Q&A // Cycling to Argentina

[@GregMcCahon]

It's funny looking back on this, I was still very nervous on camera and I think that comes across pretty clearly haha. I'll keep it live for now as I think there is some useful stuff in there, but planning to re-do this in a more engaging way sometime

[@bengardy3076]

can’t wait!!!

[@DizzyBone3030]

You actually seem very comfortable and speak very slow and clear which is greatly appreciated

[@marcowolfart1987]

It was pretty good mate, don't worry about it. 😉

[@christianlalonde6177]

Good sir ! I am on my way this summer for this long trip myself have you been in need of vaccinations proof for any border crossing Thank you

[@GregMcCahon]

For those of you eager for the next episode, its coming very soon! We've stopped for a couple of weeks so I'm working on it now :)

[@trevorfletcher6791]

Great can’t wsit

[@drlaurence8581]

I didn’t see any time stamps and especially mention of money, and if you would the logistics of dealing with mail, shipping ahead, visas, etc

[@drlaurence8581]

Sorry I did find the time stamps, but still little on dealing with money

[@tortron]

​@@drlaurence8581I carried 2 different credit cards, kept separate from each other, and then had a little cash on me. Different amounts depending on how I felt, usually at the borders I would only be changing enough for the next day or two. Always had some usd on me

[@loriguercio4374]

@@drlaurence8581 09:25 by money

[@ktowntraceur]

Super cool you know John and Mira. I love following along with their adventures as well! I hope the next phase through the States is a blast!

[@PeterLarsenJr]

I stumbled across your videos because I am a Road Cyclist. I’m 61 years old. Watching you and Victoria and your adventurous attitudes toward life brings such refreshment. I have been vicariously going on the adventure with you. Keep putting up videos when you have time for editing.

[@kathleenhart707]

When you said you were looking after John's dog in Oaxaca, I immediately knew it was Mira! I have been following Ryan van Duzer (close friend of Johns) and also John and Mira's bike journeys for sometime now. You are all so inspirational, guess I just gotta get out there and ride somewhere!

[@karinkoch8443]

Iohan Gueorguiev is such a legend. Actually I somehow knew, that he is your inspiration. Your work is so different and just so good, too! Keep on rolling!

[@garcurran5079]

Nice to see Iohan had an impacr, a true story teller, wish you both a ssfe journey

[@patrickfort4467]

I so much appreciate that you mentioned Iohan. I found him and started following him early on. He's responsible for getting me addicted to KZbin videos. He was such an inspiration, a shining light in an sometimes mean, crazy world. He was always positive, and he seemed to be indestructible. Sadly he wasn't.

[@ericdanielson4177]

Iohan's vids got me thru Covid shutdown time. Miss those vids of his superhuman efforts.

[@davidfairburn6231]

Great Video, RIP Iohan ❤ a true inspiration

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you both so much for sharing such a personal look at yourselves and your trip. You are such an inspiration. Wishing you continued safe travels!

[@auriwind584]

You are doing an amazing job at making Videos like Iohan did. I miss him and his content a lot. Lovely to hear that you got inspired by him!

[@GregMcCahon]

Thanks! Yeah I miss his videos a lot too, I still go back and watch them whenever I need to feel inspired

[@michi6970]

Iohan the bikewanderer was one of the best . I miss him , too.

[@IronFreee]

I love what she says about her state of mind on the bike. You sure spend a lot more time with yourself, having nothing else better to do than to think. And the way you decide to go about it makes a huge difference on the trip.

[@argonauth]

Love that you mentioned Iohan, I really miss him and his videos and was really sad when found out he was gone.

[@robertainsworth7276]

This was great Greg. Thank you for taking us all on your amazing adventure. It was nice to get to know Victoria too. Now you've told me about The Darien Gap I've got something new to worry about on your trek. Please don't try biking through the Gap! Love you mate.

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks Robert! Dont worry we definitely wont be biking through the gap haha

[@kenprice1047]

I love watching John and Mira& now your videos! That’s great that you know them. Keep peddling!

