Tag: argentina

One More Year, Please: I’m Extending My Bike Ride From Argentina to Alaska!

I’ve been CyclingAbout The Americas for 16 months now, covering around 25,000km across eight countries. The journey so far has taken me up the highest road in the world (5815m/19078ft), across deserts, salt flats and along the Peru Divide, my favourite touring route in the world.

I have fallen 30 metres off a cliff, pushed my bike across Ecuador’s toughest terrain, waited days for the snow to stop falling on my tent and nearly been killed by hundreds of trucks in Brazil. I have slept hundreds of nights under the stars, hiked the world’s most iconic trails and made more friends than I could possibly count.

After all of these great adventures, I’m very far behind my original schedule for this trip. I think I could still make it to Alaska sometime this year, but I’d have to skip through Central America at a pace much faster than would do the countries justice.

So I’ve decided to extend my trip for a full year.

Why?
1. I’m having a really good time out here.
2. I’ve been travelling on the smallest possible roads which are making my progress slower.
3. My big accident in Peru set me back a few months.
4. I’m spending a lot more time per month making films and sharing photos than I originally anticipated.
5. KOGA like the idea of me testing their WorldTraveller-S into 2020.

My Revised 2019/2020 Schedule

I’ll be continuing this journey on my trusty KOGA WorldTraveller-S touring bike. More on the bike HERE.

April to July 2019 // Colombia
August 2019 // Panama and Nicaragua
September 2019 // Honduras and El Salvador
October 2019 // Guatemala and Belize
November 2019 // Cuba
December 2019 // Mexico
March 2020 // USA
June 2020 // Canada
August 2020 // Alaska

You Can Follow My Adventures In A Number Of Ways

Daily photo updates are available on my Instagram page
Stories, links and photo updates on my Facebook page
Monthly videos by subscribing to my YouTube channel

If You Enjoy My Resources and Videos, Consider Supporting My Work

I take a lot of time out of my life to share everything I know about bike travel. I also try to make top-notch films and share all the photos and stories from the amazing places I travel to. If you value my work, you can support what I do generally via a one-off donation, or become a CyclingAbout Site Supporter (goes into maintaining this website) or a Patreon (supports my film making).

See You In Alaska in 2020!

April 2, 2019
Video: Cycling Up The Highest Road in the World [EP.5]

In this episode, I ride up Mt. Uturuncu (5815m/19,078ft) which is regarded as the highest road in the world. You can skip to 12 minutes if that’s what you’re here for… BUT this will probably be the most picturesque episode of my two-year trip, so maybe just start from the start!

//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Southern Patagonia [EP.1]
//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Carretera Austral [EP.2]
//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Crossing La Pampa [EP.3]
//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Exploring Uruguay and Brazil [EP.4]

MY BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
MY GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
MY ROUTE: HERE
MY CAMERAS: Panasonic GH4 and GoPro Hero6
MUSIC: 97special Set

Mt. Uturuncu is the highest road in the world – 5815m or 19,078ft.

June 10, 2018
Photo Gallery: Cycling The Highest Roads In The World

Last month I cycled through what I think is some of the most stunning scenery… in the world! Have a look through this gallery from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, and let me know if you agree.

MY BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
MY GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
MY ROUTE: HERE
MY CAMERAS: Panasonic GH4 and GoPro Hero6

It’s so great to be back in the Andes! Last night I slept at 3000m — do you guys have the WEIRDEST dreams at altitude too, or is it just me?

Chasing Alfredo up into the mountains…

It’s hard to imagine a place that is more diverse than Argentina. This country has every type of landscape! 🙏🏼

Yesterday I was cycling at almost 5000m elevation. It’s been a while since I’ve been this high! My brain was struggling to process the most basic information and I was slurring all my words. I felt like I’d drank half a bottle of vodka I was swerving around that much. What a weird phenomenon! 😳

Carving my way through the red and white mountains of northwest Argentina. 🔥 And no, I don’t have a personal photographer! To get these shots I have to sit my camera on a tripod a few hundred metres away from where I’m riding. I either get my camera to fire a shot every few seconds, or take a video and grab the screenshot I need. It’s hard work, but I think the results are worth all the extra miles! ⚡

One of my favourite campsites this trip! Nestled in a small canyon with very little wind or noise. It was at an altitude that didn’t wake me up in the middle of the night, plus the temperature wasn’t minus-10! And the stars were absolutely wild. 🌌

This is about as sci-fi as natural landscapes get!

