Travelling by bike: Matteo's experiences

I met Mattéo through the film he made after his trip to Iran, the year he turned 17. Since then, we have been following each other's travels via the internet. He has made many beautiful trips but there are some that I particularly like: those by bike.

One day of confinement, we exchange on Messenger, as we do episodically to exchange our travel anecdotes. I then had the idea to ask him to write an article about his bike trips. He was very enthusiastic and a few days later sent me back this article, which was extremely rich in information.

Saddle up! 2020, an opportunity to embark on your very first cycling trip.

 

Let's talk about’a very nice way of travelling, which is not a problem.’Let's talk about a very nice way of travelling that has developed a lot in the last few years: the bicycle. This way of travelling has been the rhythm of some summers and winters of my student period. The aim of this article is to show you that travelling by bike is accessible to everyone! You just need to be motivated and follow the’You just have to be motivated and follow the idea you have in mind. Ready to join the peloton? In this article, we will discuss not one or two but three different formats! Let's saddle up.

To begin with, I’I had to hold on to this idea five years ago when I was in my final year of high school. My parents saw me riding an old mountain bike found in the back of the garage, browsing the maps of the’They must have thought something was up! J’I had a deep-rooted dream: to reach the North Cape by bike, at the very top of Norway, the northernmost point ofEurope, 2100 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean.It was the northernmost point of Europe, 2100 kilometres from the North Pole.

The bike in question, before a relifting in front of the shop, an alibaba cave of the bike traveller which unfortunately closed its doors. I might as well tell you that this model of saddle did not last long and was changed by a much harder Brooks saddle adapted to long distances. The choice of the saddle remains quite subjective.

Heading for Norway

How did the idea for this trip come about?

The North Cape is a destination that has intrigued me for a long time, however, I didn't know how to get there. In June 2013, I had the idea to go by car but it is expensive and you have to drive for a long time before you get there, and then without a licence you don't get very far by car. The same goes for the train, which is a very expensive way to get there.’The same goes for the train, which stops 1,500 kilometres before the northern tip, so you would have to finish the journey by bus.

The months went by and I decided to do something big when I left school. At the same time, Samy, my physics and chemistry teacher, punctuates some of his lessons with his cycling exploits, in Europe or in Africa. And for the time being, he doesn't’And he didn't choose the easiest places. He cycled to Ouagadougou or to the South of Africa.’Spain:
"It was great! L’In the afternoon we went down the mountain, it was cold. Then at the end of the day we reached the coast and headed for the nightclub. It's obvious that it makes you want to go. I come to see him at the end of some classes to ask him questions, not about physics or chemistry, but about the’organisation of’ I still don't know how a tent can come into my house. I still don't know how a tent can be put behind the saddle, so I ask him: "How can I put it behind the saddle?’I still don't know how a tent can be put behind the saddle, so I let it sit quietly on the luggage rack.

En January 2015, Samy told me abouta festival dedicated to bicycle travel. There are festivals for almost everything. I went to Vincennes and discovered a community passionate about this mode of travel. of travel. I meet an author who talks about his trip to Northern Norway. He gives me a lot of advice for this region. At the’To hear him talk, the journey to the’He gives me a lot of advice for this region.’It proves to me that it is possible to go alone by bike. In fact, this festival was full of people with great stories. They were telling you in a very calm way that they had been through two tornadoes.They told you in the most calm way that they had been through 2 tornadoes, 3 civil wars, 1 tsunami and 1 million kilometres by bike, and that everything was fine. Of course, this is reassuring.

What preparation was required?

The challenge seems to be within my grasp and I start preparing my first trip by bike. After all, this means of transport is certainly slower, but it allows me to stop anywhere to better appreciate the landscape. In a society where people are rushing around, I will finally be able to say to myself "it takes 4 days to reach this city". And if it takes me 6 days, it won't be worse!

I'm taking advantage of the Easter holidays to gather the necessary material and equip this good old mountain bike. My mother often looks out of the window and must think that it will be difficult to turn back. I manage to convince her by explaining that, during the summer, the sun doesn't set there. So all the risks associated with the night do not apply.’So all the risks associated with the night don't really exist anymore. It's decided, the big departure will take place on July 9th!