[@rudrasinghfilms]

I'm mustering the courage to express my thoughts. I've been an avid follower of your KZbin channel for a while now, and recently, I've been captivated by your Alaska to Argentina series. Each video concludes with you both touching my heart, as you're fulfilling your dreams - a dream I share, to ride to Alaska someday. Sending abundant love from India, I eagerly await your visit to our country. When you do, please don't hesitate to connect with me.

[@ldosucowboy3279]

Great story--both of you. I love your approach to life and challenges. Very much impressed by what Victoria has done on this trip with no prior experience. Much love to you both.😊

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

Please keep this going . It is awesome to watch. ❤❤❤

[@wouterwesterveld3741]

I can tell you that your video's are absolutely super inspiring. I've never watched a video of the other youtubers you mentioned (yet) but your video's make me want to do something like this as well. You guys are a good team. Have a lot of fun and save travels!!

[@GregMcCahon]

Thanks very much!

[@Mittzayyy]

Victoria, me da gusto ver una Mexicana en cyclismo. Es muy chido. Donde yo vivo no hay muchas latinas que hacen esto. Saludos desde Iowa!

[@mariadesousa6028]

Great Video! Great story of you and Victoria! Love your adventures, challenges and approach to life, keep on cycling! Looking forward to all future episodes! Parabéns!!

[@Bandit1379.]

Oregon has some bikepacking-specific camping spots, with things like air pumps, charging ports and other amenities. You might be able to take advantage of these before heading into Nevada.

[@GregMcCahon]

Yeah they are great! have come in handy a couple of times. This video was actually filmed in one of those biker campsites too

[@montiel1968]

Thank you both for sharing your journey. I have never smiled and laughed so much watching something like this. The smile is on my face and in my heart. Gratitude beyond words Angel m.

[@GregMcCahon]

thats lovely to hear! So glad you are enjoying the videos Angel

[@kentgill]

Awesome. I'm really enjoying this series. Best of luck on your trip!

[@DiuQuy]

Love these two. So inspiring.

[@babarito]

Thanks for letting us get to know you and this amazing trip a bit more, can't wait to watch the next episodes

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks for watching!

[@martinwhetter6041]

Love the videos. Great editing and I enjoy that they don’t feel ‘rushed’, they have a nice flow and story. I’ve watched them all so far and looking forward to watching more. Your backstories are inspiring. I was surprised that Victoria didn’t cycle much before this trip. She’s a trouper. I especially like the fact that you both are enjoying the journey and not just cranking out the km’s. Happy trails and safe travels!

[@franky12]

You must get along pretty well. When I look at your episodes from Alaska and Canada in particular, I can imagine that your nerves are often at the limit when you're travelling under such conditions. The cold, rain and mosquitoes can really take their toll. And when you have to sleep so close together in a tiny and wet tent, you must somehow get along very well? And sometimes someone has a bad day too? Are there no arguments? 😉

[@andrewcarlson2955]

I’m really enjoying yup both on this wonderful adventure! 65 now so most of my adventures are behind me

[@adventureswithcrohns9778]

That's so true about the one month plateau. I'm not the most fit person and I did a three month self-supported tour across Canada last summer (my first) and I lost 19lbs in the first month and only 11 in the second and third months combined. It really did become easy. I'd be exhaling (almost like a relaxed sigh) going uphill and then get mad that I wasn't working hard enough to lose more weight! I really miss being on the road and hope I can do a long tour like that again sometime!

[@jamesporter5630]

I’m enjoying the series. All the best to the both of you. Be safe.

[@CottonInDerTube]

18:30 "Say yes to opportunities" - i like that. Kind of how i ofund my current job (which i love).

[@scottcoard1486]

Great Q&A. One of the best ones I've seen from outdoor enthusiasts.

[@GregMcCahon]

cheers Scott!

[@tonydownunder5703]

Thanks 👍 Great video, I love watching your videos and seeing the adventurer you both are doing 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪Just incredible 🤗

[@Gigis1111]

This was so nice. Good luck and keep the content coming. It's been really great and inspiring so far.

[@GregMcCahon]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying!

[@timadd]

Greg and Victoria! I love this series and I love your friendship so much. Question for Greg - what Fujifilm recipes do you shoot with, or do you edit on your laptop? I love the tones and richness of your photos so much.