The landscape between Argentina and Chile changes instantly as you cross the border. After cycling across the arid, high plains, you enter a volcano complex that is so big and beautiful that you can’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed. 🌋

It was a shock to find that the famous Sico Pass is now a sealed road! I prefer smooth roads though crazy landscapes like this, as I can focus more on the scenery, and less on the impending potholes and sandy washouts. 🙏🏼

Cycling past Laguna en Salar el Laco.

The wild rock formations of El Laco, Chile.

When sleeping at over 4000m, the overnight temperatures are well into the negatives (-10 sometimes). I made the mistake of dribbling onto my pillow one night; argh… frozen slobber! 😱 But look, I will cop an icy pillow for million dollar views like these. 💎💰💸

The bald hills near Laguna Aguas Calientes.

Right. I’m off to Bolivia! I’m hoping to ride up the highest road in the world (almost 6000m/19,700ft – there’s less than 50% oxygen up there). My next update and YouTube video will be in a couple of weeks, when I should have discovered the worst roads in South America. 😂

5815 METRES • 19,078ft. That’s the highest you can ride a bike… in the WORLD!! Here I am standing near the end of the road with Mt Uturuncu looming in the background. How did I feel this high? Honestly, I had no negative effects. My body is now crushing it with a full haematological (blood) adaptation to altitude. Super stoked on this and can’t wait to show you the next video! 💪🏼

When you cross from Chile into SW Bolivia, you end up at Laguna Blanca. The water appears whiteish as it has a high amount of minerals suspended in it. I wish the background showed a nice morning fog, but that’s actually dust kicked up by dozens of tourist 4x4s screaming between photo opportunities. 😷😷😷

The sky is a stunning blue at altitude! Or perhaps it’s just the high contrast to the white dusty landscape. Either way, your eyes are bowerbird-level mesmerised as you cycle through these otherworldly landscapes.

This is me in full-flight, riding into a strong headwind! I was reluctant to interrupt my day with a tailwind, so there’s at least 1000 watts running through my cranks to get this photo over and done with. Tailwinds are an ultra-rare commodity for me, OK?! 😂

I can always find the time to stop and take in my surroundings. I’m not in a rush to get anywhere, especially on the super sandy Bolivian roads! Even if I don’t make my planned destination, all I need is 3L of water and some food and I will stop practically anywhere that’s wind protected. After a -10 degree night one thing is guaranteed: warming my fingers and toes with my stove in the morning. 😍

Beautiful colours surround you as you cycle through Eduardo Avaroa National Park.

Climbing up towards the Sol de la Manana Geyser.

Laguna Colorada is a sight to behold — it’s filled with red water due to the sediments and pigmentations of the residing algae! It’s also famous for the being home to three types of flamingos.

You’d think that the Bolivian Altiplano is just volcanoes and salt lakes, but it is also home to some of the craziest rock formations! When you visit, you too will ride past these big, bold rock sculptures that take your breath away. 😍

My latest VIDEO is ready for you! It’s been the hardest month yet for me, which always makes for good viewing. 😂 If you’ve been blown away by the crazy landscapes, dust storms, high-speed winds, sub-zero temps and are also keen to watch me ride up the highest road in the world (5815M).

June 10, 2018
Photo Gallery: Bicycle Touring Across Argentina

I was feeling like a different challenge this month, so I veered away from my northbound trajectory in favour of crossing La Pampas (the Argentinean plains). This 2000km ride took me from Bariloche to Buenos Aires. What I hoped for was a change of scenery, what I ended up with was dozens of new friends and a new perspective of Argentina!

Route of the 7 Lakes.

It was at this moment that I made the biggest decision of my trip. Instead of following the mountains and lakes north through Chile, I would start a 2000km journey across The Pampa (desert) to Buenos Aires. Why? Well, I felt like a change of scenery. I’d also like to spend a bit more time with locals, and a bit less lost in nature. It’s easier to do this when I’m not distracted with endless hikes and mountain roads. It’s about time for a new backdrop too, don’t you think?

