Pour les francophones, choisir la Playlist 'en français'. Bon voyage ! For english speaking users, please select the Playlist 'in english'. Have a nice trip !
Outstanding :) Beautiful adventure and the quality of your video is Awesome too Thank you for sharing :)
@MartyBrisbane10 күн бұрын
Great videos, very enjoyable. Greeting, Martin, Brisbane, Australia
@alainlapierre98509 күн бұрын
Thank you so much, it is a pleasure to have a nice comment from the other side of the planet. One day, we'll cycle in Australia. Enjoy cycling....
@DavidMackenzie13 күн бұрын
Another lovely video. Timely too as we are planning a cycle trip in Puglia next year.
@alainlapierre985012 күн бұрын
Thanks much ! Feel free to ask questions about your upcoming trip, I am sure that it will be a wonderful journey...
@DavidMackenzie12 күн бұрын
@@alainlapierre9850 thanks 😊
@jadonald340519 күн бұрын
What exactly do you carry for bike/other clothing? [the pf link does not work] Merci!
@Freewheels_ca18 күн бұрын
Hello ! I do have a document describing what equipment we carry on our website: freewheels.ca in the Equipment menu. Here is the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1eNfnkw0dDjFAGxOCNY_GpvGX181Pppso/view?usp=drive_link.... In terms of clothing, we keep it to the minimum, one set of cycling clothes one set of evening clothes. We wash some clothes almost every day, and they dry quickly since they are lightweight pieces. Hope this helps ! By the way, what is the pf link not working ? I tested all links and did not see any issue.
@mitchdehotte20 күн бұрын
Ah c est super ça , on a fait la Sardaigne deux fois et la Corse 3 fois, on voulait faire la Sicile cette année, mais finalement on repart en Corse, votre petit film sera pleins (rempli) d enseignements j en suis sur ! Merci et bonne route !
@Freewheels_ca19 күн бұрын
Merci beaucoup pour vos commentaires. On rêve de faire la Sardaigne, auriez vous un parcours à suggérer.
@mitchdehotte19 күн бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca j ai simplement fait le tour de l ile par les bords , j aime voir la mer j ai un profil komoot , je pense que les tracé sont accessible a tous, si non refaites un petit message ici et on trouvera une autre solution
@x1achilles9926 күн бұрын
While it sounds beautiful, this trip is for ultra serious athletes. The fact that they just "threw on" a half marathon for the heck of it is way beyond my capability. Are there any cycle tours along that Austrian Danube for amateur cyclists?
@Freewheels_ca26 күн бұрын
I guarantee that there are many ways to do the Danube from a « transported luggage » manner to a self-camping scenario. The relief is flat, it is mostly on cycling path and one can select short or long distances as there are accommodations regularly. Most tour organisation quote it 1-2 on 5. So don’t be afraid of any difficulties.
@SuSu-jv6yk27 күн бұрын
Hi - great trip! Any chance you share the gpx of the route? Kind regards SuSu
@Freewheels_ca27 күн бұрын
Of course ! As I explained in the textual description of the video, our route was a bit different from the one proposed by Italy cycling guide. Here are the 2 sets of GPX... 1. Our route: drive.google.com/drive/folders/10i44G9HLpAfkbE_WNwjoxVB2UJoRDVp-?usp=drive_link 2. The route of Italy Cycling Guide: dgenk2ebcidb9.cloudfront.net/Southern-Sicilian-coast-gps-files.zip Questions are welcome. Enjoy !
@smilemusicstudios29 күн бұрын
Super récit Monsieur, j'espère pouvoir faire à peu près ce parcours d'ici quelques mois en partant de Stuttgart :) En tout cas ça donne vraiment envie ! Bravo à vous. Ps: Vos vélos sont incroyables !!
@Freewheels_ca29 күн бұрын
Merci mille fois pour vos commentaires. J'aimerais bien faire la section avant Ingoldstadt un de ces jours. Au plaisir !
@sharkmentality9717Ай бұрын
Like your videos! I'm still at the bike bag stage. Live in the mountains, train by loading bike and bags on my back, and walk around my yard.
@alainlapierre9850Ай бұрын
The important is to enjoy every moment whatever how we do it. Enjoy !
@petesig93Ай бұрын
We toured Sicily by bike in 2013 for about 3 weeks from late April to mid May. It was a marvellous place to travel. Lots of good quiet roads, mostly very respectful drivers and very affordable. We camped a bit, but eventually found the cheap 2 or 3-star hotels right in the town centro to be better value. We followed a route somewhat similar to your SIBIT route, but beforehand spent 4 nights in the Aeolian Islands, rode from Milazzo via Novara di Sicilia to Giardini Naxos, visited Ragusa, and rode from Sciacca to Calefitimi and Palermo at the end. All part of our longer 3 month tour - kzread.info/head/PLEX2xbENINSsKkxLgg9HXyDAFFWIcjlGy&si=0AiPkHE_FnzKp6o2
@DavidMackenzieАй бұрын
Great video. Well presented, informative, and good camera work. Thanks for sharing!
@isabellel646Ай бұрын
Bonjour. J'ai regardé vos vidéos. Très intéressants et bien fait. Merci ! J'ai des petites questions si vous le permettez : quel est le modèle de votre rack arrière sur le vélo ? Celui qui tient les sacoches en arrière. Rst-ce que le vélo Hélux a des encrages ? Aussi : comment le transportez-vous en avion (le rack) ? Vous n'en faite pas mention dans la vidéo démontrant votre équipement. Il entre dans votre grande valise ? Merci beaucoup et bon voyage.
@Freewheels_caАй бұрын
Nos rack arrières sont des prototypes faits par Helix et sont différents de la version commerciale qui devrait sortir cet été. Le nouveau rack sera fixé au vélo par des encrages appropriés et il reste sur le vélo pour le rangement dans la valise. Une partie du rack se contracte afin de prendre le minimum de place et se range tel quel avec le vélo dans la valise. Helix sortira aussi une valise cet été qui accepte le vélo avec son rack dessus.
@CyclalexАй бұрын
Très intéressante vidéo ! :-) Question hébergement : avez-vous déjà testé le site Warmshowers? Si ce n'est pas le cas, je vous invite à essayer. Bons voyages.