The racing beast ready for its first start. Note the curious arrangement of the brakes. I forgot to insert them into the handlebars before preparing them with foam. So I had to put them on the ends of the handlebars, at the very end! Since that day, we brake with our thumbs.

How was the trip?

9 July 2015, I’open the window of the’s window.’I opened the window of the plane that sent me to Bodo, the starting point of the project. I don’I have never seen so much snow in July and I wonder why Idecided to go there.I wonder why I decided to go there instead of partying in Barcelona.I wonder why I decided togo there instead of partying in Barcelona. Most of all, I had hardly any training and had never ridden a bike before.I had hardly trained at all and had never ridden a loaded bike before. When I turned around, there were no friends in the seats next to me. It was also my first solo trip.

I went on my own to get to know myself better and to go beyond my limits. It allowed me to discover a level of freedom never experienced before but also to evolve in total autonomy with the responsibilities that this implies. It must also be said that being alone makes you 100% available for new encounters.

In the end, I wasn't alone all the time. J’followed the European cycle route Eurovélo 1 and I met cyclo-travellers every day. Sometimes we rode together and then separated at the end of the day to resume our respective rhythms. At the finish line, I met up with many of the people I had met on the road. We had travelled the same road but each had his own story to share! We could also compare beards that doubled or tripled in length. Except for me, when I was 18, there wasn't much about me yet.Except for me, at 18, there wasn't much on my chin yet.

For the lack of’training, it is not’s not so bad. This trip is not’This trip is not a race against the clock so my pace is pretty light. If I leave in the morning, the only thing I have to do is ride all day. Besides, the sun doesn't set so I can keep going until midnight if I feel like it.

What was a typical day?

I wake up around 7am to start the day. I take about an hour to have breakfast, fold the tent and brush my teeth. I then set off on the road towards the North, which is good timing, asthere is only one way to get there.There is only one road here.There is only one road here. In the middle of the morning, I take a break to eat some dried fruits full of fast sugars, in order to keep the pace until lunch, which took place on a table or a bench of a bus shelter. You don't want to linger over lunch so you don't get completely chilled.

The best part is the beginning of the evening. I go in search of a nice place to spend the night. Once the tent is set up, I start the stove on a background of Norwegian radio, then nothing else.’Nothing else. No’No internet included in the package in Europe at that time, we were quite quiet (except my mother). It’Sometimes I drove until midnight or even 2am. The roads were completely empty and the country was silent in the middle of the day... Impressive!

I alternated every other day between wilderness camping and serviced camping. Camping with facilities allowed me to take a much-needed hot shower before going to bed. I didn't have access to a shower in the wilderness campground so I washed in the roadside cafe toilets earlier in the day. With my devices charging on the sockets and pumping wifi, the roadside cafe was turning into a real squat. JI even brought a power strip.

When the climate became difficult, I shared a room with a friend.’hotel room with other’other cyclists. I have good memories of the nights spent in Norway, especially those at the’s. I fell asleep with the sound of the waves and the breeze most of the time. I fell asleep with the sound of the waves and the breeze most of the time. Most of the time, when cycling, people see you as a "nice guy", which maximizes the chances of being welcomed. Beware, this is not’s not the’hotel! Even if the day has been tiring and’Even though it was a tiring day and 5°C in the rain, itis important to spend time with your host and share some of the images or stories.It is important to spend time with your host and to share some of the images and stories from your trip.

We had to cross some fjords by ferry. In Norway or anywhere else in the world, when you travel by bike, the ferry is your best friend. Nothing to pack or protect, no steps to climb, just park your bike next to the other cars. When there's a bar on the deck, it's even better.It's even better when there's a bar on deck. The ferry also allows you to change your view and see the landscape from the sea.

Any particular anecdote?

It must be stressed, however, that the greatest satisfaction of’s greatest satisfaction in a bicycle trip istois totoreach the end. A short story.

« Thursday 23 July 2016, 7 a.m.’is the big day.

Yves and I are determined to finish this crazy adventure. We did the biggest stage of the trip yesterday. The most intense part was the passage through the North Cape tunnel. The tunnel is 7 kilometres long and descends 280 metres below sea level before coming up to the island. The ventilation turbines are as loud as an aeroplane, the passing of cars and the steep climb make the crossing very difficult.