MY CLOTHES. I wear a button-up cotton shirt in hot and dry conditions. I find they offer unparalleled sun protection, plus you can open them up for an extra breeze. When it’s hot, I soak my shirt in water and let it dry while I ride. I try to pick colours that don’t look dirty when they actually are. I then use swimming shorts combined with padded cycling ‘undershorts’ below. This combo dries really fast and is ultra durable too. I have really long legs, so that’s why they’re so short.

I got my first two punctures yesterday! The thorns can’t penetrate the top of my Schwalbe tires, but they sure can get through the sides. Today I will remove my valve cores and add some sealant to my tubes. Oh, and before you ask, the tyres are Schwalbe Marathon Almotion in 700x50C (29×2.0″) at 59.2179psi and I don’t use tubeless because tubes are the easiest solution for long-term bike travel.

I was deep in thought, crossing the Pampa plains with minimal visual distraction and little evidence of human existence. I was thinking all about how grateful I am to the people who’ve taught me new things and helped me to understand Patagonia. What a phenomenal nook in this world! And then that made me think about how grateful I am to everyone else. So many of you are overwhelmingly supportive of my endeavours! Thanks for encouraging me along and letting me know you like my stuff. That is the magic that keeps these legs turning over, country after country.

285km — That’s my longest day this trip! I did it to carry less water between settlements (I still took 8L) and to put myself in a position to have tailwinds a few days later. Riding into the night provided me with shooting stars, lightning shows, owls and foxes. I love that big desert night sky.

Right now it feels like it takes hours to reach the horizon! With space this vast it can be disorienting too. The only indication that you’re going uphill is when your legs are begging your brain to tell your hands to drop a gear or two.

HOW IS THE KOGA COMPARED TO MY OLD SURLY LHT? I’m really impressed. The WorldTraveller has a near-identical frame geometry to the LHT so the handling was straight away very familiar. I find it rides just as comfortably too, despite many people’s preconceptions that aluminium is ‘harsh’. The most noticeable difference between the bikes is the lateral frame stiffness – the Koga experiences less front-end ‘shimmy’ or wobbling at high speeds, especially with a heavy and potentially uneven load up front. This is something I’ve always been critical of with the LHT (and many other touring bikes) as you can never have enough lateral stiffness, in my opinion! Otherwise, the hydro disc brakes are running nicely still. I really like the 29×2.0″ Schwalbe Almotion tyres. The Rohloff + belt drive has always been easy and maintenance-free for me. The kickstand is so bloody practical; I thought I’d take it off after a while but now I can’t believe I’ve always lived without one. Disclosure: KOGA sponsor me. But I assure you, the things I describe can all be measured/explained with hard data if I ran the tests.

I’m currently in the fertile lands surrounding Buenos Aires, and it’s crushing my soul a bit. All day I see trucks filled to the brim with terrified cows who will all be murdered so that humans can please their taste buds for 5 minutes. This practice is obviously cruel, and I am living proof that it’s unnecessary too. I travel to remote parts of the world, sometimes cycling for 20 HOURS in a single day, all without ANY animal products in my diet. A great way to reduce the suffering is to simply pick the meat-free option whenever you eat. Every meal makes a difference to the lives of the animals that I see suffering when I’m bike touring.

Good morning. Last night I went into a small town, filled up my water bottles, bought some groceries, then rode my bike to the place where the town meets the countryside. This is where I always ‘wild’ camp when passing through farming areas, but I should note that the friendly people here invited me to camp in their gardens!!

Central Argentina BLEW MY MIND!! The people have been so much friendlier than in the tourist hotspots. I felt like the Queen having waved and smiled to so many people! All day I was asked if I needed help, and in the towns, I was invited over for dinner or beers. I’ve probably featured in the majority of selfies taken in Argentina too. I left the mountains to experience the people — and it WORKED. Go Argentina!

I was sitting in a park cooking some dinner. Two police officers came over and asked for my documents. They were straight on the phone, registering my details at the local police station. But after they’d done this, they kept talking. And talking. About me! My Spanish is limited, so I had no idea if I was in trouble or not. They kept assuring me that it was all good! Then one of the big bosses from the police station arrived at the park and invited me to stay with them for the night. So I did!

You may have noticed that my bike is set up a bit different to most touring bikes: the seat is high and the handlebars are low. I actually spend the majority of my riding time in this ‘stretched out’ position. My body has adapted to it over years of road bike use, so I can hold it all day long. With a reduced frontal area (better aerodynamics) this gives me extra speed without the extra effort — one of the key reason why I can ride further and faster than most. Believe it or not, I never get a sore neck, back or shoulders, even after 12+ hours of pedalling!

