Will 2010 be the year I finally resume my Silk Road journey?
I’m hoping so, starting again from Yerevan in Armenia and continuing through Iran.
To simplify the visa situation, though, I might just do a round-trip flight from Lyon to Tehran and focus on exploring a single country: Iran. A three-week getaway in August, from the Armenian border to the Turkmenistan border.
I’ve got all winter to prepare for this next destination...
Change of plans. I’ve got my ticket to Tashkent. So from July 31 to August 20, 2010, I’ll be on the Silk Road after all, between Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, and Margilan near the Kyrgyzstan border.
Hi Corinne, hi Enzo,
Great news I just read! What made you decide to head back to South America? The movie? Going back to chase images left behind? Any regrets about missing certain routes, landscapes, or encounters during your first trip? When are you leaving? What’s your main motivation?
That’s a lot of questions—I’m just really curious!!!!!
Best to you both!
See you soon
Cordialement, le meilleur est à venir
à voir et à entendre 🤪 janodou.com « Rencontrer l'autre c'est se découvrir soi même (JLM) »
For us, it’ll be the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal de Bourgogne with our 8-year-old daughter in July for about 3 weeks—around 400 km. Not bad for the little one!
Cheers,
Nico
Hi there,
I’m taking on a challenge and a dream: On July 18, 2010, I’ll be riding the Tourmalet stage with a few folks from Quebec http://www.veloquebecvoyages.com/destination-etape-du-tour-de-france-2010 and over 8,000 participants in the peloton.
After that, a more relaxed week from July 19 to 25, cycling from Bordeaux to Arcachon (vineyards and beaches) with www.espace-randonnee.com.
I’ve been prepping since September 2009 (training, nutrition), and I really think I’m gonna have a blast.
Hi Enzo and Corinne,
when are you leaving and what’s your itinerary? Who knows, maybe our paths will cross?
I’m planning to arrive in Ecuador in late September/early October. After that, it’s Peru , then Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
Speaking of Ecuador, there was a show on France Inter today about Charles Marie de La Condamine, an 18th-century French explorer and scientist who led an expedition in the Andes to measure the Earth’s meridian. Apparently, there’s a monument on the "line" with his statue where you can have one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. Where is it? I don’t want to miss it . I know you’ll say, "It’s on *the Line*," but *the Line* is 40,000 km long—I don’t feel like biking the whole way to find La Condamine’s monument .
Pierre.
Pierre, Corinne, and Enzo, I’ll be following your prep for this South America crossing with great interest—and even more so your actual trip, especially in Ecuador where you’ll have one leg in each hemisphere. That sounds magical!!!!
Enzo, will you be using your website to document your journey?
Looking forward to more conversations between you all, which I’ll be keeping an eye on through this post or another one you might start.
Safe travels for the road ahead.
Cordialement, le meilleur est à venir
à voir et à entendre 🤪 janodou.com « Rencontrer l'autre c'est se découvrir soi même (JLM) »
After Les Landes last summer with our 3-year-old son, we're heading to Sweden this summer: our flight tickets are booked. We're thinking about the hold transport bags for our gear (2 bikes + 1 Trek Go bug trailer).
By the way, if anyone has bike transport bags to sell or rent, we're interested!
We're going for about 10-15 days and haven't finalized our itinerary yet.
If you have any route suggestions, places, or spots to recommend, don't hesitate—we're flying in and out of Stockholm...
For me, living in Buenos Aires and needing to leave the country in May, things will wrap up with a counterclockwise tour of South America for at least 8 months: from Buenos Aires to Ushuaïa, then heading back up through Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina...
My goal is to be in Ushuaïa by December 31, 2010, to ring in the New Year there...
"Le courage est le juste milieu entre la peur et l'audace."
Hi there,
this is my first project, taking place in June 2010—a tour of Brittany starting from Pas-de-Calais, sticking as much as possible to the coast.
Departure on May 29, return on June 27.
Solo for now.
Anyone interested?
For info, search for "Brittany bike June 2010" in the search bar.
Hoping for good weather!
Hi there :)
For us, it’ll be a bike tour around Africa, starting from Lyon, and (hopefully) returning to Lyon.
We’re aiming to leave in July 2010.
In a month or two, we’ll have made enough progress on the project to share it here with the more experienced folks who can weigh in on its feasibility... (countries we’ll cross, gear we’ve chosen, etc.).
In the meantime, I’m reading, selecting, and dreaming ;)
I can’t see myself traveling any other way than by bike.
With gas, you get around. Without an engine, you *travel*.