@Freewheels_caАй бұрын
@@Cyclalex oui nous sommes membres warmshowers et l’avons essayés quelque fois dans le sud de l’Italie mais n’avons pas eu aucune réponse. Nous sommes pas mal déçu du manque de réponse même s’ils sont dans l’impossibilité de nous recevoir.
@user-hb8yz3ow6zАй бұрын
Ah, That's so awesome traveling. I hope someday I can take on my bicycle in the europe
@Freewheels_caАй бұрын
Of course you can, just make it happen :)
@clee6746Ай бұрын
Great video, I enjoyed every bit of it.
@alainlapierre9850Ай бұрын
Thanks much for your appreciation, this encourage me to continue. Stay tuned, 2 more videos are coming this summer: Sicilia and Apulia.
@clee6746Ай бұрын
@@alainlapierre9850 Your choice of using Helix as your touring bikes is perfect in terms of how easy you can fly with the bikes, durability(titanium), handling and ride comfort(24 inches wheels).
@AliseMiluleАй бұрын
This video is actually super helpfull and informative! Thanks for sharing! I can see the amount of preparation and Editing this took.
@alainlapierre9850Ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your comment. Stay tuned, 2 more videos are coming about South Italy.
@IceGutsАй бұрын
Is the Helix rear bike rack available yet?
@Freewheels_caАй бұрын
Unfortunately, not yet. I was told that the sample for production is being tested, so it should be very soon.
@ggregory20312 ай бұрын
This is wonderful! Thank you for all of this good information! After we spoke, I purchased a Helix. You really helped make my decision. What rear rack do you prefer?
@Freewheels_ca2 ай бұрын
This is so exciting, I am sure that you’ll love it. We just came back from Sicily and Apulia and the bikes were awesome and so practical in the multiple public transportations that we took. I recommend the new Helix rear rack which should be available very soon. I talked to the Helix team yesterday and they were assembling the sample before going in production. Also, the production of the suitcase has started. Enjoy!
@renea96422 ай бұрын
Alain/Lucie - fellow Helix owner here. Thanks for the videos and beta testing the equipment. Looks like such fun. Look forward to doing some cyclotouring on the Helix once the accessories are released.
@mwohlgemuth2 ай бұрын
Saw you and your bikes in Bari Centrale on the weekend I think. Bon voyage!
@Freewheels_ca2 ай бұрын
No kidding, we were effectively taking the Bari-Rome train on Saturday morning. Let’s say Hello next time 😊
@cowrevenge3 ай бұрын
Can you tell me more about the train cover bag you are using?
@Freewheels_ca3 ай бұрын
We are simply using reinforced garbage bags used on construction sites. We found those in our hardware store (rona.ca) in Quebec city.
@shalakabooyaka14803 ай бұрын
Oh, I really like this bike. I'd prefer front panniers and a backpack on the rear rack, but I can see why this doesn't have that option lol. So looking between this and a New World Tourist, I think. This folding mechanism is way more manageable than Bike Friday's, but I also don't need to fold it up that much. Tradeoffs are the name of the game in folding bikes I guess.
@Freewheels_ca3 ай бұрын
Thanks for your comment. Another Helix cyclist have found a rack that goes on the left fork with a pannier. I found it unbalanced but it works. During this trip in southernItaly, we have taken several public transport to get to the starting point of our itinerary, and the speed of folding was really appreciated, when they announce your train gate 5 min in advance. We really love those bikes, confortable, stable and versatile.
@ronron23123 ай бұрын
Very informative!
@SloMo27233 ай бұрын
Greetings from Northern California USA, This was a really nice video to watch. I've biked the Donau 2 times since 2021 and will be biking it again in 2025. Two new villages I want to stop and visit is Ybbs and Durnstein after watching this video. Thanks for putting this together . Cheers
@Freewheels_ca3 ай бұрын
Great, thanks for your nice comments and we might also go back one day since we liked it so much.
@douglasmckinley-sr15074 ай бұрын
Thanks for the info. Does the Samsonite EVO you are using meet the 62 inch (158 cm) overall dimensions? Reason for asking is a 24 inch wheel is 61 cm and searching I cannot find any Samsonite luggage that is that wide that is not oversized and subject to $200 USD surcharge. A
@Freewheels_ca4 ай бұрын
On paper, Samsonite was claiming 62 inches, but In fact, the linear addition gives 65 inches without the wheels and 67 inches with the wheels. However, our experience is that they check the weight at check-in (max 23 kg) but they never measured the length. So, it is a risk but after 4 trips, they never measured and we are pretty confident that they won't. In any case, be aware that Helix is coming with a suitcase in the coming months and I have been told that it will be compliant to the 62 inches limit. See here: helix.ca/store/product/?productID=12
@jotsingh89174 ай бұрын
Where did he leave the luggage bags?
@Freewheels_ca4 ай бұрын
We reserve a room in an hotel in the city where we land and we leave our suitcases in their luggage room for the duration of our trip. We take them back the day before returning home. They normally keep our suitcases for free.
@ggregory20314 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your adventure! I have a question about your bikes. I have been deciding between the Helix, with its 24 inch wheels, and the Brompton T line, with its 16 inch wheels . Would you say that with that rear rack, your Helix was able to fold properly? How did it handle in a variety of terrain?
@Freewheels_ca4 ай бұрын
This is a very interesting question (comparing the Helix and Brompton T line) because the idea of making movies about our setup came from an encounter of an Italian cyclotourist who already had a Brompton Titanium and he was in love with our bikes for different improvements over what he had: larger wheels, standard components like the Shimano Dura-Ace derailleur, 11 gears (9-34), disc brakes,... and still fold in a suitcase compliant with airline regulations. About the rear rack, Helix will release a rear rack in the coming months for which I gave my list of wishes. I confirm that the rack will fold seamlessly with the rear wheel and will not really increase the outer limits of the folded bike (it is not prototype rack seen in my first movies, it was improved with a completely new design). About the terrains, we have tried gravel, sand, cobblestone, asphalt with the luggages and it works really great. We have gravel tires and regular tires, which we change based on the trip we are doing (ex: gravel in Portugal but regular along the Danube). Keep in mind however that I weight 165 pounds with in addition 30 pounds of luggage. I welcome other questions.
