Planning a bike trip? (page 22 of 37)

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

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!

Okay, no problem, but do let me know a few days in advance. Cheers, Le Ziquet

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

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.

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 :)

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

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.

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

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.*

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!

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

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! !

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!

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. 😉

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! !

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!

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!

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...

Love the Kwasimon class! 😎

2012 is looking promising. 🙂