So it’ll be by bike and a bit of boat.
You’re never safe from the unexpected, but this trip is measured in years, not months.
We’ll have musical instruments and drawing paper to keep a travel journal.
Short stops to savor the mountains and countryside of France, the coast of Spain, surely the Portuguese beaches, and definitely the Moroccan ones. Then... always heading south.
Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina, Togo, Benin, (Nigeria??), Cameroon, Gabon, (Congo?), Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Réunion Island to visit my friend Doud, who’s moved back there.
After that, we’ll return to France via Kenya, Tanzania, then up through Egypt, and Israel, Turkey...? Or maybe head to Latin America? Asia? India, Nepal, China, Tibet—spending several months in a community to practice Kung Fu... The ideas are wide open, especially since everything could change depending on the people we meet.
Plus, in January 2011, there’s the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal.
http://www.africansocialforum.org/francais/forum.htm
A chance to dive into global and African issues, help shape alternatives to the dominant economic, political, and environmental systems. Another Africa is possible...
And biking the France/Dakar route would be a little jab at those who do it by motor.
That’s what’s been unfolding in my head for the past few months, and it’s becoming more concrete every day...
I’m already set with my budget, gear, route, and administrative formalities.
I still need to leave my apartment in March to get rid of a good chunk of my stuff.
And I’ve got to fine-tune the health, insurance, and visa aspects...
Stay alive.
J.
"Il faut pédaler comme on range sa chambre"
ou
"Heureux le pauvre à qui rien ne manque"
For my part, I'm planning to leave from Beijing in early July. I'll be cycling 700 km across China to reach Mongolia, then 1,000 km to cross Mongolia from south to north, followed by 700 km around Lake Baikal...
I’m scheduled to return in early September.
For now, I’m going solo and can’t wait to get started!
Hi everyone, I’m delightedly preparing a trip to Mongolia :) planned for August and September 2011. I’m looking for as much info as possible since I’d like to follow a clean, fish-filled river to help with my food supplies by fishing. Also, if anyone wants to get rid of an audio method for learning Mongolian like Assimil, I’m interested. In the meantime, I’ll be between Agde and Toulouse in June along the Canal du Midi, and in July, I’ll be canoeing and biking in the Marais Poitevin :) :) Safe travels, everyone.
Philippe La beauté de l'humanité c'est la diversité..... "Tous différends , tous égaux .
Less exotic:
Starting from Haute-Provence by train to Bordeaux, then Bordeaux-Arcachon (to see the ocean), and returning to Haute-Provence. Departure at the end of July. Planned route along the lateral canal to the Garonne, up to Montech (Montauban), and then we'll see...
Mirabo junior (12 years old) has agreed to come. He’s talking about it more and more. This will make it possible to include people who might have been put off by the "sporty side 😉 "
hello
we're leaving Ankara in a few days, heading east, hopefully to Kathmandu. Maybe we'll see each other in Uzbekistan...
safe travels...and fair winds to everyone!!!
www.roulmaloute.com
Hi ipe,
Back in 2008 I bought Louis Simon Roy’s "conversation guide," which was super helpful (way more than Lonely Planet—like, knowing how to order steak fries in the Altai isn’t exactly a game-changer). Learning Cyrillic isn’t hard at all...
For spoken practice, I’ve been working with his "initiation method" for two months now, putting in 3–4 hours a week. I’ve gone through 8 of the 12 lessons, and it seems really productive—this little combo of themed texts, translations, grammar, plus audio discs to ease into the language. It’s one of those "agglutinative" languages, as the experts say, with sounds that twist our tongues and ears a bit.
There are a few noticeable typos, but they’re not too distracting and actually keep you on your toes. It’s super pedagogical, methodical, and practical.
I’m pairing it with an online Mongolian-French lexicon http://www.istb.univie.ac.at/mongol/dico/, in preparation for a six-week trip this May–June to put it all into practice.
You can find his method for sale on www.voyagemongolie.com.
Let me know if you need anything!
Hi there!
My plan for this year? Simple—I’m sticking modestly to France.
Leaving on May 17th from Tournon in Ardèche with two friends to visit the Roquefort caves and see the Millau Viaduct.
We’re set to return to Morestel in Isère on the 27th, so 10 days later and around 900 km, heading back up through the Drôme and Vercors.
Gilles
Hi everyone,
For me, things are getting more concrete—it's D-42! I leave from Toulouse, then fly to Toronto, take the train to Vancouver, and after that, I'll bike south.
