Alaska to Argentina

>>1033856
Oh man. sounds awesome. How are you funding this?

Darien gap

A Cyclo-cross frame with pannier rack lugs or touring mountain bike would be my choice. I heard the roads get pretty dishevelled in south America.
That or ride a road touring bike down to Mexico then switch to a gravel bike. Learn basic and intermediate maintenance skills, there'll be bike shops along the way but it'd probs be a good idea to learn how to do it yourself for when you're in deepest darkest Peru!

You basically want comfortable frame geometry, lugs for front and back panniers, wide tyre clearance (so you can slap some big tyres on there for Alaska and dirt tracks) a triple front chainring, big rear cassette, sturdy wheels that can take big tyres, I'd personally favour drop handlebars, Brooks touring saddle, ortleib panniers, touring style shoes and pedals (they have their cleats recessed so you can walk around normally when off the bike) might want to consider disc brakes but the frame needs to have provision for these.

Learn how to:
Change innertube
Replace a spoke
Replace a chain
Replace a snapped gear cable
Replace brakepads/brake maintenance
Adjust gears properly.
Zinn and the art of roadbike maintenance is very good for all the above.
Hope that helps anon.
Tailwinds,
Anon.

>>1033856
>suicide by bike in the wilds of Canada

>>1033856
I'm not sure whether you'll want to go with 26" or 29"/700c rims, both are common in North America but I'm not sure what's readily available in South America. Do some research. 27.5"/650b will probably not be common down south.

There are a lot of nice mixed-terrain tires in the 40-50mm range for 700c wheels nowadays, but on the terrain you're going to be on, I think you're going to want to fit real mountain bike tires - 2.2" wide or higher.

That basically means you're going to be looking at bikes more along the lines of mountain bikes - think stuff like the Salsa Fargo, or Surly Troll and Ogre.

If you don't feel the need for full-on MTB tires, there are a variety of "adventure touring" bikes designed to fit up to 50mm 700C tires - Salsa Vaya, Specialized AWOL, etc.

Whatever frame you end up going with - steel frame, steel fork. Durable, and if it *does* crank out on the road, steel frames are repairable by anyone with half a brain and a shitty welder.

>>1033884
Agreed that I'd favor drop bars; being able to shift hand and body positions will be important when you're spending all day in the saddle. Also agree that SPD pedals and shoes are the way to go.

Gearing: Triple chainrings, 8- or 9-speed cassette in the back, and friction shifters all the way - one fewer thing to worry about keeping in perfect adjustment. Keep on top of cleaning and lubing the chain.

Building the bike up yourself will teach you most of what you need to know about fixing it, but it will leave some gaps. Notably: take the time to learn how to true a wheel or replace a spoke.

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>>1033884
My man. You just described my crosshairs . Ortleib panniers even lol. Im going for a short tour tomorrow (summer here)

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One of my friends is currently in South America, he's cycling around the world and has already gone across Europe, Asia, and Australia. He talks a bit about his bike setup here: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=tS&page_id=402230&v=9t

It's worth noting that he had been mountain biking for years before he started this and had also done a couple of shorter cycle tours. You don't necessarily need all this experience, but if you don't have it you should make an extra effort to familiarise yourself with everything on the bike.

>>1033864
I'll be saving up for a couple years living with my mother (no shame, I'll help pay the bills as well) to buy the bike and initial supplies. After that I'll probably take breaks in areas where I can find a job or perhaps sell some art if I find the opportunity.

>>1033865
Sounds challenging, can't wait.

>>1033884
>>1033892
Thanks guys, I've been taking all of these down.

>>1033889
If anything I'll be mugged and left to die in the side streets of Mexico.

>>1033905
That's who I aspire to be, thanks for the link.

>>1033908
>perhaps sell some art
cmon nigger are you for real

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>>1033911
Yeah I know, but I'm really not that bad. I won't say I'm fantastic but I figure if I have a skill I might as well use it. Here's some pseud shit.

come back when you actually do it fuck face. as of now you're just faceless nobody with a dream like every other generic bacteria inhabiting this planet

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>>1033918
What has got into you, Anon?

>>1033919
He tried it and failed miserably

>>1033919
fuck you man, i've ridden around the world twice. i DESERVE respect, you don't DESERVE shit

>>1033923
youre like that angry jewish midget that insults the trumpet player

>>1033924
now im FUCKING PISSED OFF! WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU LIVE?