[@GregMcCahon]

Thanks Teresa! I use the Portra 400 ii recipe from FujiXWeekly, then I'll usually tweak the colors on my phone bit with the A6 filter in an app called VSCO

[@krissia1106]

I thought they were boyfriend and girlfriend 🫠😏😶‍🌫️❤

[@helisalmela7396]

Thanks for the video, so nice to hear your answers! Can't wait for the next episode 🔥

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks Heli!

[@yourphilosophunculist482]

Excellent hearing from Victoria! Fun to hear your answers as well Greg! Keep enjoying the ride! -max

[@brandondixon4292]

Man you guys are living life so right, next pay check i'll buy some art, and try to get some friend to do so as well. I'm hoping to start doing things like this in two more years

[@GregMcCahon]

Ah thank you Brandon! Victoria will be very excited about that. All the best for your own adventures!

[@Jim_Manthorpe-hiking]

Thanks. That was really interesting. Good luck with the rest of the trip and hope you manage to find some quieter roads 🙂

[@jh5739]

I watched Elina's PCT episodes as they came out & loved them! Pretty cool to hear you're connected since I've been following along with your episodes as well. You've both made the respective journeys such a joy to watch.

[@HemPat56]

Thanks!

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks Hemant!

[@Mond.Garcia]

I love this "always say YES to opportunities"

[@ruben6991]

Espero poder recibirlos en Córdoba Argentina y ayudarlos en todo!! Los admiro mucho!!! Abrazo grande!!

[@jacobdixon4596]

Packed full of information! Loved it

[@fyren-xu6ot]

Still have to watch the video but so far I read 'beer encounters' in the thumbnail. Twice. Cheers! Love your videos. Gonna watch this one now.

[@LM-wj9mz]

So this is what can happen after hiking the PCT. 😉 Greetings from the Class 2022. Looking for my next big adventure. Bikepacking seems like such a logical next step.

[@GregMcCahon]

thats awesome! yeah its pretty nice coming from hiking, you can carry so much more food and water without it all on your back, and the downhills are free miles!

[@Nazzersteel]

Great Q&A. Trip looks amazing so far, looking forward to seeing the rest. Good luck!

[@inmaterialis]

Saludos desde Uruguay 🇺🇾. Muy inspiradora su historia, gracias por regalarnos el contenido, fuerza!

[@peregrination3643]

I thought I saw Victoria sketching in one of the videos. That's cool that she's keeping up with art during the trip.

[@cuestaarriba9249]

felicitaciones chicos! Gracias por compartir ❤buenas rutas! Saludos desde Argentina!🔵⚪🟡⚪🔵😘🤗

[@davidf8663]

Love the John and Miera connection!

[@kevinbiketour1]

Thanks for sharing your experience on trail!

[@lewke1059]

i'm so jealous, would love to do an adventure, one i've previously been interesting is rotterdam to istanbul by kayak :D

[@GregMcCahon]

woah that would be amazing! im definitely very curious about kayak touring too, maybe thats the next adventure after this

[@bandonbicycleworks]

Love that you did the Q&A in Bullards!

[@agusyasnig9652]

Incredible content, good luck in the rest of the trip

[@GregMcCahon]

thank you!

[@themonkeythatsmokes]

All I know is rode past my old house in Alaska, no way you could miss it is on the Alcan Highway 2 miles out of ... Tok, Alaska.. also I hope you enjoyed that 12 miles of "bike trail" they got there!

[@dungle-wh9td]

Happy New Year Greg! May I ask a question - how do you fix bike break down issues on the road- how often does it happen? Thank you!

[@a1ex_h1kes]

Enjoying your adventure. I used an Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub on my daily commute. That was bomb proof, never skipped a beat! I stripped it down to service at 40,000 miles and it was like new. Dont think you will need to do anything to the Rohloff for the duration of your entire trip.

[@GregMcCahon]

wow, 40k miles is huge! How far was it each way?

[@a1ex_h1kes]

18 miles each way, 4 times a week for about 6 years. Chingford to Vauxhall isnt as epic as the Yukon tho 🤣

[@kathrinjenner5179]

Can't wait to see more of your journey!

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks Kathrin!

[@Nooticus]

Absolutely great Q+A! Keep up the great work

[@GregMcCahon]

cheers!

