Cycling Guatemala - 22% Climbs with a Bicycle // A Bike Touring Short Film // Part 22 - Guatemala

If we had to use one word to describe Guatemala it would have to be: "adventure"! Never have we had so many crazy experiences in such a short time. From earthquakes & erupting volcanoes, to crazy thunderstorms & river crossings, we truly had a blast.
All we had previously heard of Guatemala, mainly from other bike travelers, was that it’s extremely mountainous with some really steep climbs!
And as to be expected, the closer we got to the border, the larger the near vertical wall of mountains became. But surprisingly, when staying on the Pan-American Highway, the gradients aren't too bad, just constant. However, when you take the smaller roads, it's a completely different story...
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[@bertski60]

very under-rated channel. idk why you don't have 10X more subscribers. thankyou.

[@wildirishladdavy7965]

Now that’s what I call an adventure ☘️🐺☘️

[@yvonnecarter4118]

Absolutely awesome 🎉

[@BelloBelvedere]

You are doing very good. A little bit hard but after you will be rewarded 😊 very nice place actually ❤it, beautiful !

[@mohdsaadrosbandiroslan8372]

I,m subscribe this channel sir I like this inspiration around the world adventure and beautiful location

[@yellowbicycleartstudio8974]

Another stunning video!

[@dududu8404]

Thank you for taking us to see the wonderful journey and scenery together！

[@Bernhard20Zoll]

Hello, wonderful conversation, thank you. Many greetings, Bernhard

[@chrlmlln9018]

Thank you so very very much for your wonderful bike touring videos you share so generously with us, your many subscribers! Best regards from Sweden and may God keep you safe and immensely richly blessed every new day! 💯💝👍👍👍

[@louisaandtobi]

Thank you, glad you are enjoying our videos 😊

[@ianmatlock1]

Another wonderful video. I started at the beginning and they just get better and better. Glad there are still more to go.

[@mickilkr]

Excellent video!

[@jengreatrex7384]

The shots of the erupting volcano were terrific! Thank you!

[@franknobody5965]

Great video! Thanks!

[@kofidebrah7594]

LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!

[@gillianduffy8725]

OMG! Those climbs...and the heat! And you never complain. I'm impressed. :) I've seen the volcanoes in Guatemala and they are impressive every time - on camera and in person!!

[@louisaandtobi]

We do complain, just not always on camera! 😂 Yea, they are really impressive. 😊

[@todddrumheller6726]

Just found you, thanks for sharing your adventures.

[@dududu8404]

I will be your big fan

[@shuttle461]

Great video. Fantastic views. What an exciting journey!

[@olafruiter4604]

hey guys, I love your video's and how excited you are about everything you do ;-) . It is a true pleasure just to watch you and you are an inspiration for me to get on my bike more (just day trips though but still). Keep those video's coming and keep enjoying as much as you do. Best regards, olaf

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks Olaf! 😊

[@onelove8062]

After riding on quiet dirt for thousands of miles to reach Guatemala, I really don't want to ride the Pan american highway if avoidable, people drive insane in Guatemala... like moreso than India, buses overtaking 5 cars on hairpin turns... I have only 50 days to reach Panamá for a flight home and up until this point the trip besides detours for day trips whatever has been entirely human powered. What was your experience like...? P.s my rear brake caliper adjusting wheel melted 😂

[@Cycle-Tourer]

Part 22: 22% climbs - Guatemala. Part 44: 44% climbs - Peru.

[@louisaandtobi]

Hopefully not 😂

[@mathieutallard6328]

@@louisaandtobi That s one reason why motors exist............

[@velupillaisamselva8892]

Beautiful

[@Chelsify]

Love your videos!!! Just one question, I'll be doing almost the same route next year. I know no Spanish....will I be able to get by or should I start learning Spanish?

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😊 Our Spanish isn’t great. We know a bit now to get by but definitely aren’t fluent. It would probably help to know Spanish, at least a bit, as many people in Central America dont speak a single word of English, but like with everything, you can get by without. There is always google translate and simple body language.

