|
 |
Participants
Who is the tour aimed at ?
This event is aimed at individuals who want to challenge
themselves, to test their abilities and endurance. But
it is also for those who want to contribute and make a
little difference in our world. The format thus fits
both the accomplished endurance athlete and regular
folks with adventurous spirit and in excellent physical
condition that have the ability to persevere and who
have done some long distance biking. This is not an
event within a controlled environment; it is an
expedition; participants will not only test their
physical and mental stamina, but their ability to
overcome the unexpected surprises that inevitably awaits
us. The organizers have created the framework and
support systems, which will sustain the race, but the
ultimate responsibility for this endeavour lies with
you.
Am I capable of doing this ?
The tough stages, the long-term stay at high altitudes
and the extreme weather conditions make "The Andes
Trail" to a real challenge. If you are in good health,
love adventure and enjoy cycling, you are capable of
completing The Andes Trail. We average 100 km per day
and you can ride at your own pace. You will be served
lunch at the mid-point of each day's ride, and our crew
are always available to assist you if you are having
difficulties of any kind. On any day when you don't feel
up to biking, you can also catch a ride on one of our
support vehicles.
Take into account that only a few succeed to cycle the
full distance between Quito and Ushuaia; they need a
strong constitution, mental toughness and certainly no
set back.
Before you start
Do I need visas ?
Participants of most western
countries doesn't need a visa for "The Andes Trail".
You'll find more detailed information in the Brochure.
What about insurance ?
You are responsible for obtaining health and travel
insurance, including emergency rescue appropriate for
South-America. Further information will be given in the
Brochure. Individuals without proper insurance will not
be allowed to participate.
On the Tour
Where do cyclists stay and sleep ?
During "The Andes Trail" the accommodation is a
combination of camping and spending the nights in
hotels. If available we stay at campsites that provide
comforts including toilets, showers, clothes washing
facilities, a bar/café/restaurant area, etc. At several
of the campsites their will be opportunities to upgrade
to a room, however this will be at your own expense. At
stages of the tour where proper accommodation is not
available the crew will look for a suitable spot to make
a bush camp. In a bush camp their will be no facilities,
this means no restrooms or showers.
We stay minimal 60 nights in a hotel, ranging from basic
to three stars. Those nights you will mainly find in the
first half of the tour in the bigger towns of Ecuador,
Peru and Bolivia. It is impossible to cook in the
kitchen of the hotels and these kitchens are not always
prepared to cook for a group of hungry cyclists. The
participants are responsible to arrange their own
dinner, which is normally not too difficult.
What will I eat ?
We know how important food is on a trip like this. On
biking days, our cook will prepare four meals. You will
be treated to generous portions of food that will be a
combination of regional recipes and meals made from
local ingredients as well as some of the cook's
specialties. We will also provide energy bars, clean
water and an energy boosting beverage.
Everyone is of course free to explore and sample the
culinary hot spots along the way. We believe eating
local cuisine is part and parcel of the adventure as
well as supporting the local economy.
For those with dietary restrictions and/or ferocious
appetites, you need not be concerned. We take all this
in consideration when preparing your meals. You may go
to sleep exhausted, but never hungry.
Who will carry my equipment ?
Special equipped vehicles carry all personal items. In
addition, the support vehicles will also carry such
items as food, water, kitchen equipment and emergency
medical items. While riding, you only have to carry some
basic tools, a spare tube, water, and a snack.
Will I be able to do some sightseeing ?
"The Andes Trail" is definitely not a
tourist trip. It's a demanding bicycle expedition with a
total distance of 11,000 km where scenic routes and
traffic calm roads have been chosen. The rest days give
you the possibility to visit interesting sites and some
cycling days we finish near touristic spots".
Security
Is it safe in South America ?
A large majority of the people in South
America are warm, welcoming and very protective of
foreigners. However like everywhere else in the world,
the possibility of threat exists. As in any city you
simply have to apply common sense to avoid any
potentially risky situations. The biggest threat to the
cyclists here as everywhere else in the world - is the
automobile.
Health
What about health ?
Undoubtedly health is a major concern on
an expedition of such length. You must therefore take
utmost protection to guarantee your well being
throughout the race. You will need to be vaccinated
against diphtheria, hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and
possibly other diseases.
We will provide drinking water for your needs. It is
important to note that the likelihood of you coming down
with any diseases is minuscule. The most likely problems
we will encounter will be sunburn and diarrhea.
Additional health information will be sent in the
Brochure.
Altitude
What about altitude sickness ?
During "The Andes Trail" we get to deal
with high altitudes. Along the track we will cross a
couple of passes over 4.000 meters ( 13.200 feet ) till
almost five thousand. At the Altiplano in ( mainly )
Bolivia we are constantly at a minimum altitude of 3.600
meters ( 11.880 feet ) for a period of three weeks.