I just put my blog online here:
http://grandpedaleurlibre.org/
It’ll keep evolving over the next few days because I’m still making technical tweaks so I only have editorial updates to do during the trip.
hi pvirlo
if I understood correctly (D-42), you won’t be joining us for the Beaujolais weekend at the CCI?
Actually, your trip shouldn’t be too tough—you’re just heading downhill to Ushuaia.
Wishing you tailwinds for your ride.
Hi there,
Two mini plans on the agenda from April 6th to April 18th: the Cathar castles from Cucugnan to Pamiers, then the feeder canal for the Canal du Midi starting from Lake Saint-Férreol.
After that, I’ll continue along the Canal de Garonne (Toulouse to Moissac with its canal bridge, and Agen) and finish in Bordeaux, returning to Lyon by train.
I’m going east to west to keep the sun at my back (though if the weather’s bad or the wind’s against me, I’ll have it all wrong—so much for my great plan!).
See you on the trails,
JC
Le temps s'échappe à tire-d'aile? Sois sans peur.
Et l'heureux sort n'est pas éternel? Sois sans peur.
Profite de l'instant que te vaut la Fortune.
Sans regret, sans regard vers le ciel, sois sans peur.
O Kayyam
I’m from the Aude region, and you’ve got a good chance of hitting a headwind... and when it blows, it blows hard. I hope you get the Marin wind coming from the Mediterranean. Have a great trip in the beautiful Corbières area. Bye, Maxou11
Me too—after taking the train to Agde, I plan to ride up the Canal du Midi and then the Garonne. I thought the wind would come from the Mediterranean, at least at the start.
It’s true that in France, the prevailing wind comes from the west. Is it really that strong along the canal, or are we somewhat sheltered by the trees?
cyclo78
Le vélo et la marche sans faire de compétition, ça maintien la forme
😏For me, departure on 05/01 from Bordeaux to Valence "FRANCE", passing through St-Émilion, Bergerac, La Roque-Gageac, Souillac, Gourdon, Cahors, along the Lot River to Capdenac, Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Laguiole, Aumont-Aubrac, Langogne, Pont de Labeaume, St-Pierre-de-Colombier, and what wasn’t planned—paying homage to Jean Ferrat in Antraigues-sur-Volane, Vals-les-Bains, St-Privat, St-Étienne-de-Boulogne, Freyssenet, Privat, St-Cierge-la-Serre, La Voulte-sur-Rhône, and finally Valence. Around 1000 km.
If anyone’s interested, I’ll finalize the roadbook and maps, which I’ll put in PDF format. As a bonus, there’ll also be the .kmz track for Google Earth. And even better—if you want to join me for the trip, you know the procedure => PM.
That’s for June.
Late May to early July: Paris => Gex => Valence => Aubagne.
And in September, Alsace or the D-Day beaches—I still don’t know yet.
Hey, has no one thought about putting roadbooks online? Or does it already exist, and I just didn’t search well enough?
Best regards, Spader
SpaderMan => ZE meuste , la machine 0 défaut, je sais.., c'est dur de l'admettre. mdr
biking in albania
from tirana heading to dagti park, burrel, skoder, theth park, fierze, koman, vlora, gyrokaster, berat, then back to tirana
quite the adventure on two wheels!
Hi Cyclo78,
I’m in Toulouse and I can tell you we get wind pretty often here. It’s either westerly winds (the most common according to weather stats) or the *autan* wind (southeast, less frequent but more annoying because it’s drier and can be more turbulent).
The weather is impossible to predict three months in advance, and in both cases, if you’re riding straight into it along the canal, it’s a nightmare. Westerly winds tend to blow in winter and spring, while the *autan* mostly blows in autumn but can also hit in the middle of summer (the worst, combined with heat) and in spring. It can even shift direction within the same week. However, for the *autan*, they say here it blows for 3, 6, or 9 days straight. In short, it’s impossible to recommend riding the canal in one direction or the other based on the wind—it’s totally random. That said, after Montauban, the *autan* pretty much disappears. (Unless it goes by another name there?)
To warm up a bit after an endless winter, we're heading south.
We’ve booked a flight from Basel to Cagliari on May 8, then we’ll cycle back along the west coasts of Sardinia and Corsica to reach Bastia via Cap Corse.
After crossing by ferry to Toulon, we’ll head to the Canal du Centre in Paray-le-Monial via Avignon and Entraigues/Volane.
We’ll return home via Dijon and the EuroVelo 6 route.
We’ll use an IGN Evadéo GPS powered by a dynamo hub with a 12V buffer battery for navigation.
