La Ruta Antigua - Bolivia

[Keatan]

Your posts never cease to amaze me.  This one is especially dear because I am currently in Peru and after the one day of biking in the Andes on a rental I have dreamed of being able to bikepack in South America.  The opportunities really are endless.

Its so great to see someone actually doing it, can't wait to see more.

PS-Try the Coca candy.   Works just as well as chewing or tea but is quick and easy.

[DaveH]

Fascinating!  I sure dig the way you test your bags.

Those altitudes are insane.  Your observations of rough/smooth roads is interesting - right in line with research finding an increased O2 cost of "vibrations".  Some have gone as far to prescribe vibrational training...oops wrong forum.

Those Konas still available you say?  Small and medium??   

[chrisx]

Eric
I'm curiouse how much you payed for things like food, or a hotel room,
or just the basic things a person might need?  Was Bolivia quiet affordable
or rather expensive?

[Eric]

it's the cheapest and poorest country in South America.
Good lodging in Big cities would be $9, less else where.
food is also cheap, but not much variety for camping. Basically Pasta and more pasta.

[stevage]

yep.. I had the mechanics send me frame measurements.

Heh, somehow I totally missed seeing the OP's name - sorry Eric!

(I do love the photos...I went to Bolivia about a year ago, nothing half as cool as this though )

[stevage]

any little bit helps right? I'm a believer.
If you look up some history on Coca, or even Bolivia for that matter, it is saturated with coca helping with altitude, stamina and... silver mining to if you're into that.
Too bad we can't grow or buy it in the states

The coca museum in La Paz was quite enlightening. Can't remember the details, but there is a demonstrable endurance benefit - basically, you don't feel fatigue as much.

I actually had problems coming back into Australia - the sniffer dogs could smell coca leaves all over my jacket. Then it turned out there were a few coca lollies that I'd forgotten to throw away....nervous moments.

[Eric]

that's funny, I brought a few bags of leaves back. The Drug Dogs in Miami did not seem to mind. I was a bit nervous as well!
ha ha...

[Keatan]

I left all my leaves/candy/tea in Peru but then didn't have interaction with any drug dogs at all....guess I could have brought some back

[wdlandparker]

basically, you don't feel fatigue as much

gee, wonder why....

[ScottM]

Speechless, Eric.  Your pictures make for excellent daydreaming.  Gigantic mountains, high elevations, tiny roads, remote villages...

More!  More!

[GravityBolivia]

If anyone else is interested in doing some bike adventures in Bolivia (or Southern Peru for that matter), PM me or check-out our web site www.gravitybolivia.com and email us, Eric kindly left a couple of his bags with us, and we have more than a few bikes lying around that would be great for these kinds of adventures.   If anyone has more random questions about biking in Bolivia or Peru you can also just get in touch.  Cheers.

[luckylarue]

Eric - Thanks for sharing these amazing pics.  Couple of quick questions:

What size seat bag on Julie's bike?  And what brand of tarp/shelter did you use?

Thanks!

[Eric]

it's the standard one, Black diamond megalight mid.

[vaporjourney]

Eric, what was different this time that enabled you to carry so much less gear than when you did your Bolivian trip years back where you had 4 panniers?  I know that sharing gear with a partner helps a bit, but thats a big difference...

[Eric]

On the last trip I was almost entirely in the Altiplano where there is barely anything in the small villages to resupply and very little water in general. I had to carry up to 3 days of water in the SW deserts and up to 10 - 14 days of food starting off due to all the unknowns. It's not really lightweight terrain out there, but it could be done lighter for sure if you knew the area really well, but intimidating. On this trip we were mostly in the mountains so water was only a problem once, and food resupply was 3-4 days in more populated villages.

I also had a much more substantial shelter system. A zero degree bag, 4.5 lb tent etc, heavier & bulkier clothing in general, and needed it.
If I were to head down there again on a second trans altiplano mission I'd still have the rear rack, but be lighter overall than I was the other time. I also did not have anything on my back on that trip.
anyway, there you go. The front panniers I had were actually just cheapo compression stuff sacks I bought in Ecuador when 3 of my 4 panniers got stolen. I had one ortlieb sent down with shoes and shorts etc.

[a|s]

hi, sorry to drag up this post but read it after it was linked elsewhere.  I was hoping someone might be identify the kona pictured on the first page used for this trip.  I'm looking to get a solid hardtail sauitable for offroad touring and figured one such as this would solid and good to pickup second hand.

Cheers,
Alex

[Eric]

Kona Hoss