Planning a bike trip?
FR

Translated into English.

TI Titi046 Regular ·
If my math is right, you're leaving in two days... We still have 6 days left, lol

Have a great vacation! !
Titi046

http://vivreavelo.over-blog.com/
TE Terpirej ·
We’re looking at three weeks in Portugal this September—probably a big loop around Porto, but no route set yet.

Have a great summer, and ride in the shade!
CA Carovélo84 Regular ·
After much deliberation 🤪, I’ll be doing the North Sea Cycle Route, all by myself like a big girl 🙂. Leaving Saturday for Mijoux for the Eurovélogex, and after that—how far 😉??? Well, depending on what I feel like doing...

Deadline: August 15th !! 😕

And plenty of others in the pipeline!

Caroline
"Le voyage est un retour vers l'essentiel." (proverbe tibétain)
BA Bayernd77 Veteran ·
Hi Caro, So we’ll see each other this weekend! David, who you hosted in Avignon on December 25, 2009!!
CA Carovélo84 Regular ·
Hi,

I’d love to hear about your latest adventures...

Can’t wait to be there!!!!

See you Saturday,

Caroline
"Le voyage est un retour vers l'essentiel." (proverbe tibétain)
FA Farlow Regular ·
EuroVéloGex of course 🙂

See you in Mijoux
Pourquoi pas ?
CO Coulonneux42 Veteran ·
hi everyone, I’ve just finished my double crossing of France: Montbrison/Dunkerque, Dunkerque/Perpignan, Perpignan/Anduze: 2800 km; I was thinking of going to EUROGEX, but a death in the Oise is preventing us from doing so!!! have a good evening and happy Gex
http://mali20082.uniterre.com/ http://loiredanubeavelo.over-blog.com/ http://vietnamnord2012.over-blog.com/ http://cambodge2013.eklablog.com/ André
CA Campa42 Regular ·
Due to a last-minute change, I won’t be able to make it to Eurovélogex (I’ve got to go to Bourges :(

So I’ll be free in early August, no plans yet!

Random ideas: - A quick trip to Saverne in early August for the Pow Wow - Burgundy + Franche-Comté

To be continued ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jf8eiQKwVQ Diaporama sur mon voyage à vélo de l'été 2009
TI Titi046 Regular ·
We're all set! The whole family is ready to go for our early morning departure tomorrow.

Have a great vacation, everyone! :)
Titi046

http://vivreavelo.over-blog.com/
BL Blandine34 ·
Have a great vacation and happy family biking! Just 4 more weeks until it's our turn to head to the Gironde with Baptiste, who's 4.5 years old and will be pedaling this year!

See you, Blandine
Blandine
HA Harptallica Regular ·
I just got back from a bike tour of Armorique and Ille-et-Vilaine! Took me about 6 days for roughly 270 km :) And it was just excellent. Since my work contract ends on August 31st, I’m torn between traveling around France or biking across the UK! Planning for about two months. Either way, I’ll need to get my hands dirty with some mechanics because my Giant CRS3—all stock—might not cut it :P
Des petit tours de roues ... http://loic-eurotrip.over-blog.com/
BL Blandine34 ·
Hey Harptallica, Last year we biked through Sweden—if you’ve got the time, you should go, it’s gorgeous and perfect for cycling.

See you around!
Blandine
HA Harptallica Regular ·
I hadn’t thought of that yet—the Nordic countries are a destination I’d love to explore during my Europe tour too, but cost-wise, I’m a bit worried about the temperatures in September, October, November, hehe!
Des petit tours de roues ... http://loic-eurotrip.over-blog.com/
BL Blandine34 ·
Listen, we had temps between 12°C in the morning, 20-22°C during the day (perfect for cycling), and 29°C by the Baltic Sea on the island of Öland. Sun, rain, and fog too in August—we swam every day in the lakes and also in the Baltic Sea.