In August, though, we think it’s best to avoid the southern campsites, so we’ll head due north to reach the Elbe in Hamburg. From there, we’ll follow the cycle path to the North Sea up to the Danish border, then take the Baltic Sea cycle route into Poland. The return route isn’t set yet, but in Germany, the network of cycle paths gives us plenty of options.
We're preparing a bike tour of France!!!
Might as well enjoy our own country before heading off to other lands....
There’s so much to see and discover right near home!
So here we are, two "dromedaries" who’ll be setting off with our bikes fully loaded in early August 2010. Maybe this trip will last 2 or 3 months, depending on the people we meet along the way.....
For now, we’re training... hehe
*
See you soon, and good luck to everyone with their ambitious plans!
As usual, the other one’s gonna tap me on the shoulder, so I’m hitting the road to grab my saddle— Paris / Grasse / Dax / Paris. We call that paid leave; it’s been going on for 15 years now.
Hi there,
For me, the chosen route will normally be through the Cantal mountains, via Puy Mary, then Le Lioran, heading next toward Lozère and the Cévennes to climb Mont Aigoual and catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea in the distance...
Returning via slightly flatter lands in Aveyron, then Lot, and finally Dordogne.
Hoping for sunshine in the sky and in the welcome, since I’m planning to stay with locals as much as possible or pitch my tent in your gardens!!! Just sayin’!!!
A solo journey of about 1000 to 1200 km in early July over 15 days.
See you soon,
Guillaume
La vie, c'est comme une bicyclette, il faut avancer pour ne pas perdre l'équilibre". Albert Einstein
Hi Joan,
I’m planning to bike through your region (Alsace, via Mulhouse) in September. Are there any must-see spots I shouldn’t miss?
I’m cycle touring and plan to spend 3 weeks there.
Thanks!
I just stumbled upon this forum I didn’t know about. It’s like a big breath of fresh air this morning (with birds going wild outside as the soundtrack to celebrate the sunrise and their loves).
Since last year, I’ve been preparing a somewhat special Alpine crossing from Salzburg to Nice. My route covers all the mountain passes (103 in total) over 1,900m, and I’ve given myself 15 days to cover these 5,000km.
I’ve checked out a few forums, and it’s kind of funny to see that it doesn’t quite fit in—it’s neither a race, nor cycle touring, nor an adventure trip in the traditional sense, since there’s still an extreme performance aspect to it.
I’ll have my luggage with me—clothes, my camera, and food—on a 6.5kg bike with 4kg of gear plus water.
Preparing for this is super niche; it’s a sort of balance on the edge of breaking point. An experience I’m really excited about, even if it could still go wrong. I’ve already gotten a taste of the thrill.
I’m working on a little book about this experience while waiting for the day I can finally set off like you all with my wife and without any time constraints...
Wow! 5,000 km of mountain passes in 15 days? Hats off!
Still, my bike alone weighs around 12/13 kg, my trailer adds another 4/5 kg, and my luggage maybe 15 to 20 kg! So I’m also setting off to do 5,000 km, like you, but... entirely on flat terrain... and over 2 months ;)
Good luck and all the best with your journey—it’s really amazing!
It's funny how traveling with just 4 kg of luggage makes you weigh everything. You cut off straps that are too long and probably won’t be used. You build your own luggage rack because the commercial ones weigh a ton. You pick ultra-tech clothes that cost an arm and a leg...
And since you’ll be spending 15 to 17 hours on your bike, you tweak the ergonomics. You study your daily movements, how you pedal in the right gear... etc. The goal is to try not to suffer too much...
All that for a little bit of happiness—but what happiness!
That’s over 300 km a day if I’m calculating right? I say: impossible! Even the Tour de France aliens wouldn’t last a week at that pace. And that’s on mountain stages, no less. Even if you pull it off, I honestly wonder where you’d find any enjoyment in it?
I’ll have my luggage with my clothes, my camera, and my food with me, but on a 6.5 kg bike with 4 kg of gear plus drinks.
With my 11 kg bike and 10–13 kg of luggage, I already get looks like I’m some kind of extremist here. Unless you’re doing credit-card touring, I don’t see how you’d get under 7 kg (including pannier weight).
Nine years ago, I covered 9,300 km of mountain terrain in a month under some pretty unusual conditions—all documented in a book published to benefit my association. The money later went toward organizing mountain-biking expeditions for people with leg amputations (prosthetics are my job). It’s not impossible, just very specific. Nothing like the tour—I averaged 20 kph for 15 hours a day.
