Courtesy of Riding the Spine
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Ever complained about your bike commute? You might rethink doing so after chatting with Jacob Thompson.
In July 2006, Thompson and two other friends set out to bicycle all the way from the Alaska Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of South America. Instead of choosing the easy route, they opted for the dirt roads and trails that traversed the continental divide. Their name, Riding the Spine, was fitting.
A little over three years later, and after having pedaled over 34,000 kilometers, been held at gunpoint, kayaking with their bikes from Panama to Columbia and dragging their bikes through mudslides, on January 10, 2010 the team finally made it to Ushuaia.
A journey of this scope isn't for everyone, but there are some broader lessons to be learned. We caught up with Thompson to talk bikes, adventure and environment.
Planet Green: How did you decide to embark on a trip of this kind?
Jacob Thompson: The idea began in college as a much smaller trip: to ride the Great Divide Route (Canada to Mexico) put put out by the Adventure Cycling Association. After too much time at University, the dream had grown, until we eventually had some semblance of a route spanning from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego that followed mountains the entire way.
Photo credit: Riding the Spine
PG: When did you start cycling?
JT: I started riding BMX when I was a kid and used to race at the local dirt track. Although I was never very competitive, I always enjoyed it. While in University, I started riding just to get around and was impressed at how convenient it was. Often enough it was a quicker mode of transportation than any other option. Eventually, I really fell in love with the bicycle lifestyle.
PG: Biking is certainly hip these days, but there's also a lot of talk about it in terms of sustainable lifestyles and international development. Do you think bikes have the power to change the world?
JT: Bikes absolutely have the power to change the world. Considering that the average distance traveled by an automobile is a mere 6-12 miles, it is not unrealistic to consider bicycles a perfectly viable alternative. With the advent of Xtracycles and cargo bikes, there are very few errands that you can't run on a bike, and for many people, just adding some racks/panniers gives them the ability to pick up the groceries, etc. and live a car-free lifestyle.
I remember encountering tiny town in Oaxaca, Mexico, where EVERYBODY rode bikes, we saw just a few cars and motorcycles. It was impressive to see such a large community of cyclists, families were riding through the streets and groups of friends were hanging out in the park, each with their own bike leaned up against a fence nearby. Ultimately, it created a powerful sense of community, that would have been impossible if everyone had been zipping around in cars.
While traveling by bicycle across the Americas, I have seen some impressive feats accomplished by people with traditional bicycles, from transporting a family of 5 to carrying impossible loads. To many people worldwide, a bike would be more than a lifestyle, but an opportunity for an income and a chance for a better life. Worldwide there are about a billion people lacking access to adequate transportation, which can cut them off from markets, clinics, schools, etc. So, yeah, the potential for bicycles in development projects is huge and fortunately it is catching on, with organizations like worldbike.org.
PG: Scariest moment of the trip?
JT: We have definitely had our share of sketchy moments, from running out of food/water in the desert in Southern Utah, to being held at gunpoint by village locals or the military throughout Latin America. However, I think the scariest moments for me were crossing landslides with our bikes in very remote areas of Colombia and Peru. Often, they would still be active, with rivers of mud and rocks continuing to tumble down, and we would have to carry our bikes along precarious and abrupt cliffs.
Photo credit: Riding the Spine
PG: What's the hardest part about cycling for 3 years straight?
JT: It definitely wouldn't be the physical challenges, as you eventually get used to the daily grind of such long days, but constantly being on the move and away from your family and friends can be trying at times. We also had to live off something like 10 bucks a day, serious dirtbag lifestyle, and that can make life really, really uncomfortable.
Photo credit: Riding the Spine
PG: Is there a group of people or place that struck you the most?
JT: Colombia was the most endearing location in our travels, a country where cycling is like a national sport and every Sunday the major cities close off motor traffic and open the streets up to cyclists and pedestrians. We were treated like returning heroes when we arrived in the tiny villages. The people are proud of the beautiful country they have, and seem to want nothing more than to be able to share it with you. We had heard nothing but bad things before visiting Colombia, and now we have only positive experiences to share.
PG: What is the main message that you would like to pass on to people after Riding The Spine?
JT: Life is good with a bicycle.
Photo credit: Riding the Spine
PG: You've passed through many different terrains and seen many beautiful places, what environmental messages are you taking away from this?
JT: When we were in some regions of Patagonia, we could drink the water directly from the stream and these days that is quite emarkable, and really only possible if you make the effort to travel to very remote areas. The environment is far more delicate than I had imagined, it doesn't take much to damage an area, but it takes ages to recover.
PG: Extended bike trips seem to be a rising trend. What are your 5 tips for someone that's looking to do one?
JT: 1. Get an Xtracycle or cargo bike, and start living the bicycle lifestyle.
2. Check out www.adventurecycling.org/ for maps/routes, advice, group rides, inspiration, etc.
3. Get pedaling! Don`t worry about having all the right gear, or being in good enough shape. You can figure all that out once on the road.
4. Start a blog to share your experience living the bicycle lifestyle with the world.
5. Comfortable seat.
PG: Not everyone is going to take off on a long bike journey, what are your tips for simply incorporating cycling into everyday life?
JT: Getting a bike that has some cargo capacity is key. Obviously, an Xtracycle would be the perfect solution for most, but even something as simple as a rack and panniers will make a more functional bicycle. Even something as simple as getting your groceries by bike will make a huge difference in your life.
PG: What's next?
JT: I sold my bike to some Argentine adventurers I met in Tierra del Fuego while they were finishing up an epic kayak trip to Ushuaia. So now I gotta get a new bike.
That, and I plan to write a book to share our adventure with the world.
Riding the Spine: Cordilleras Blancas from Jacob Thompson on Vimeo.
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