We have amazing memories. We did the eastern part of Sweden: Stockholm, Gothenburg, the big lake, Vadstena, Eksjö, then crossed back toward the Baltic to go to Oskarshamn, Öland, and Kalmar—605 km in 15 days.

There are hardly any cars on the back roads, plus you often have bike paths where you're in the forest...

Anyway, think it over: you can also find cheap Ryanair flights—you land 1.5 hours from Stockholm, in Nyköping (it’s a Ryanair hub). Perfect trip with gear in the hold.

See ya!
Blandine
HA Harptallica Regular ·
I admit, it does sound pretty tempting! I’ll think about it (no rush, I’ve got all the time in the world, right...). It’s kind of a two-month prep trip for my Europe tour (traveling alone for a year... I love the idea, but I’ve got my doubts, you know?), and mostly to improve my English and just have a blast 😉, meet people, and all that... Plus, I’ve got a few addresses in Brighton and Portsmouth, so there you go!
Des petit tours de roues ... http://loic-eurotrip.over-blog.com/
BE Benablok Regular ·
That’s awesome, Blandine! We’re leaving next week—here’s the plan: Baltic Sea loop.

- Start in Berlin, head to Rostock for a ferry - Arrive in southern Denmark, then on to Copenhagen - After the crossing, reach Malmö, then ride up the east coast, stopping at Gotland island, before heading to Stockholm and Uppsala. - Cross to Turku in Finland, then on to Helsinki. - Ferry to Tallinn, then ride to Riga and Kaliningrad - Cross most of Poland by train - From the Polish border to Prague - Final stretch from Prague to Nuremberg

Around 3,500 km, I think—we’ll be following EuroVelo routes 10, 9, and 4. We’re pretty much all set; we just got our tent, and I’m so excited I can’t stand it!!!!

Happy travels, everyone!
Notre tour de la mer Baltique > http://bikearoundbalticsea.wordpress.com
BO Botanica50 ·
This is my first project. A test run to see if I can take my little girls next year.

I'm thinking of doing St Brévin to Toulouse over 2 weeks in September.

Since I'm a beginner and will be alone, I'd prefer accommodations other than camping.

If you have any info on cheap hotels or other options, I'd love to hear it. Thanks
5E 5el88 Regular ·
Good evening,

So, trailers, panniers... everything's in the car (or ON the car when it comes to the bikes!). We're leaving tomorrow at dawn, heading for Lake Constance...

Have a great holiday and safe travels to everyone.
MA Marco263 ·
GOOD LUCK TO THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!
CL Clotaiiire ·
hey everyone!

So, we’re taking off this Sunday for our Tour de France. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to grab a bite with us, ride a few kilometers together, reserve a spot in your garden for our tent, or just share some great tips.

Full route on the site: https://sites.google.com/site/bandoftheroad/ and http://vttourdefrance.blogspot.com/

cheers! Happy bike touring, and hope we cross paths on the road.
http://vttourdefrance.blogspot.com http://clotaiire.blogspot.com
LE Leziquet ·
I don’t think this is your route, but if you happen to pass through the Var, I can host you without any problem. Get in touch ahead of time. Le Ziquet
CL Clotaiiire ·
Hey Leziquet! Normally no, but if we're ahead of schedule, we'll head down to the Var. In that case, I'll get in touch.

Thanks again!
http://vttourdefrance.blogspot.com http://clotaiire.blogspot.com
LE Leziquet ·
Okay, no problem, but do let me know a few days in advance. Cheers, Le Ziquet
BE Benablok Regular ·
Here we go! The bags are packed, tomorrow’s the big day for Monika and me. We’re starting easy—13 km to catch the trains that’ll take us to Berlin, the real starting point of our Baltic Sea bike tour. On the agenda: 9 countries, about 3,500 km, 80 days.

Follow our journey on our blog.