Now we are on the North Cape, the island of the end of the world. We slept in a hostel in Honningsvag in order to rest properly the day before the arrival. The thermometer oscillates between 5 and 7°C, gloves and hats are required! Honningsvag is a harbour town in the south of the island. With its harbour, its housing and its shops, it is the only sedentary place of life on the island.

We are only 35 km from the North Cape. However, the road goes inland and there are many climbs and descents. We set off on the E6, determined as ever. After about ten kilometres, Yves goes straight ahead. He's been waiting for this moment since the 1st of May, he must be giving it his all, that's for sure. On my side, I have more difficulty in the climbs, the speedometer stagnates around 5km/h, even a pedestrian would go faster. The descents are long but you have to go back up each time. It's never-ending. The landscape is even more virgin than before.

I can see a few buildings on the horizon that look like weather stations. The finish line is beginning to make itself felt. Only 5 kilometres to go. I still can't see anything ahead of me. The last climb challenges me with a 9% gradient and it's impossible to see what's behind it. I finally come across the "NORDKAPP" sign on the side of the road. I am now on the final sprint. 500 meters separate the sign from the entrance to the tourist complex. Cars are queuing up to pass the toll. 90€ for a family with two children! Fortunately bikes can enter freely, with a wink from the guard as a token of appreciation. I walk around the building and find myself on the edge of the cliff, facing the monument. This is the North Cape. The North Pole is only 2100 kilometres beyond the horizon. Yves arrived half an hour ago and helps me to mount the bike on the base of the monument to take the photo. The monument, representing the parallels of the steel globe, is located on the edge of a cliff that plunges into the sea, 300 metres below. The place is breathtaking.

We spend the afternoon chatting with other travellers. The profiles are varied, but some common points stand out. Mark, 22, is studying mathematics in Vienna. Andrea, 26, is a computer engineer in Frankfurt. He is not’It is not easy to’It is not easy to imagine these people putting on their suits to go to a meeting while we are eating noodle soup outside the tent. Indeed, we are moving away from the people on the fringes of society that this form of travel might suggest, and closer to young graduates coming to breathe a little air.’fresh air.

The hours pass and I am happy to breathe this air at the end of the world. The North Cape is a busy place with a large structure where there is a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a cinema and other amenities for visitors. This development brings a constant stream of buses. This evening the sky is clear. A day like this happens on average once a week due to the capricious weather. How lucky we are to have such good weather! We will surely see the midnight sun, which is eagerly awaited. In general, the sky is completely overcast and it is impossible to see more than 20 metres ahead. As a result, this evening is "the’s peak hour".

A German cruise ship has disembarked its 3,000 passengers at the port of Honningsvag. A convoy of about 50 buses arrived at the site. The monument is taken by storm shortly before midnight. Yves and I chat with a retired French couple who have come by camper van. We are kindly invited to drink a glass of champagne in Jacques and Francine's vehicle. We talk for several hours, until Francine decides to go to bed. It's 2.30 am and we close the door behind us.

No more noise. The platform of the monument is empty, the complex is closed. All the buses have gone back south. Yves and I walk to the edge of the’ocean.

You can hear the waves breaking 300 metres below against the golden cliffs in the shining sun. I realise how high up I am when I see the birds flying over the sea.’They are tiny white dots! A young draughtsman lying on his duvet immortalizes the scene with charcoal. Yves and I settle down at the foot of the monument and heat up some tea. The environment is calm, serene, everything seems to be calming down. The North Cape reveals its magic to us in the middle of the sunny night. The feeling of being at the end of the world is finally felt to the full.

The monument that symbolises the North Cape, at 2am.

This evening brings to an end the first and by far the most significant part of my trip. A flood of good memories runs through my mind. I realise that my project has exceeded my expectations in every way. And the desire to leave is already being felt.

February 2016: Paris - Amsterdam by bike

What is special about this adventure?

C

’It is with Victor, Hugo and Loïc that we are going to leave for Amsterdam. We are at the beginning of February 2016 and the week to come is announced as the coldest of the year.’winter. The thermometer is close to 0°C during the day. This particular format allows us to highlight some specific points about travelling by bike in difficult conditions.

The fine team on the day of departure, in front of the North terminus of the RER B. Not a very sexy starting point, but it allows us to lose half a day crossing the Paris region.

