Planning a bike trip? (page 18 of 37)

hi there my old MBK and I are taking a little spring ride between Vans and Marvejols round-trip from March 20th to 30th, through small roads and trails in Lozère and Margeride, just to clear our heads—bike camping (wild or not), if it doesn’t rain too much. The weather’ll be chilly, the mountains rugged, as usual around here. If anyone’s got honest suggestions for a place to stay, a cozy gastronomic-philosophical evening by the fire, or anything else within good taste, I won’t charge for the trip... ciao

Hi everyone, hi KIKILECYCLO,

I’m totally going off-topic, please forgive me, but I also own an old MBK (Rock Fighter) from 1990. I use it for my bike commute and I’m thinking of upgrading it to go a bit further... Could you tell me about yours and what you think of it? Thanks in advance, cheers, Le Ziquet

Hey there, poor little cycling fisherman, you're fully forgiven. "Re-cycling"—bad puns and all—has always appealed to me. My old MBK is named "Baroudeur" (Adventurer), and I didn’t make that up—I’ve lived up to it. Even as a kid, I dreamed of being a garbage collector when I saw the trash truck pass by on my street. Ended up a doctor, so life does have meaning... not always the right one, but let’s move on.

My 1995 MBK has undergone some radical modifications. All that’s original: Me, the pedaler; the handlebars; the fork (though not the bearings); the frame. That’s it. Everything else has been swapped out as needed: V-brakes (way more functional), the whole drivetrain replaced multiple times (cheap, easy, and effective), the wheels, etc. The racks are steel from the local bike shop, tweaked as needed (cutting, welding, etc.).

Basically, I’ve got a custom-built bike on demand for under 200 € and a bit of elbow grease at every major overhaul. This whole mess holds up for 5,000 km each time—plenty of breathing room (three times in fifteen years, case closed). I haul up to 35 kg of gear, including a tent, and it holds strong. And we have fun!

Did I answer the question? Later,

Yes, you totally answered my question—it really put my mind at ease, because I see that our good old Motobécane (MBK) bikes are still relevant today. So I’ll pamper mine; I’m almost in love with it (hoping my wife doesn’t make a scene over it). My ride’s name is Pomponette—very fitting for someone from the Var region. Cheers, Le Ziquet

Hey there! No matter the vessel, as long as we get... the aroma, the taste, the thrill, the intoxication—let’s go big or go home! It’s clear that with my trusty old steed, pretty basic but well-prepped, tested time and again over the past twenty-odd years in all sorts of scenarios, I’ve had some truly amazing moments—whether close to home or far away, from three hours to three months, in heat, cold, dry or wet conditions... It’s clear that prepping your gear—your bike, but not just that—takes on a whole new meaning when you’re 100 or 200 km from the nearest sign of civilization, in some godforsaken corner of the world. It ties into managing emotions when conditions are rough. I’m not saying precarious, that’s not the same thing. It brushes up against a philosophical choice about risk-taking, but the only real risk is life itself. Without a satellite phone (which, in an emergency, isn’t much use if you’re more than 15 minutes from a top-tier hospital), so no SAMU or other high-tech lifelines that modernity traps us with every day, playing on our passive, consumerist submission. We could go on with a tedious list of pointless examples... I’m rambling, I’m rambling, "The escape, small spring" — René Char Alright, ciao!

Hey there, We might be far from our good old "MBK" bikes, but what a hopeful message for me—a 62-year-old bike touring newbie! For now, since I’m still working, my rides will be limited to day trips or maybe a weekend here and there, if the weather finally decides to grace Provence with its presence. "Slip into seven-league boots, telling yourself there’s no rush" — Aragon Le Ziquet

Not at all outdated—recycling bikes and their riders is full of potential! We’re just expanding the topic. No matter our age (I’m not exactly brand new either), we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and our choices matter. Safe travels!

I’ve already mentioned my project a bit, and now I’ve got a little website that’s slowly coming together! :)

https://sites.google.com/site/bandoftheroad

Feel free to get in touch if you’ve got any questions, suggestions, or advice! :)

For this summer, I’m planning to cycle along the Burgundy Canal. The region looks so peaceful and charming! I’m thinking of stopping in towns like Tonnerre and Chablis, as recommended by escapadegourmandecom, and of course, visiting some winemakers along the way ;) If you’re new to bike trips like me, there’s a luggage transfer service that moves your bags from one stop to the next—check out bagtransfertcom. Can’t wait to be there!

