Traveling by cargo bike. Bike touring with your dog is possible!

Corentin and Sophie had been riding the Formidable for just a week, but they already had only one goal in mind: to go bikepacking on a cargo bike . And starting with a tough challenge: +300km in 4 days across Brittany and... with their dog Opale!  

And why this trip? Corentin absolutely wanted to take his cargo bike on vacation to the Island of Groix, but traditional transport seemed complicated. "It was a bit of a hassle," explains Sophie, "we said to ourselves that if Corentin really wanted his bike, we could just take it." And that's how this fantastic adventure began: Saint-Malo – Groix in 4 days!  

 

A high-level cyclist's preparation... or not!  

Corentin and Sophie warned us right away: “We’re completely new to bike touring, and even to cycling in general. [...] The only bike rides we did before getting the Formidable were to go get bread, and even then, that was exceptional.” Yet it went really well! This is proof that you don’t need to have thousands of kilometers on the clock to get started.  

But be careful, this required a minimum of preparation. The couple from Saint-Malo had prepared a GPS track before their trip . so that there are no surprises and to be sure of having a roof over your head every evening. A tip that we strongly recommend to avoid finding yourself in the fast lane by bike, inadvertently, or simply finding yourself without a place to sleep at night! There are many free solutions, the best known being francevelotourisme.com and the Géovélo mobile application.  

In terms of equipment, it was the bare minimum for our three adventurers: two panniers with a few things, a toiletry bag attached to the handlebars, a few tools, and... the bag of dog food, of course! Corentin and Sophie were smart to avoid any unnecessary equipment. When you're doing bike touring on a cargo bike, you have to do everything you can to lighten your bike as much as possible. You'll tire out less quickly, and the trip will be all the more enjoyable.   

Autonomy and loading, their cargotail put to the test.  

With all their belongings, the couple + their dog Opale, they barely exceeded 200kg on the bike (out of a maximum weight of 250kg for the Formidable)! And their journey required doing 90km almost every day ( with a maximum autonomy of 80km in ideal conditions )!  

The additional battery not only allowed for constant assistance, but "it also contributed enormously to our peace of mind and journey management," Corentin tells us. Knowing that almost every lunchtime, they could recharge their batteries thanks to the generous welcome from the locals and the adapted infrastructure.  

In eco mode, they were able to extend their range while still retaining enough power for starts and climbs. At the end of the day, after 90 km, they still had half of the second battery remaining. This shows that the Galian electric cargo bike is capable of efficiently handling heavy loads while maximizing range for long adventures.  

The joys of bike touring... they've barely arrived and they're asking for more!  

Our two travelers particularly appreciated the bike's ability to navigate smaller roads and less-traveled trails, offering a new perspective on areas they thought they knew. Their dog, riding in the front of the cargo ship, also enjoyed the journey, making each leg even more memorable.  

One of the biggest benefits of the Le Formidable cargo bike for Corentin and Sophie was the ability to communicate easily throughout their trip. “Being the two of us on the same bike allowed us to joke, chat, and share. It was really enjoyable,” Sophie explains.  

This trip left such a lasting impression on them that Corentin and Sophie are already planning their next trip. From now on, they have their sights set on the Nantes-Brest Canal (390 km, no less!). We'll keep you posted in the future. be sure of it.  

And if you too would like to embark on a bicycle tour and the Formidable interests you, We invite you to take a look at the presentation page of the world's first cargotail (Made in France!).