Wishing you all a wonderful summer, fellow travelers
Notre tour de la mer Baltique > http://bikearoundbalticsea.wordpress.com
KH Kherozenne Regular ·
For my part, it’ll be more modest.

I’m taking delivery of my new frame this Saturday. An Orbea Travel A40, which will serve as the base for building my touring bike.

I’m planning a round trip from Paris to Bordeaux in August, just to get the feel of it and see what tweaks I’ll make to this ride.

Either way, I wish you an amazing trip, and may adventure be with you.
Psyclopathe. suffering from an extreme love of bicycles. mais je me soigne ... je deviens autophobe.
JU Julartiste ·
Hi there,

This is my first post here :) We’re heading off for three weeks, just the two of us, to explore the Atlantic coast. Everything’s almost ready, except for one problem we haven’t solved yet: how to take our bikes on the train!! The routes are Paris-Hendaye, then Le Croisic-Paris for the return trip, and there’s nothing really clear about bikes—do they need to be assembled, disassembled, is it paid or free??! From what we’ve gathered, it seems we’ll have to disassemble our bikes and put them in a suitable bag. It’s a bit of a hassle, first to get to the station, and then because we’ll have to carry the bags throughout the whole trip.

If any of you have tips from your experiences about transporting bikes on an iDTGV/TGV, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks everyone, and happy travels! :) For us, it’ll be a first big adventure :)
CY Cyclomoulin Veteran ·
Paris to Hendaye (or the reverse): Easy and comfortable night sleeper with an extra 10 € (I think) for the bike nothing to dismantle

note: you have to buy it at the station and pay the bike supplement online didn’t work last I heard with a bit of luck, you’ll have the compartment to yourselves with the bikes next to you, secured to hooks

sometimes a conductor might stick you with a difficult passenger who was causing trouble in another compartment! That happened to me even twice: two snorers! but it’s rare :))

otherwise, it’s super comfortable. You travel like VIPs—the first compartment is reserved for travelers with bikes it also depends on the period
HA Harptallica Regular ·
It's all or nothing with the train. When I took the Rennes - TGV Haute Picardie route, on the way there it was just a "compartment" where everyone piled their luggage, and my bike was crammed in the very back, half-lying down because of the lack of space. On the way back, it was a special carriage with bike racks—so calm and even super comfortable! I wondered if I wasn’t in first class, lol. Otherwise, no need to dismantle anything. Just make sure to check the carriage number so you end up right in the bike-friendly one.
Des petit tours de roues ... http://loic-eurotrip.over-blog.com/
BL Blandine34 ·
hi there, if you don’t want to ride with your bike covers, as soon as you arrive, send them to poste restante (general delivery) at the station where you’ll catch your return TGV. That way, no extra bulk during your trip.

Blandine
Blandine
LE Leloops Veteran ·
Some trains allow bikes on board without needing to disassemble or pack them, for a fee of 10 € per trip. To find out which trains accept bikes as-is, you can check the SNCF website. For trains that allow bikes, a bike pictogram appears next to the train number (you’ll need to click on the "Train Details" tab). For example, the Monday train leaving Paris at 7:10 AM and arriving in Hendaye at 12:59 PM accepts bikes. *Note: No iDTGV trains allow unpacked bikes.*
CY Cyclomoulin Veteran ·
you can also buy blue garden tarp and wide adhesive tape locally. just bring the removal keys you prep ahead of time example: pedals don’t always come off easily if they’re too tight. stop by a bike shop for pre-loosening with a long wrench (leverage effect) if needed unscrew by turning left or right depending on whether it’s the left or right pedal

overnight trains are called "Lunea"—ideal in my opinion high-speed trains (TGV) = a hassle. Conductors might tell you "Niet", no bikes allowed!
PI Pierrot1971 Regular ·
my kind boss gave me 4 weeks off for a bike trip 2 weeks by car it's decided, I'm taking the bike heading south, southeast, southwest, north, northwest against wind and tide