This 2000km ride took me from Bariloche to Buenos Aires. What I hoped for was a change of scenery, what I ended up with was dozens of new friends and a new perspective of Argentina! Check out my video HERE.

As soon as I prove myself trustworthy, street dogs often assign themselves the task of Chief Protector. While I’m rolling the streets of small towns, they’re busy fending off other dogs, people, cars… everything! This cute pup even followed me to camp one night. We played fetch until it got dark and then it slept in my tent vestibule. If it had its way it would’ve been inside the tent and on top of me!!

It’s my last night in Argentina! The last 3+ months have been wild. My current 1-2 month plan is to ride across Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. I don’t know much about these places; I’ll try my best to teach you all about them too.

To see my latest updates make sure to subscribe to my social media pages:
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BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
ROUTE: See it HERE

Watch My Bicycle Touring Argentina Film HERE

April 28, 2018
Photo Gallery: Cycling The Carretera Austral Highway

MOUNTAINS. GLACIERS. DUST. CORRUGATIONS. I take on the famous Carretera Austral Highway to find out if it deserves its legendary status.

The moment when you realise you’ve really f**k’d up… and you and your bike go tumbling down a steep hiking trail. I WISH this was staged! (My bike and I are fine)

I almost bit off more than I could chew yesterday. There’s a hiking trail around a lake that most cross by boat. People told me it’s “hard, but doable” to push a bike on it for 13km. They made me assume that as a strong, fit and resilient individual that I could do it, without hesitation. But after crossing dozens of rivers, after taking my panniers off 100 times, after falling into thorn bushes, after many knee-deep muddy bogs, after 11 gruelling hours — this hiking trail would be HARD without a 50kg+ bike on your back. My advice: take the bloody boat, whatever you do.

It’s pretty easy to feel the enormity of the steep mountain valleys when you can almost touch them as you cycle along…

The Carretera Austral Highway connects up that skinny stretch of Chile down in Patagonia. It was built by 10,000 military soldiers between the 1970s and 1990s in order to strengthen the Chilean presence in these isolated territories. Beforehand, everything had to arrive in overland via the vast, windy plains of Argentina.

When the day is really nice, I find it hard to pack up. I sit in the sun, make coffee, then lay back down with my book. Repeat this a few times and you’ll find it’s the afternoon!!

Who said you can’t mono a fully-loaded bike up a hill with crystal blue water below!?

AREN’T YOU LONELY? This is such a common question for me, and I think people forget that ‘being alone’ and ‘being lonely’ are two different concepts. Remember that you can still feel lonely with a big family and lots of work colleagues all while living in a city of millions. I’m happy floating in my own thoughts, breathing fresh air, reading books and listening to podcasts. I have conversations with new people every single day, many of whom I will see again. I wouldn’t want to be in this state forever, but for now, it feels like such a luxury. If the idea of ‘being alone’ stops you from travelling, I suggest a re-think. Take a week off, pack some stuff to keep your mind active (books, paintbrushes, movies, podcasts, a diary, a camera) and experience the world in a wonderful way!

As one machine starts a life of service, the other enters retirement.

After 300km (200mi) of corrugations, dust and close-passing traffic — it was an absolute delight to ride up (and down!) the silky smooth Cuesta del Diablo. Can you find me?!

Compare your thoughts, quash any fears and perhaps get some ideas for your next bike trip – these are the 22 questions that I answer every single day.

Praise the mountains! Every time I think the stunning backdrops will end, Patagonia keeps delivering. Cerro Castillo is one of the best day hike loops I’ve ever done…

Just imagine having to suffer through these views every day. Now you know what it’s like to travel with me through Chile.

Hold on to your sense of wonder. It will take you to places like this.

ARE YOU EVER SCARED? It’s my experience that the world is overwhelmingly safe. People often provide warnings about many of the far-flung places I end up, but I’ve found that 99 times out of 100 these are unfounded hearsay – it’s best to keep an open mind. You’ll find that one-in-a-thousand people actually have bad intentions and that the chance of rubbing shoulders with them is slim at best.

Pretty happy with the long series of life decisions that got me to this point!