One priority: prepare for the cold. Riding between -5°C and 5°C is not an end in itself.The first few hundred metres of riding are not the end of the story, but some equipment can help protect you from the cold and your body will warm up slowly. It is important to cover every surface well with long cycling tights, good socks and a fleece jacket. Be careful not to add too many layers so as not to be sweating after several kilometres. You have to play with the cold, cover up and uncover yourself according to how you feel the temperature, with the aim of not sweating too much so as not to catch a cold.

Some advice?

We left from the north of Paris, heading for Lille, then Bruges and finally Amsterdam. Between Paris and Lille, Victor, a member of the team, knows the local roads very well. We were able to avoid the national and departmental roads in a region where trucks are frequent.
You have to be careful with this because the France-Belgium-Netherlands routes are very busy and you can quickly find yourself on a fast lane full of semi-trailers. From Belgium onwards, cycle paths gradually appear until they are omnipresent in the Netherlands. There, they are everywhere, the network is structured at national level. It is common to ride along a national highway or motorway on the cycle path that follows it.tion on the cycle path that follows it. Be careful not to ride on the road, vehicles react quickly because bicycles do not have the same speed as cars.’There is no reason to share the road with cars in this country. Wind can also be a problem. Very common on the Dutch coast, one of us was facing the wind to protect the others in turn. Sometimes you can go faster with more than one person!

For the nights in bivouac, we failed 200%. Don't think that the campsites will welcome youDon't think that the campsites will welcome you for a good month of February, they are almost all closed! The presence of caravans can be confusing but they are often there all year round.’They are often there all year round and empty in winter. All the campsites could not receive us, but we managed to squat behind a mobile home in the Netherlands, but we had to move quickly in the morning... This trip between Paris and Amsterdam was particularly intense because we faced cold, rain and wind. In these conditions, it is essential to be able to find a place to put your things in a warm place in the evening and to leave in a dry place the next day. For the nights in the homeOne of the advantages of travelling in a group is that some people can host the evening while others rest.

Another practical detail: we had to switch between different items depending on the weather and manage whether these items were dry or not. The most practical thing for this kind of trip is to carry "separator pockets". They allow you to differentiate between your belongings and to compact each block. This saves time and space, which is important in winter. JI kept the system of separating pockets for all my subsequent trips.

What is the outcome of this adventure?

Despite the wintry weather, there were a number of things that gave us comfort during the trip:

⁃ L’welcome and kindness of the people we met throughout the stay. The day spent at the’The day spent outside made the warm moments even warmer. It was like coming back from a battlefield when we were in the middle of a battle.We felt like we had just returned from a battlefield when we talked to our hosts in the evening.

⁃ The food of the North helped us a lot, namely the fries! It warms up, it stalls and it holds the body, what more could you ask for.

⁃ The unspoilt coastline after crossing the Dutch border, lined with nice beaches and dunes. One forgets that metropolises like The Hague or Amsterdam and its airport are only a few kilometres away. The crossing of the port of Rotterdam takes us out of this natural setting, but it doesn't last long and the facilities soon make you forget that you are passing through Europe's largest port.

The trip was short, only 6 days. But its intensity left us with lasting memories. I recommend this easy to set up itinerary if you have’I recommend this simple itinerary if you have a week to spare and are wondering which direction to go.

The many cycle paths in Belgium and especially in the Netherlands mean that you don't have to think about cars passing you. The return journey is simply by train, but be sure to check if bikes are allowed on board, apparently the rules are changing to add more seats...

Summer 2017: Welcome to Japan - Bicycle Tour of Japan

What was the idea of this trip? 

This trip took place inThis trip tookplace in teams of 3, with the objective of reaching Tokyo from Fukuoka. Japan is a country with very dense urban areas. The aim of cycling through the country is to see what the country has to offer.’The aim of cycling through the country is to see what lies between two urban centres: the coast, the countryside or the mountains. The aim of cycling through the country is to see what lies between two urban centres: the coast, the countryside or the mountains.This way of travelling was very interesting because we could take the time to see what is between each city instead of teleporting from one city to the other.

Loïc (front) and Thomas following a team of local cyclists.

Driving in Japan has several advantages:

⁃ The roads are in good condition and the drivers respectful. Some of them donSome of them do not hesitate to drive against the direction of travel to pass us with sufficient distance.