Hi everyone, hi Kikilecyclo, Here’s finally a bit of sunshine over our Provence—I’m thinking of taking Pomponette out for some fresh air this weekend. Quick question: on my MBK, I’ve got oval chainrings—is that the case for your Baroudeur too? If so, what do you think of them? If I remember correctly, my bike shop guy back in the day told me they were to avoid "dead spots" while pedaling. See you soon, Le Ziquer

Hi everyone, I’m prepping for a self-supported bike-camping trip across the Pyrenees via the Route des Cols this September... there you go!

Hi everyone,

I’m a student and I’d love to go on a 2-week bike trip in August with 4 friends. Since I’ve never done this kind of trip before, I wanted to ask for some advice—our plan is hard to figure out because we don’t know what’s even possible in 2 weeks.

If you’ve got any ideas for a bike trip in France, that’d be awesome!

Thanks in advance, have a great day!

Hey marco, for a project in France, you’ve got the *voies vertes* (greenways), which are amazing—no cars, no stress, and really cool people in the campgrounds at night. Don’t set rigid goals like "we *have* to be there by 2:17 PM on the 15th." Instead, pick a well-equipped region from the *voies vertes* map of France (online) and just go with the flow. If a spot grabs you, stay a day to explore; if another doesn’t feel right, move on. The freer you are before you leave, the more your trip will feel relaxed and enjoyable. Don’t fixate on a daily kilometer goal—just enjoy gliding across the land toward somewhere new to discover.

We did the Nantes-Brest canal, then Roscoff, the Île de Batz, Armorique Park, and back via the canal—all in three weeks with a five-year-old on his bike. Super chill. I highly recommend it: Brittany is wild and gorgeous, especially away from the coast in summer, and the people are genuinely great. But there are tons of places to explore—have a great trip! 😎 Go for it, life’s short.

Yeah, I think Gallysse is absolutely right. Put on those seven-league boots and tell yourself there’s no rush (Aragon). Le Ziquet

hey there, Provençal buddy I don’t think I ever replied to your post about oval chainrings—I had one as the first chainring on my old Decathlon 520 back in the '80s (still took it on an 8-day trip in Lozère this March). I’ve since swapped it out, but I’m convinced it’s a gimmick that’s totally out of style now. I adjusted without even noticing, and honestly, I’ve got plenty of other reasons for "dead spots"—especially my own fitness, not the crankset... cheers to Pomponette! happy trails

Hi everyone,

Last year, I traveled solo from Guérande to Copenhagen round-trip, and since I loved it, this summer I’m taking my wife and son. To make the stages shorter, we’ll start from... Berlin! So it’ll be a Berlin to Copenhagen round-trip, starting July 23/24...

Safe travels! !

Hi there, We’re thinking of letting our son ride a bit this summer on the bike paths in Vendée. We tested him this weekend (he’s 4.5 years old) with a round trip to the beach—41.2 km total: Outbound: 13 km all by himself like a big kid / 6 km towed behind my bike Return trip in his trailer, napping away!

So far, so good. We need to do another two-day trip to see if he can handle back-to-back days of pedaling. Normally, it should work—we’ve been taking bike vacations with him in his trailer for two years now, and he loves it.

To be continued...

Hi there,

No stress in the planning—France offers tons of options, no need to book campsites in advance. You’ll always find a spot, etc... Les Landes is great, with practically only bike paths. The weather’s nice, you pedal through forests, you can take swimming breaks, and the beaches are a bonus. Plus, it’s flat, perfect for beginners.

If you’re not starting from home, consider the Corail and TER trains—they have special compartments for bikes. Just remember to book when you buy your ticket.

After that, it’s up to you to hit the pedals!

There are free maps you can find online.

so excited to get some fresh air that you dated your photo August 2011—says it all...

Oh yeah, tell me about it! I’ll change the date! Thanks. True, I can’t wait to feel the wind of freedom on my bike with the family...