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>>1033927
If you two are gonna fuck- pls go to the bike buddies thread.

Oh, another thing, you should start learning some basic Spanish. Not for physical survival, but because in parts of SA you will come across virtually no English speakers and you will be bored/lonely if you can't communicate.

>>1033856
>crossing a bunch of shit countries on your way to a shit country

Don't do that. It's a life hazard. Honest to God.

I am a shitskin from a third world shithole down in south america and I'm telling you, this kind of trip is a life hazard. This isn't America, Canada, the good part of Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Japan.

Would you cross the middle east on a bike? No. Then don't cross Latin America on a bike.

>>1033949 Here again

My dream is to go to my hometown by bike, and it's just 160kms away, but I'm aware of all the shitholes I'd have to cross, all the slums, all the drugcartel dominated areas.

learn some spanish. you will need it.
pack a machete. can be useful to avoid getting robbed.
google a lot,theres a lot of people that have done this. i would search for their help. your main concern is safety. in southamerica the only real problem is colombia and maybe venezuela (due to their current political problems). but you should be ok in the rest. central america.. no clue.. but guatemala, el salvador are hardcore, i know that.. but people do it.. other problem is the desert. north chile/argentina = big ass desert sometimes with nothing in 100-200km.. anyway, i wpuld search for safety info first. do it! and good luck.

>>1033923
You lie. There's water in the way.

>pedalsouth.org
I met these dudes while riding my bike across Chile, they did Alaska-Ushuaia and told me Peru and Nicaragua were the places were you'd mostly get robbed.

>>1033889
>If he even makes it out of Alaska

>>1033856
www.Ride4rmhc.com

Maybe email that guy for tips

>>1033986
O also, that guy has done Washington to Alaska before too.

>>1033949
I fucking hate everything about the land below the border. It's too damn hot, I hate Spanish y yo hablo (poco), I hate Spanish culture, the crime rate is stupendous, etc. (the food is pretty good though and Hispanics always make me laugh). BUT, this will take 8,000 miles out of my trip if I don't do it and I really wanted to ride the Great Divide. I'll decide when I get there, but I'd really like to do it just to have those experiences.

>>1033960
Si, yo hablo un poco. Pero aprendería cuando viajo a Mexico y mas (feel free to correct).

>>1033949
>>1033960
>>1033971
If they steal my bike, I can hike. If they steal my money, I'll probably get a job or something. If they kill me, it was fun while it lasted.
I'm starting to think I might go from Argentina to Alaska in case I decide I want to hop over into Europe and keep going, that way the worst is over from the start.

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>>1033865

Every couple of years someone in Panama or Colombia tries to make a go at being in the ferry business. Usually it's from Colon to Cartagena or something like that. They usually go tits up within a year, but it's worth checking out.

There are also private boat operators that take people on tours of the San Blas islands and then unload you to Turbo or Cartegena via panga boat. One of the more famous is a german sailboat called the Stahlratte that spends winters in the western Caribbean. They take backpackers, bicyclists and motorcyclists across slowly partynig their way down. Everyone is expected to chip in with chores on the trip to keep costs down. Check over at advrider.com for more info - they're motorcyclists but it's a very active forum. Also: http://www.stahlratte.org

Finally, as a last resort you can fly across. Girag is the airline that does this, including shipping your vehicle. Motorcyclists and bicyclists that do this know that price goes up as a function of volume x mass, so you want to pack as tight as possible, just like any airplane cargo. They kind of have a captive market, so they're not cheap.

>>1033993
You guys are so damn helpful, thanks man.

As you get down there into Panama talk to the owners of the hostels. They usually have connections and schedules of reputable boat operators making the crossings. Panama House is one. http://panamahousebb.com and another: http://lunascastlehostel.com/travel-info/boats-to-colombia/

Also: http://blog.pantrek.com/crossing-colombia-panama-border-darien-gap/

Remember, these are always in flux so always seek updated info from locals or people who have been through in the past several months.

Keep your schedule flexible, as shit happens when you're not following the beaten path.