@ggregory20314 ай бұрын
Thank you so much - your perspective is just what I needed in my decision! I think the helix makes the most sense for longer tours, even with the larger tires and standard components. I’m looking forward to the rear rack as well. My concern has been, since I haven’t been able to get on one of the bikes for test ride, is that the clamp and folding mechanisms are not as robust as the Brompton. Would you say that they hold up for the long-term, hard-core use of an every day cycle tour? Thank you so much for doing these videos! They are so helpful and very inspiring!
@Freewheels_ca4 ай бұрын
I had similar concerns before buying, that's why I went directly to the factory in Toronto. We did 5 trips in 2 years and regular commuting, more than 5000 kms so far and the joint are still like new. To reassure you, you could ask questions in the 2 Helix Facebook group that I know about: the Hong Kong Helix bike club (facebook.com/groups/529965727638324) and the Helix Bike Backers (facebook.com/groups/232673718420071). Although I am a big fan of Helix, I understand that this is not Brompton with their distributor network, popularity and the number of accessories. For smaller rides and daily commute, Brompton is an excellent choice. Remember also that lots of people travel with Brompton, even the greatest cyclotourer of all time, Heinz Stücke, who did the last 100,000 km of his life with a Brompton. However, for us, touring with luggages days after days is our main usage, and I am a technical gee with concerns about stability and security, so I am ok to take the risk of working with a small company that offers a better suited bike for our needs. Hope this helps in your decision :) @@ggregory2031
@kpite16404 ай бұрын
👍
@filogullariemek12914 ай бұрын
Hey Alain, enjoying your nice and instructive videos from Seville/Spain! Just ordered a Helix bike. Could you please tell me the size of your panniers? There are 12.5L, 17.5L and 22.5L
@Freewheels_ca4 ай бұрын
That is so cool. You will also need a rear rack and the Helix rack should be commercially available next month. For the panniers, I have the 22.5L and Lucie has the 17.5L. By the way, I have listed all our equipment in this document, available on our site (freewheels.ca), here it is: drive.google.com/file/d/1VnqMrcmr1dveCTzN0_VGDw_dU8Qq1AYt/view?usp=share_link
@filogullariemek12914 ай бұрын
Wow, thank you so much Alain for the detailed info. You definately have created a whole new modality of foldable lightweight cyclotouring!!! @@Freewheels_ca
@filogullariemek12914 ай бұрын
I also found those which you can convert into a backpack. What you recommend them (especially the lower inside part facing the wheel) for cyclotouring?@@Freewheels_ca
@rodneyau48845 ай бұрын
Hi, could you let me know more about the details of your panier rack? I am getting a Helix as well.
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
We have been using prototypes of the upcoming rear rack. The commercial availability is scheduled for this march-april timeframe.
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
This is really exciting, I am sure you’ll love it. A suitcase is also coming tios spring
@JamesCorbett5 ай бұрын
Thank you for all the really great information in this video. I'm fascinated the possibilities of this kind of folding bike ultralight bike packing.
@JamesCorbett5 ай бұрын
Very informative, thank you.
@taniacruz50805 ай бұрын
Can you share your itinerary from Vienna to Budapest?
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
Sure ! Be aware that in this section, we did not follow Eurovelo 6 entirely because we wanted to visit some Hungarian cities. Here is the link to the GPX: drive.google.com/file/d/1XR-TyijEfsyuMiP42xgRrVaS0DAypplv/view?usp=sharing
@TheHuxely5 ай бұрын
Hello, what would you do with the suitcase containing the bike after the flight?
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
We take one night in an hotel on arrival and leave our suitcases in their luggage room during our trip.
@TheHuxely5 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca thanks!
@TheHuxely5 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca cool thanks! Have you ever tried as carry-on?
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
Our suitcase containing the folding bike and our camping gear is way too big for a carry-on, it is in fact the maximum size and weight of the checked-in luggage. See our videos at freewheels.ca in the menu 'Equipment' to see the details. @@TheHuxely
@carolerheault51325 ай бұрын
Super astuces, merci beaucoup du partage !
@c.v88495 ай бұрын
Bonjour, Vous méritez bien plus de vues 🙂Une question m'intrigue : si je comprends bien, vous laissez vos bagages sur votre lieu d'hébergement le temps de visiter les alentours ? J'en conclue que vous vous déplacez en transports en commun pour changer de région ? J'ai beaucoup apprécié votre tour du Portugal car vivant en France, je suis de l'Algarve. J'aimerais justement faire un tour du Portugal mais les routes sont dangereuses à vélo d'après plusieurs témoignages. Ce qui me fait réfléchir à prendre un vélo pliable pour faire les connexions en train et bus. J'avais pensé à prendre un Brompton mais il n'a que 6 vitesses. Merci à vous.
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
Merci beaucoup pour le compliment, j'espère aussi que le plus de cyclotoureurs possible découvrirons comment cette façon ultra-légère de voyager rend le voyage tellement plus facile. Pour nos valises, nous les laissons effectivement à la consigne de l'hôtel que nous choisissons pour l'arrivée (ex: 2-3 nuits) et le retour du voyage (une nuit). Avant de réserver l'hôtel, on s'assure qu'ils peuvent prendre nos valises en consigne. C'est la seule réservation que nous faisons, les autres nuits seront décidées à chaque jour et surtout en camping. Souvent, le choix de notre itinéraire implique de prendre un transport en commun pour se rendre au départ du trajet de vélo, voir par exemple sur notre site freewheels.ca notre voyage au Portugal, en Grèce et sur le Danube. Pour le Portugal où les chauffeurs sont effectivement chauffards, l'eurovélo 1 est en majorité sur chemin tranquille mais avec quelques portions sur route qui peuvent être évitées (route alternative ou taxi), voir notre vidéo sur le Portugal. Je conseille de choisir un pneu pour 'gravelle' puisqu'il y a passablement de portion sur gravier. Finalement, j'ai étudié des dizaines de vélo pliable avant de porter monter notre choix sur helix.ca, qui livre d'ailleurs ses vélos partout dans le monde . D'après moi, c'est le meilleur choix dans le monde aujourd'hui et je l'affirme sans être sponsorisé par Helix. Il est vrai que le Brompton est le vélo pliable le plus vendu au monde, et plusieurs personnes l'utilisent pour voyager, mais je trouve les roues trop petites et le nombre/amplitude de vitesses trop limité. Si vous avez d'autres questions, n'hésitez pas. Pour aider votre choix de vélo pliable, voici deux liens intéressants: www.cyclingabout.com/best-folding-bike-bicycle-touring/. et www.youtube.com/@2Bikes4Adventure
@c.v88495 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca Bonsoir, merci beaucoup pour votre réponse. Je vais checker pour l'Helix. Pour le Portugal, il n'est pas toujours possible malheureusement de prendre des routes alternatives. Beaucoup trop de circulation. Exemple : Portimao/Monchique. Quand je pense que j'allais en charrette à la plage avant qu'on entre dans l'UE ! 🙂 Je vais regarder vos autres vidéos, car j'ai beaucoup apprécié votre façon de filmer et narrer votre aventure. Bonne soirée.