http://www.google.fr/url?url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1hlgp_clip-video-les-charlots-merci-patro_music&rct=j&sa=X&ei=BP4sTuiLIY-g-AbgpfHsDQ&ved=0CCQQuAIwAQ&q=merci+patron+les+charlots&usg=AFQjCNGfKClbBhQWCzT0vkURvDLzutVHyg
@+
AV AventuresOrd Regular ·
Leaving tomorrow: http://aventures.ordinaires.free.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260&Itemid=280 For the curious, the journey can be followed under the "Sur la route" label on my site—there’s already a first article waiting for you. Have a great summer, everyone… and to all the women I forgot earlier! !
http://www.aventuresordinaires.jimdo.com

Site des Aventures Ordinaires
AA Aaaaa5 ·
hi there; I did the whole southwest coast in early July. I came back by TGV—just a heads-up, they only take 4 bikes. Early July wasn’t too crowded, but in August I’d recommend booking ahead. We had to remove our panniers because the bike compartment isn’t very practical. Happy trails!
SA Sagel Regular ·
Touring Europe along the coasts for me, in the works. The snag? No support (family, friends)—quite the opposite, in fact.

For a trip I’ve dreamed of for so long, one I *can* do (physically, financially, mentally), the prep is just draining... it’s really bringing me down. 😕

Come on, a year to convince them it’s not suicidal—especially my mom—and that this trip will be something amazing.

That’s it, the countdown’s officially on. Still little support, but whatever—I’m not doing this for them, I’m doing it for me!

Leaving January 2012, no exact departure/return dates, no precise route (just a rough map of Europe), no odometer. Basically, no stress.

Really getting ready now. 😉
MI Mirabo Regular ·
That’s it, the countdown has officially started. Still not much support, but I’m not doing this for others—I’m doing it for me!

Leaving in January 2012, no exact departure or return date, no precise route (just a rough map of Europe), no counter. In short, no overthinking.

Really getting ready now. 😉

I know people who shock everyone just by biking to work every day. No support for your project from your close ones? You won’t lack it here—you’ll even spark some envy. Start a blog so we can follow your prep first, and your trip afterward (if possible). There are tons of blogs sharing experiences similar to yours. Though they’re not always easy to find.

So lucky! !
premiers (modestes) voyages : http://http://envelo04.blogspot.fr/
HA Harptallica Regular ·
Yeah! I'm leaving for a Europe tour in September. Same for me—I'll leave when I'm ready, materially, physically, and mentally. Ordered parts from Bikester, the rest from Rando Cycle, and clothes from D4 in the next few days—10 months of travel!
Des petit tours de roues ... http://loic-eurotrip.over-blog.com/
5E 5el88 Regular ·
I returned from a 700 km bike trip around Lake Constance and along the Rhine (first on the Swiss side, then the German side), followed by a loop through Alsace—breathtaking landscapes, ... so many unexpected encounters ... the feeling of living in another world, where you realize that living with less lets you see the world differently ... no radio, even less TV, no internet ... can’t wait for the next one!
KW Kwasimon ·
That’s it, the countdown has officially started. Still not much support, but I don’t care—I’m not doing this for others, I’m doing it for myself!

Leaving in January 2012, no exact departure or return date, no precise route (just a rough map of Europe), no odometer. In short, no overthinking.

Really getting ready now. 😉

Hats off to you for going against the grain of those stuck in their daily grind... sometimes it’s because they dream of it too but don’t dare, which is why they come off as bitter...