Add: there is an older motorcyclist in Canada who rides his dual sport motorcycle down to Mexico about every year. Over about 30 years he has compiled a lengthy list of quality affordable hotels that he has found along with prices, locations, and descriptions. Invaluable and lists many nice hotels you won't find on web sites - lot's of mom and pop places that can't afford tripadvisers fees. The last time I bought a copy a few years ago it was yet to be digitized, but he will send you a photo for basically his cost and a few bucks if you email him. It's worth absolutely every penny the first night you use it. He does it out of love for budget adventure travel - a real class act.

His name is Sjoerd. Look him up on advrider.

>>1034004
*photocopy

It looks crude, but can easily be trimmed and bound at OfficeMax for easy access.

>>1033991
>I'm starting to think I might go from Argentina to Alaska in case I decide I want to hop over into Europe and keep going, that way the worst is over from the start.

Eh, sounds like a dumb idea to me. Start in semi-familiar territory, so you aren't 100% boned when stuff goes wrong.

>>1033991
>>1034008
Another reason to start from Alaska is weather. You don't want to be stuck in northern US/Canada for half a year waiting for winter to pass.

I'm from Argentina, and even a couple kilometers away from Buenos Aires it's relatively hard to get replacement parts for anything that is not a beach cruiser or a 18 speed MTB, I cannot imagine what It would be like near the mountains or in shittiest countries.
So, my recommendation is to use a ver basic bike, one that you can fix easily and cheaply as you go in any suburban bike shop. That means:
1" threaded fork
26 inch simple walled wheels
Freewheel.
Ball bearings.
Preferably not drop bars.
Square axis bb.
V-brakes.
Non clipless pedals. Use a classic clip and strap setup.
Buy a 90's chromoly mtb you can rely on and spend your money on getting the best quality things you can get within this limitations, get good tyres, the best spokes, etc.

>>1034120
this advice doesn't apply only to Argentina. I've had the same experience in south Europe.

>>1034120
>Freewheel.
>Not drop bars
>simple walled wheels
>non clip pedals

Honestly wth is this advice. If your rims gets worn out/breaks you're gonna have to replace them there's no sense to "simple walled wheels". And "freewheel"? You think he's gonna try to go on a fixie?

>>1034120
No.
You just have to know where to look for.

The best kind of touring bike, IMHO, is a fully rigid, straight 1 1/8 threadless direction, 3x9 Alivio or Deore XC (very light XC) bike.

Your choice of seats (cada culo es un mundo), your choice of bars (either flat, butterfly, etc. depends on your riding style).

I'd go for a 29er, which is pretty popular down here.

Always remember that any hard to find parts can be bought online.

>>1035210
(You)min myself here:

Also, an aluminium frame. No carbon. Steel is rather heavier.

>>1035211
are you an idiot
why the fuck would you recommend someone tour in a remote area on a much less comfortable frame that can't be repaired

>>1033923
NIgger

>>1035079
I think he's talking about an old-school threaded freewheel gear cluster instead of a modern splined cassette hub.

Still, that anon's advice is full-on fucking retrogrouch. Why on earth would they suggest a 1" threaded steerer?

>>1035211
There are plenty of lightweight steel frames out there. Pretty much any decent touring-oriented frame you can find will be steel.

>>1033917
that's not art, that's an illustration

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>>1035571
Define art, and also tell me these things:
>when I'm going to have the issue of selling something that isn't a masterpiece
>when I'll be able to find the materials and time to put in the dedication of creating something worth big bucks
>why you're such a prick

>>1035221
>on a much less comfortable frame
Early 2000s called. They want their meme back.

>that can't be repaired
About as hard to repair as the ultra-thin steel tube used for steel bike frames.

>>1035226
Yeah, I mean that by freewheel, and I don't know how to call rims that are not double or triple wall.
I know It sounds like retro advice, but I explained It, any other thing is much harder to come by, and having a bike that can be serviced anywhere is a great plus in my understanding. If your fork gets bent in some isolated town, you won't be able to replace It if it's a 1 1/8 but you will surely find a suitable one in 1". Fixing a frame that was broken is also something real, if your dropout breaks, is easier to find someone that knows how to fix a steel frame or that has a derraileur that attachs to the axis (obviously a 6 speed, normal one) that getting a replacement for your specific fuse or getting a turner to make one.
Also, the cost of any replacement part for this kind of setup will cost a fraction of the cost of anything newer, and that can easily mean a tenth of the cost.

You'll get your bike stolen here in chile.

