To answer the question: I’ll let you know when I stop! For now—turning 72 in two days—I’ve got a "Portugal tour" planned for spring... and a "Crete tour" as a backup plan... http://www.lethieu39.fr/dans-les-cartons-les-projets/
In the meantime, happy New Year and safe travels to all...
Hi Françoise,
I browsed this forum some time ago, looking to buy a "nice" touring bike. I was in great shape back then (well, for my 66 years, at least)...
Three weeks ago, though I never thought I was at risk (healthy lifestyle and all), I had a sudden heart attack after cycling 4 km in the cold... I’ve since learned that cold is a major risk factor, just like stress, smoking, or being overweight.
After a bit of a "slump"—since I really need physical activity (this year, I was planning to hike around Mont Blanc and cycle down the Loire)—reading about your health issues actually cheered me up! Thanks again, safe travels, and watch out for the cold!
Christian
PS: I couldn’t get your website to open.
Before I posted my last message, I hadn’t read yours about your vertebra fracture! I hope you’ve been recovering well since November. Hang in there!
Christian
It's true that "at our age," something can happen to us in no time, and a heart attack—just the word is scary!
But it's not the end of sports in many cases. I have a brother who's 3 years younger than me. He overdid it with marathons and more, had a heart attack, and the doctor prescribed him 1 to 2 hours of cycling a day. I had to fight with him to get him to buy a heart rate monitor... I'm not even sure he did it!
not being a high-risk person (healthy lifestyle)
Healthy lifestyle—what *is* a healthy lifestyle? If I believe some sources, we're far from the truth, and even our various specialists, with help from pharmaceutical labs, might be leading us to the slaughterhouse—look into the statin scandal, by the way, that might interest you. Check out "Michel de Lorgeril" online.
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
"Good lifestyle habits" for me mean:
- daily physical activity: walking or cycling (that’s my "vehicle" for getting around town every day, not to mention outings when the weather’s nice) + 1 hour of gym per week
- balanced diet (plenty of fruit and veg, very little cold cuts, eggs, cooking with olive oil…)
- no tobacco
- little alcohol: at parties with friends, a bottle of wine now and then… apparently, I don’t drink enough: 1 to 2 glasses of red wine recommended per day! 😉
I only found out what statins are after my health scare… they’re one of the meds I was given because my bad cholesterol is slightly above the norm… the pharma lobby really got me, I’ll bring it up with my cardiologist at my next visit.
My "personal pipes" were probably in bad shape, but it was clearly the physical effort—limited, but without warming up—that triggered it.
Christian
Saw your blog with your two projects—nice one!
You’re heading to Portugal—are you flying or sorting it out by train?
Any worries about your gear if you’re thinking of taking a flight??
That’s what kinda scares me and keeps me in FRANCE.
GOOD PREP
BERNARD "Aucun conseil n'est plus loyal que celui qui se donne sur le navire en péril.
Voiture : Invention ingénieuse, permettant de contenir 110 chevaux dans le moteur et un âne au volant.
You're doing Portugal—are you flying or organizing train travel?
Do you have any concerns about your gear when you consider flying?
That’s what scares me a bit and keeps me limited to FRANCE.
Thanks... I’m planning to fly into Porto and back from Lisbon (EasyJet). So far, I’ve been lucky—just one or two minor "fixes" despite only using "low-cost" airlines. But I’ve always flown from Lyon or Geneva to or from "regional" airports. Is that related to my crazy luck???
All I know is that things go smoothly if airport managers, handlers, and subcontractors are decent and people aren’t too "under pressure." And it’s certain that at some airports (Paris??), it’s really sketchy...
One year, I tried an "all-ferry" solution: left the bus in a Venice parking lot and took a ferry for a "Greek island tour." It could’ve worked for a Greece, Crete, Italy, or even Sardinia and Corsica trip—from one port, you can easily expand your horizons—but boats are *so* slow!!!
Happy trails...
But as I feared, there aren’t many seventy-somethings cycling on the forum. Counting me, we’re only 3 in total.
Patience—if I don’t kick the bucket first, in two years and five months we’ll be four, though gender parity still won’t be respected!
