Adventure by ZAG
21 octobre 2026 - Sixtine & Guilhem
Riding with the wind, moving at an easy pace, sleeping under the stars, losing all sense of time... There’s a magic to bike travel you won’t find anywhere else, a magic made of resilience, a bit of sweat and a whole lot of wonder.
That magic is what gave birth to ZAG. As we explained in our first article, our original goal was simple: to build the travel bike of our dreams.
After all, while a cargo bike is first and foremost an everyday companion, what could be better than making it an adventure partner too?
In this new article, we take you along on 3 road trips we’ve done on our ZAG.
Enjoy the read!
From the Bassin d’Arcachon to the Col du Tourmalet: a multimodal road trip - by Guilhem
May 2025. Six months since we took delivery of our second prototype. Time to find out whether my original idea holds up on the road – off I go on my first real adventure on a ZAG!
SETUP
Prototype #2
Luggage: 49-litre dry bag up front and saddle bag (Ortlieb)
Specific gear: Baramind handlebar, Redshift suspension seatpost, Innerbarends
I’m carrying a spare battery, a charger and bivouac gear
Total : 20 kg of load
Setting off from Arès in the sunshine, heading for Mont-de-Marsan on bike paths and quiet back roads. 147 km through the heart of the Landes on this first day, around fifteen of them on sandy tracks, with just a quick top-up of my first battery over lunch. This first long day on the ZAG is a chance to confirm that its geometry and adjustable stem suit me really well!
The next day, I set course for Lourdes. 137 km on the clock, and finally a bit of climbing – eaten up with ease. A restful night at the campsite, then on to the big one: the climb up the Tourmalet!
I'd long had the idea of one day climbing this legendary Pyrenean pass on a ZAG – a regular fixture of the Tour de France. The "official" climb from Luz-Saint-Sauveur is 19 km with 1,400 m of elevation gain, at an average gradient of 7.4%. From my campsite, it would be 45 km and 1,900 m of climbing.
Arriving at the campsite in Barèges mid-afternoon, I set up camp, recharge a little, and head back out towards the Tourmalet with a lighter load. I follow part of the old road up the pass, now reserved for bikes: the Voie Laurent Fignon. It's the first time I've tackled such a long, steep climb on a ZAG, but everything goes smoothly, and the Shimano EP801 motor never falters for a moment. I ride with moderate assistance, mostly at half power or less: it's more than enough, and it still leaves me a real physical effort to put in.
I reach the summit around 6 pm, surrounded by road cyclists who must be wondering what a cargo bike is doing up here! After a break, it's time for the descent back to Barèges. With the road almost deserted at this time of day, it's a treat. The prototype is stable and reassuring, even when things get (very) fast!
After a night at the Barèges campsite, it's time to head home. I take the opportunity to test taking the bike on the train. One of the key design principles behind the ZAG is its compact size – under 2 metres – precisely so it can be carried on transport and parked easily anywhere, making multimodal road trips simple. So I plan to make the return trip in a single day, covering part of it by regional train (TER).
I head for Pau station, 80 km away. It's a very hot day for May, and I get there in the late afternoon. Despite the crowds, boarding goes without a hitch. Box ticked!
Two hours later, here I am at Biganos station, hitting the bike path at dusk for one last ride of around twenty kilometres back to Arès. Along the way, cheers keep erupting in the distance through the night – and for good reason: it's the Champions League final!
WRAP-UP
4 days
450 km by bike
200 km by train
4,000 m of elevation gain
This little road trip allowed me to validate several things:
The stability of the loaded bike, both uphill and downhill
How the Shimano motor performs on a demanding mountain pass
The bike’s comfort over long days of touring
Taking the ZAG on the train
As a side note, total electricity consumption came to around 4 kWh for the whole trip. That’s the amount of energy contained in just 400 ml of petrol. So we can conclude that a ZAG E uses the equivalent of… 0.1 litre per 100 km!
Riding down to Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Vélodyssée - by Sixtine
November 2025. The idea had been rattling around in my head for a while: to take the handlebars of the very first production ZAG and set off for a few days of adventure before winter settled in for good. When David, founder of the Transition Cargo shop in Anglet, got in touch with us via Instagram, he gave me the perfect excuse to head down to the Basque coast along the famous Vélodyssée.
The Vélodyssée is the French section of EuroVelo 1. © Illustration: En vol Studio
SETUP
ZAG E n°001
Luggage: 48-litre dry bag up front (Lonerider)
Specific gear: double kickstand, removable wooden deck
I’m carrying a spare battery, a charger and bivouac gear
I've already had the chance to ride the ZAG many times, but this is the first time I'm taking it over such a distance. This micro-adventure is the perfect opportunity to test the bike on a long trip.