Bike Dreams has taken into account the altitude
carefully during the planning of the stages and the
locations to sleep. You don't have to expect serious
problems as you take some days to acclimatize in the
start point of your journey.
Bike Dreams is recommending you very strongly to arrive
in Quito at least three full days before the start of
the tour. Quito itself is situated at an altitude of
2.850 meters ( 9.400 feet ), high enough to acclimatize.
Make sure your start of the trip is pleasant and give
your body the time to get used to the altitude. Quito
and its surroundings has loads of interesting
attractions which you can visit during the days you
acclimatize.
The first three nights of the Tour in Quito you stay in
a hotel and are included in the package.
Climate
What kind of weather should I expect ?
In Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia we will ride during the
local spring; this means hot conditions in the valleys.
Higher up in the mountains, and at the Altiplano the
temperatures should be perfect for cycling; but they can
drop dramatically at altitudes above 4,000 meters and
also during the nights you can expect some temperatures
around zero degrees Celsius.
After the downhill from the Altiplano into Argentina we
will hit some temperatures far above 30 degrees Celsius.
Till this stage of the trip you will be spoiled with sun
(so do not forget your sunblock!) and we don't expect to
much rain. However occasional heavy rain in the
mountains might make the unpaved sections of the route
hard to ride.
In Patagonia the conditions will be different for sure.
Although it is getting summer the temperatures will be
pleasant around 18 degrees. The flat and open Pampas at
the east side of the Andes mountain range has only
little annual rainfall but the constant Western wind
will be a though factor. The few times we cross the
border to the other side of the Andes in Chile the wind
will be less an issue, but there we should be prepared
for some rain drops.
Finally the whether at Tierra del Fuego is even in the
summer unpredictable, every day of the year snow belongs
to the possibilities. But we might be lucky and hit some
hot and sunny days.
On a whole, we expect to have good weather for cycling.
Not too hot, and rarely too cool or wet; and in the end
it's all part of the adventure.
Road conditions
What is the terrain like ?
The Andes Trail is all together about 11,000 kilometres
covered in 107 cycling days. An average of a bit more
than 100 kilometres. In Ecuador and Peru we get a mix of
roads following the rivers in wide valleys and long
ascents to the top of beautiful mountains and volcanoes.
Of course it is tough to reach the top of passes of over
4.000 meters, but the climbs are in general not too
steep and after the highest point you will appreciate
the pleasant long down hill.
The three weeks from Cuzco till just before Salta we
cross the Altiplano and are all the time at an altitude
of at least 3.600 meters. Cycling in the flat highlands
is pleasant since we only hit a limited couple of
serious climbs. In northern Argentina we are almost
constantly closely surrounded by snow covered high
summits, fortunately the roads follow mainly the wide,
wide valleys so the number of meters ascending is
limited. The few times you have to climb a mountain you
will be richly rewarded with stunning views over the
area.
In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego we cross the Andes
mountain range a couple of times. But you will admit
that it is hard to call this serious mountain roads
after dealing the passes in Peru and Ecuador of over
4.000 meters. But be prepared, not the mountains but the
wind will be our challenge in Patagonia; always from the
west and often strong, for sure on the open and flat
pampas of Argentina. Some days you will be graceful for
the support from a north-western, other days a hard wind
from the south-west is your enemy. The wind might even
cause a delay in our schedule since also the ferries are
sensitive for the storms.
The road is paved for about 70 percent. Be prepared for
everything during the rest of the stretch. Some of the
"ripio" roads are prepared recently with huge machines
and will feel like tarmac. But on the older sections we
get washboards, loose sand and rocks. And biking the
Salar-de-Uyuni is a unique experience itself. The 100 km
on this salt lake you can ride wherever you want and you
only find some vague tracks.
Bike
What kind of bike should I use ?
The bike is without doubt the most important part of
your equipment. The route between Quito and Ushuaia is
paved for about 70%. During the unpaved sections you can
expect every kind of road conditions. For this reason we
recommend you to bring a mountain bike or robust touring
bike. A cross bike, road bike or light hybrid bike is
NOT suitable for the job since it will not get you over
many of the unpaved sections. So please install tyres
which can deal all kind of road conditions.
Non-cyclist
I don't want to cycle, but can I still come
?
Yes, there is a limited room for number of places for
people who like to join "The Andes Trail" as a
non-cyclist. You can completely voluntary assist the
other staff with their daily activities like setting up
campsites, providing the meals, visit local markets,
etcetera.
What to bring
What do I need to bring along ?
Detailed information will be sent in the brochure.
|
|
