut de gamme ) complets à moins de 500€ ...
As tu essayé cyclo-randonnée à Besançon ? J'ai toujours eu un bon contacte en vente à distance avec message par email personnalisé de Julien même sur les articles peu cher
Ils propose un vélo similaire au Fahrad manufaktur qui à l'aire bien (j'ai un Tx 700 par contre, de cyclable à Bordeaux car Besançon c'est trop loin pour moi)
Bonnes recherches
evite les freins hydrauliques ou a disque, et le rolhoff, et plus de 9 pignons a l'arriere, tout cela est irreparable quand on est dans un pays moins developpe, deja en Roumanie par exemple.
cadre acier ou alu, a priori ca n'a guere d'importance, mais a part en Turquie ou Argentine tu ne trouvera sans doute plus de cadre alu adapte pour freins V brake. donc le cadre acier devient inevitable.
Perso je prefere un cadre de VTT et une fourche a suspension, car je fais beaucoup de piste; Mais si tu projette surtout de la route, tu peux prendre un cadre plus leger et une fourche rigide, tu gagneras du poids, des jantes 17-21 standard avec des pneus 1.5 pouce, 36 rayons de 2mm.
pignons arriere 11-34, et plateaux avant 22-32-44.
bonjour ayant un t400 les jantes sont doubles parois et c est un velo fiable dont je pars en inde avec (9000km) en 2015
et comme tout velo un entretien suivi donne de bons resultats bien sur j ai pas d action dans cette marque cela reste un bon rapport qualite prix voila salut
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.
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.