I decide to set off in the late afternoon to ease into it gently. A short first stage, which ends in pitch darkness (thanks, clocks going back!). I set up camp by the light of the bike and my head torch.
Waking up in the dunes is magical: a breathtaking panorama unfolds before me. After saying a quick hello to the ocean, I get back on the road.
Voice note excerpt – Day 2
Nothing to report with the bike, all good. Honestly, I'm pretty amazed at how quickly I've got used to it – me, who loves my own bike so much and finds it really hard to switch rides! I feel completely at ease, as if I'd always ridden it… I even catch myself riding no-hands without thinking!
A strong headwind keeps me from getting as far as I'd have liked on this second day. I struggle through about fifty kilometres, and decide to stop, a little frustrated, at a hostel near Mimizan.
The night gives me a chance to recharge my batteries (both mine and the bike's!), and I set off early the next morning for my final stage: 130 km to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. It might not be much for seasoned cyclists, but for me it's a big deal: I've never ridden that far in one go!
But I'm feeling good, and the kilometres roll by among the pines, lit by the soft rays of the autumn sun. The forest smells of mushrooms and moss, and the villages I pass through leave me with the scent of wood fires. What a joy to spend time outdoors at this time of year! I ride with my head in the clouds along a deserted bike path, and quickly reach the southern Landes, then the Basque Country.
As I enter Biarritz, the sun has only just set on the horizon, but I can still admire the foam of the waves breaking on the beach.
A few more kilometres separate me from Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The last steep slopes of the Basque coast drain what's left of my battery, and 600 metres from the finish, the assistance gives out on me: I couldn't have managed the range any better! I finish on leg power alone, and join my friends, who welcome me with a good, well-earned meal.
WRAP-UP
2.5 days
235 kilometres under the pines
One stunning bivouac and a big breath of fresh air!
Riding as a duo through the Montañas Vacías - par Guilhem & Sixtine
Last June, after a hectic spring, we decided to take two weeks off, put our ZAGs in the boot of the car and head off on a Spanish ride. We'd originally planned on Andalusia, but the heatwave forced us to rethink our destination, and we set course for the high plateaus of the Montañas Vacías.
© Ernesto Pastor - www.montanasvacias.com
Created by Ernesto Pastor, the Montañas Vacías route ("empty mountains") – 680 kilometres and 13,000 metres of elevation gain – crosses an almost deserted region of Spain known as Spanish Lapland.
“In Spain, there is an area twice the size of Belgium with a population density on a par with Lapland or the Scottish Highlands. It has just 6.99 inhabitants per km²: this is Spanish Lapland.”
Ernesto was born in this land, which has been steadily emptying of its inhabitants over the years. It was to share it with travellers that he one day decided to piece together the many tracks he had ridden there and create this route, which quickly became a bikepacking classic.
We know it well, having ridden it in two parts, in 2023 and 2024 – but this is the first time we're bringing our ZAG cargo bikes. On the agenda: a few days on the northern section, where we're hoping to find some cooler air – as most of the route sits above 1,000 m.
SETUP
Guilhem :
Specific gear: Redshift suspension stem and seatpost
Luggage: 49-litre dry bag up front and saddle bag (Ortlieb)
Sixtine :
Specific gear: Racktime rear rack, OneUp dropper seatpost, Ergon Core shock-absorbing saddle and Redshift suspension stem
Luggage: 48-litre dry bag up front (Lonerider) and rear panniers (Ortlieb)
We’re carrying 2 spare batteries and 2 chargers
Both bikes are fitted with a side kickstand (for ground clearance) and 2.60" Kenda Slant Six tyres, perfect at low pressure for comfort and grip on dirt tracks.
Day 1. An early start, fairly cool despite the sun already being high in the sky. The first few kilometres bring our memories flooding back. The bike path follows an old railway line through ochre-coloured hills. As so often, these early morning hours are the ones we enjoy most.
We quickly reach the town of Teruel, which we leave behind to tackle a long climb on a scorching, dusty track. The sun is at its peak and the heat is stifling in this valley where not a breath of wind gets through. We're glad to find a fountain in the next village, and although it's still early, we fill up with water ahead of our camp for the night.
A few hours later, we pass the Laguna de Bezas, where we treat ourselves to a long break in the shade of the trees, before riding a few more kilometres and pitching the tent out of sight.
Day 2. Up at first light to make the most of the cool air. We cross the Sierra de Albarracín on a deserted, wild track. With its pines, rocks and glowing red cliffs, this range reminds us a lot of the landscapes of Corsica. As we rejoin the tarmac, we marvel at the view. The bikes are running beautifully, and we're thrilled at the thought of seeing the stunning medieval town of Albarracín again – which we fell in love with back in 2023. It's already very hot when we arrive in the late morning. Settled at a table at the inn on the Plaza Mayor, we quickly decide to stop here for the day – we're keen to enjoy the town a little, and the scorching temperature is the perfect excuse!
