Alaska to Argentina | Episode 8 | The Highlands of Guatemala
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- Опубліковано 8 жов 2024
- The heat really started to get to me this episode. From Oaxaca, I climbed over the mountains that marked the end of the Central Mexican Highlands and descended into the lowlands. As always, the lower the elevation, the hotter the temperatures. Low elevation doesn't necessarily mean flat either.
I continued on the Trans-Mexico Sur route until San Cristobal de las Casas where I left it and headed for the Guatemalan border. I had hoped to up my pace this episode, but a combination of heat, rough roads, and a bit of sickness kept me from achieving the kind of speed I wanted.
In Guatemala, the dynamic was much the same, at high elevations I enjoyed riding through relatively cool indigenous mountain towns , and in the lowlands I sweated and struggled to climb back up.
I made sure to stop at a couple of famous locations in Guatemala, Lake Atitlan, the giant caldera filled with water, and Antigua City, an iconic colonial city.
Social Media:
Instagram: crankingit
Support Me:
Patrion: patreon.com/CrankingIt
Paypal: paypal.me/AlexvanGelder
True's SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/teacher-true
About the Ride:
My name is Alex van Gelder. I'm from Seattle and I'm just starting my first intercontinental bicycle tour. The goal is to ride from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina in one go.
I also want to ride some bikepacking routes including the Great Divide Route through the Rocky Mountains and the Peru and Ecuador Divides through the Andes.
For this trip I built my own bike using a custom frame in order to be able to withstand rough mountain roads as well as power through long distances on pavement. (I had never built a bike before so we'll see if it holds up.)(lol)
If you want to learn more about my bike build, I go over it in this video: • My Alaska to Argentina...
I go over my gear in this video:
• My Alaska to Argentina...
If you have any other questions you can check out my FAQs video: • Alaska to Argentina | ...
Or leave a comment and I'll get to it as soon as I can.
I'm editing these videos on the road, so releases my be infrequent as I try to find a quiet place to edit.
Music Credits:
Theme song created by True.
Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
It's hard connecting with people nowadays. But only keep the good memories of good people who were warm to you. Enjoy your travels 👍
Refreshingly real portrayal of bike traveling the world. Really enjoyed it. Insightful commentary and authentic sentiments expressed. Keep cranking it!
So glad you're felling better. That video turned into the definition of just "putting one foot in front of the other". Well done and thank you for showing us the reality of this type of travel.
Stay strong , healthy be safe !!
Hello from French Switzerland, I discovered your channel with this captivating hike! It's rare to see a cyclist with a 'vintage' bike. I have two travel bikes with rim brakes (because I do a lot of downhills while loaded). I use quality pads like BBBtristop which do not burn and are not very abrasive. Wow, your fork is thin and light! From my experience, it is worth fitting a suspension fork (always with the rim brake attachments). First of all, it is incomparable comfort and it reduces the risk of falls (especially when you get caught in a hole or an object you didn't see. For the fixings, I used 'Colson' quick releases (reusable) and/a luggage rack and for the rear a basket because it's so quick and easy to put my large backpack in it. - Diarrhea problems are common when traveling and it is advisable to treat yourself with plants, particularly herbal teas, but especially with white clay and activated charcoal (also to purify the water by letting it sit for 24 hours). It's worth picking nettles and plantin (the easiest wild plants to recognize) to rinse 2 times! There is so much in nature to recharge your batteries! Finally, avoid all trash food, meat or cow's milk! The antibiotic is really in the event of infection and when there is a life risk. I was also a victim of allopathic medicine and its antibiotics and it leaves you with irreversible after-effects (which we are careful not to tell you when we prescribe them to you). Learning to eat better and treat yourself with medicinal plants is the basis! Thanks for sharing and have a good trip^^
I had thought that my fork was the strongest on the market. Most people consider Surly to be a very reliable brand. I decided against a suspension fork because that's one more component that can break. I tried to keep the bike as simple as possible.
Cycling across the vast Indian subcontinent in 2017-18 was a kaleidoscope of emotions. The exhilaration of conquering new terrain, the wind whipping through my hair, the sun-kissed landscapes blurring past. Yet, after four months, a creeping loneliness set in, casting a shadow over the vibrant tapestry of my journey. Seeking solace, I stumbled upon a quaint seaside village, its rhythm slower, its people warmer. I sought connection, finding it unexpectedly through the local sculpture guild. Renting a plot of land, I immersed myself in their world, their projects spanning years, their stories weaving a rich tapestry. The camaraderie dispelled the loneliness, rekindling my spirit. Refreshed and reinvigorated, I embarked on the final leg of my journey, veering north along the eastern route, traversing through the heart of tribal India, each village a new chapter in my extraordinary adventure.
That's an amazing story. Having the flexibility to be able to stop for an extended period sounds like it can really enhance the overall experience.
Keep your head up you’re doing great!
I am loving your journey! I am also very jealous of your freedom to travel. Cheers and thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for another great video! Hoping you will be well - really enjoying following your journey.
Saludos desde Córdoba,Argentina!!!🚴🏕🏖🎣🏄🏊🚣👍💪👏👏👏🤗
Glad to see this latest episode. I admire your endurance. Frustrating about the fork!