@BikeBuddiesCrew5 ай бұрын
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience!
@lucallard41206 ай бұрын
Question technique il me semble avoir vu le Helix avec le carbon belt sur le web? Pas de chaîne, une courroie en carbon qui peut être en plus combinée au dérailleur Alfine. Entendu parlé/Capiche? Bon voyage!😊
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Je rêve d'une 'belt' sur mon Helix mais je n'ai jamais entendu parlé d'une telle possibilité. En fait, une belt demande un cadre différent afin de tendre cette courroie et je n'ai jamais vu cette possibilité non plus. Peux-tu retrouver l'article, ma recherche sur Google ne me révèle rien. Je vais aussi demander au concepteur...
@Freewheels_ca5 ай бұрын
Salut Luc ! J'ai vérifié avec Helix et ils n'ont aucune intention d'offrir une courroie pour différentes raisons. Ils estiment que la technologie des dérailleurs/chaine est mature, légère et facile d'entretien n'importe où dans le monde.
@lucallard41206 ай бұрын
Bravo à vous 2 et merci! Je crois avoir le souvenir de rouler à vos cotés Alain lors du dernier GDPL 1000 km avant la Grèceje rappel du Hélix et du site freewheel… Vous êtes inspirants par vos idée et choix astucieux 😊. À bientôt sur cette chaîne ou à Québec pour la nouvelle version 1000k.🎉
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
C'est donc ben l'fun d'avoir de tes nouvelles, bien sûr que je me souviens de toi. Je ferai la boucle cette année, je n'ai pas de chance pour le 1000km, je remplaçais quelqu'un l'an passé. Nous irons en Italie ce printemps, à suivre !!
@user-iq5oq5lz3n6 ай бұрын
Vos vidéos me font vraiment rêver. Le vélo Helix ne semble pas se trouver en France. Question : connaissez-vous de bonnes marques de vélos pliants de qualité semblable qu'on puisse trouver en France ?
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Merci du compliment. En fait, il n'y a aucune boutique du vélo Helix, ils vendent directement de l'usine (helix.ca) dans tous les pays du monde. Vous pouvez donc l'obtenir sans problème en France. Pour les ajustements annuels, ils utilisent des pièces standard, donc ça peut se faire dans n'importe quelle boutique. Si il y a un problème avec le cadre ou des pièces non standard, il faut contacter helix.ca et soit qu'ils envoient les pièces ou vous envoyez le vélo à Toronto (ce que j'ai fait une fois d'ailleurs). Pour d'autres marques de vélo pliable, il y a de bons articles sur cette page: www.cyclingabout.com/category/folding/ Bonne chance!
@user-oh6wm3el2q6 ай бұрын
Hello friends. You are amazing...I admire you!!! Have nice trips!!!😃🚲🥇
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Kalimera ! You are so kind ! We really wish to meet again, that was a lot of fun!
@dongxue39096 ай бұрын
Amazing couple, amazing journey, and amazing video! May I know the brand of your folding bikes please?
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Amazing comments, thanks ! :). Our bikes are Helix ultralight that you can find at helix.ca They sell only online and ship everywhere in the world. We have more videos about our equipment in the 'Equipment' menu on freewheels.ca Enjoy!
@zaqqazq6 ай бұрын
that tail rack no longer looks like a prototype... I'm guessing you testing the end product? I have been waiting forever to get mine.
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
This is still a prototype with a completely different design from the 1st prototype. The end product is coming really soon and will also quite different from what you saw in this movie. I was told that it would be this month. Hopefully, your patience will be rewarded with a great product...
@zaqqazq6 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca nice to know, thanks :)
@blandinerouille73106 ай бұрын
De notre côté, on fait plutôt des roadtrips! Mais quand je voyagerai en vélo, je me verrais bien faire comme vous. Le vélo dans la valise, et je m'inspirerai de vos itinéraires et de vos découvertes. Merci pour vos partages!
@JoseeGill6 ай бұрын
Beautiful! Love the sites, the references and the way you travel! Great video!
@danieldevree48076 ай бұрын
Captivating review for sure. Brings back a lot of memories, I did a part in 2022 from Vienna to the source of the Danube.
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Interesting ! We were initially motivated to start our journey at the source (Donaueschingen) but decided to postpone this section as we wanted to prioritize Budapest and did not have enough time. Eventually, we would start EV6 from the Atlantic and join the Danube. Enjoy your future rides.
@gurgenmakaryan44286 ай бұрын
Merci pour la video! Alain les sacoches arriere du marque Arkel sont ols solide et impermeable? J'ai déchiré mes sacs Luis Garneau pendant le tour de péninsule Gaspesienne l'été passé (Rimouski-Gaspe-Rimouski)
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
Oui, les sacoches arrière Arkel Orca sont très solides et imperméables. On les adore, je les conseille fortement. Dommage qu'Arkel n'offre pas le modèle Orca comme sacoche de guidon. Pour cette raison, ma sacoche de guidon est une Ortlieb et accessoirement, de même couleur que la Orca arrière. :)
@gurgenmakaryan44286 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca merci !
@MrBelongings6 ай бұрын
I ride with my gf all the time. We have done two centuries in the states so far, pmus many shorter trips. Always nice t see an inspirational couple. What is the back rack that you use for your bike?