I test gear, not for a day or a week, but often for YEARS before I form a strong opinion on it. I also make sure to constantly re-evaluate both the gear I use and my methods of travel. By keeping an open mind I can keep progressing, and so can you!

Best friends are like stars; you don’t always see them but they’re always there. Jokes, we’re inseparable. Happy Valentine’s Day, my trusty bicycle. You know all my secrets.

Best time to be on the pedals: GOLDEN HOUR.

Patagonia…. so wildly dramatic, every day!! (Put coming here on your ‘to-do’ list, right after your laundry)

Fun ways to get from A to B: Volume 1. (Sorry KOGA, but it’s part of my testing protocol)

My favourite place to camp is inside a pine forest. I love the sound of the wind whistling through the treetops, yet the perfect stillness at the ground. I love that they’re dark in the mornings, that pine-fresh scent and that pine needles are super squishy to lay on.

“If you’re cycling all the way to Alaska, why did you choose such a bad bike?” – Stranger at a bus stop. I was now sporting my biggest grin. That’s because my Koga is essentially a Rolls Royce with a Toyota body kit. This stranger was referring to the fact that my bike has no suspension, no fancy graphics or glossy finishes. Koga gave me the option to go ‘bling’ with my custom build, but it was my request that the bike looked like any other. For those not ‘in the know’, this tends to be a great theft deterrent. The Rohloff hub even makes it look like the Koga doesn’t have gears…

WHY DO I USE PANNIERS? A common question for me in a world of limitless bag options. I want to start by saying there’s no ‘best’ setup; that depends entirely on a combination of your travel style and what you’re doing. I chose panniers over using my bikepacking/trailer kit for a number of reasons: 1. I can load and unload my bike in 30 seconds flat. 2. I have a laptop and camera gear that is very protected in panniers. 3. I can carry 30+ litres of food if I need, including odd-shaped food like broccoli. 4. My bags can be organised by use, for example, I have a ‘kitchen’ bag that I can whip out in hostels.

I take on the famous Carretera Austral Highway to find out if it deserves its legendary status. Video HERE.

To see my latest updates make sure to subscribe to my social media pages:
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BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
ROUTE: Carretera Austral Section and Argentina Section

Watch My Film From The Carretera Austral HERE

April 22, 2018
Photo Gallery: Bicycle Touring In Southern Patagonia

WIND. MOUNTAINS. HIKING. NATURE. Southern Patagonia is a tough place for cyclists… especially if you’re heading north to Alaska. This is the first photo gallery of many on my 2-year bike tour up towards North America.

Guys – I don’t think I’ve arrived at the right Patagonia because there’s no wind or rain here! Does anyone have some reliable directions or maybe a GPX file which will get me to the REAL Patagonia???

It doesn’t quite feel real yet, but it’s sure liberating to have unshackled myself from a comfortable existence at home. Endless adventures are waiting; the journey north starts tomorrow!!

Alaska ☞ 17,848km. This is probably the most south I will ever stand on Planet Earth and I’m fairly sure I’ll never get closer to Antarctica. Right, north from here!

Well, I promised KOGA that I’d test their bike to the limit.

Before hitting the flat, exposed, notoriously windy plains, it’s a rather pleasant ride through the mountains behind Ushuaia. This was my first day on the road, but for everyone going the other way – it was their last! Most cyclists had been travelling for months and seemed to be pretty enthusiastic about some highway called the Carretera Austral…

20 hours. TWENTY!! That’s the time between the start and finish of my ride yesterday. The first seven hours were ultra slow, as I was moving into a 50km/h block headwind. Unfortunately, the next section was even more notorious for headwinds BUT I had done some wind research and found that once in a blue moon… it can be dead still overnight. So I had a nap, cooked dinner, drank an espresso and launched a 160km/100mi overnight assault. This would save me two days of misery! I ended up cycling non-stop on the rough gravel roads all the way between sunset and sunrise. It was dark, wet, eerily silent and ever so peaceful. Total for the ‘day’: 240km/150mi.

If there are strong winds all day, then you hit one of these signs… good luck staying upright!! Here I am trying my darndest to ride in a straight line.

Living life one dodgy bridge at a time here in Patagonia. Who knows which one will be my last!

