We try to make the tour as inclusive as possible for any level of fitness or experience with bike touring. We cycle a maximum of 30–70 km per day (depending on the hills), and on average half of the days we stay in a place without cycling. Our experience is that almost everyone can manage this, but there is the possibility to shorten the distances if we discover that it is too much. People cycle in small groups or alone, at whatever speed suits them, and many people like to take it slow and take lots of breaks. A detailed route plan for the day is shared in the morning, arrows are drawn with chalk on the road at every turn, and if you get lost you can always call the Biketour phone. If you have a shitty bike, you will not be the only one, and we enjoy supporting each other if something breaks. We make sure that the last people to leave carry a toolbox, a phone and a first-aid kit in order to assist if anything goes wrong on the road.
Read more about what the Ecotopia Biketour is. If you would like to get an insight into the organisation or just ask a question, contact us.
Biketour concepts
Participation Guidelines
> participation guidelines
> awareness
Self-Organisation
> how it’s prepared
> consensus
> circles
Online Tools
> online-tools
> photo-sharing
On the road
> on the road
> tasks & rota
> trailers
> wildcamping
Food
Whenever it’s possible we go dumpster-diving and buy food from local farmers and small shops.
> veganism
> rocket stove
> dumpster-diving
Activities
> skill-sharing
Latest blog posts
Dealing with persistent oppressive behaviour on the Biketour
Every year, a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds join the Biketour. Like in any group that does not consist exclusively of people, who have already intensively reflected upon power structures, situations happen that are experienced as more or less oppressive by some people. As none of us is perfect, we will make mistakes. That’s okay, because the Biketour aims to be a space that is open. A space where people who have never thought about mechanisms of oppression before can learn about them. Sometimes though, some specifically difficult personalities are joining, who regularly show inappropriate behaviour.…
Abandoned kitties
When a group of five ecotopians went outside the city of Issac (40KM away from Montpellier) and saw three adorable abandoned kittens hidden in bush they didn’t doubted and carried them on their bike, in a front basket covered by a wine box so they couldn’t jump off, unsure about what would happen next. They arrived very late at the farm were we were staying overnight and some courageous catsitters spent a hard night listening to the meows of the scared and hungry kittens. Even though our hosts were not very excited about keeping one of the cats (because there…
From the Mediterranean Sea to Rocalet
We spent the night on the beach close to Frontignan. Unfortunately, the summer ended just that day, and we followed the sea on a cycle path the next day under gray clouds and fog. In some places, the bike path was interrupted and we had to cross a town on huge roads, completely full and blocked of cars. It is not explainable why anyone would go by car in those cities. Leaving the sea again, we followed the valley of the river Orb into the mountains once again. After some beautiful views, we found a place to have a rest…
From La Voulte to the Mediterranean Sea
From La Voulte we cycled south along the Rhône. There was a bike path (the Via Rhôna) all the way, which was quite good, but with some unpleasant surprises such as sudden steep hills, unpaved bits, impassable barriers or unnecessary detours as usual. Along the way there was a huge nuclear power station with a painting of a playing child on it and a wind turbine next to it for additional greenwashing. After one day we turned west into the mountains in order to reach the next planned project La Vieille Valette. The group split up in two for the…