P'tites Routes du Soleil ®: your "baptism of fire" with an electric bicycle
Vélo à Assistance Électrique + a naturally easier route make P'tites Routes du Soleil ® an excellent introduction to long-distance mountain bike travel. Less difficult and committed than Route des Grandes Alpes ® this pre-alpine route offers its share of serious passes, but, thanks to the VAE, it becomes very accessible without losing the "Bikepacking" spirit.
A demanding but affordable route with a VAE
The P'tites Routes du Soleil ® cross massifs such as the Chablais, Monts du Genevois, Chartreuse, Vercors, Drôme provençale / Diois, Baronnies, Buëch, Préalpes de Digne, Verdon, Préalpes d'Azur. Here, the passes are shorter and lower, but often more challenging. Some have steep slopes and several hundred meters of ascent.
The VAE makes it possible to:
. Make these climbs more accessible, even for cyclists with little training.
. Smooth out the effort on climbs that are sometimes steep, but not as long as the major Alpine passes.
. Link up stages without accumulating excessive fatigue.
A more accessible itinerary for learning to manage a VAE trip
Les P'tites Routes du Soleil ® offer balanced stages, with a moderate gradient, ideal for:
. Testing battery life over several days without the stress of Alpine passes.
. Getting used to the weight of a loaded bike (panniers, equipment...) by learning to manage the assistance to optimize effort.
. Ride with confidence on less-traveled roads, ideal for getting used to a VAE over long distances.
. Most importantly, break down the psychological barrier that makes people say "This isn't for me!"
A progression ideal for cycling itinerancy
Entering into a cycling itinerancy trip requires managing your effort over several days, an aspect that the VAE and the P'tites Routes du Soleil ® route, allow you to tackle more serenely.
On this route, in fact:
. The climbs are not as long as on the Route des Grandes Alpes, but they are still numerous. The VAE helps to manage energy better over time.
. The route remains undulating throughout, offering a good introduction to the mid-range mountain terrain.
. The alternation between ascents and descents helps to better understand the autonomy of a VAE and to learn how to manage assistance according to the terrain.
A gradual immersion in mountainous terrain
Far from the extreme slopes of the Alps, this route traverses pre-Alpine landscapes with more gradual, rolling climbs. The VAE makes it possible to:
. Make the climbs more accessible, even for cyclists unaccustomed to long ascents.
. Manage effort without overheating, by modulating assistance according to the terrain.
. Enjoy the scenery without suffering, and fully immerse yourself in nature without the apprehension of excessive effort.
An introduction before the big passes
Thanks to the VAE, P'tites Routes du Soleil ® allows you to gain experience before considering more demanding routes such as Route des Grandes Alpes ®.
This itinerary is ideal for:
. Learning to manage effort and the level of assistance to optimize battery autonomy.
. Learning how to string together several days of travel on a VAE without getting into the red.
. Test yourself over long distances (80-100 km/day) in the mountains with motor assistance.
. Take on some serious mountain passes, without getting bogged down by physical difficulty.
. Gain confidence before embarking on more challenging routes.
P'tites Routes du Soleil ® à VAE offers a real, progressive challenge, perfect for discovering long-distance, mountain bike itinerancy.