My Alaska to Argentina Bike Build

For my Alaska to Argentina ride I decided to build my own bike. It was the first bike I ever build and in this video I go over my decisions for each component.
I figured building my bike would help me learn bike maintenance and allow me to end up with exactly the kind of bike that I wanted. Well, I did learn a lot and there are many aspects of the bike that I like, but it's far from perfect. Some might say "It's foolish to learn bike building on a bike you plan on riding across the planet." To them I say, "You're probably right, but it's too late to turn back now."
Even so, it's made it this far, who knows, maybe it'll go all the way.
Social Media:
Instagram: crankingit
Support Me:
Patrion: patreon.com/CrankingIt
Paypal: paypal.me/AlexvanGelder
About the Ride:
My name is Alex van Gelder. I'm from Seattle and I'm just starting my first intercontinental bicycle tour. The goal is to ride from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina in one go.
I also want to ride some bikepacking routes as part of my route including the Great Divide Route through the Rocky Mountains and the Peru and Ecuador Divides through the Andes.
If you have any other questions you can check out my FAQs video: • Alaska to Argentina | ...
or leave a comment and I'll get to it as soon as I can.

[@horaciodedona3912]

I just found you. And you are helping me with the same issues that you have. the only significant difference is.... Iam 73 years old. I was born in Argentina. lived in Canada for the last 55 years. time to come back to my roots. Nice to meet you.

[@Crankingit]

Glad to be be of service! Let me know if you have any questions!

[@Channel-io1di]

Pretty badass, a lot of people like me would want a blinged out trek or some beautiful name brand bike. You're totally utilitarian and focused on the adventure. That's why you're riding from Alaska to Argentina and I'm sitting on my couch lol.

[@Crankingit]

Blinged out components feel great, but I just assume everything will break eventually, and I wanted something I could fix. But hey, as they say, you can tour with anything!

[@srileo]

Love the simple utilitarian build here

[@Crankingit]

Thank you! Not sure if it's true, but having a non-flashy bike makes me feel like it's less likely to be stolen as well.

[@Hank-ip8rl]

Great build! It's nice to see others going for durability. I'm so tired of everything being flimsy because people fuss over weight.

[@Crankingit]

Totally! Though when things do break down eventually, it feels doubally bad.

[@larry4674]

Great build! I built a frankenbike from a 2003 Gary Fisher Wahoo, and have put on about 12,000km so far. Still need to tweak components, but I think that will always be the case! Great way to intimately know everything about your bike.

[@hennings3938]

All about utility and durability - love it! Ride safe. Greetings from Germany

[@LuvingToryChristman]

Not what I'd have built. But like you've said: It's your bike, and therefore it's perfect. 😊

[@johnranyak1374]

Nice build! Just a little thing I noticed. Your brake levers are on the wrong side. I ride in bad weather and the opening for the cable end in the lever itself and clamp bolt should face down to prevent water from getting into the cable housing and threads for clamp bolt.

[@Crankingit]

Good catch! I had no idea! I'll fix it next time I do major maintenance. Thank you!

[@glengullickson6538]

My wife and I have used Pletcher double kickstand for years. Great product!

[@brokenspine66]

The Pletscher are not that durable they are made from cast aluminium. The Hebie 0605 is the most durable double kickstand, it doesn't fold to the side and is made of steel it's also rated by Hebie up to 60kg but those type of stands only work properly if the frame has a welded/brazed on kickstand plate under the chainstays which is common on touring city bikes in Europe.

[@Crankingit]

Good to know. I though about getting one, but ended up getting the Soma Fabrications kickstand. It works so far, not as stable as the Ursas, but it folds back better.

[@ludviggermainauclairphotog7710]

Superb build. Definitely taking inspiration for my own, thanks for sharing

[@bertrandbogaert771]

Nice build, don't mind the latest technologies that cost a lot of money. It's an ATTB, an All Terrain Touring Bike. Have a nice and safe trip.

[@Crankingit]

Thanks! ATTB, I like it.

[@freedomwon2004]

Nice build! Triple chain rings are great. Good luck! Thank you for sharing your adventure with all of us 👍🚵‍♂️

[@20Kilogram]

Love your Rodriguez bike, frankenbikes are the best in my opinion, especially for daily commuter and also for something very specific as touring since each and every single individual part is chosen to fit your particular taste as opposed to buying a full bike that was thought out by a stranger.

[@Crankingit]

I think that's what I liked most about building, weighing the pros and cons of each component varient.