@Freewheels_ca6 ай бұрын
The backrack is a prototype made the Helix team and the commercial version will be available this quarter on helix.ca Thanks for the nice comments.
@JohnMFlores7 ай бұрын
Hi, are you sponsored or supported by Helix in any way?
@Freewheels_ca7 ай бұрын
Hi ! We do not have any official sponsorship agreement but I would say that we have an excellent customer support. When we bought our 2 Helix ultralight, there was no 'cyclotourists' accessories available. So, I offered my help for providing specifications based on our cyclotourist experience and for testing prototypes. We did test the 'rear rack' prototypes so far. Why are you asking ?
@JohnMFlores7 ай бұрын
Thanks for your timely response, @@Freewheels_ca. I am asking because other people on bicycle forums are suspecting that you are
@motherlove8366Ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca That's awesome honestly, lack of fenders and rack is one of the biggest downsides of the Helix as a commuter bike
@Freewheels_caАй бұрын
@@motherlove8366i agree but it should be available very soon…
@chacmool25817 ай бұрын
That's "ultralight"? 😂😂😂
@Freewheels_ca7 ай бұрын
Yes, it is definitely ultralight for long cyclotouring trip involving camping. If you take the time to watch this other video (kzread.info/dash/bejne/kZl8scyxmru5c9Y.html), you will see what traditional cyclotouring looks like, often more than 25 kg of luggages per person. Of course, the most ultralight you could imagine is a racing bike and only bring the cycling clothes you are wearing and a credit card, but it is another (expensive) way of traveling. If you have some good tricks, please share, they are always welcome.
@chacmool25817 ай бұрын
@@Freewheels_ca Nah. Nowhere near Ultralight. Sorry.
@Freewheels_ca7 ай бұрын
@@chacmool2581 your hidden arguments leave me speechless.
Пікірлер
Outstanding :) Beautiful adventure and the quality of your video is Awesome too Thank you for sharing :)
Great videos, very enjoyable. Greeting, Martin, Brisbane, Australia
Thank you so much, it is a pleasure to have a nice comment from the other side of the planet. One day, we'll cycle in Australia. Enjoy cycling....
Another lovely video. Timely too as we are planning a cycle trip in Puglia next year.
Thanks much ! Feel free to ask questions about your upcoming trip, I am sure that it will be a wonderful journey...
@@alainlapierre9850 thanks 😊
What exactly do you carry for bike/other clothing? [the pf link does not work] Merci!
Hello ! I do have a document describing what equipment we carry on our website: freewheels.ca in the Equipment menu. Here is the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1eNfnkw0dDjFAGxOCNY_GpvGX181Pppso/view?usp=drive_link.... In terms of clothing, we keep it to the minimum, one set of cycling clothes one set of evening clothes. We wash some clothes almost every day, and they dry quickly since they are lightweight pieces. Hope this helps ! By the way, what is the pf link not working ? I tested all links and did not see any issue.
Ah c est super ça , on a fait la Sardaigne deux fois et la Corse 3 fois, on voulait faire la Sicile cette année, mais finalement on repart en Corse, votre petit film sera pleins (rempli) d enseignements j en suis sur ! Merci et bonne route !
Merci beaucoup pour vos commentaires. On rêve de faire la Sardaigne, auriez vous un parcours à suggérer.
@@Freewheels_ca j ai simplement fait le tour de l ile par les bords , j aime voir la mer j ai un profil komoot , je pense que les tracé sont accessible a tous, si non refaites un petit message ici et on trouvera une autre solution
While it sounds beautiful, this trip is for ultra serious athletes. The fact that they just "threw on" a half marathon for the heck of it is way beyond my capability. Are there any cycle tours along that Austrian Danube for amateur cyclists?
I guarantee that there are many ways to do the Danube from a « transported luggage » manner to a self-camping scenario. The relief is flat, it is mostly on cycling path and one can select short or long distances as there are accommodations regularly. Most tour organisation quote it 1-2 on 5. So don’t be afraid of any difficulties.
Hi - great trip! Any chance you share the gpx of the route? Kind regards SuSu
Of course ! As I explained in the textual description of the video, our route was a bit different from the one proposed by Italy cycling guide. Here are the 2 sets of GPX... 1. Our route: drive.google.com/drive/folders/10i44G9HLpAfkbE_WNwjoxVB2UJoRDVp-?usp=drive_link 2. The route of Italy Cycling Guide: dgenk2ebcidb9.cloudfront.net/Southern-Sicilian-coast-gps-files.zip Questions are welcome. Enjoy !
Super récit Monsieur, j'espère pouvoir faire à peu près ce parcours d'ici quelques mois en partant de Stuttgart :) En tout cas ça donne vraiment envie ! Bravo à vous. Ps: Vos vélos sont incroyables !!
Merci mille fois pour vos commentaires. J'aimerais bien faire la section avant Ingoldstadt un de ces jours. Au plaisir !
Like your videos! I'm still at the bike bag stage. Live in the mountains, train by loading bike and bags on my back, and walk around my yard.
The important is to enjoy every moment whatever how we do it. Enjoy !
We toured Sicily by bike in 2013 for about 3 weeks from late April to mid May. It was a marvellous place to travel. Lots of good quiet roads, mostly very respectful drivers and very affordable. We camped a bit, but eventually found the cheap 2 or 3-star hotels right in the town centro to be better value. We followed a route somewhat similar to your SIBIT route, but beforehand spent 4 nights in the Aeolian Islands, rode from Milazzo via Novara di Sicilia to Giardini Naxos, visited Ragusa, and rode from Sciacca to Calefitimi and Palermo at the end. All part of our longer 3 month tour - kzread.info/head/PLEX2xbENINSsKkxLgg9HXyDAFFWIcjlGy&si=0AiPkHE_FnzKp6o2
Great video. Well presented, informative, and good camera work. Thanks for sharing!
Bonjour. J'ai regardé vos vidéos. Très intéressants et bien fait. Merci ! J'ai des petites questions si vous le permettez : quel est le modèle de votre rack arrière sur le vélo ? Celui qui tient les sacoches en arrière. Rst-ce que le vélo Hélux a des encrages ? Aussi : comment le transportez-vous en avion (le rack) ? Vous n'en faite pas mention dans la vidéo démontrant votre équipement. Il entre dans votre grande valise ? Merci beaucoup et bon voyage.
