Grobat

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for advice on a trip I'm planning, starting very soon. I'm going to Vancouver, where I'll buy a bike and all necessary gear, and start a journey to Argentina, maybe Ushuaïa if I manage to arrive in Patagonia in early summer (next year of course).

What I need is some feedback on the route I'm planning to take, and help choosing between different routes where I'm hesitating. Suggestions on nice places to see nearby my route(s), or even completely different routes are welcome! Maps and guidebooks (for motorized people) are not worth another biker's advice!

Here's my planned route map :
https://www.umapper.com/maps/view/id/17570/

I could also use any help with choosing and buying my bike and equipment (either new or used), once in Vancouver.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Tri-FatBoy

Nuts.

substructure

Do what?

akeelor

Espero que Ud. pueda entender y hablar español.

not2blu

If you can actually do it, how many months will it take. A year+? Seems like you have to carry a lot of spare tubes in case they're not readily available in South America.

not2blu

Eso no va hacer el problema. Es muy dificil encontrar ruedas y otras cosas que va nececitar para la bicicleta.

X-LinkedRider

You are going to buy your bike in Canada and tour on it with no practice miles? Sounds crazy but if your can accomplish your body will allow it.

kayakdiver

check out the touring forum..... tons of experience doing this type of stuff. Good luck on you quest. Also check out crazy guy on a bike website. Lots of info there as well.

Machka 

Ask this question in the Touring forum ... look for nancysv in there. She and her family are currently doing something very similar to what you're thinking of doing.

kayakdiver

Don't know Vancouver all that well but just over the border in Bellingham, Wa you will find quite a few good bike shops. I think you would save some money getting into the US also. If I'm wrong on that just hit me on the head though. You can purchase things like the surly long haul trucker in bellingham. REI also sells a nice touring bike and they are also located in bellingham. Don't know if any of this helps you but it does seem that prices are less just over the border.

seb1041

I'd take the plane.

And I was proud because I did a century...Oh well!

mooxster

driving through some of those places is dangerous and you want to do it on a bicycle?

have you done any sort of riding like this before?

twocoasttb

Darien Gap. Watch out for rebels.

AEO

yep, ask in the touring forum

CastIron

Beat me to it.

johnny99

The author Ian Hibell did this ride once. Try his book "Into the Remote Places" for a write-up.
Here's a video of him biking though the Darien Gap. Doesn't look too bad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ylhWPCekdM

roadiejorge 

I've ridden in Ecuador so just be very mindful when riding in the mountains: the roads are narrow, the drivers go too fast on them, and there are no guardrails making the drop to the forests below a looong way down. Be very careful because it's a bit lawless in the sticks when it comes to the roadside robbers.

Gordon P

Definitely check out the touring forum and get away from these naysayers! Also check out Crazyguyonabike.com there is heaps of info and many journals on cycling this route. In regards to starting in Vancouver you will find lots of bike shops and a good place to start for gear is the Mountain Equipment Co-op. You may consider a short shakedown tour of Vancouver Island to get used to your new equipment. Price wise Canada will be much more affordable then France. You may want to post a question on the touring forum about economically outfitting an expedition bike for a Pan American adventure.
Welcome to the forum and good luck.
Gordon p

bccycleguy

As mentioned above, you are on the wrong forum. There have been similar and/or portions of your planned trip discussed on the Touring Forum in the last year.

The Altiplano is very windy in the winter months (June to Sept), 100 km+ winds are common and it's cold; like down to -20 C at night. Also potable water is scarce and roads are rough/soft. Some cycle tourists on the Touring Forum who crossed from Bolivia to Argentina (granted not exactly your proposed route) seemed pretty happy to have survived. I worked in that are for about 2 years and can't imagine crossing it on a bicycle.

Treker

Ottawa-lad speaking: Oh I don't think you're wrong at all. I cry in my beer when I see BFers discussing ($US) prices for this or that. We flirted with parity there for a while but have since reverted to our usual 2nd place. Maybe if oil climbs back up to its stratospheric heights again and our dollar climbs with it, I'll head to NY and buy some gear...

rooftest

If you don't speak Spanish fluently (and that's "latin american" Spanish rather than "European" Spanish), don't even think about trying that.

MrCrassic 

I'm moving this to Touring, but here are my two cents.

I don't mean to discourage you, but many areas in Central/South America are very difficult to ride across either physically, safely or both. With this, I highly recommend talking to others that have done a route similar to this.

As far as language requirements go, you will probably be okay in the larger cities if your Spanish is rusty. However, most of the smaller cities do not know a word of English and may even use more difficult Spanish dialects. Therefore, I agree with others in that having a very fluent understanding of the language will be essential in making your ride a lot easier.

I hope this helps, though I haven't done cross-country cycling like this before.

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3d3vart

Don't let these curmudgeons discourage you...go for it! Don't worry about the spanish, by the time you're halfway across Mexico you'll have picked up enough to get by...and after a year? You'll be fluent.

Check out the guys at https://ridingthespine.com/main.html . They're taking the "scenic" route to Tierra del Fuego from Alaska. They seem to be doing fine...and having a blast no doubt.

Any undertaking that large is going to be filled with difficulties and unplanned events...an open attitude and willingness to adapt are key. Keep us in the loop!

Machka 

I find it interesting that the Road forum finds this idea crazy while it would be considered quite conceivable in the Touring forum.

valygrl

Yeah, they're a bunch of wussies over there, they need to HTFU. ;D