Happy cycling,
Françoise
Hey Lethieu!
Oh, you beat me by a few days—I turned 72 on 11/2!
Yeah, stress plays nasty tricks. I try to avoid it.
No extra weight for me (1.71m, 69kg).
Diet: Born in Dijon, I’m a bon vivant—I don’t deprive myself of anything, and I’ve been smoke-free since 1984!
I don’t cycle in winter but walk instead (10km/day).
I get back on the bike in March, doing 50km/day.
This year, I plan to start from Givet to the Baltic, then follow the old Iron Curtain down to the Adriatic, then northern Italy, cross the Alps, traverse France, visit one of my daughters in the Landes, and head back to Givet. There you go—departure around May 25, return end of August.
I live in campgrounds and under the tent, like a wild man, and I love it!
To everyone: drink cool and French!!!!!
Rigoll
Before my possible (probable) tour of Portugal in a few days, I’m doing a 3-day loop in the Camargue, around the lagoons... and, as tradition dictates, heading to the Vélocio Easter gathering in Provence (usually from Rive de Gier to Gigondas).
Happy planning and have a great season to all seven of you...
I haven’t been online for two years, but you can add one more septuagenarian—I just turned 74 and I’m really not in great shape anymore.
Cyclo 78 (Alain) 😉
Le vélo et la marche sans faire de compétition, ça maintien la forme
Like I did in 2016, I’m sharing a 3-month bike-trip project here for early 2017. This year it’ll be in Southeast Asia (Thailand – Cambodia – Laos) by mountain bike from January 4 to April 3, 2017.
The planned route map is here. There are a few variations, and the route isn’t set in stone. Whenever possible, we’ll take unpaved trails or dirt roads.
Right now, there are three of us—all men between 65 and 66 years old. The group can grow, and anyone interested can contact me through this forum or via private message. We already have our flight tickets for Lyon–Bangkok round trip.
The site where you can follow the trip is here.
The site for the 2016 trip to Mexico by recumbent trike is here.
The site for the 2014 and 2015 trips in Southeast Asia by recumbent trike is here.
The site for the 2011 classic bike trip and the 2013 recumbent trike trip is here.
As I mentioned in my post last April, I had just turned 74.
This year I managed to continue the EV6 from Basel to Radolfzell, then did a loop around Lake Constance.
Back in Basel, I took the EV15 to Neuf-Brisach, then a little detour to Freiburg before returning to Guebwiller. Okay, I went a bit slower and was more tired in the evenings, but I was really happy with myself.
Next year will be... another year ;) maybe sticking around the Yvelines.
Alain
Le vélo et la marche sans faire de compétition, ça maintien la forme
Good evening,
Still going strong, but a year without cycling.
Walking and biking became too painful, so I decided to have hip surgery. Hip replacement in August after having some teeth pulled in July.
Feeling good now—finally making a gradual comeback—and a trip in 2017 is "in the works."
Jules
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
Bikes—how old is too old? Everyone’s got their own answer, or almost.
Last year we hiked western Sichuan on foot; I’d just had wrist surgery and one-handed cycling isn’t easy.
This year it was my husband’s turn to smash his shoulder and get a prosthesis. So we just bought e-bikes.
They let us get back on two wheels without putting too much strain on our shoulders.
We just rode the Verdon Gorge—gorgeous training ground.
Two more seventy-somethings still pedaling.
Good question. I'm 68, and since retiring I've done a round-the-world trip and several 3- to 5-month journeys. I try not to dwell on it too much, even though it's always in the back of my mind. My answer: enjoy the present and dream about the future.
Un brin de folie est comme l'argent: ça ne fait pas le bonheur, mais ça aide!
je fus navigateur navigaterre , je reste navigaterre.
Qu'importe d'où nous venons, car nous pouvons aller beaucoup plus loin que ce dont nous avions révé .
Hi there... Wow, just looking at this site and especially this forum really lifts my spirits! Thailand, Cambodia, Laos... I’m full of admiration and envy!