Nos rack arrières sont des prototypes faits par Helix et sont différents de la version commerciale qui devrait sortir cet été. Le nouveau rack sera fixé au vélo par des encrages appropriés et il reste sur le vélo pour le rangement dans la valise. Une partie du rack se contracte afin de prendre le minimum de place et se range tel quel avec le vélo dans la valise. Helix sortira aussi une valise cet été qui accepte le vélo avec son rack dessus.
Très intéressante vidéo ! :-) Question hébergement : avez-vous déjà testé le site Warmshowers? Si ce n'est pas le cas, je vous invite à essayer. Bons voyages.
@@Cyclalex oui nous sommes membres warmshowers et l’avons essayés quelque fois dans le sud de l’Italie mais n’avons pas eu aucune réponse. Nous sommes pas mal déçu du manque de réponse même s’ils sont dans l’impossibilité de nous recevoir.
Ah, That's so awesome traveling. I hope someday I can take on my bicycle in the europe
Of course you can, just make it happen :)
Great video, I enjoyed every bit of it.
Thanks much for your appreciation, this encourage me to continue. Stay tuned, 2 more videos are coming this summer: Sicilia and Apulia.
@@alainlapierre9850 Your choice of using Helix as your touring bikes is perfect in terms of how easy you can fly with the bikes, durability(titanium), handling and ride comfort(24 inches wheels).
This video is actually super helpfull and informative! Thanks for sharing! I can see the amount of preparation and Editing this took.
Thank you so much for your comment. Stay tuned, 2 more videos are coming about South Italy.
Is the Helix rear bike rack available yet?
Unfortunately, not yet. I was told that the sample for production is being tested, so it should be very soon.
This is wonderful! Thank you for all of this good information! After we spoke, I purchased a Helix. You really helped make my decision. What rear rack do you prefer?
This is so exciting, I am sure that you’ll love it. We just came back from Sicily and Apulia and the bikes were awesome and so practical in the multiple public transportations that we took. I recommend the new Helix rear rack which should be available very soon. I talked to the Helix team yesterday and they were assembling the sample before going in production. Also, the production of the suitcase has started. Enjoy!
Alain/Lucie - fellow Helix owner here. Thanks for the videos and beta testing the equipment. Looks like such fun. Look forward to doing some cyclotouring on the Helix once the accessories are released.
Saw you and your bikes in Bari Centrale on the weekend I think. Bon voyage!
No kidding, we were effectively taking the Bari-Rome train on Saturday morning. Let’s say Hello next time 😊
Can you tell me more about the train cover bag you are using?
We are simply using reinforced garbage bags used on construction sites. We found those in our hardware store (rona.ca) in Quebec city.
Oh, I really like this bike. I'd prefer front panniers and a backpack on the rear rack, but I can see why this doesn't have that option lol. So looking between this and a New World Tourist, I think. This folding mechanism is way more manageable than Bike Friday's, but I also don't need to fold it up that much. Tradeoffs are the name of the game in folding bikes I guess.
Thanks for your comment. Another Helix cyclist have found a rack that goes on the left fork with a pannier. I found it unbalanced but it works. During this trip in southernItaly, we have taken several public transport to get to the starting point of our itinerary, and the speed of folding was really appreciated, when they announce your train gate 5 min in advance. We really love those bikes, confortable, stable and versatile.
Very informative!
Greetings from Northern California USA, This was a really nice video to watch. I've biked the Donau 2 times since 2021 and will be biking it again in 2025. Two new villages I want to stop and visit is Ybbs and Durnstein after watching this video. Thanks for putting this together . Cheers
Great, thanks for your nice comments and we might also go back one day since we liked it so much.
Thanks for the info. Does the Samsonite EVO you are using meet the 62 inch (158 cm) overall dimensions? Reason for asking is a 24 inch wheel is 61 cm and searching I cannot find any Samsonite luggage that is that wide that is not oversized and subject to $200 USD surcharge. A
On paper, Samsonite was claiming 62 inches, but In fact, the linear addition gives 65 inches without the wheels and 67 inches with the wheels. However, our experience is that they check the weight at check-in (max 23 kg) but they never measured the length. So, it is a risk but after 4 trips, they never measured and we are pretty confident that they won't. In any case, be aware that Helix is coming with a suitcase in the coming months and I have been told that it will be compliant to the 62 inches limit. See here: helix.ca/store/product/?productID=12
Where did he leave the luggage bags?
We reserve a room in an hotel in the city where we land and we leave our suitcases in their luggage room for the duration of our trip. We take them back the day before returning home. They normally keep our suitcases for free.
Thank you for sharing your adventure! I have a question about your bikes. I have been deciding between the Helix, with its 24 inch wheels, and the Brompton T line, with its 16 inch wheels . Would you say that with that rear rack, your Helix was able to fold properly? How did it handle in a variety of terrain?
This is a very interesting question (comparing the Helix and Brompton T line) because the idea of making movies about our setup came from an encounter of an Italian cyclotourist who already had a Brompton Titanium and he was in love with our bikes for different improvements over what he had: larger wheels, standard components like the Shimano Dura-Ace derailleur, 11 gears (9-34), disc brakes,... and still fold in a suitcase compliant with airline regulations. About the rear rack, Helix will release a rear rack in the coming months for which I gave my list of wishes. I confirm that the rack will fold seamlessly with the rear wheel and will not really increase the outer limits of the folded bike (it is not prototype rack seen in my first movies, it was improved with a completely new design). About the terrains, we have tried gravel, sand, cobblestone, asphalt with the luggages and it works really great. We have gravel tires and regular tires, which we change based on the trip we are doing (ex: gravel in Portugal but regular along the Danube). Keep in mind however that I weight 165 pounds with in addition 30 pounds of luggage. I welcome other questions.
Thank you so much - your perspective is just what I needed in my decision! I think the helix makes the most sense for longer tours, even with the larger tires and standard components. I’m looking forward to the rear rack as well. My concern has been, since I haven’t been able to get on one of the bikes for test ride, is that the clamp and folding mechanisms are not as robust as the Brompton. Would you say that they hold up for the long-term, hard-core use of an every day cycle tour? Thank you so much for doing these videos! They are so helpful and very inspiring!
