Nous avons parcouru avec attention les différents et nombreux posts ainsi que plusieurs sites web consacrés au voyage à vélo en Islande. Nous y avons glané de nombreuses et précieuses informations (merci à tous) 🙂
Cet été, nous projetons de parcourir l’Islande à vélo par le centre de fin juillet à fin août. Le programme n’est pas définitif, mais nous partirions de Keflavik - Reykjavik (acheter quelques bricoles) – Selfoss puis après Hella nous prendrions la piste F210 et la F232 jusqu’à Hrifunes et de là, nous prendrions la piste F208 en passant par Landmannalaugar pour arriver sur la piste F26 et continuer sur la piste F910 en passant au pied Vatnajökull et pour terminer la piste F88 pour nous amener au lac Myvatn.
Nous avons toujours des interrogations sur 2 points importants qui ont déjà été largement discuté sur ce forum:
- Choix de la largeur des pneus (supérieur à 40 C nécessaire ?) il me semble avoir lu des choix de pneus de 26’’x1.9’’ ce qui correspondrai à environ du 50C et quel profil de pneu ?
2. - Choix de la tente. Nos problèmes : je mesure 1.90m, il nous faut une grande abside pour cuisiner et un tapis de sol assez étanche et qui soit autoportante. Nous avons sélectionné les modèles suivants (après des heures de recherche et de lecture sur internet, nous n'arrivons pas à faire notre choix surtout quand il s'agit de trouver une tente pour une personne de grande taille qui offre une bonne tenue au vent et une grandeur d'abside confortable tout en étant relativement bon marché et pas trop lourd-c'est la description de la tente idéale et qui n'existe peut être pas 😉) (nous serons 2 personnes dans la tente, mais nous visons une tente 3 places pour ne pas être trop à l'étroit) :
- Coleman phad x3 qui semble un peu courte (tente intérieure) mais sinon très bien http://www.obelink.fr/tentes/tentes-domes/coleman-phad-x3.html ;
- Dragon fly 3XT un peu cher http://www.auvieuxcampeur.fr/nos-produits/tente/randonnee-confort/dragonfly-3-xt.html ;
- Helsport Svalbard High Camp un peu cher, lourde et risque que la ventilation ne soit pas terrible. http://www.helsport.no/en/product/TENTS/XTREM/Svalbard%20High%20Camp ;
- Vaude Hogan XT il me semble que les élastiques qui maintiennent la tente extérieure aux arceaux ne doivent pas durer longtemps (pas terrible en cas de fort vent). Par contre l’étanchéité du sol est excellente). Le prix est aussi élevé http://www.cyclo-randonnee.fr/tente-avec-compartiment-v%C3%A9lo-108/tente-vaude-hogan-xt-%28vert%29-171.html ;
- Wechsel « Halos » tente intérieure tout confort et bonne imperméabilité toit :5000mm et sol 7000mm. Le prix est élevé tout comme le poids (4.9kg est-ce beaucoup au vu des 20 kg permis dans l’avion?). http://www.wechsel-tents.de/produkte/kuppelzelte/halos/ (désolé je n’ai pas trouvé de site en français…)
- Vaude power odyssée XT idem à la vaude Hogan XT http://www.campz.fr/equipement/tente/tente-de-randonnee/234329.html ;
- Vaude Taurus 2 (tente que nous avons déjà bien utilisé) le problème est qu’elle n’est pas autoportante (important il nous semble dans le désert du centre que nous allons traverser) et la taille de l’abside ne permet pas de cuisiner dedans en cas de pluie.
Notre préférée est la colmann par la grandeur de l’abside et du rapport prix-étanchéité ainsi que la forme pour le vent. Malheureusement la longueur de la tente intérieure 210cm me paraît un peu courte pour ma taille. Sinon la Vaude Hogan XT ou la wechsel Halos pourraient très bien faire l’affaire. Il est vraiment difficile de faire son choix…Voyez-vous d’autres tentes, quel est votre expérience, laquelle me conseilleriez-vous, une autre?
Merci pour vos conseils 🙂
Bonne soirée!
BPT
P.S: désolé pour la longueur du message et de la redondance dans les questions.