I’m lucky enough to work with carbon fiber: I made a carbon-Kevlar "box" molded to the top tube with a 2L capacity, extended laterally by two carbon struts on either side of the seat tube. At the end of these struts, I’ve bolted the nylon tensioner for the frame of my 20L ultra-light backpack. All I have to do is clip it on. The whole setup weighs exactly 676g empty.
I also have two carbon bottle cages and two one-liter water bottles.
In all that, I pack my Windstopper jacket (220g), my Gore-Tex Packlite 2.5-layer shell (217g), my Oldo top and bottom (225g—it’s both for cold weather and my pajamas), a spare pair of underwear and socks (not weighed), a spare jersey and bib shorts (280g), silk gloves, silk socks, waterproof overshoes, a camera (220g), a phone (65g), my essential ID, some cash, my Mastercard, food and drinks, my roadbook, laminated road map excerpts, and little plastic bags for salt and sugar I snag from hotels... I’m definitely forgetting a bunch of stuff...
You know, I have a blast with all this, and I love those endless rides that let me explore several regions in a single day.
Plus, it’s a discipline of excellence—it forces you to stay sharp throughout the whole prep process.
I love my two half-pints of beer in the evening....
I’ve got the book on my shelf and I’ve read it, of course 😉. It’d be great if you could post a photo of your carbon bike case—I’m thinking of trying out these kinds of long-distance rides over a few days, but I’m having trouble picturing what it looks like. Any issues with thigh discomfort?
Combien sommes-nous à préparer notre projet prévu dans l'année? Nombreux sans doute. Quel est le vôtre qui vous fait crever d'impatience depuis bien longtemps,…
Je me permets d'ouvrir un sujet après avoir glaner pas mal d'infos sur le forum ou sur la toile en générale (petite pensée au "braquet de la liberté") pour…
Je prévois de partir pour un long tour à vélo (sans itinéraire précis, au grès des envies et des rencontres) d'ici le mois prochain. Mon équipement est presque…
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Recherche coéquipière de voyage à vélo (arrivée en avion à Porto Alegre Brésil et pédaler direction Montevideo, Uruguay, retour par avion vers la France de Buenos AiresArgentine)1500 KM
Bonjour à toutes !
Je prépare un voyage à vélo à travers le Brésil, l'Uruguay et l'Argentine, avec un départ envisagé entre fin octobre, novembre ou décembre. Je recherche compagne de route pour partager cette aventure au long cours.
expérience :
J'ai déjà une bonne expérience du cyclotourisme Géorgie, Kazakhstan et Kirghizistan. Actuellement, je garde une excellente condition physique en pédalant en moyenne 250 km sur 3 jours par semaine.(chaque jour 4h , 20 km/h)
Le voyage & le rythme :
Rythme quotidien : Entre 50 et 80 km par jour, pour progresser régulièrement tout en prenant le temps de découvrir.
Hébergement : Mode flexible et authentique. Nous alternerons entre bivouac sauvage, camping, Warmshowers, petites pensions et petits hôtels selon les opportunités et la météo.
Au plaisir de lire ton message et de préparer cette belle traversée ensemble !
😎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.
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.
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! !
Hi everyone,
Happy owner of a Pegasus Estremo bike with a Rohloff hub, which is giving me trouble with the SF11-NCX-FT-E-LITE 700C TS 300/0 fork (serial number TD01329060). It’s starting to show its age, and I’d like to repair it to extend the life of my beloved bike.
The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info.
Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)?
Any info is welcome.
Cheers,
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena
vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
I’d love to start with a section of the Via Rhona to explore and share (route to be decided).
Looking forward to exchanging tips!
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
I'm passionate about Morocco, which I cycled through back in 2009.
Last year, my wife and I explored the High Atlas by tandem. Completely smitten, we're heading back in April (Anti Atlas) and May (High and Middle Atlas), still on our tandem.
Do you have any info on the track between Amezri and Ali Ait Nito? Are the river crossings in the Tessaout still there? It's not easy to navigate with a loaded tandem... especially if the river level is high due to this year's heavy snowmelt!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes
Here are his travels
Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné
Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way
Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place
Rural and quite peaceful
A road cycling route created by Serge B...
First of all... happy New Year! Wishing you great roads in 2017!
I’ve been traveling for a few years now with a high-quality mountain bike, but it’s equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. I live (pedal) with the constant worry of a breakdown (leak, air bubble, heat causing the fluid to...). My bike mechanic tells me it’s impossible to switch them out for V-brakes.
What do you all think? Am I taking a big risk continuing (alone) with these brakes? Thanks in advance for your great tips!
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025.
It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border.
We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
