Cela fait 9 mois que nous sommes en tour du monde en velo, dans 2 semaines nous serons en Inde.
J ai entendu beaucoup de chose sur ce pays, qui a l air si different.
Notament sur le style vestimentaire. Nous sommes en velo, donc je porterais surement, short et tee shirt, est ce que cela peut choquer?
Pensez vous qu il y ai des risques a voyager a velo? ( je suis qd meme accompagnee par julien)
je suis partie sans bijoux pour eviter tous probleme, on ma conseille de m acheter un petit anneau comme cela je serai moins "embettee" si je suis mariee.
Nous avons traverse la chine, les chinois sont tres curieux, est il de meme pour les indiens?
Dois je avoir peur? Nous avons traverse le bresil qui pour moi etait plus risque que l inde, mais en lisant des recits je me pose des questions.
Namaskar,
Pour avoir circulé en vélo en Inde avec 12 amis cyclo(Orissa)je peux te dire que vous ne passerez pas inapercus.....et les questions vont pleuvoir? les indiens sont très nombreux..... et curieux également.Prenez attention dans les agglomérations urbaines et les éviter si possible, le trafic(à gauche) ne se préocuppe pas du tout des cyclistes en Inde, le vélo est utilisé par les plus pauvres ....... et ils sont étonnés que nous en fassions.......comme sport, pour le plaisir et pour voyager...
Pas de sentiments d'insécurités et encore moins dans les campagnes.....
Marianne
Je n’ai circulé que dans le nord de l’Inde, qui est très différent du reste du pays, mais j’ai trouvé que c’était « pas si pire », nettement moins craignos que ce à quoi on s'attendait. Si vous roulez là où il y a bcp de circulation, un rétroviseur me semble une bonne idée, ne serait-ce que pour se mettre vite sur le bas-côté si besoin (ça permet d’anticiper).
Demande éventuellement à Kangoo (mb de ce forum) son avis, il a roulé en Inde.
A part ça, oui les Indiens sont curieux, encore plus que les Chinois ! Le « white watching » est un sport extrêmement populaire. Mais plus pénible, les gars sont vraiment machos et n’hésitent pas à te tripoter (main aux fesses dans les transports, main sur la cuisse de la part de ton voisin dans le bus etc… au moins à vélo, t’es tranquille !). Etre habillé avec jambes et épaules couvertes, c’est mieux (en plus, on évite les coups de soleil). Faut pas hésiter à se rebeller, ils n’ont pas trop l’habitude et ils arrêtent vite. Ca va jamais bien loin (mais quand même chiant).
En revanche, faut pas avoir peur, pas d’agression comme au Brésil (braquages & co). Le principal risque étant plutôt lié à la route.
Petite question : comment êtes-vous passé de la Chine vers l'Inde ? Via Tibet-Népal ou via Pakistan ou par avion ?
Bonjour Marianne,
je n'ai malheureusement pas de conseils pour toi, mais en revanche, les tiens m'intéressent vivement !
je cherche un itinéraire pour me rendre en Inde en venant de France mais en évitant l' Iran et l'Afganistan : pourrais-tu m'indiquer ton itinéraire et me donner tes impressions ?
merci et bonne chance pour ta propre demande.
sylvie
Si tu vas en Inde du Sud (connais pas le nord) tu te rendras compte très vite, qu'il est dangereux de rouler de nuit, vu l'état des routes et la conduite indienne. Sinon, j'ai fait 2 séjours, 1 fois seule, l'autre accompagnée par 2 amies, je n'ai jamais eu le moindre problème avec les indiens. C'est vrai que le coté short risque de faire un peu tache, mais tu peux très bien t'acheter pour rien un petit sarouel très léger, ou autre pantalon. Le tee shirt passera, c'est de dénuder les épaules qui peut choquer.
Itinéraire possible de France à Inde : via Russie - Mongolie - Chine ou Russie - Kazakhstan - Kirgizistan - Chine. De là, tu as le choix entre passer par le Pakistan (Karakoram Highway, ouverte seulement de Mai à Novembre) ou par Tibet-Népal (mais le Tibet est susceptible d'être fermé au tourisme à n'importe quel moment).
Cela dit, pourquoi vouloir éviter l'Iran qui est un pays merveilleux ?
Merci a tous pour vos reponses qui me rassurent un peu. Meme si pour etre franche je ne suis pas totalement "terrorisee", juste une petite apprehension.
Nous avons pris un avion de shanghai pour Hong hong pour une petite halte de 15 jours puis le 1er fevrier nous irons de hong kong a mumbai en avion. Puis de mumbai a Dehli en velo, nous avons prevu 2 mois pour le faire avec un detour par Goa.