Envious because if I hadn’t had a health issue in January, I would’ve done a bike trip in France in 2016 (either following the Loire or the Vélodyssée from Roscoff to Hendaye), and I would’ve loved to join you. Especially since I’m planning to visit that region soon.
Admiring because your trip planning seems really well thought out. I took a (too quick) look at your blogs and discovered your cyclist “gear” with interest, plus the "bikemap" site, which looks super useful.
Hi Navigaterre,
Your first post caught my eye, then I forgot about it. When I saw the second one, I thought, "Why not start a club, or just a group, or even a gathering blog?"
How do you see it—what format, minimum age, purpose, etc.?
Feel free to email me directly at 178jules at gmail.com to chat a bit more.
Other "senior" travelers on VoyageForum can share their thoughts or offer to join in.
178Jules, Daniel in real life
Happy Sunday
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
Yes, the route planning is pretty detailed, with one or more possible itineraries prepared. That doesn’t mean we always stick to the plan, but the prep already gets us in the mood and lets us start traveling before the actual trip.
I’ve added a few more details on my site about route planners because I realized I hadn’t mentioned them, even though I use them a lot. My explanations are pretty brief—you really need to try the tools to get the hang of them. I use Bikemap and Openrunner, but there are plenty of others I haven’t tested. For route planners, gear, and GPS apps, check it out here.
It’s too bad that health issue is keeping you from joining us. We would’ve loved to have our group grow. I looked at your previous contributions—I also live pretty healthily, no tobacco or alcohol, and I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with this kind of problem. But I see that’s not the case, and it can happen to anyone out of the blue. Cold weather is only a minor risk for me because I’m wary of it and avoid it (which explains why I choose certain countries for winter trips). Still, sometimes you’re "forced" to go out in freezing temps. Now that I know the risks, I’ll avoid strenuous activity in those conditions.
I was 200% reluctant to sign up for Facebooc.
I have a friend who left for a big cycling adventure in Africa,
and he posts about his journey every day on Facebooc.
Despite all my reservations, I signed up a year ago,
and I don’t regret it—I haven’t had any "weird stuff" happen, everything’s fine.
I even created my own page, and everything’s going well there too—nothing to complain about…
Shows you shouldn’t hesitate to change your mind.
If there’s ever a "slip-up," I won’t hesitate to unsubscribe.
So I don’t see why there should be any exclusions. But if you’ve got another idea,
it’d be interesting to hear it.
In September 2016, I was 79 and my wife was 78. We went cycling in Austria with a group where most could have been our kids. Some of the hills were tough to climb, but we climbed them. I’ve had a hip replacement for 14 years and never think about it. Just so you know, when we were young, we weren’t exactly sporty—we’re not ex-champions, just ex-not-very-good who’ve always kept active... you should never stop cycling, that’s the secret. And if pedaling gets tough sometimes, just remind yourself you’re better off on your bike than in a cardiologist’s waiting room. When I can’t pedal anymore, I’ll let you know—but that’s not happening anytime soon...
Hi Jean Marie,
Soon you’ll be off! Well deserved, and after all that prep you must be excited? I’m pretty impressed seeing the three of you head out. We’ve been traveling as a couple for years. We tried a trip with two other couples in the Spanish mountains, and to stick to the thread’s topic—one couple was over 70… best forgotten!
I haven’t looked at your route in detail, but it seems there are several entry points into Thailand. I’m sure you’ve checked the visa exemption rules. One thing you might already know: the two-month Thai tourist visa is free until the end of February.
By the way, we might cross paths—we’re leaving on January 12th for Saigon, then Cambodia (Phnom Penh National Park) to take the Discovery Mekong Trail up to southern Laos, and maybe back to Bangkok via Vientiane.
Quick question: how does the trike handle on dirt tracks?
We’re right in the middle of preparations for our departure on January 4th.
So far, we haven’t had any issues with the group. I guess it helps that we’re all the same age, have known each other since childhood, and cycled together until we were about 25.
We got our Thai visa for free in Lyon on December 12th. We’ll be entering Thailand two more times after that, but each stay will be under the 30-day visa exemption for French travelers.