⁃ The country is safe, so it is possible to pitch a tent in a public park and leave some of your belongings at the’You can leave some of your belongings outside without fear of not seeing them again. During temple visits or restaurant meals, you just have to leave your belongings behind.’When visiting temples or eating out, simply attach your bike to the bike racks and it will not move, even with your luggage on it. Think of the detachable handlebar bag as your "handbag" and keep your personal belongings with you!

⁃ The density of the cities and the variety of landscapes means that you don't have to worry about getting lost.’s boredom. We leave in the morning from’s village in the morning, cross a few mountains in the afternoon, and then go to a small village in the afternoon.’This is important because you may get bored of long, straight, monotonous routes and decide to change your plans. This is important because you may get tired of long, straight, monotonous routes and decide to change your plans.

⁃ It is possible to feed yourself without spending a fortune. It avoids carrying food with you and cooking in camping mode. C’It is also an invitation to try the many specialities of each Japanese region. Supermarkets are full of simple, ready-made dishes on a budget, but beware of the plastic packaging that abounds in this type of product.

⁃ Sf you are missing equipment or a part breaks, you can find almost everything you need to get your bike back on track.If you are missing equipment ora part breaks, you will be able to find almost everything you need to get your ride back on track. In case of a major technical problem or injury, the country is very well connected by rail and road, which will allow youto’This will allow you toreach your next stop without worry. Beware of trains that require you to pack your bike in a protective bag.’It is possible to find such a bag. You can find such a bag in any local bike shop.

⁃ You will attract the curiosity of passers-by, especially when you’stop in front of a convenience store to take a break. A good way to start a conversation with the locals who would not necessarily be friendly with foreigners.

What was the composition of the team?

Our team includes Thomas, who is also discovering cycling.

Thomas has shown that it is possible to join other regulars in this mode of travel, without any physical preparation and starting from almost zero with the equipment.Thomas showed that it is possible to join other regulars of this way of travelling, without any physical preparation and starting from almost zero with the equipment. Before leaving, he felt that’he felt he needed to’Before leaving, he felt that he needed to train to be able to keep up with the pace. In the end he did not’s time to train.’s time to train and it’It was only Loïc who cycled regularly in the months before the trip. Only Loïc was cycling regularly in the months before the trip. So if a group of friendsSo if a group of friends offers you to join them on their next cycling trip, don't hesitate and go for it.

There is the same excitement of launching into a blank page, knowing where you will land and where you will take off but not having planned what will happen in between. One detail to note compared to previous trips: the weather. Japanese summers are hot and humid, and you can't help but feel a little nervous.’The Japanese summers are hot and humid, and we quickly realize it by sleeping in the tent!

For the anecdote, we had discovered the second ventilation, allow to pass a flow of air during the night to cool the tent, the last day while packing all the material... It should not be surprising if the temperatures do not drop during the night in summer.

Another point: expect to get up early. The time zone means that the sun rises at 4.30 - 5 am in June, at 6.30 am it is already starting to hit and we have to get up.

How was the trip organised?

We divided the trip into two distinct lifestyles: the 'city' mode, where we put our luggage down at the’The "city" mode, where we put our luggage down in the hostel for a few days, rode our bikes around the city unladen, and enjoyed the restaurants and nightlife in the evening.

The 'nomadic' mode was reserved for less urban areas, where the bikes were always loaded and where they could be used for a variety of purposes.’The 'nomadic' mode was reserved for less urban areas, where bicycles were always loaded and people slept either in tents or in the home of a friend.’s home. In this configuration, the rhythm of sleep correlates with the sun. We go to bed early and get up very early.

This mode also influences the rate of spending. From 5 to 10€ per day per person in nomadic mode, we could spend up to 30€ per day living in the city. Of course, in the city you have less time to drive, so you have more time to spend. The hostels were booked the day before for the next day on online platforms like Booking or the same day if we couldn't find anything to sleep.

It is interesting to mentally divide the country into several possible routes. Following the coast will save you from climbing and descending most of the mountains in the centre of the country.

⁃ The "northern" coast, bordering the Sea of Japan, is less industrialised and less concreted in general. Expect to string together cute fishing villages.

