A bikepacking adventure from Canada to Patagonia
What does bikepacking really mean? How did we get here? Why did we decide to leave everything behind and take to the roads of the American continent, from Canada to Patagonia?
This first article in our adventure log retraces our journey and the meticulous preparation for this extraordinary adventure. From our initial hesitations to Julien's unwavering determination, each step led us to this key moment: picking up our bikes, saying goodbye to everyday life and pedaling off into the unknown.
Ready to come on board with us? Then let us tell you how it all began.
What's a bikepacking adventure?
A craving for bikepacking adventure is a crazy idea that pops up without you really knowing where it comes from. So, to help you understand how we came to embark on the famous Canada-Patagonia route, here's an article to give you some context.
On Wikipedia, a bikepacking adventure is described as follows: "Bikepacking is a form of minimalist bicycle touring that differs from traditional bicycle touring by not using luggage racks, replaced by panniers usually attached by straps to the handlebars, frame, or even seatpost."
Let's be honest, that definition doesn't exactly sound dreamy! For Julien and me, this desire for bikepacking adventure on the American continent was above all synonymous with freedom.
Bikepacking also means plunging into total uncertainty. Every morning, we're sure of one thing: we're going to pedal. But what about the rest? It's all up to us. Will we find a place to pitch our tent before nightfall? Will we have enough to eat after a day's effort? This permanent insecurity could be frightening, but it's also exhilarating: it forces us to live in the moment, to adapt and to accept the unknown.
In reality, it doesn't matter how you define bikepacking, because every trip is unique. One route, one weather forecast, one encounter, and the experience becomes radically different. On the road, we quickly realized that we weren't alone in this idea. At the bend in the path or while sharing an improvised campfire, we came across other cyclovoyageurs, each with his or her own itinerary, trials and tribulations and small pleasures. It's a great nomadic community, invisible to the sedentary world, but nonetheless very real. And that's the magic of bicycle travel: setting off alone, and discovering you're surrounded by others.
Genesis of our bikepacking trip: Canada - Patagonia
A start to everything
We both dreamed of this adventure around the globe. In fact, it was this dream that brought us together. Without realizing it, we shared the same need to leave everything behind and go far away. Julien wanted to take a trip around the world for his 30th birthday, and I wanted to explore the landscapes of New Zealand before my Master's degree. Unfortunately, in 2020 (the year of our scheduled departures), COVID-19 decided otherwise.
This non-starter, however, led to our meeting at the office. One coffee led to another, and one day we took the plunge and decided to get together. After a few months together, Julien left for Colombia to develop his design agency abroad. And that's when everything changed.
360° COURSE CHANGE
Now settled into his life in Medellín, Julien alternates between work and outdoor training with his bike. He discovers Colombia's spectacular landscapes and enjoys the freedom he craves.
One morning, his father calls to tell him that he has cancer. A heartbreaking father-son call, made all the more painful by the thousands of miles separating them. This event marks the awakening of a thirst for adventure that had been slumbering inside him for so long.
Like every weekend, he gets on his bike to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. At the bend in the road, he crosses paths with Oleg, a cyclo-traveller from Alaska, on his way to Argentina. Intrigued by his impressive load, he strikes up a conversation. After a long exchange, he offers to put him up for a few nights. From this encounter, a rich and inspiring sharing of ideas was born, prompting Julien to register with Warmshowers to host other travelers in search of a roof over their heads.
A few days later, he picks up the phone to call his associates. His mind is made up: he will be stepping down in the summer of 2024, two years from now. A natural choice, both personally and professionally. After ten years spent successfully co-directing design agency Blackballoon, it's time for him to explore new horizons.
As for me, after almost four years working for a startup specializing in physical and mental well-being in the workplace, I realized it was time to set off in search of my own.
A destination to choose
The next step was to choose our destination. An important subject when you're suddenly in the mood for a bikepacking adventure. However, we managed to come to an agreement relatively quickly. We had several ideas and desires. The easiest was to leave home and head for Asia. This idea was all the more validated by me, having fallen in love with Asian countries after a month's backpacking in the Philippines and a few months' internship in Hong Kong. For his part, Julien wanted to start with the African continent. He was lucky enough to spend some time there (on foot and by bike for an ultra-distance race), and the continent didn't leave him unscathed.
So, to balance the scales, we chose neither! So it was to the American continent that we turned, for several reasons:
- The first is quite practical: languages. In fact, we both have a relatively good command of Spanish and English.
- Secondly, Julien, who had already spent some time abroad in Colombia, had always dreamed of crossing the country by bike.
- And finally, I'd never set foot on the continent (except for a 10-day vacation in Colombia to join Julien).
In short, everything on this continent remains to be discovered by the two of us! So we packed our bags, sold our belongings and took two one-way tickets to Canada.
Our preparation for a bikepacking trip
It's impossible to predict everything that awaits us over the next few months, or even years! But we can still prepare for it, both physically and by choosing our equipment carefully. And on these two aspects, Julien and I have adopted very different strategies.
Julien, or the definition of preparation
I often define Julien by the character trait I cherish most in him: his no-holds-barred, no-holds-barred vision. Why do well when you can do very, very well?
His whims can last a few days... like that famous day when he developed a passion for the piano during confinement. Actual piano time at home? A week. Because, and I quote: "That's it, I've covered it all." Sorry, Mozart! Or that time he bought a racing bike after helping Hutchinson Cycling launch the Touareg tire, including art direction for the "Gravel has no rules" video . Well, that one stuck around a bit longer than the others (long may it last!).
So, with the care you've come to know him for, Julien set about finding the perfect equipment and designing his ideal trip. He spent hours comparing bike frames, comforters, stoves... Everything was meticulously studied and, believe me, his setup is worth the detour.
And on the physical side, the same rigor: three gym sessions a week, plus a 30 km commute by bike in Paris. In fact, her Strava account is quite impressive!
In short, after a year in the starting-blocks, Julien and his faithful Tumbleweed were finally ready.
Marie-Liesse, a blend of instinct and celebration
For my part, I preferred to trust my instincts and the advice of others. We were following the adventure of two bikepackers, Sophie and Jérémy. As luck would have it, Sophie had gone to a bikeshop near us to build the bike of her dreams. So I went to the same store and asked for "Sophie's bike". Not very original, but one thing was certain: either it was an excellent bike, or Sophie was a talented actress! I chose to trust her, and rightly so.
Well, that settles the bike! Now for the physical preparation! Knowing me, what I really needed was to fortify my mind. So I found the best places in Paris to meet all my friends. Every other evening, I was either at the theater or in a bar, celebrating our departure a little early. Believe me, it's a very solid preparation that requires a lot of letting go.
In short, we were both ready for this incredible adventure. But before casting off completely, we organized a few trips in bike-touring mode. In an upcoming article, you'll discover all the sporting events we took part in before our departure.
And if you'd like to find out a little more, listen to our podcast about our final preparations: "A deplorable preparation".
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