[@anavidreader277]

Both me and my Grandad adore this series! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Was interested to know how you keep in touch with friends and particularly family as yet seems they live in England Greg. Victoria it seems will have a chance to see them in Mexico but I assume you won’t - do they have any plans to come see you vaguely at some point or just when you get back? Or maybe you haven’t thought so far ahead yet haha! Loved hearing more details about the trip. Safe journey 🚵

[@GregMcCahon]

Aw thank you! I'm really glad you guys have been enjoying them. We both keep in touch over the phone when we get time in towns. At this point I've been away for nearly a year and a half, so am definitely starting to miss everyone. We are planning to potentially pause for a bit during the hottest summer months in Mexico, so I may plan a trip home for a few weeks during that if the ticket isn't too expensive

[@franciscocabral7350]

I would like my videos by you're doing a very Good job and thank you for giving us hope that we want The things you love to do

[@arcoulant87]

Chapeau, great insight thanks for posting .Rubber side down !

[@GregMcCahon]

Glad you liked it!

[@xox.hole722]

Amazing,I even want to try it but I'm still afraid of winter and don't have the funds yet, looks like I have to raise funds from now on

[@black.raven.adventures]

Great one Greg&Victoria. Robert here from Vancouver (well, kind of) - another Tumbleweed Prospector fellow. We missed at the Japadog place by just a few hours......argggg, would have been nice, to meet and chat for a bit. I wish you both a wonderfull continuation, will follow your channel here.

[@GregMcCahon]

ah thats a shame! those japadogs are amazing haha. Thanks Robert! All the best

[@jaritza9625]

Thank you for introducing me to Iohan in this video.

[@MAX-odyssey]

vou começar meu bikepacking mês que vem pelo Ushaia até o México, espero encontrar vocês no caminho. boa viagem para vocês !!!

[@imienazwisko4109]

Thanks for the interesting Q&A! I watched the whole thing:)

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks for watching!

[@redeyedmongoose2963]

Absolutely love the video

[@benw5691]

Thanks you for sharing

[@OliverPassemard]

I'm still in shock that I hear you speak! #vlogvember Seriously tho, so great to see you explore and live your best life!

[@emilio5737]

Awesome, guys. Solo inspiring!!!

[@emilio5737]

It was supposed to say "soo" inspiring!

[@ebal08]

🤗Thank you for this video it was very informative. Your adventures remind me of Martjin Doolaard :) also on KZbin and his biking adventure was also as beautiful to watch and yours and Victoria's. Stay safe and keep having fun! 🤗

[@GregMcCahon]

Thanks, & yeah his films are amazing!

[@juanafernandezcappi8791]

Love u guys!! Thank you ❣️

[@franknobody5965]

Lots of very interesting infos! Thanks! How do you send stuff ahead? You keep mentioning that.

[@tortron]

I finished my ride to Argentina almost 10 years ago. Wow the some has gone fast, it seems like yesterday

[@bikedad7432]

John and Mira connection! So cool.

[@NITRODIRTY]

@yestheory this resonates with the yes message so much. Amazing video love the series. Can’t wait to keep watching along :)

[@toadevergreen2561]

At some point in the future can you answer questions about the different Tumbleweed bikes you guys are on? I'm interested in the differences between the two, any pros and cons you think are relevant to your experience on the bikes for people looking to purchase one someday. How does one buy these bikes? I went to the website but holy smokes it looked complicated. I'm interested in hearing more about routine bike maintenance: the frequency and severity of different issues and how you troubleshoot them. How many tires / tubes do you have on hand? What other tools do you have for fixing your bikes? I'm am avid cyclist, but in a below-the-poverty-line kind of way. I've got myself a Specialized Hardrock I've been rolling around on as a daily commuter for 10 years now and I've always dreamed of bikepacking after I finish hiking all the hikes I've set out to hike but I'm not a bike mechanic so I want to learn more about how you guys work on the bikes when you need to fix stuff.