The trike handles well on fairly wide and not-too-rough tracks. If we have to carry it, though, things get trickier—which is why we’ve decided to go with mountain bikes this year.
It’s definitely possible we’ll cross paths this year and get to meet. If that happens, we’d be happy to! I’ll send you more details about our route "planning" in a private message.
Hi Jean-Marie, I followed a good chunk of the spots you marked on that gorgeous “interactive” map during my own trips between Thailand and Laos.
In particular, you’ve planned the 120 km dirt track west of the Mekong that ends in Luang Prabang—stunning, with tons of elevation gain. The stretch starting from Luang Prabang along the left bank of the Mekong is also really pretty once you’re about fifteen klicks outside town. I also rode your route to Vientiane, just in the opposite direction. The section south of Vientiane in Laos was another highlight I covered on a different trip—you can check out the full trip reports I posted on VF. But the absolute highlight was the February–March 2016 ride that partly overlapped your northern Laos route. I only documented the off-road segments:
voyageforum.com/...ost=7452444;#7452444
All that to get to my question: how do you actually make a slick interactive map like the one showing your route?
Luc
Thanks for the link, but I’d already gone through your trip report—it actually helped shape our route and bike choices for this 2017 ride.
We’re leaving on Wednesday, January 4, so I had to get the upcoming Google map ready. While I was at it, I put together a quick tutorial. It might not answer every question you have, but it walks through the steps for creating a Google map. I’m pretty sure I’ll use it next time too, since the beginning—up to “create a map”—isn’t exactly intuitive, and I always have to fumble through it (which, at twice a year, is about par for the course).
Hi Jean Marie,
Best wishes (it’s that time of year!) for your trip... I’ll be thinking of you when I’m pedaling—just to ease your own pedaling! 🙂
How lucky to set off with a team that’s been together since the "shorts" days, plus a mechanic’s skills (I saw the racks)—in short, everything to avoid nasty surprises.
Safe travels! I’ll definitely follow your blog (I get the feeling you’re the group’s IT guy).
Christian
True. Mechanically, we manage pretty well, but that doesn’t rule out an irreparable breakdown without the right tools.
Yes, I’m the one who writes the site and records the routes.
Wishing you a happy 2017 too.
Hi Jean-Marie, I just came across your post. Wishing you a great trip—it’s awesome! Personally, I cycled through Vietnam in 2012 and Cambodia in 2013. After recovering from anemia, I stopped, but I’m ready to hit the road again. Anyway, congrats and safe travels! I’m from Montbrison and a pigeon fancier—I often go to Neulise to train my homing pigeons. Hope to meet you someday. I’m in my 72nd year, and all’s well. I’ll be following your blog.
André
Hello, I read that you're heading to Vietnam, Cambodia, then Thailand around January 12th. While I’m not bringing my bike this time, I’m also leaving for Vietnam around those dates—maybe Cambodia and Thailand too, using "transport and youth hostel/guesthouse" mode. I’d love to know if you’ve already considered the "possible risks and challenges" of finding accommodations and other transport during Tết? Unless you’re camping and cycling the whole route, of course—in that case, you’re less dependent on closed or fully booked infrastructure.
Hi Jean-Marie, thanks for the link—I’ll give it a try. I’m not exactly a tech whiz, but apart from the middle of the Gobi Desert, I’ve never really felt out of my depth, even in the Atacama with just a 1:500,000 or even 1:1,000,000 scale map. I’ve even got to say that often when you take a wrong turn, that’s when you make the best discoveries, so let’s protect the right to get lost .
Anyway, safe travels on the trails of Southeast Asia, and don’t forget that survival on Laotian roads comes down to knowing *kin kao* or *rao* (eat rice) and *kin feû* (eat soup).
Hi Christian, without panniers I’ve had two experiences with men aged 83.
The first time we were doing a ride with panniers around the Causses area. We stopped under the Millau Viaduct to marvel at the pier, which is taller than the Eiffel Tower. A cyclist riding at a good pace arrived, stopped, and we chatted. He was 83 and still did 80 to 100 km several times a week. We set off together, he disappeared into the distance, and I wasn’t even 60 yet with good legs!!!
