In 2011 we followed the oft cycled west coast to east coast itinerary, starting in San Francisco and finishing in St. John’s. Based on that experience, and in the spirit of our company’s desire to explore all corners of the world on 2 wheels, we’ve now designed a 10,000 km long north to south route, that will see us cycle from Anchorage, Alaska to Mexico City. This epic journey will be filled to the brim with irresistible sights, sounds, and challenges that will appeal to the adventurer cyclist.
Basic Facts
The full tour will take 116 days, from July 4 to October 27, including 94 riding days, 21 rest days and 1 travel day across the Sea of Cortez. The average riding day will be between 105 and 110 km in length with about 650-700 meters of climbing and descent. At least 90% of the tour will be on pavement, with some short off road sections. In Alaska and the Yukon there will be close to 20 hours of daylight as we spin past towering mountains, tranquil lakes, and spy moose bear and bison. In the Rocky Mountains and close to the Great Divide we can expect a few cold and rainy days while further south in Arizona and Baja California the days will be hot and sunny. The final section in mainland Mexico will be hot and humid along the coast until we climb inland where more temperate conditions will prevail.
A Cycling Tour unlike any other
There is no other commercial cycling tour company offering a tour in North America similar to this, in part because it’s not an easy thing to pull off. We believe we will succeed here as we have elsewhere because of our hard earned expertise and knack for adversity.
Short on holidays? – Join us for a few weeks instead
For those of you who have neither the time nor the inclination to cycle 10,000 km, the NA Epic is also divided into 8 shorter sections, lasting from 10 to 20 days, each with its own character and adventure. Whether it’s the remoteness of the Alaska highway, the majestic vistas along the Ice Fields parkway from Jasper to Banff, the stunning and surreal landscapes of the American southwest, the cactus fields of Baja, or the old colonial towns of central Mexico that you wish to explore on your bike, this tour offers you all those opportunities to choose from.
The Freedom to Set your Own Pace
Our tours are designed to enable the participants to be independent and adventurous – with support staff available to provide assistance and advice whenever needed. You get the best of both worlds! On each riding day, small, but challenging situations will test your skills, like navigating your way through towns that you and your riding partners have never heard of. While some riders like to be the first ones to arrive at camp, others will cover the daily distances at a more leisurely pace, stopping to revel at beautiful mountain vistas, sample craft beers in Colorado, purchase souvenirs, or indulge in the tacos and other delights at roadside stalls in Mexico.
On the 22 scheduled rest days, you are free to create your own adventures – whether that means exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites, National Parks, museums, visiting gourmet restaurants, spas and hot springs, or just relaxing and sending mail home from the local internet cafe. You choose the activities that match your interests and your budget.
Food Accommodations & Support
The North American Epic Bicycle Expedition includes the following full time support staff:
- Tour Leader
- Chef
- Bicycle Mechanic
- Additional volunteers and staff as needed.
On all rest days plus many of the nights in Mexico we will usually stay in mid range hotels and motels. The rest of the time will be camping, usually in formal fully serviced campgrounds, but also in a few basic campgrounds, a few seaside beach camps in Mexico, and a handful of bush camps in remote areas. As with all our tours, your entry fee also includes healthy hardy meals on all riding days including a delicious protein and carbs rich dinner, the transport of your bags in our vehicles, and the friendly service of our staff.
Built into the entry fee are hotel accommodations in Anchorage the night before the start of the tour and in Mexico City on the night of the tour’s arrival. For sectional riders the entry fee includes hotel accommodation the night before and the night after your section (as long as your section begins and/or ends in a town with a scheduled hotel night).
We are pleased to have partnered with Clif Bar who will be supplying Clif energy bars and Clif Shot Bloks for our participants. Thanks Clif!