[@register1430]

just joining mid journey. What are you rig weights like? You are under subbed. Nice edits, music, live commentary. Louisa? wow. very pretty.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😊 The bikes weigh 50-60 kg with food & water.

[@1717DW]

What type of bike are you riding, make & model, thanks.

[@louisaandtobi]

Tobi has a “Wheeler Trekking 8700” frame and Louisa a “Hercules Superior”. Both we bought second hand and are about 20 years old. We then customized the bikes to our needs.

[@kilroyamer2352]

Why did you decide to go through the jungle and not the eastern Caribbean states and countries. Seem they would be more developed and thus get better support and perhaps safer?

[@louisaandtobi]

In Honduras & Nicaragua you can't really pass along the eastern part, so it made more sense to stick to the pacific coast.

[@alanc6752]

Like Frodo and Sam going up Mt Doom.

[@louisaandtobi]

😅

[@philiphalpern3246]

Another great video! I’m interested in that blue shirt you’re wearing; brand? Weight? Comfort range?

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😊 It’s a merino wool shirt from Minus33. Exact weight we don’t know, but it’s relatively thick. We wear it (long sleeve), in all temperatures as a base layer. When it’s really hot (40+ C), it is a bit warm, but we prefer the sun protection.

[@karllorossanodasilvarossan8708]

👏👏👏

[@Rino-bicycle]

I have a 12% close to my home, I cycle part of it, but walk the rest so I can't only imagine 22 %

[@louisaandtobi]

Yea, we often ask ourselves how we do it as well! 😅

[@iqueque]

On my Americas journey in 2007/8/9 I stopped in San Pedro for 2 months to learn Spanish. It was much smaller then, less crowded and busy. I attended school for 5 hours a day, lived with a local family and achieved passable Spanish which served me well for the next 12 months heading to Ushuaia and Antarctica. I took 30 months and travelled nearly 60 000 km. The highlight of my life.

[@louisaandtobi]

That sounds like a fantastic trip! 😊

[@jjboohoo9641]

It is so sad that people that trash our own planet. They say we are intelligent but I have to question that sometimes.

[@StarEssences]

cycling gloves (long fingered/short fingered) save your hands.

[@louisaandtobi]

Saves them from what?

[@StarEssences]

@@louisaandtobi c Calluses and blisters and tired palms. There are gloves that have some cushioning on the parts where the hands rest on the ergo grips. And if you happen to fall...gloves also save your hands.

[@louisaandtobi]

@@StarEssences Hm, never needed them for that to be honest. We have ergonomically grips that do that. Only wear gloves to protect against the cold.

[@wordpress4373]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXyphYONhtKgock Anyhting above 10-12% gradient with a loaded touring bikes, its much better to push your bike. Otherwise you are just ruining your knees and you are not going anything faster.

[@louisaandtobi]

We haven't really found this to be true in our experience. When pushing heavy bikes, especially for longer periods of time, we get pretty bad aches in our lower backs, arms, etc. It's not a good position to transfer a lot of power. When cycling steep hills, like we mention in the video, we hardly ever ride straight up the hill. Instead, we slalom, thereby decreasing the actual gradient we cycle. So while the road may be 22%, the actual gradient we cycle is far less. Also, having a low climbing gear means you can keep a high pedaling cadence even on steep hills. You only really risk damaging knees when your cadence drops super low and you put a lot of force on each stroke.

[@wordpress4373]

@@louisaandtobi If you have pain in your lower back and arms, your upper body musles are probably lacking behind. Slaloming only seems fisable on roads with no traffic.

[@louisaandtobi]

Our upper body muscles are definitely lacking behind, we cycle every day and not push. There is no point in us training our upper body more than necessary, its just more calories we'd have to eat. In our experience, roads that are steeper than 15% tend to be pretty empty. But of course slaloming isn't possible everywhere, that's why the low climbing gear is important.

[@wordpress4373]

Dont get me wrong, do however you want. I am a cycle tourer myself. I actually find steep hills an opportunity to rest my "cycle" muscles and engage many other musles in upper body (by pushing the bike instead) which are always lacking on a long cycle tours. Even this is of course not enough and ideally one should go to the gym frequently (which is not really possible on bike tours) to keep his body in balance.