Bonjour
Pour les pneus, vu la question par rapport à la largeur 40C ou 50C, j'en conclus que vous avez des roues de 700. La largeur du 26'x 1.90 fait plus ou moins 50mm donc pour du 700 je vous conseille le plus large possible soit 50C . Les pistes que vous voulez emprunter sont particulièrement difficiles et avec de bon passages de sable sur la F210 dans le Maelifellssandur et surtout sur la F910 entre Nyidalur et Askja ( 25 km de sable mou) : des pneus larges et pas trop gonflés sont un + .
Je me permet de vous prévenir qu'entre Hella et Myvatn, d'après la description de votre parcours, il n'y a aucun village pour ravitailler à part le bus-épicerie de Landmannalaugar . A Hifrunes, à la fin de la F232, vous avez intérêt à aller faire un saut jusqu'à Kirkjubaerkarjklaustur pour ravitailler avant de reprendre la F208 et la traversée par la F26 et F910 . De Kirkju à Myvatn, il faut compter 10 jours mini d'autonomie de nourriture en comptant un jour d'arrêt à Landmannalaugar et un jour à Askja ... et il ne faut pas se retrouver bloqué une journée par une tempête 😕 , moi je compterais plutôt 12 jours d'autonomie pour se ménager une marge de sécurité. Entre Hella et Kirkju, j'ai mis 2 jours et demi par la F210-F232 ( dans l'autre sens avec vent plutôt favorable ) .
Pour les tentes, je pense que vous vous trompez sur l'opinion de la tenue des élastiques des Vaude , le concept de montage avec les arceaux apparents en extérieur est je pense excellent . De nombreuses agences de voyages qui opèrent en Islande utilisent depuis des années des Vaude Mark 2 ou 3 qui ont le même concept .
J'ai une Dragonfly 3XT depuis l'été dernier , c'est une bonne tente bien conçue, vaste pour 2 personnes mais un peu juste en largeur pour 3 ( on a fait tout de même 3 semaines avec à 3 dans les Pyrénées) . Le seul reproche que je lui fais est le système d'attache de la porte extérieure et aussi qu'on ne peut la laisser ouverte par temps de pluie sans qu'il pleuvent dans la chambre car l'ouverture du double-toit est trop au dessus de la porte de chambre.Sinon la tenue au vent semble plutôt bonne ( arceaux croisés ) mais sûrement moins que ma vieille MSR Fury .
Bonjour,
Merci beaucoup pour ces précieux renseignements 🙂 Effectivement, j'ai un vélo avec des roues de 700. Il faut dire que jusqu'à maintenant, dans nos voyages à vélo, nous n'avions rencontré que des routes (pas de piste) et que les pneus Schwalbe marathon plus (700x35C) était suffisant.
Pour la nourriture, ça risque d'être compliqué (mais pas impossible) de prévoir pour 12 jours d'autonomie (les jours passant sur le vélo, l'appétit grandi😉) et à 4 gros mangeurs, ça va en faire du poids!
Au vu de votre expérience de l'Islande (nous nous sommes basé, en grande partie, sur votre site internet pour définir notre itinéraire!). Entre les conseils, les liens et les photos (qui sont magnifiques et nous donnent envie d'y être au plus vite) votre site internet est une richesse d'information pour qui veut partir en Islande!
Je vais restreindre le choix de la tente parmi Dragonfly 3XT, Vaude Hogan XT, Vaude power odyssée XT et la Wechsel « Halos ».
Je ne manquerai pas de donner un feedback sur le choix du matériel pour les suivants (tente notamment).
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Mettre un vélo dans un bus STRAETO en Islande, est-ce possible? Ligne 57 - 58 - 59 Si oui doit-on réserver ou bien peut-on le prendre " en vol "? Merci Ed
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Je pars étudier en Islande l'an prochain et je projette de faire le tour du pays en vélo l'été qui suivra... J'aimerais bien quelques conseils si quelqu'un à…
Hi,
what are the easiest ways to get back from Nordkapp without pedaling—
train, boat, or plane?
Has anyone already done this?
Thanks for sharing your tips!
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Hi,
I need to arrive in Thessaloniki by bike at the end of September and I plan to head to Istanbul along the coast.
Could anyone help me pick the best route? Safety, difficulty.
Thanks in advance.
Marc
Hi,
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?