Day 3. It's barely 7 am when we turn the pedals for the first time. A big day lies ahead. We weave through the town's narrow cobbled streets and reach the steep, rocky track that winds up above it. We remember this stretch well, as much for the view as for how tough it is! Luckily, it's still nice and cool. The ZAG E climbs with disconcerting ease, while the ZAG M proves the worth of the Pinion gearbox's very short first gear. Up top, the view over Albarracín and its walls is a fine reward!
What can we say about this day, except that it's one feast for the eyes after another? Almost entirely on dirt tracks, we cross magnificent valleys with ever-changing landscapes, and barely see a soul. After 1,150 metres of climbing, we're still glad when it's over – especially Guilhem, who's really worked up a sweat on the unassisted bike! That evening, we pitch our tent at the Bronchales campsite, the highest in Spain at 1,700 m, a place we're particularly fond of.
Day 4. Another fine day ahead. It starts with a long descent on dirt tracks down to Orihuela del Tremedal, where we take time for a quick coffee break, before setting course for Chequilla, famous for its rodenos, red sandstone monoliths. We're back on the tarmac – and on some seriously steep slopes: up to 20%!
Lunch break at the Serradora campsite, in the Tagus valley (which here is still just a mountain stream), where we're surprised to bump into… Ernesto Pastor! A chance for a fascinating chat with this very friendly bikepacker, delighted (and a little surprised) by the success of his route.
As the afternoon draws to a close, we head off to bivouac at the start of the track winding towards the Alto Tajo Natural Park. A spectacular spot at the foot of the cliffs, right on the banks of the Tagus: perfect for cooling off after another very (too) hot day!
Day 5. Early in the morning, the Alto Tajo track is unforgettable. It plunges through wild gorges, at the bottom of which the turquoise waters of the Tagus reflect the sun's rays. Apart from a group of bikepackers we'd already crossed paths with the day before, we have the world to ourselves! In "gravel" mode, both bikes handle really well, despite having no suspension. The suppleness of the tyres, combined with the suspension stems and saddles, gives a genuinely comfortable ride, while the stiff frame and the low-mounted load make for precise handling. We've ridden this route before on a full-suspension e-MTB and a travel bike. The verdict: we're having far more fun on our two ZAGs!
The heat catches up with us as we rejoin the tarmac. The last few kilometres to Beteta are anything but pleasant under this merciless sun. That evening, it's time to take stock. We're suffering in the heatwave, which is slowing our progress and making the effort hard going for Guilhem on the unassisted bike. We realise it will be impossible to complete the planned loop in the time we have left. A fixed commitment means we have to be home by a specific date, which doesn't help. A little disheartened, we decide to stop here. All that's left is to go and fetch the car… 180 km away – and on the ZAG E, as there's no public transport!
WRAP-UP FOR TWO
5 days
200 km
3,700 m of elevation gain
1 puncture
Plenty of sweat, agua con gas and pan con tomate!
Days 6 & 7. The next day, Guilhem turns back and takes the road home on the ZAG E, heading for our starting point. After several days of hard effort in extreme temperatures, he makes no secret of it: moving a bit faster thanks to the electric assist is pure bliss!
Voice note excerpt from Guilhem – Day 6
So right now, with the ZAG E fully loaded – bags, spare batteries, water, camping gear – I reckon I’m at about 160 kg, me included. And honestly, on the long climbs today, the EP801 didn’t even flinch. That’s where you really see the point of pairing this motor with short gearing: on terrain like this, it’s just perfect. And on the really steep descents… those XT brakes are a treat!
By the end of the day, he reaches Bronchales – a solid stage of 84 km and 1,800 m of climbing. The next day, he sets course for Teruel, where he picks up the magnificent track leading to La Puebla de Valverde. That's a wrap on this express return trip: over 180 km in 2 days!
As we hit the road the following day, we can't help feeling a little pang of sadness. After 3 trips to the Montañas Vacías, we don't know if we'll get the chance to ride there again in the coming years. Either way, we're happy to have ridden part of this route we love so much on our ZAGs – and if you've never been, we warmly recommend it!
All in all, we're really happy today to have designed a cargo bike that can be just as much an everyday ally as a true travel companion. Sure, it's not a mountain bike, nor an ultralight gravel bike! But it's a bike we have a lot of fun on in mixed use – and that versatility is exactly what we were after when we designed it. And to be completely honest, after 2 years of riding it, we find it hard to leave it in the garage!
Ready to set off on a ZAG adventure?