⁃ The 'South' coast, bordering the’Pacific Ocean, is a must if you want to pass through the cities of Hiroshima, Osaka, Fujinomiya or Tokyo, but it is not the only one.’It is also the most industrialised region. In the’Except for the island of Shikoku, expect to be in the middle of the country.’With the exception of Shikoku Island, expect to be rushing through gargantuan ports and passing many cargo trucks.

- Finally, moving 'to the middle ' means’Finally, going "in the middle", i.e. through the Japanese Alps, will plunge you into a permanent green setting and will spare you from pollution. But beware of the climbs! We have opted for the "zig-zag" solution, making the most of the 3 environments.

This geographical logic can be applied to many countries.This geographical logic can beapplied to many countries, just look at the concentration of cities on a map. Some coasts are very active and represent the economic lungs of a country.’s economic heart. You may find some nice cities, but you will pass through a lot of industrial areas. And unless you're a fan of containers, cycling through these expanses of steel and concrete is not for you.And unless you are a fan of containers, cycling through these expanses of steel and concrete is not necessarily pleasant.

As you approach the tropics, the best time to go is clearly spring or autumn.autumn. The hot, humid summers will be the end of your sporting exploits. We spent many days guzzling litres of drinks to compensate for the heat loss.

Thomas opted for a soft meat bag instead of a sleeping bag, giving the impression of having a blanket while staying cool.This gave the impression of having a blanket and staying cool at the same time.

Another practical detail related to the temperature: the shoes. Since’Since it is almost always hot, I recommend wearing sandals or open shoes. Some of them are now even compatible with car pedals. Sandals dry quickly after a heavy shower and let your feet breathe in the sun.’air. However, beware of your foot tan, it will take on shapes like you've never seen before.You'll get a tan like you've never seen before!

Some figures?

As far as statistics are concerned, we blew everything out of the water compared to our previous trips.

40 days on the road, not counting the 2 or 3 days to visit each city, 2,598 kilometres covered in 112.5 hours, which brings the overall average to 64 kilometres per day at 23 km/h.
However, be careful not to focus too much on the average mileage. Even if it gives an indicator of what to expect for the day, you are not in the best position to know what to expect.’Even if it is an indicator of what you have in store for the day, you are not immune to stopping 30 kilometres further on if you like the area. At the’On the other hand, with a good wind at your back and an ambitious goal for the evening, you can exceed 150 km in a day. You can feel that the country is still mountainous with 19 063 metres of accumulated positive difference in altitude. Watch out for your thighs! Crossing the mountains requires a boost in morale as the speed often drops below 10 km/h.

When you go to the other side of the world for more than a month and ride every day, it's good to set yourself even crazier challenges.When you go to theother side of the world for more than a month to cycle every day, it's good to set yourself even crazier challenges.
For Loïc and me, it was obviously the’climbing Mount Fuji. A bus takes the hikers to 2300 meters to start them from the 5th station. We decided to replace the bus stage by the bike, leaving early in the morning to arrive at this station. Starting from the seaside and arriving above the clouds with your bike is already a crazy feeling.
Once the bikes were attached, we continued on foot up to 3,776 metres of’without any special equipment. A challenge taken up! An intense day that marks a special moment in the trip. More than 14 hours of continuous effort.We slept like babies after the vertiginous descent.

How to get your bike to the’the other side of the world?

Pack it and weigh it!

This question related to logistics came up often. Frankly, this is not a good idea.’It's no more complicated than flying your bike somewhere in Europe, or even easier!

We have booked discounted tickets with Cathay Pacific, which offers a stopover in Hong Kong. I will’I invite you to read the conditions on the carrier's website for carrying bulky sports luggage. In the case of this airline, all you had to do was to’In the case of this company, all you had to do was call a few days before departure to indicate the dimensions of the box in which the bike was to be stored. It is possible to pick up such boxes from bike shops, when they are not available.’s’s, when they part with them. Then, we just had to put our stuff in the package and we could go on board with our suitcase.’s new kind of suitcase.

Be careful to remain vigilant on certain points:

⁃ O n flights with a stopover, some configurations do not requirea stopover.’In flights with a stopover, some configurations donot ensure the transfer of luggage to the final destination, especially if you have an international flight followed by a stopover.’a domestic flight. It will be necessary to clear your package through customs at the airport.’It will be necessary to clear your package through customs at the transfer airport like any other passenger and then to’check in the’for the next flight.

