The title on HN seems to deviate from the one on the page. I say that because that's only 24 miles a day, and I've known plenty of people who bike commute and do _at least_ that. The article itself, IMHO, is also more interesting than the amount of miles biked.
Agreed. When I first glanced at the title, I was thinking about the RAAM (Race Across America), where the winners do roughly ~3000 miles in ~9 days (depending on course and year).[0] The actual logistics of this trip North/South along the western side of South America [1] are much different, and glancing at some of the blog entries and photos, very interesting. There's also YouTube videos. [2]
Riding 24mi (39km) a day for a few weeks is one thing, but sustaining that for over a year, including making up for days off due to weather, mechanical trouble, whatever is what makes this interesting IMO.
And of course there's the element of "carrying literally all of your clothes, water, shelter, and food" on the bicycle for the whole year. You might carry your laptop and a change of clothes to work, but probably not multiple litres of water!
There was a guy in Canada (Al Howie) who RAN about two and a half times (105km) that far every day for two and a half months(72 days, 10 hours). 2 weeks after he finished he set a world record in a 1300 mile race.
Documentary? Article? He must have spent most of his waking hours running to do that. I’d be interested to read about his (lack of) injuries, never mind anything else.
In the 1980's, a 61yo Australian potato farmer won an 875km (544m) race between Sydney and Melbourne in 5 days flat without ever stopping to eat or sleep.
He used a radical low energy shuffling technique, which was a slower pace then his competitors, but he made up for it during the 5 or 6 hours they slept each day. He ended up winning by 10 hours.
Yeah, 24 miles over how long time period, and that OK - ride as you like... but he mentioned *Patagonia* so im sure its not Flat like the Earth.
I HIGHLY recommend something like an Orbea Rise E-bike assist for a trip like this...
I am currently planning a 2,500 mile trip and am working with Orbea on it...
But first I am printing some addon parts for my unit and in process of designing a proper trailer using T-strut to build a trailer such that it can attach to my full suspension, have two wheels that are the exact same as my bike, ie spares... but as t-slot, aluminum, with the appropriate mesh interior area covered, can extend into a "cot" upon which I can put up the tent.
Hi! I wrote the post. I stayed about 10 days in each big city because seeing them was my goal in doing the ride. I was probably pedaling only half the days. And yes, some of the kilometers were tough! Climbing, wind, weather, or gravel.
