Crossing the Pyrenees by e-bike (page 2 of 2)

Hello

Thanks for this great itinerary! Now we just need to pore over a good map and plan our route—so far, we’ll be relying on the strength of our calves. Could you confirm that all these stages have light traffic? There’s nothing worse for me than having to share the road, unless it’s for a few unavoidable kilometers! On the Route des Alpes, we were really lucky on that front—it was mid-September 2016. Best regards,

Hi, The only sections where you might encounter other people are during the 4th stage between Argelès-Gazost and Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the 5th between Luchon and Cierp-Gaud, the end of the 7th between Vicdessos and Tarascon-sur-Ariège, and the 11th from Argelès-sur-Mer to Perpignan. For the rest, you're often (almost) alone or with just a few others, but we found it very manageable.

In the end, aren't you doing the crossing by e-bike? Best regards

Hi there!

No, not an e-bike crossing! We haven’t tried it yet, but the time will come 😋

Hello, while doing some research I came across your post. It really caught my interest: at 65, I’ve just retired, and my teenage dream was to hike the GR 10 when I had the time (so, in retirement). Unfortunately, a recent knee problem is keeping me from racking up the kilometers on foot. Since I regularly ride an e-MTB in the Alps or the Lyonnais mountains, I thought I could swap hiking for cycling. I won’t be going off-road at all (I’ve already plotted a route on Land)—mostly small roads, around 60 km per day, staying in B&Bs or hotels. What I’d love to hear about from your experience is the technical and gear side of things.

If you’re still active on this forum, I’d be really happy to connect with you.

Best regards,

Hi there,

I traveled from Bayonne to Rivesaltes via what is now the V81, right at the foot of the Pyrenees. We constantly ride alongside stunning landscapes. It’s flat with just one rare hill where I had to push my bike for 3 km. It’s doable with a muscle-assisted bike.

Hello and thank you for your reply! My goal is to figure out what to pack and how to carry it. Since October and the start of my retirement, I’ve been able to tackle routes of around sixty kilometers with some nice elevation gains. But I always head home at the end of the ride, so I have zero experience traveling for 15 days. I’ve got a Megamo VTTAE with two batteries, and the crossing is planned over 15 days with 60 km stages, staying in guesthouses or hotels. So, what clothes should I bring (in June, it can be hot, cold, sunny, or rainy)? I’m planning to cross a few mountain passes—what should I wear for the descents? Also, where and how should I store the second battery (3.5 kg)? For first-aid and repair kits, I’m guessing it won’t be too different from what I take for a day trip. Finally, how should I pack everything? Traditional panniers with Ortlieb’s quick-rack system, or bikepacking style with a saddle bag, handlebar bag, and frame bag? Since e-bikes aren’t always welcome on cyclotourism sites, I’d latched onto an old thread that was somewhat similar. But I’m open to any experience that could help me plan this trip. I’d briefly considered doing the Pyrenean foothills on a regular bike, but on my test rides (I’ve got an old Lejeune racing bike—it’s a bit of a relic—that’s been with me for 50 years), my knee doesn’t handle headwinds well. The electric assist solved that problem. Thanks again!

Honestly, if you're going from hotel to hotel from late May to early September, there isn't much you need to pack.

For clothing: - Your hiking shorts + swim trunks and the day's t-shirt. - A lightweight rain jacket. You’ll just have to accept that your shorts will get wet if it rains—it dries quickly once the rain stops. https://www.decathlon.fr/p/veste-impermeable-de-randonnee-nh500-imper-homme/_/R-p-334354

- Optionally, cycling shorts to protect your perineum. - A spare pair of swim trunks and a t-shirt. - A lightweight fleece jacket. - Gloves to protect your hands, especially in case of a fall.

For food and hydration: - 2 flexible 1.5 L water bottles https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B000BS0AQU - 1 rigid 1.5 L water bottle to attach to the frame https://www.amazon.fr/Nalgene-WH-Sustain-Trinkflaschen-Grau/dp/B09LMR2PPL/ref=sr_1_11 - A packed lunch for midday.

3-4 L of water isn’t too much when it’s 35 °C all day.

A first-aid kit: - Your medications. - Supplies to clean a wound (hydrogen peroxide + cotton). - Supplies for a bandage (sterile gauze + adhesive tape + scissors). - Tweezers for splinters.

- Insect repellent for mosquitoes, horseflies, etc., for your thighs and forearms. Horseflies near farms can be really painful—they’ll follow you and deliver painful bites. https://www.decathlon.fr/p/spray-repulsif-anti-moustique-et-tique-icaridine-100-ml/_/R-p-331595 - Sunscreen for your thighs and forearms. - A hat to protect your neck, face, and ears from the sun. https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01641EO28 - Sunglasses with photochromic or polarized lenses. - A small towel to wipe sweat from your face.

You’ll be barefoot in hiking sandals. https://www.decathlon.fr/p/sandales-de-randonnee-columbia-ridge-venture-homme/_/R-p-X8593205

A toiletry kit with Marseille soap for washing your body, hair, and doing laundry.

A tool kit: - You should be able to unscrew any nuts or screw heads. Skip multi-tools—they don’t cover all needs and are heavier. - Brake pads (or start with new ones). - Brake cables (or start with impeccable ones). - 3 thin, long zip ties. - A 50 cm strap. - A mini foot pump. https://www.zefal.com/fr/pompes-a-pied/24-profil-travel.html - A puncture repair kit and a spare inner tube. - Self-sealing Michelin Protek inner tubes combined with Schwalbe tires like Marathon Plus, which are heavily reinforced.

A handlebar bag (5 L minimum, ideally 7-8 L) and two small 10 L rear panniers will be more than enough.

In the handlebar bag, keep everything you need quick access to: sunscreen, horsefly repellent, the small towel, your hat, snacks, etc.

One rear pannier will be for food + pump + tool kit, and the other for clothing + first-aid and toiletry kits.

>> Electric bikes aren’t exactly popular on cycle-touring sites,

Don’t be mistaken—we’re all getting older. There comes a time when you either stick to flat routes or get some assistance. We’re the first generation (born in the 1940s–1950s) to benefit from electric bikes, letting us extend our enjoyment despite a few aches and wear. Let’s not dismiss this option. Isn’t a bike itself already an enhancement tool? Long live assistive tech for mobility!

the fleece jacket https://www.decathlon.fr/p/veste-polaire-randonnee-mh-500-gris-abysses/_/R-p-341204?mc=8758029

Thanks for all this info—it’s starting to come together in my head. With a 15-day trip, I still feel like I’m gonna forget something, and like all newbies, I’m sure I’ll overpack. The key is just not to forget the essentials. On that note, your comment about horseflies totally makes sense—I’d never forget them on a hike, but I wouldn’t have thought of them for biking. Actually, I’m realizing I can just adapt what I’d bring for a hike and not break the bank on gear (clothes, water, first aid). I’ll take the chance to tweak my bike a bit to make it more mountain-road-friendly. Thanks again