I wouldn’t say the wind has broken me – I’m way too stubborn to ever let that happen – but I’m really longing for the cycling to be enjoyable again. To beat the wind you need to accept that you’ll ride all day at a slow jogging pace, then get NO REWARD for all your hard work. There’s no views, no downhill and definitely no freewheeling to help put that smile back on the dial. Out here, you’re relying on determination alone. I’ve been counting down the windy days for the last week, and with another all-nighter under the belt, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Absolutely loving the splashes of colour everywhere! The flowers make my monotonous grey, white and black getup far less dull (I’m trying not to stand out too much as a 2m tall human).

SENDING IT INTO 2K18!! Wishing you all the best for the next lap around the sun. My plan is to cycle to Mexico – hope to see you somewhere on the way.

Sorry, there’s been no internet for a while. I’m having a great time though!

I’ve been to lots of mountains around the world, and there’s not many that will take your breath away like these.

Computer generated image or real life?

I’ve spent an insane amount of time creating a video story for you over my first month CyclingAbout The Americas. I’m really proud of EP.1; please give it a watch and let me know what you think of it.

Welcome to my pleasure palace.

Don’t want to know what’s in my lungs today.

It’s amazing how quickly the environment changes from valley to valley. One minute you’re cycling past jagged mountain peaks, the next you’re camping in a sparse landscape with not a tree in sight.

Would you believe this is 1130pm?! I was gifted an enormous Carnation Pink sky last night and it charmed me into riding until the curtains were fully drawn. You sleep when you’re dead, some wise person once said.

Monte Fitz Roy. 3405m. 11171ft.

Million . Dollar . Views

I’ve been really getting into trail running over here. Most people think I’m mad, but by running I can complete 2 or 3-day hikes in a single day. I only travel with a daypack, so it works out well to not require a tent, food or cooking gear either.

When I first shopped around for a touring bike, it had to be steel. Experienced bike tourers were touting additional comfort and were selling me on the idea that I could repair my frame anywhere in the world. A few years later, I started researching frame building and metallurgy and was now questioning these perceptions. It no longer made sense to me that steel could be more comfortable because diamond frame shapes are so stiff by design. In addition, a tyre, seatpost and seat already provides centimetres of vertical compliance, so any comfort steel may add would certainly go unnoticed. I also found out that steel frame manufacturing was a pretty specific skill set given the thin tube diameters — it’s really easy to damage a frame through repair! I’m lucky enough to have been given this aluminium Koga WorldTraveller Signature touring bike to test over the next 40,000km. KOGA is certain it will ride as smooth and be as strong as any other touring bike. Let’s see if they’re right!

To see my latest updates make sure to subscribe to my social media pages:
Facebook
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YouTube

BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
ROUTE: View it HERE

Watch My Film From The Southern Patagonia Section HERE

April 11, 2018
Video: CyclingAbout The Americas // Crossing Argentina [EP.3]

I was feeling like a different challenge this month, so I veered away from my northbound trajectory in favour of crossing La Pampas (the Argentinean plains). This 2000km ride took me from Bariloche to Buenos Aires. What I hoped for was a change of scenery, what I ended up with was dozens of new friends and a new perspective of Argentina!

//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Southern Patagonia [EP.1]
//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Carretera Austral [EP.2]

MY BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
MY GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
MY ROUTE: See it HERE
MUSIC: Tajima Hal Set

March 25, 2018
Video: CyclingAbout The Americas // Carretera Austral Highway [EP.2]

MOUNTAINS. GLACIERS. DUST. CORRUGATIONS. I take on the famous Carretera Austral Highway to find out if it deserves its legendary status. This is the second episode of my 2-year bike tour up towards North America. Subscribe to find out about what other trouble I get myself into!! 😂😂😂

//////// CyclingAbout The Americas: Southern Patagonia [EP.1]

MY BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
MY GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
MY ROUTE: Carretera Austral Section and Argentina Section
MUSIC: Kill Emil

Cycling the Carretera Austral Highway.

February 22, 2018
Video: CyclingAbout The Americas // Southern Patagonia [EP.1]

WIND. MOUNTAINS. HIKING. NATURE. Southern Patagonia is a tough place for cyclists… especially if you’re heading north to Alaska. This is the first episode of my 2-year bike tour up towards North America. Subscribe to find out about what other trouble I get myself into! 😂😂😂

MY BIKE: Koga WorldTraveller Signature
MY GEAR LIST: My 25kg of stuff
ROUTE: *Gpx file coming soon*

MUSIC:
Clem Beatz
Kutmah DJ Set

The view towards Monte Fitz Roy.