I had similar concerns before buying, that's why I went directly to the factory in Toronto. We did 5 trips in 2 years and regular commuting, more than 5000 kms so far and the joint are still like new. To reassure you, you could ask questions in the 2 Helix Facebook group that I know about: the Hong Kong Helix bike club (facebook.com/groups/529965727638324) and the Helix Bike Backers (facebook.com/groups/232673718420071). Although I am a big fan of Helix, I understand that this is not Brompton with their distributor network, popularity and the number of accessories. For smaller rides and daily commute, Brompton is an excellent choice. Remember also that lots of people travel with Brompton, even the greatest cyclotourer of all time, Heinz Stücke, who did the last 100,000 km of his life with a Brompton. However, for us, touring with luggages days after days is our main usage, and I am a technical gee with concerns about stability and security, so I am ok to take the risk of working with a small company that offers a better suited bike for our needs. Hope this helps in your decision :) @@ggregory2031
👍
Hey Alain, enjoying your nice and instructive videos from Seville/Spain! Just ordered a Helix bike. Could you please tell me the size of your panniers? There are 12.5L, 17.5L and 22.5L
That is so cool. You will also need a rear rack and the Helix rack should be commercially available next month. For the panniers, I have the 22.5L and Lucie has the 17.5L. By the way, I have listed all our equipment in this document, available on our site (freewheels.ca), here it is: drive.google.com/file/d/1VnqMrcmr1dveCTzN0_VGDw_dU8Qq1AYt/view?usp=share_link
Wow, thank you so much Alain for the detailed info. You definately have created a whole new modality of foldable lightweight cyclotouring!!! @@Freewheels_ca
I also found those which you can convert into a backpack. What you recommend them (especially the lower inside part facing the wheel) for cyclotouring?@@Freewheels_ca
Hi, could you let me know more about the details of your panier rack? I am getting a Helix as well.
We have been using prototypes of the upcoming rear rack. The commercial availability is scheduled for this march-april timeframe.
This is really exciting, I am sure you’ll love it. A suitcase is also coming tios spring
Thank you for all the really great information in this video. I'm fascinated the possibilities of this kind of folding bike ultralight bike packing.
Very informative, thank you.
Can you share your itinerary from Vienna to Budapest?
Sure ! Be aware that in this section, we did not follow Eurovelo 6 entirely because we wanted to visit some Hungarian cities. Here is the link to the GPX: drive.google.com/file/d/1XR-TyijEfsyuMiP42xgRrVaS0DAypplv/view?usp=sharing
Hello, what would you do with the suitcase containing the bike after the flight?
We take one night in an hotel on arrival and leave our suitcases in their luggage room during our trip.
@@Freewheels_ca thanks!
@@Freewheels_ca cool thanks! Have you ever tried as carry-on?
Our suitcase containing the folding bike and our camping gear is way too big for a carry-on, it is in fact the maximum size and weight of the checked-in luggage. See our videos at freewheels.ca in the menu 'Equipment' to see the details. @@TheHuxely
Super astuces, merci beaucoup du partage !
Bonjour, Vous méritez bien plus de vues 🙂Une question m'intrigue : si je comprends bien, vous laissez vos bagages sur votre lieu d'hébergement le temps de visiter les alentours ? J'en conclue que vous vous déplacez en transports en commun pour changer de région ? J'ai beaucoup apprécié votre tour du Portugal car vivant en France, je suis de l'Algarve. J'aimerais justement faire un tour du Portugal mais les routes sont dangereuses à vélo d'après plusieurs témoignages. Ce qui me fait réfléchir à prendre un vélo pliable pour faire les connexions en train et bus. J'avais pensé à prendre un Brompton mais il n'a que 6 vitesses. Merci à vous.
Merci beaucoup pour le compliment, j'espère aussi que le plus de cyclotoureurs possible découvrirons comment cette façon ultra-légère de voyager rend le voyage tellement plus facile. Pour nos valises, nous les laissons effectivement à la consigne de l'hôtel que nous choisissons pour l'arrivée (ex: 2-3 nuits) et le retour du voyage (une nuit). Avant de réserver l'hôtel, on s'assure qu'ils peuvent prendre nos valises en consigne. C'est la seule réservation que nous faisons, les autres nuits seront décidées à chaque jour et surtout en camping. Souvent, le choix de notre itinéraire implique de prendre un transport en commun pour se rendre au départ du trajet de vélo, voir par exemple sur notre site freewheels.ca notre voyage au Portugal, en Grèce et sur le Danube. Pour le Portugal où les chauffeurs sont effectivement chauffards, l'eurovélo 1 est en majorité sur chemin tranquille mais avec quelques portions sur route qui peuvent être évitées (route alternative ou taxi), voir notre vidéo sur le Portugal. Je conseille de choisir un pneu pour 'gravelle' puisqu'il y a passablement de portion sur gravier. Finalement, j'ai étudié des dizaines de vélo pliable avant de porter monter notre choix sur helix.ca, qui livre d'ailleurs ses vélos partout dans le monde . D'après moi, c'est le meilleur choix dans le monde aujourd'hui et je l'affirme sans être sponsorisé par Helix. Il est vrai que le Brompton est le vélo pliable le plus vendu au monde, et plusieurs personnes l'utilisent pour voyager, mais je trouve les roues trop petites et le nombre/amplitude de vitesses trop limité. Si vous avez d'autres questions, n'hésitez pas. Pour aider votre choix de vélo pliable, voici deux liens intéressants: www.cyclingabout.com/best-folding-bike-bicycle-touring/. et www.youtube.com/@2Bikes4Adventure
@@Freewheels_ca Bonsoir, merci beaucoup pour votre réponse. Je vais checker pour l'Helix. Pour le Portugal, il n'est pas toujours possible malheureusement de prendre des routes alternatives. Beaucoup trop de circulation. Exemple : Portimao/Monchique. Quand je pense que j'allais en charrette à la plage avant qu'on entre dans l'UE ! 🙂 Je vais regarder vos autres vidéos, car j'ai beaucoup apprécié votre façon de filmer et narrer votre aventure. Bonne soirée.