Another time, my bike shop organized a small race near Mont Thou in the Saône Valley, north of Lyon. I signed up, thinking I had good legs—I’d just come back from a 3.5-month trip across South America. I got overtaken on a climb and left behind by an 83-year-old competitor. There’s hope, though don’t expect to break the brand-new hour record of 22.580 km (if I remember right) for the over-105s
Luc
And yet you don’t come off as an amateur at all!!! And on the occasion of the second “challenge” you mentioned, you’d “doped up on altitude” in South America...
I learned a lesson from the old-timer: never stop! I’ve been part of this conversation for a while now, but I only recently discovered your travels, and I’ve only had a quick look (so far) at your stories—hats off to you!
Christian
In the same vein, a few years ago I was in northern Laos (Luang Nam Tha), a really rugged area, and at a little roadside eatery where I was having dinner, the waitress came by with two dishes while my table neighbors—a senior couple—had already been served. I thought at the time that the dish was for us, but it wasn’t.
The New Zealand couple, our neighbors aged 82 and 83, had come from Thailand via the north through Chiang Rai and were heading to Hanoi. They hadn’t had a proper meal in two days, which explained their appetite. They stayed an extra few days in the area to "recharge."
I ran into them again a week later in Luang Prabang, but by then it was a piece of cake for them since it was mostly downhill.
Encounters like this inspire a lot of respect and humility. Of course, this couple had been doing long-distance hiking for a long time and hadn’t started in their sixties.
Crocomalo still has hope! My last trip (home-Mediterranean-Atlantic-Loire-Rhône-Rhine Canal-Rhine-Danube-Black Sea) should’ve been called the "trip of despair"! But I’m getting ready to hit the road again!
Happy cycling,
www.frannycyclo.com
Yes, that’s the EuroVelo 6. I did it in 2014—I was 70. I have great memories of it.
I’m planning to set off again this summer for another adventure. Now’s not the time to lose my touch!
Jean-Marie
Hi Françoise... thanks for your encouragement! I took a look at your site and saw that you posted your June 6, 2016, day just two days ago!... when do you reach the Black Sea? 😉
Given what I know about your health issues, I can only tip my hat and cheer you on for your next adventures.
Christian
Good evening Françoise,
We're still here, and we're still getting on the bike!
We've got another 20 to 25 years of riding ahead to beat the old-timer's record.
I haven't decided yet for this year—I've got a few projects in the works.
Happy 2017 plans!
Daniel
"Ne cherche pas à suivre les traces d'un autre, cherche plutôt à savoir ce qu'il cherchait."
Je planifie cet été un voyage à vélo pour aller jusqu'à la région d'Istre qui est à cheval sur la Croatie et la Slovénie, et j'ai quelques questions à ce…
Voyager à vélo › Espagne / France › Sud-Ouest · 1 reply
Je suis en train de plannifier une sortie en vélo. J'aimerais faire le Canal du midi pour continuer vers l'Espagne. Il peut être intéressant de connecter avec…
Je me présente Dimitri en tant que nouveau sur votre forum! Alors je suis venu vous voir car je souhaiterai partir cet été à vélo d'Amiens (Picardie) jusqu'à…
Nous comptons partir à vélo jusqu'à Saint-Pétersbourg, et ensuite voyager en Mongolie. Nous comptons prendre l'assurance de voyage AVI international, ce qui…
Nous comptons nous rendre à Lisbonne pour faire un parcours à vélo dans le sud du Portugal. Nous partons de Nantes. Après renseignements, il semblerait que ce…
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Bonjour
quelles sont les moyen les plus simple pour revenir du Cap Nord sans pédaler
train, Bateau, avion ?
qui à déjà fait l’expérience ?
Merci de nous renseigner
Bonjour,
Je dois arriver en vélo à Thessalonique à la fin Septembre et je prévois de rejoindre Istambul par la côte.
Quelqu'un pourrait m'aider à choisir la meilleure route.Sécurité, difficulté.
Merci d'avance.
Marc
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