⁃ Some airlines charge extra fees, so don't hesitate to contact them to ask if the sports equipment can replace your checked baggage in due form. You should follow the instructions given by the airline: type of’You should follow the instructions given by the airline: type of packaging recommended, parts to be dismantled, etc.

⁃ Locate theairport of arrival and thes airport of arrival and theSome airports are so far away that you can't see the whole of the city. Some airports are so far away that they can't be reached.’Some airports are so far away that you may have to drive half a day to get there.’You may have to drive for half a day to get to the city centre. Be aware that your cardboard box is unlikely to be used.’You should be aware that your cardboard box is unlikely to fit into a conventional taxi, and I would advise against carrying it on public transport during rush hour...

⁃ P ay attention to the date andtime of return.Be careful of the date and time of the return trip. It took us a whole Sunday afternoon to transport our boxes from downtown Tokyo toNarita airport... by public transport. Fortunately, the departure was scheduled for Monday morning and it was wiser to spend the night at the’It was wiser to spend the night at the airport than to risk a tsunami of travellers on Monday. Sunday is a good day to travel with bulky things in major Asian cities.

How to sleep at the’in Japan?

It's not impossible, but it has to be done right.to do it. To tell the truth, I wouldn't know how to do it in a big city like Tokyo. Moreover, most of the accommodation is too small to fit all three of us in, loaded like mules. The reality is different in less dense areas or in the countryside. Sometimes we would make first contact in front of a roadside mini-mart and talk about sleeping in the person's garden that night, if he was on our route.

Sleeping in the garden can at least give us the benefit of the shower and the’an evening of sharing our experience. Sometimes sleeping in the’Sometimes sleeping in a home proved to be a more extreme challenge.

According to Loïc: "To give you an idea, we were getting ready to sleep under a shelter in front of a supermarket in Muroto on the island of Shikoku and as we were taking out our sleeping bags, a woman I’I'm watching from the’We were about to sleep under a shelter in front of a supermarket in Muroto on Shikoku Island.’She came up to us and asked us in all simplicity if we would like to sleep at her place. It was a wonderful meeting with her and her family. They run a family fishcake factory, we were allowed to see the fishcakes.’We were allowed to taste it for breakfast, it was great. I'm not telling you the’I can't tell you the atmosphere when you wake up, the smells and the noise of the machines all activated early in the morning!

At first, these experiences were unexpected. The Japanese told us that it was not common toJapanese people told us that it was not common to welcome an unknown Japanese person to sleep at home. Maybe they are less daring to ask than foreigners. In any case we were surprised more than a few times.’In any case we were surprised more than once by the number of things to eat and drink that the Japanese offered us.’We were surprised more than once by the number of food and drink offered to us, the invitations to sleep even when we were not invited.’s’s.’It was a hostel that usually had to be paid for and people outside the big cities were curious. They were surprised when they heard that’They were surprised when they heard that we were cycling to Tokyo. The first question that came up was "how do you find the time to do that?

To conclude, these trips are the rare times when I get so close to happiness. Riding for several hours with a nice sound, getting to know each other and being able to see each other.’stop and contemplate the scenery just because it's a good time.’The simple pleasures of riding for hours with a nice sound, stopping and looking at the landscape just because you decide to enjoy the view, and singing in the middle of the road as you go along, are all simple pleasures that make you happy.

Every morning I woke up feeling like I was facing my biggest challenge yet. Family and friends were very supportive. I had never seen such beautiful scenery over such a long period of time. This approach to happiness is largely due to meetings with the’This approach to happiness is largely due to the encounters with others, a fuel to move forward in short. Each exchange gave me the feeling of being able to move forward.’I felt in tune with my body during those days of cycling. I felt in tune with my body during those days of cycling. The physical and mental fitness was felt and lifted my spirits. The physical and mental fitness was noticeable and lifted my spirits.It was very satisfying to see the blue dot on the map of a country on my phone.

From now on, I can only recommend constantly going beyond one's limits, throwing oneself into the unknown, taking the craziest risks while being responsible of course. All it takes is determination, perseverance and common sense to make it work. Several times I asked myself where this bike was taking me. The smile that comes to my lips when I recall those images on the bike are the most beautiful reward.

Thank you Mattéo for this passionate and exciting story. See you soon for new adventures.