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience!
Question technique il me semble avoir vu le Helix avec le carbon belt sur le web? Pas de chaîne, une courroie en carbon qui peut être en plus combinée au dérailleur Alfine. Entendu parlé/Capiche? Bon voyage!😊
Je rêve d'une 'belt' sur mon Helix mais je n'ai jamais entendu parlé d'une telle possibilité. En fait, une belt demande un cadre différent afin de tendre cette courroie et je n'ai jamais vu cette possibilité non plus. Peux-tu retrouver l'article, ma recherche sur Google ne me révèle rien. Je vais aussi demander au concepteur...
Salut Luc ! J'ai vérifié avec Helix et ils n'ont aucune intention d'offrir une courroie pour différentes raisons. Ils estiment que la technologie des dérailleurs/chaine est mature, légère et facile d'entretien n'importe où dans le monde.
Bravo à vous 2 et merci! Je crois avoir le souvenir de rouler à vos cotés Alain lors du dernier GDPL 1000 km avant la Grèceje rappel du Hélix et du site freewheel… Vous êtes inspirants par vos idée et choix astucieux 😊. À bientôt sur cette chaîne ou à Québec pour la nouvelle version 1000k.🎉
C'est donc ben l'fun d'avoir de tes nouvelles, bien sûr que je me souviens de toi. Je ferai la boucle cette année, je n'ai pas de chance pour le 1000km, je remplaçais quelqu'un l'an passé. Nous irons en Italie ce printemps, à suivre !!
Vos vidéos me font vraiment rêver. Le vélo Helix ne semble pas se trouver en France. Question : connaissez-vous de bonnes marques de vélos pliants de qualité semblable qu'on puisse trouver en France ?
Merci du compliment. En fait, il n'y a aucune boutique du vélo Helix, ils vendent directement de l'usine (helix.ca) dans tous les pays du monde. Vous pouvez donc l'obtenir sans problème en France. Pour les ajustements annuels, ils utilisent des pièces standard, donc ça peut se faire dans n'importe quelle boutique. Si il y a un problème avec le cadre ou des pièces non standard, il faut contacter helix.ca et soit qu'ils envoient les pièces ou vous envoyez le vélo à Toronto (ce que j'ai fait une fois d'ailleurs). Pour d'autres marques de vélo pliable, il y a de bons articles sur cette page: www.cyclingabout.com/category/folding/ Bonne chance!
Hello friends. You are amazing...I admire you!!! Have nice trips!!!😃🚲🥇
Kalimera ! You are so kind ! We really wish to meet again, that was a lot of fun!
Amazing couple, amazing journey, and amazing video! May I know the brand of your folding bikes please?
Amazing comments, thanks ! :). Our bikes are Helix ultralight that you can find at helix.ca They sell only online and ship everywhere in the world. We have more videos about our equipment in the 'Equipment' menu on freewheels.ca Enjoy!
that tail rack no longer looks like a prototype... I'm guessing you testing the end product? I have been waiting forever to get mine.
This is still a prototype with a completely different design from the 1st prototype. The end product is coming really soon and will also quite different from what you saw in this movie. I was told that it would be this month. Hopefully, your patience will be rewarded with a great product...
@@Freewheels_ca nice to know, thanks :)
De notre côté, on fait plutôt des roadtrips! Mais quand je voyagerai en vélo, je me verrais bien faire comme vous. Le vélo dans la valise, et je m'inspirerai de vos itinéraires et de vos découvertes. Merci pour vos partages!
Beautiful! Love the sites, the references and the way you travel! Great video!
Captivating review for sure. Brings back a lot of memories, I did a part in 2022 from Vienna to the source of the Danube.
Interesting ! We were initially motivated to start our journey at the source (Donaueschingen) but decided to postpone this section as we wanted to prioritize Budapest and did not have enough time. Eventually, we would start EV6 from the Atlantic and join the Danube. Enjoy your future rides.
Merci pour la video! Alain les sacoches arriere du marque Arkel sont ols solide et impermeable? J'ai déchiré mes sacs Luis Garneau pendant le tour de péninsule Gaspesienne l'été passé (Rimouski-Gaspe-Rimouski)
Oui, les sacoches arrière Arkel Orca sont très solides et imperméables. On les adore, je les conseille fortement. Dommage qu'Arkel n'offre pas le modèle Orca comme sacoche de guidon. Pour cette raison, ma sacoche de guidon est une Ortlieb et accessoirement, de même couleur que la Orca arrière. :)
@@Freewheels_ca merci !
I ride with my gf all the time. We have done two centuries in the states so far, pmus many shorter trips. Always nice t see an inspirational couple. What is the back rack that you use for your bike?
The backrack is a prototype made the Helix team and the commercial version will be available this quarter on helix.ca Thanks for the nice comments.
Hi, are you sponsored or supported by Helix in any way?
Hi ! We do not have any official sponsorship agreement but I would say that we have an excellent customer support. When we bought our 2 Helix ultralight, there was no 'cyclotourists' accessories available. So, I offered my help for providing specifications based on our cyclotourist experience and for testing prototypes. We did test the 'rear rack' prototypes so far. Why are you asking ?
Thanks for your timely response, @@Freewheels_ca. I am asking because other people on bicycle forums are suspecting that you are
@@Freewheels_ca That's awesome honestly, lack of fenders and rack is one of the biggest downsides of the Helix as a commuter bike
@@motherlove8366i agree but it should be available very soon…
That's "ultralight"? 😂😂😂
Yes, it is definitely ultralight for long cyclotouring trip involving camping. If you take the time to watch this other video (kzread.info/dash/bejne/kZl8scyxmru5c9Y.html), you will see what traditional cyclotouring looks like, often more than 25 kg of luggages per person. Of course, the most ultralight you could imagine is a racing bike and only bring the cycling clothes you are wearing and a credit card, but it is another (expensive) way of traveling. If you have some good tricks, please share, they are always welcome.
@@Freewheels_ca Nah. Nowhere near Ultralight. Sorry.
@@chacmool2581 your hidden arguments leave me speechless.
Amazing amazing set up, so efficient!!