I was happy to hear the Telecasted tune as you left the ferry. I employed that one in a couple of my GDMBR vids.
I appreciate that you kept filming even during the low points. It's probably the last thing you wanted to do, but it enhances the story.
Keep Cranking!
Hi, I understand when you said that you were lonely. Same thing I felt when I did the TransAmerica tour. I would be interested to see your camping and cooking activities. Take care of yourself and keep cranking! 🙂
hope you are skitter free for the rest of your epic adventure, thanks man, great stuff from rainy N.E. England
Beautiful scenic views I may never see ..glad you brought it
Heck yeah! Another country down, keep on crankin it bro!
Thanks for the video. Hope you're feeling better!
Definitely feeling better. It's still hot in El Salvador, though. 🥵
Still cheering for you! 🎉
Thats crazy that happened to your fork. I love your way of vlogging! Feels so tranquil.😊
A nice honest assessment of your ride. Thanks so much!!!
What a bike journey.. Wow, stay safe right buddy 👍👍
It was so great to see San Cristobal again! One of my favorite places! I’m glad you got some new shoes. You look like you’re working hard.
Your dedication to this journey is seriously impressive. Thank you for sharing your adventure! I look forward to each video you post. Keep it up dude!
Excellent video!
Well, that was unexpected of a Surly fork. What is the weight of your tent? The newer model Blackburn Outpost cages have three attachment holes. Thanks for demonstrating the reason ;-)
I think it's just about 2 pounds. The poles are stored in the frame bag. After welding the braze-ons back, the guy also drilled a third hole in the cage since it only had two before.
Thanks for sharing your trip with so much authenticity! Keep cranking it 🚲 PS: as some previous comments suggest, it might be worth looking into electrolytes or basic supplementing. I found that especially on this kind of trips its nearly impossible to give your body all it needs. Many snacks give you calerioes but little vitamins or minerals..
The struggle for good nutrition is always ongoing. I definitely make sure to eat vegetables whenever I can find them. A lot of Gatorade, too.
great work dude keep going
I enjoy following your adventures.
I wish i were young like you and could handle all the obstacles.
Can you talk about your cameras and if you carry a computer to edit videos...and how you store your files? thanks and good luck!
Sure! I do carry a heavy laptop to edit on. I also have a couple of hard drives, a rugged drive, and a solid state drive. My cameras are a Sony RX100, a GoPro 8, and my phone.
I hope you stay healthy for the rest of your trip. You have a good water filter right?
Happy trails!
Love your videos man! Do you plan on go to Machu Picchu, or Cusco? I want to ride down and follow the path of the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca. Congrats on starting a new country! You got this! Really looking forward to more Central American videos! Thanks for taking the time to make these videos, I know it’s tough!
I would love to visit more indigenous monuments. It mostly depends if I have the time and energy. I didn't and up visiting any Mayan sites in Guatemala, which I regret. But I guess that just means I'll have to be back someday.
@@Crankingit yea when I rode across the USA I skipped a few sites because I was too tired. Totally understand.
Greeting from Phillippines, love your videos and narration, how old are you sir? You are strong
Hello! I'm glad you're enjoying them. I turned 34 during episode 5, but I should be 35 before the end of the ride.
To bad you're not a coffee drinker! You should have made a bike failure bingo card. I'm shocked with what's breaking!
I know! I'm missing out on some amazing coffee, I'm sure. Sometimes I look at my bike and try to count how many components are still from the original build. Not every replacement has made it on video.
I did some months bike travelling in Spain and endd up buying a motorbike beause I m fed up with driving on streets having a row of cars behind me not able to overtake while trucks comin the other way. The truth is that the whole infrastructure isnt made for bicycles, maybe it will be better in 50 or a hundred years, but not now. I m now biking for a day or a week only where its made for and thats beautiful, thats what I learned of my trips.
It can definitely be stressful sharing the road with cars. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to go through that. It takes a lot of faith in humanity. I definitely prefer the smaller, slower roads or roads with wide shoulders.
Do you speak Spanish?
I do, a bit. Still learning though.
It's very common to get diarrhea from San Cristobal de las Casas! You should even be careful just taking a shower - I think it might have something to do with the huge Coca-Cola factory nearby (allegedly) 🤷🏼♂️
I got one question, how did you come up with you route? I'm looking to go down into SA and cycle back up the east coast of SA. I have no family here so honestly I might even stay if I find something I like. I'm pretty sick and tired of living in the USA. I've already ridden my bicycle across this continent, and looking for some real adventure. Is there a map set or did you map out your own route?
That sounds amazing! You wouldn't be the first person to settle down on a long bike trip.
As for my route, when I'm not using established bikepacking routes from Bikepacking.com, I usually just look at a map and identify generally where I want to go. Then, if there are interesting roads as alternates to the main highway, I'll try to take those. I also change and refine the route as I get closer with advice from locals.
It also depends on my mood. Sometimes, I'm in the mood for an adventure. Sometimes, I just want to get on the most direct road, put my head down, and crank.
@@Crankingit solid advice! Ill check out that website.
😊🇬🇧
Alex, make sure you’re getting electrolytes! Diarrhea can cause imbalances and a need for electrolytes beyond just salt…