[@GregMcCahon]

Best bet is to get in touch with tumbleweed, they will be able to answer any questions you have about purchasing! When I bought mine I didnt know much about bikes but they were happy to walk me through the pro's and cons of any decisions about parts/spec - their standard build for each is an incredible setup though so most people wont want to change anything. Main difference between prospector and stargazer is the drivetrain & handlebars. Prospector is built around the rohloff and has flar bars, and the stargazer has drop bars with a derailer/traditional drivetrain. I guess it comes down to personal preference and the type of trips you are planning. If you're planning to get way off the beaten track and tackle some more technical bikepacking routes, the prospector is your best bet. If your preference is drop bars, look towards the stargazer - still has huge tire clearance and offroad capability, but no rohloff so a little more maintenance. Victoria will soon be swapping out to a prospector and is very much looking forward to the simplicity of the rohloff, but is dreading saying goodbye to the drop bars. My personal preference is flat bars as its a lot easier to wrangle the brakes on technical descents We run the bikes tubeless, so we very rarely get any punctures (we got our first one 6 months in, and was more of a sign that we needed to top up the sealant) If we do get a puncture they are very simple to plug, takes 1 minute and then you're back rolling again. We both carry a spare tube just incase we get an unpluggable puncture or sidewall tear. We dont carry spare tires, they are too heavy and bulky, and if we ever had a truly catastrophic tire failure we can just limp/hitchhike to town and source another tire there. In mexico or below that may involve getting a bus to a bigger city to find one, so we'd be off the bikes for a few days max - all part of the adventure! We carry a small toolkit that covers most of our bases - allen keys, chainbreaker, small pot of grease, a couple of spare brake cables etc. Theres a good article on bikepacking . com that breaks down what you need in a repair kit and I just pretty much copied their one ha

[@nickbrown5457]

Great video, cheers!

[@padyakkangkong]

Greetings from the Philippines, been watching all your episodes from Alaska to Nevada. I like the last Q&A, my mother was like Victoria's parents. She didn't want me to cycle the Philippines, and next thing she knows I started my 7k kms Philippine tour. Wishing you luck and safety for the remainder of your adventure Greg and Victoria.

[@Louis_B]

Great job guys!

[@franknobody5965]

Sorry, another question: if you do not wear padded pants, what do you wear? What options are there? What have you tried and what works best? I only have used the padded pants....so I am wondering... especially about chafing....

[@Kadreik]

What gear would you swap out and what gear would you recommend for all types of weather

[@adanali_amerikan_piyadesi]

Greetings from Türkiye and good luck

[@edwardmiller6353]

great video!

[@forrestcharles9050]

I suggest going up the Umpqua river to Crater Lake!

[@GregMcCahon]

oh sweet, we'll take a look!

[@FergusMeiklejohn]

This is brilliant thanks! Could you talk a bit about your bikes please? You're both riding Tumbleweed bikes, how are you finding them, and how are you finding the differences between the Prospector and the Stargazer?

[@GregMcCahon]

We are both in love with our bikes! Main difference is the drivetrain & handlebars. Prospector is built around the rohloff and has flar bars, and the stargazer has drop bars with a derailer/traditional drivetrain. I guess it comes down to personal preference and the type of trips you are planning. If you're planning to get way off the beaten track and tackle some more technical bikepacking routes, the prospector is your best bet. If your preference is drop bars, look towards the stargazer - still has huge tire clearance and offroad capability, but no rohloff so a little more maintenance. Victoria will soon be swapping out to a prospector and is very much looking forward to the simplicity of the rohloff, but is dreading saying goodbye to the drop bars. My personal preference is flat bars as its a lot easier to wrangle the brakes on technical descents

[@FergusMeiklejohn]

@@GregMcCahon Thanks Greg, yeah I prefer flat bars too, and I like a more laid back riding position. I know you two have got both bikes loaded up with lots of weight but can I ask how you find them on more technical single track? Do you miss front suspension for example?

[@GregMcCahon]

@@FergusMeiklejohn To be honest I've never ridden a bike with a front suspension ha. the only time i've felt like I would appreciate one was on long washboarded roads in mexico, but you can air down the 2.8" tires a fair bit which adds some cushion. You can spec a prospector with a front suspension, but for me I'd much rather have the rigid fork for a trip like the one we're on, just for reliability and less maintenance. We havent been able to ride much technical singletrack so far, but may do some time on the arizona trail soon so we'll see how it goes!