Si vous voyagez en couple, pas besoin d'alliance pour passer pour mari et femme et être considérés comme tels. En revanche apprêtez vous à répondre à la question : vous êtes ensembles depuis x années et pas encore d'enfant ? 😉
Question qui nous fût fréquemment posée à l'occasion des quelques rencontres lors d'un voyage de 4 mois entre Dehli, Ladakh et Népal avec ma compagne il y a pas mal d'années...
niveau insécurité c'est tranquille, juste les regards persistants qui peuvent ennuyés mais ça ne va pas plus loin. Là où c'est plus tendu par contre, comme dit précedemment, c'est pour la route, perso même si je sais que certains l'ont fait, je n'arrive même pas à m'imaginer voyager à vélo la-bas, mais ça doit être une sacré expérience c'est certain. Surtout ne pas voyager de nuit, et faire attention aux chiens aussi qui sont nombreux.
Bonne continuation pour votre voyage
Merci a tous pour vos messages.
Nous sommes arrives en Inde il y a deux jours et tout se passe bien. On est meme sortis de l aeroport de Mumbai en velo et a 20h...et sans aucun soucis...
Circulation : la chose la plus dangereuse en Inde ! le sud est plus cool que le rajasthan par ex et il faut absolument éviter les grands axes. Evidemment, n epas rouler la nuit. Et etre prets à sauter sur le bas côté quand un véhicule plus gros que vous double en face ...il ne se détournera pas pour un pauvre vélo....
Tenue : si tu veux etre respectée et respecter la culture locale, je te conseille de cacher tes épaules et tes jambes...mais tu t'en rendras vite compte toi meme, en 2 mois, jamais vu des jambes d'indienne...
bonjour!! l'Inde est un pays magique!! Comme vous avez pu le constater, les Indiens sont tres nombreux et tres curieux ... mais adorables et gentils, toujours pret a rendre service!profitez bien de l'ambiance Goa. Pas tres loin de là, je vous conseille de passer par Hampi, un village de pelerinage merveilleux et surréaliste, construit au milieu de rochers gigantesques. Un lieu unique!!Bonne route ... En Inde, c'est le vehicule le plus gros qui a la priorité!!
je me glisse juste dans la conversation pour signaler que l'Iran est un pays fabuleux qui est en ce moment très facile à traverser à vélo. Nous y avons passé cinquante jours, je suis une femme, et ce sera un des pays les plus marquants de notre périple. L'accueil est fabuleux, les gens, les paysages, les villes, tout est magnifique. Nous n'avons jamais autant invités. L'Iran fait peur parce qu'on entend que les choses qui se passent au niveau international, choses dont le peuple n'a rien à faire. Il ne faut surtout pas shunter l'Iran, trop dommage. Nous étions à vélo couché...
Voila 11 jours que nous sommes arrives en inde et nous roulons depuis Mumbai jusqu a Panaji. POur le moment nous avons rencontre que des gens formidables, nous avons etait acceuilli chaleureusement, nous avons visite une ecole, etait heberge chez l instit, etait le spectacle du village...des moments forts et riches en emotions. Les gens sont super gentils meme si on ne relache pas notre viligance.
Aucun soucis pour le moment pour la circulation, nous avons suivi des petites routes, mais la N17 semble deja plus dangereuse. On va suivre la cote.
Avez vous deja pris le train ou bus avec les velos?
Nous en passerons pas par l iran mais peut etre au prochain voyage, ca donne envie en tout cas.
Rapide présentation, je m' appelle Mehdi, j'ai 25 ans et je pars en Inde le 1e Mai prochain, arrivée à Delhi avec comme projet de remonter vers le Nord…
Nous allons devoir faire quelques trajets en train (passenger et Sleeper) en Inde du nord (Gorakhpur - Delhi et Delhi - Calcutta) chargés de nos vélos de…
Après avoir l'an dernier pédalé de kochi à karwar (juste avant état de goa) par les western ghâts, pur moment de bonheur, autour de kochi l'année précédente…
🇷🇼 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…
Bonjour je cherche des renseignement pour monter au cap Nord par l'euro vélo 7
quelqu'un l'a t, il déjà fait et ou est le mieux pour attaquer l'euro vélo 7
Merci
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?
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
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!
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
Hello,
Has anyone here had experience using a gas stove in Sardinia and Sicily? I’m wondering if screw-on gas canisters (not the blue Campingaz ones, but brands like Coleman, Primus, etc.) are easy to find.
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?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.
Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !