Tout d'abord, je voulais remercier tous contributeurs de ce forum pour les informations fournies en particulier : Etchelecou, voyageur 2500 et Franklenfant dont je n'ai plus de nouvelles, j'espère qu'il ne lui est rien arrivé.
En janvier 2017, j'étais parti dans l'Isan avec un détour au Laos pour un total de 5 semaines.
Cette année, l'idée était de faire le nord avec la boucle Chiang Mai/Mae Hong Son.
Je suis parti du 12 janvier au 26 février avec un visa.
J'ai pris le train pour sortir de Bangkok jusqu'à Phitsanulok. De là, j'ai commencé mon périple en vélo. Je donne ci-dessous les étapes. J'ai noté tous les kilométrages et les hôtels, je les tiens à disposition.
Phitsanulok- Sukhotai- Si Satchanalai- Den Chai- Lampang- Lamphun- Chiang Mai- Mae Taeng- Ban Pa Pae- Pai- Soppong- Mae Hong Son- Khum Yuam- Mae La Noi- Mae Sariang.
De là mon idée initiale était de rejoindre Mae Sot mais je me suis dégonflé et j'ai préféré un parcours plus facile.
Donc Mae Sariang- Ban Huai Bo Lang- Chom Thong- Li- Thoen- Thung Saliam- Sukhotai- Phitsanulok- Nakhon Sawan- Chai Nat- Suphan Buri- Kanchanaburi- Ratchaburi- Petchaburi- Cha Am- Hua Hin- Prachuap Khirikan où je suis resté 6 jours pour profiter de Ao Manao.
De Prachuap, je suis rentré en train à Bangkok.
Mes coups de coeur:- toute la boucle du nord à part Paï, ( qui est envahi par une ethnie venue des pays occidentaux!!) en particulier les alentours de Soppong avec toutes les grottes comme Lor Cave
-Mae Hong Son ville calme, mais animée où il doit faire bon vivre
- Kanchanaburi
- bien sur Prachuap
Partout où je suis passé, j'ai trouvé facilement un hôtel. Les meilleurs( à mon goût)
Ban Pa Pae : Eco Park Green. Un hôtel tout en bambou installé dans une forêt de bambous; 600 thb petit dej compris. Par contre pas facile à trouver, il faut aller à l'administration du village qui téléphone à l'hôtel qui vient vous chercher, mais tout cela dans la bonne humeur.
Hana Guesthouse à Hua Hin à l'écart de la foule avec une patronne très sympa.(600 thb)
Le pire hôtel: Tiwson Resort à Ban Huai Bo Lang, mais je crois que personne ne s'y arrête, sauf les cyclistes pour couper une étape en deux. (300 thb)
Pour rouler, j'ai utilisé Maps.me avec les parcours dédiés aux cyclistes, qui fait passer par des petites routes tranquilles, et le dénivelé.
Je reste à disposition pour tout renseignement.
Bonjour,
Votre aventure m'intéresse! Je prévoie partir 4-5 semaines au mois de décembre. Je vais regarder votre itinéraire de plus près.
Rapidement des petites questions:
Y a-t-il pas mal de dénivelé?
Sur les routes de campagne, la circulation est correcte?
J'hésite à apporter mon vélo. Je vais avoir des escales et j'ai peur qu'il ne suive pas. Connaissez-vous des boutiques de location de vélo?
Dans le nord, il y a pas mal de dénivelé. Après la boucle du nord, tout le reste est plat comme la main.
Sur les petites routes, il n'y a pratiquement pas de circulation. D'autre part sur la plupart des routes il y a une bande sur le côté pour rouler.
Dans tous les pays où je suis allé, j'ai toujours amené mon vélo et je n'ai jamais eu de problème avec les transports malgré les escales. Je ne connais pas de boutique de location, mais en cherchant sur le net, vous pouvez trouver à Bangkok.
Bonjour,
Selon votre expérience, vous recommandez davantage lequel de vos voyages? Ce dernier voyage ou la boucle Isan-Laos?
Je prendrais bien les km et noms des hôtels
Merci!
j'ai préféré la boucle du nord, c'est plus difficile, mais plus varié. L'Isan c'est tout plat et les paysages sont plus monotones.
Je vous donne ci-dessous le détail des km, temps passé sur le vélo, le nom des hôtels avec leurs prix.
Phitsanulok-Sukhotaï 64 km, 3h, MG guesthouse 500 thb
Sukhotaï- Si Satchanalai 77 km, 3h50, Tomal Resort 500 thb
Si Satchanalai- Den Chai 79 km, 4h30, Samanaree garden house 600 thb avec pet dej
Den Chai- Lampang 89 km, 5h Riverside Guest House 400 thb
Lampang- Lamphun 82 km, 3h55 Easy Hotel 590 thb
Lamphun- Chang Mai 31km 1h45 CM White House 400 thb
Chang Mai- Mae Taeng 37 km 2h ???? 300 thb
Mae Taeng- Ban Pa Pae 37 km 3h, Eco Park green 600thb avec pd
Ban Pa Pae- Paï 67 km 4h15 Paï cat Hut 650 thb
Paï- Soppong 43 km 3h05 Little Eden Guesthouse 360 thb
Soppong- Mae Hong son 69 km, 4h30, sarm Mork guesthouse 590 thb
Mae Hong son- Ban Khum Yuam 70km, 4h, Hotel Yoont 600thb
Ban Khum Yuam- Mae La Noi 69km, 3h40, Flying Bird 300thb
Mae La Noi- Mae Sariang 34 km, 2h, Mae Loe Gyi guesthouse 450 thb
Mae Sariang- Ban Huai Bo Lang 65km 4h50, Tiwson resort 300 thb
Ban Huai Bo Lang- Chom Thong 72 km, 3h05, Smile hotel 350 thb
Chom Thong- Li 96 km, 4h50, Ingpha resort 500 thb avec pd
Li- Thoen 56 km 2h50 Nakornthoen hotel 500 thb avec pd
Thoen-Thung Saliam 65 km 3h25, Hotel Jutamas 500 thb avec pd
Thung Saliam- Sukhotai 65 km 3h05, MG guesthouse 500 thb
Sukhotai- Phitsanulok 66 km 3h, Lithai guesthouse 400 thb avec pd
Phitsanulok- Nakhon Sawam train Hotel Pa Palace 450 thb
Nakhon Sawam- Chai Nat 62 km 3h Sukjit Hotel 350 thb
Chai Nat- Suphan Buri 104 km, 5h10 Thaikasem Apartment 450 thb
Suphan Buri- Kanchanaburi 95 km, 4h30 The Best Riverside Guest house 490 thb
Kanchanaburi- Ratchaburi 84 km, 4h20, Veerasuda condohotel 550 thb
Ratchaburi- Petchaburi 58 km 3h Thanyachattra boutique 600thb
Petchaburi- Cha Am 46km 2h30 Hotel Bangsainniumpang 500 thb
Cha Am Hua Hin 32 km 1h50 Hana Guesthouse
Hua Hin Prachuap khiri khan 100 km 4h50, Montalay Hotel 690 thb
Prachuap- Bangkok train Krungkasem Srikung Hotel 980 thb
Ce dernier hôtel a été le premier et ils m'ont gardé le carton à vélo pendant les 50 jours de mon périple. Cet hôtel est situé en face de la gare, pour prendre le train avec un vélo, c'est l'idéal. Concernant les trains, seuls les Ordinary et Rapid prennent les vélos. Dans tous les hôtels, le vélo a toujours été dans un endroit sur.
Pour l'Isan, j'ai également le détail des étapes et des hôtels.
J'ai fait les deux aussi à vélo, la boucle de Mae Hong Son est beaucoup mieux, mais ça grimpe sec. A la fin, il y a le Doï Inthanon aussi à faire. L'Isan est sympa, surtout les bords du Mekong, mais les chiens sont une plaie sur les petites routes, plus qu'ailleurs en Thaïlande.
Thaïlande/Laos à vélo 2017/2018 voir récit, itinéraire et photos sur mon site
Juste une petite ligne pour vous féliciter.
Entre les distances parcourues.
Le fait que les routes Thaï ont un taux de trompe-la-mort plutôt élevé.
Et les chiens errants.
Vous avez tout mon respect, un grand bravo à vous !
L'éternité c'est très long....surtout vers la fin (Woody Allen)
Merci,
Pour les routes, c'est la troisième fois que je fais du vélo en Thaïlande, je n'ai jamais vu un accident!!!
Pour les chiens, c'est vrai que c'est une plaie, surtout le matin avant 9h, après ils dorment.
Mais cette année, la rencontre la plus .....cocasse, ce fut un varan au milieu d'une piste, vers Petchaburi, et bien décider d'y rester. C'est bien d'utiliser les parcours cyclistes de Maps.me, mais il faut s'attendre à ça. Je n'ai jamais vu de chiens agressifs ou de varans sur une 2x2 voies.
C'était en janvier 2017.Voici les étapes, les hôtels, le kilométrage.
Phitsanulok- Naklon Thaï. 103 km 5h 15.Guest house sans nom, 350 thb sans petit dej
Nakhon Thaï- Phu Rua 78 km 4h50. Hôtel Phu Rua view 500thb ss pd
Phu Rua- Loei 54 km 2h50 hotel Pavilion resort 890 thb pd compris
Loei - Chian Kang 55 km 3h Hôtel Welcome Holiday 800 thb pd compris
Chian Kang- Sangkhom 106 km 5h Bouy guest house 500 thb ss pd
Sangkhom- Nong Khai 88 km 4h20 Mekong guesthouse 790 thb ss pd
Après Nong Khai je suis passé au Laos et descendu le long du Mékong.
Nong Khai- Naxay 89 km 4h30 Hotel Bouavanh 550 thb ss pd
Naxay- Muang Paksan 88 km 4h20 B.K. guesthouse 50 000 kips ss pd
Paksan- Viang Kham 90 km 4h20 Vansana guesthouse 40000 kips ss pd
Viang Kham- Ban Kong Lo (Konglor cave) 79 km 4h20 Chantha guest house 70000 kips avec pd
Ban Kong Lo - Viang Kham 90 km (j'ai fait des détours) 4h50 Vansana Guesthouse 40000 ss pd
Viang Kham - Thakek 109km 5h20 Mekong hotel 100000 kips avec pd
Thakek- frontière-Nakhon Phanom 38 km 2h Hotel Srihotel 400thb ss pd
Nakhon- Sakon Nakhon 103 km 4h40 Hotel Sakon grand Palace 900 thb pd compris
Sakon- That Phanom 75 km 3h45 Riverview hotel 850 thb pd compris
That Phanom- Mukdahan 75 km 2h50 Hoel Thaï 350 thb ss pd
Mukdahan-Khemmarat 87 km 4h05 River resort 690thb avec pd
Khemmarat- Amnat Charoen 74km 3h20 Hotel le prince 350 thb ss pd
Amnat- Ubon 80 km 3h30 Hotel Sri Isan 380 thb ss pd
Ubon- Det Udon 64 km 3h10 Hotel Wandd 360 thb ss pd
Det Udon - Khukhan 110 km 4h55 Hotel ??? 400 thb ss pd
Khukhan - Surin 100 km 4h20 Hotel Maneerote 27€ pour 2 nuits ss pd.
C'est fini, je suis revenu en train à Bangkok.
J'espère que vous trouverez votre bonheur.
Bonne route.
Cordialement
Jacky
Un énorme merci de noter et partager toutes ces informations plutôt précises. C'est vraiment aidant pour la communauté.
Je prépare un article sur le vélo en Thailande. Je citerai sûrement ton post en référence :)
Bonjour
Quel type de vélo avez vous ? Voyagez vous avec des sacoches ? Un GPS ?
C'est un taxi qui vous à mené de l'aéroport à Bangkok ?
J'ai aussi lu que certaines compagnies aériennes n'acceptent pas les vélos ou demandent des prix astronomique, vius êtes parti avec qui ?
Désolé de la forme questionnaire " et merci des précisions 🙂
Bonjour,
Mon vélo est celui qui est sur la photo de mon profil. VTT avec fourche rigide, pneus de 1.35.
J'ai deux sacoches arrières, je dors dans les hôtels ou guest houses, pas de matelas, pas de duvet, pas de popote.
J'ai des cartes papier et une application Maps.me.
De l'aéroport, je prends un taxi pour Bangkok (sans supplément). Je laisse le carton du vélo et mon sac de voyage à l'hôtel (1er et dernier hôtel à Bangkok).
Je prends Turkish Airlines à Marseille. Je prends le car à Gap pour Marignane avec le vélo dans son carton, en soute. Le coût de Turkish est de 80€ par voyage.
J'ai déjà indiqué le prix des hôtels en Isan et dans la boucle du nord et en descendant vers Hua Hin et Prachuap.
Pour les repas, s'ils sont pris dans la rue, c'est entre 1 et 5 € par repas et par personne.
17 jours, 1400 km et 17 500 m de D+ à vélo dans le Nord du Vietnam ! 🇻🇳 🚲🇻🇳
Du brouillard du Fansipan aux paysages spectaculaires de la Ha Giang Loop, des villages reculés aux marchés hauts en couleurs...
J’ai traversé le Nord du pays à vélo au plus près de ses habitants, entre boue, chaleur, cols interminables et rencontres inoubliables.
Et surtout, j’ai découvert un Vietnam bien différent des circuits touristiques.
Je vous emmène avec moi dans cette aventure, à travers une vidéo qui retrace ces 17 jours de voyage. 🙂
Si le Vietnam vous attire, venez faire un bout de route avec moi !
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?
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
Hello,
Has anyone here had experience using a gas stove in Sardinia and Sicily? I’m wondering if screw-on gas canisters (not the blue Campingaz ones, but brands like Coleman, Primus, etc.) are easy to find.
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.