[@FergusMeiklejohn]

@@GregMcCahon The Arizona trail will be fun 🙂

[@miguelangelmunoz3426]

My respects for you

[@greendeat401993]

Thank you so much for all of this! I have a question concerning the Rohloff gear system, would you say it behaves well uphill on small speeds with all the heavy equipement on the bike ? I mean do the gear ratios go low enough ? Thanks for everything anyway, you've been really inspriring me to take on a similar adventure soon :) Safe travels

[@GregMcCahon]

I find the ratio is perfect for me. On steep uphills my easiest gear is basically walking pace, so if I need any easier than that I might as well just walk as I’d be going faster. And then also on the other end the fastest gear is super fast on the downhills, if i need anything faster I might as well just sit and coast. I have mine set up with a 16t cog on the back, and a 32t chainring on the front. If you wanted the easiest gear to be easier you could always swap out that front chainring to something smaller like a 28t

[@reggieringgoldjr68]

Greg, have you and Victoria become a couple since you've both been Bikepacking this Adventure?

[@c_steve_j]

This was such a good video. I hope you and Victoria continue to do these when there is time in your schedule. As of the start of the new year, I have not donned padded shorts. Not sure why. But I was happy to hear it is not recommended to wear them. I've been a tad sore but I'm going to continue without them. In my former work like, I had to plan significantly for projects that I worked on. Now that I am retired, and riding more and farther, I am finding it very hard to get out of the need to have everything planned out. My gut is telling me lets go lets go but my brain is asking all these questions. Late last year I would just get on the bike and take off and make up the route as I rode. It was invigorating! Do you or Victoria or your subscribers have any suggestions for getting out of this mode of having to have everything planned out? This mode of thinking is really starting to bother me. Friends are saying "just get your butt out there and do it. You'll figure it out!". You and Victoria are inspiring. Just as Iohan was. I love watching his videos. Take care! Stay safe! ... Ciao

[@GregMcCahon]

I think the best way to look at a trip like this is that its just stringing together multiple shorter 3-4 day trips. While we like to keep our options open during the day, we do typically plan out our route around a week ahead so we know how much food to carry etc. But if we meet someone interesting, find a good camp spot early or spot an interesting looking road, we are very happy to throw that plan out the window as long as we have enough food and water. I'd try not to overthink it too much, once you gain confidence in your self-sufficiency on the bike, then you can really just go with the flow. But that definitely comes with time. Plan all you like at first if that gets you out there and helps you feel more comfortable

[@leonelbarral]

Para cuando lleguen a Argentina y si pasan por Buenos Aires, tienen un lugar para dormir😊

[@meichai271]

I love your videos!

[@GregMcCahon]

thanks!

[@achookangaroo]

Awesome video! I love being able to see your progress on Instagram. Do you use Strava too? And do you navigate with your phones primarily?

[@GregMcCahon]

Cheers! And yep, our main navigation is done on our phones. I have a garmin inreach that I could use as a backup but I've never had to - the phone with Mapout works great! We don't use strava

[@vigggwhirhb9062]

I think what you guys are doing is so cool! Just wondering: What sort of camera equipment do you have along to film your travel?

[@GregMcCahon]

I use a sony ZV1 and a gopro 10, and we also film a lot on our phones. To be honest if I was buying all the gear again, I would probably just upgrade to a newer iphone and film it all on that, the quality is great and it saves a lot of time in editing

[@brokenalarms]

@@GregMcCahon loving the videos, keep it up. Think you've made the right choice with the GoPro - new phones still cannot compete with image stabilization. In the video I just put up of our travels around New Zealand, I used a combination of my new Pixel 7, GoPro 8, and girlfriend's iPhone, and next time I'll just make a rule of GoPro video only! The image stabilization is far better, and one source makes color grading much easier.

[@spyderlover2054]

John and Mira! I am aware of them from Ryan's adventures. Small community!

[@GregMcCahon]

yeah they are amazing! you can actually catch a small clip of me in Ryans video from cycling through Zacatecas in mexico

[@louisrafaelcom]

As a Louis (same pronunciation) who is definitely not the one meant, sure feels weird being greeted randomly in a video :D

[@ShafDoesSharjah]

inspired