>>1033919
>>1033918
Broken dreams or hes some fat neck beard with no hopes and aspirations.

>>1035699

People tour all the time on all kinds of gear. It's not worth worrying about it that much.

You really don't want to go through South America, that's hell on earth.

A better tour would be from Spain to Nordkapp in Norway.

>>1035607
>About as hard to repair as the ultra-thin steel tube used for steel bike frames.

Do you understand the difference between repairing steel and aluminum? (hint: its nothing to do with how thin the tubes are)

>>1036982

While I do think you have a point there, those thinner tubes still aren't as easy to repair as some people make it out to be, especially if some guy with really shitty gear is going to try it.

>>1036983
If OP has any sense, he's not going to be buying a super thin-tubed steel frame. On even "nicer" touring/etc bikes like the Surly frames, that tubing isnt so terribly thin. I had a broken Cross Check frame given to me by a friend and i fucked around with it when learning to weld TIG. Even I, an absolute amateur, was capable of successfully welding a tube back together and repairing my fork (looked like shit, but was structurally sound).

As long as the tubes arent like italian-racing level thin, any decently competent welder in any 3rd-world shit hole should be more than capable of doing basic frame repair.

>>1036987
forgot to say, i also fucked around with a stick welder and I was able to achieve perfectly structurally sound results, although they looked even shittier and were over-built as fuck.

But the point is that a surprising number of modern steel frames are receptive to repair by the crudest of gear.

>>1036987
>On even "nicer" touring/etc bikes like the Surly frames,

>nicer
>Surly

Surly is barely one step up from gaspipe level.

>>1036987
Surly is a bad example given how entry-level their frames are. Most quality touring frames use more advanced tubing than Surly. For example Reynolds 725-tubing hardened through a heating process. A non-specialist welder will fuck up the hardening by reheating the metal thus significantly weaken the frame

>>1037001
>>1036999
I'll give you guys that surly isn't all city

But hear me out.

What 700c bike can move more raw weight and handle it so well?

Note I'm really talking the lht not surly in general

>>1037003
Are you joking? Thorn, Soma, Patria, Fahrradmanufaktur and a hundred other makers build bikes that are vastly superior to the LHT in terms of capacity and handling. Many of them are even competitive on prices with Surly, given that Surly levies an hipster-tax on its models, and especially the LHT.

>>1037005
Every brand you just named has a weight limit that is less then what I can fit on my goddammit front rack

Not the origin 8 pizza rack tho. But still.

Again, what bike holds more weight?

Btw props for not going salsa. Shifty overpriced surly imo

Surly entry level? Maybe, but still, you guys are dumb as fuck, you don't need more than a haul trucker to circumnavigate the earth. Turn off your computer, go ride your bike, hypefags.

>>1037007
You lie.

http://surlybikes.com/info_hole/faqs/what_is_the_cargo_weight_limit_for_the_long_haul_trucker

>>1037010
http://surlybikes.com/parts/cargo/front_rack

Front rack alone is 32 kg. The goddamm thorn bikes were limiting at 40 total

>>1037007
I have an aluminum touring bike by specialized and it's held up close to 400 pounds.

>>1037011
This front rack has nothing to do with the LHT. You can fit it on other bikes. And if you're looking for capacity lookup Tubus's 40kg racks.

>The goddamm thorn bikes were limiting at 40 total

The Audax bike is. The Nomad can do 60kg.

>>1037014
Allow me to present my counter argument

Awol a shit not even fucking multi break mount

>surly needs to update the trucker for 2017

>>1037019
If you know touring You don't need that that you sissy

>>1037011
That front rack is designed to have the weight borne on the axle, not on the frame itself. 32kg is actually a surprisingly low capacity given that. It probably suffers from the relatively small diameter of the tubing (10mm), hence the mediocre capacity.

>everyone complaining about weight limit
You are the freds of touring.

>>1037023
It's only one guy and he has started another bait thread:

>>1036975

>>1037018
That's still pretty low. And the nomad is a flatbar.

>>1037023
Some of us move cargo

>>1037027
>Alaska to Argentina Anonymous 12/14/16(Wed)01:03:53 No.1033856
>Alaska to Argentina

>>1033905
is this dude realy your friend? ive read most of his blog and found it when i googled "biccle mongolia". his story from that country is pretty nuts. prety damn good bike travel journal.