January 19, 2018
I’m CyclingAbout The Americas: Argentina To Alaska Over Two Years!!

My recent five-week bike tour of Japan was incredible. Too incredible. Incredible to the point where I didn’t want to get on that plane home when it was over! That feeling got me thinking about what the future holds, and guess what – it’s exciting. My heart and my mind are rearing to go bigger, longer and higher than ever before. And hopefully, you’ll join me virtually for my next chapter, CyclingAbout The Americas.

CyclingAbout The Americas

The bottom of Argentina to the top of Alaska over two years? Let’s do it!

Since finishing a two-year overland bike trip from Europe to Australia (2012-14), I’ve completed dozens of month-long rides around the globe. While this has allowed me to get a taste of so many amazing places, it makes me feel uneasy to fly around the world all the time when it’s environmentally unsustainable.

In a time when climate change is having such a great effect on the planet and its occupants, I can’t continue with my routine of long-distance flights for short bike tours. Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly consuming less, living car-free, catching public transport and eating a vegan diet to reduce my impact. By staying away from air travel it will help me to further align my morals with my actions.

This trip is, of course, not perfect. Nothing ever is. CyclingAbout The Americas requires flights to get me to the start line. But the aim after that is to take zero flights for a good few years. I’m then considering setting up base in Canada once I finish, exploring the rest of North America all overland. Fingers crossed!

My KOGA WorldTraveller

I’ve decided to build up a custom touring bike for CyclingAbout The Americas via the KOGA Signature program. The custom configurator allows me to select the parts that I like, with a colour that is inconspicuous. I chose KOGA primarily because I’ve never owned an aluminium touring bike. You may have heard that aluminium is ‘harsh’ to ride on, irreparable and not as strong as steel, so part of this adventure is simply to assess whether any of these stereotypes ring true.

My KOGA WorldTraveller is fitted with my touring favourites such as a Rohloff 14-speed hub, Gates Carbon drivetrain, Velo Orange Crazy Bars, The Plug III Schwalbe Almotion tyres, Tubus racks, Schmidt dynamo and more.

I’ve chosen 700c wheels and slick 2.00″ wide tyres, but this frame can accommodate 29er mountain bike tyres too. There was an option to go for 27.5+ wheels with 2.8″ tyres, but I think the times when the additional width will be advantageous will only be for a small portion of my trip.

Follow My Trip

I’m looking forward to sharing my travel experiences with you! I know that it’s not easy for many of you to travel to the places I get to go, so I hope my videos and resources will help you to experience the world by bike, in a capacity that works for you.

You can follow in a number of ways, you’ll get:
– Regular image updates by following my Instagram profile
– Stories, links and photos by liking my Facebook page
– Monthly videos by subscribing to my YouTube channel

That’s it. It’s pretty scary, but damn it’s exciting. Let’s take a look at where I will be over the next 12 months…

December to March 2018: Argentina and Chile

Chile and Argentina took the no.1 and no.3 slots as the best bike touring destinations! Image: Bicycle-Junkies.com

Ushuaia – The most southern town in the world
Southern Patagonia – Carretera Austral highway
Northern Patagonia – Lake district
Puna de Atacama – Dry, high plateau

March to May 2018: Bolivia

Kamran cycling the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni. Image: Kamran Ali

Lagunas Route – High altitude lakes, salt flats and weird rock formations
Salar de Uyuni – Earth’s largest salt flat
Death Road – World’s most dangerous road
Cordillera Real – Mountain range with 6000m peaks

May to July 2018: Peru

Portachuelo de Llanganuco, Peru.

The Huascaran Circuit
Peru’s Great Divide
Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash

July to August 2018: Ecuador

Cotopaxi Volcano dominates the landscape in Ecuador. Image: Kamran Ali

Volcanic Rollercoaster – Cotopaxi to Chimborazo

August to October 2018: Colombia

Kamran cycling through Colombia on his way to Panama. Image: Kamran Ali

Eastern Cordillera

Got Any Advice For My Trip? Can You Host Me? Feel Free To Drop A Comment Or Contact Me Via Email/Facebook

October 4, 2017