As for me, I’m also leaving in January 2012—from Toulouse for an 8-month bike trip across South America. No exact end date, but the goal is to reach Ecuador starting from Patagonia...
Rêve ta vie, vis ton rêve
SA Sagel Regular ·
Love the Kwasimon class! 😎

2012 is looking promising. 🙂
BL Blandine34 ·
Love all these plans! Less exotic but just as refreshing (that’s the magic of biking), we’ve been riding from Facture-Biganos along the southern Arcachon Basin to the Gironde estuary near Pointe de Grave. The journey’s almost over since we’re only 35 km from the tip. Baptiste, 4.5 years old, has been riding his bike solo every day, covering 15 to 20 km. Right now, we’re stuck in the tent because of the rain—it’s really coming down! Gorgeous wild coastline, stunning spots, perfect with a kid: even better than the Landes two years ago. Met tons of cyclists—feels like bike travel is really taking off!

Blandine
Blandine
PH Phaab ·
For me, it'll be about 1,300 km over 3 weeks in Benin, leaving January 2012...
RH Rhume Veteran ·
Met a lot of cyclists: I get the feeling that bike travel is really taking off more and more.

Blandine

It’s true—when you pass through these areas, it’s pretty obvious (and it’s what made me want to give it a try).

And even elsewhere in France, it feels like it’s snowballing. A cool new trend... (well, more like a lifestyle, really).
UN Uncentdepuce ·
hi there Leaving on August 21st for the Houillères canal downstream from Sarreguemines toward Trier, following the banks of the Saar River. Then the Moselle River banks toward Cochem and its vineyards. A short detour to Aachen, then the Volcano Route in the Eifel Mountains. Back to the rivers with maybe the Albert Canal toward Liège, Charleroi, and then the Meuse River banks toward the French Ardennes—Sedan or Rethel. That’s my planned route. Happy travels! 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
AV AventuresOrd Regular ·
Hi, My "island-to-island" project wrapped up on Saturday. Goodbye to those who followed me over these past 2 months, and to everyone else—see you next year! Marc
http://www.aventuresordinaires.jimdo.com

Site des Aventures Ordinaires
EN Enrouelibre ·
Hello,

I’m new to this forum and passionate about all kinds of travel. A quick intro: 52 years old, energetic, a former Parisian coffee roaster, and I’ve been living in Montpellier for 12 years. I love the idea of bike travel for the human connection it offers with the country and its people. I’m actively preparing to make a big dream come true: taking my time and traveling from Fairbanks, Alaska to Ushuaia in 2012. Traveling solo has its perks, but I’ll admit that sharing the experience with someone would be incredibly rewarding. That’s about it. If anyone has the same dream in mind, I’d be happy to get in touch. I already have the bike and pretty much all the gear. I also want to thank everyone for this forum—it’s a goldmine of information that’s helped me avoid a lot of mistakes in my choices.

I hope you all get to realize your dreams too, because life’s way too short to let boredom take over.

Jipé 🙂
LA Landiste38 ·
hi there in summer 2012 I’m planning to cover 3,000 km in 4 weeks, starting from Bourgoin-Jallieu (38). The route includes crossing the Northern to Southern Alps, following the Mediterranean coast from Nice to Perpignan, crossing the Pyrenees, following the Atlantic coast from Biarritz to Bordeaux, and then traversing the Massif Central via Cahors, Aurillac, Le Puy-en-Velay, Annonay, and heading back to Bourgoin.

PS: If anyone’s interested in joining for part of the ride, that’d be great—I’m currently setting off solo.
https://picasaweb.google.com/111111335745430375356/RouteDesGrandesAlpesAVelo2011#
CA Carovélo84 Regular ·
A little trip to the Camargue the weekend of November 11th 🙂

Hoping the rain will have moved on by then, if we go 😉

And then, probably Armenia this summer.... No exact dates yet....
"Le voyage est un retour vers l'essentiel." (proverbe tibétain)
BA Bayernd77 Veteran ·
3 days in Normandy in the Pays d'Auge for the weekend of 11/11 to pick the last apples 😛 left on the trees.
UT Utageshi ·
For me, four weeks in India from Mumbai to Goa—first through the interior and then along the coast. Not too fast, taking in the landscapes and the people. Leaving in 15 days, hoping the monsoon is over and the roads are repaired.

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