[@20Kilogram]

@@Crankingit absolutely, thanks for sharing these videos 👍

[@user-cy5yy9bg1l]

I think that's awesome

[@danrichardson4623]

I know almost nothing about all of this. Impressive and awesome presentation. 👏

[@user-lm3rb2zj1v]

It is easy to find a 20 teeth chainring that will fit your Shimano crankset. A company called Mountain Goat in Germany makes them in stainless steel. They take credit cards and ship worldwide. Very durable!

[@Crankingit]

Looks like a sweet company. I think my crankset is riveted, though, so I can't change just one ring.

[@gregmccaslin7400]

Solid bit of kit .

[@oJAK3yy]

Good luck bro!

[@jackpumkinhead9583]

Nice!🎉

[@enzoferrario4164]

muy bueno!

[@psclassy1123]

Well thought out and well done. Ubiquitous is a great word but common or more available when talking about wheels is a better choice. You dont want to exclude your viewers and get them to switch to the next.

[@jinjatube]

Nice!

[@alirezafazeli8222]

Perfect

[@psclassy1123]

As for kick stand ditch it for a tree or a post with a bungee or elastic rope. 3 ring cranks are a great choice and its hard to believe how well low end steel riveted ones work. As for the hubs Shimano or sram cone cup still rule. Had Sram 406 hubs after a winter of riding I peeled back the rubber guard to service bearings only to find clean factory grease still in them.

[@Crankingit]

I recently got a new kickstand from Soma Fabrications. It works well enough, but isn't as steady as the Ursas. I lean when I get the chance, but I still like having a kickstand for when there's nothing convenient to lean against.

[@dudrdur]

Dude we just watched your episode 3 - can't believe you were that close to the wildfires!

[@Crankingit]

It was crazy. I'm glad it was downhill, or we might not have gotten through.

[@freedomwon2004]

I just subscribed!

[@jackshepark7229]

Bro !!! 😂 ..... I AM doing the same thing now .....building My bicycle to Alaska /Patagonia trip 😂😂😂😂...... Maybe SEE you on the Road man 👍

[@Crankingit]

Nice! There is something special about riding a bike you built yourself. Though if something goes wrong, you have no one to blame but yourself!

[@jed7644]

Kid-Bike accessory? When I see bikes without stands propped up on whatever was handy that doesn’t belong to random dudes on bikes, or simply dropped on the ground, I can’t help but think of all the kids I grew up with that didn’t seem to understand what their daddies had to pay for their bikes. Aside from the 1st one, a 24” standard geometry thing from Monkey Ward iirc, I started buying my own bikes young & _used the kick stands._ Still do. The only bike I have that doesn’t have a stand is a CF Specialized Allez that’s basically a wall hanger. I do ride it, but when I do it’s a non-stop lap around a local loop & right back to the house. The go-to daily mile-maker, a 1990 LeTour, that has a stand, & of course the town bikes & touring bikes do as well. Why would anything _but_ a full-on race bike not have a stand?

[@Crankingit]

I agree! But everyone else on the GDMBR was leaning and laying their bikes down!

[@Bikepacking]

Cool

[@Crankingit]

Thanks!

[@hamstergraphics]

Brake levers upside down? I guess it doesn't effect use tthough

[@Crankingit]

Good catch! They've been working out so far, but as another commenter pointed out, I should probably flip them so water doesn't get in. I won't be able to unsee it every time I use them now...

[@Bikepacking]

Disc breaks is everywhere

[@Crankingit]

Yep, that's what I'm starting to realize.

[@post_historic]

Got my popcorn... wondering if those rims are gonna make it. taco'd more velocity deep v rims than I can count!

[@post_historic]

Would really recommend the H Plus son todestreib. I have 2 that are basically new and I would send them to you if you need!

[@michaelhammill8000]

cliffhangers are a different story than deep V's

[@Crankingit]

Yikes! They've been working pretty well so far, but I'll keep you in mind if they do fail.

[@gurkpojken]

Super build. I Wonder if you tried straight handlebar? I have tried bar with 18° sweep and it hurt. But I like the idea of using the extrabars you using in the middle.

[@Crankingit]

I admit I didn't try out many variations before going with the Jones Bar. I just wanted something that let me sit up straight instead of leaning over like my old drop bars. The aero bars are a great addition, though.

[@gurkpojken]

@@Crankingit okey, soo many bike-sites almost force people to go for dropbars as if it a non-brainer its better for touring. For me its a perfect fit with a couple of degrees and long barends, almost like the old fashion touringbars.

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

U like the forks

[@JmartiStudio]

At the time of this video 2.46, you put those screws in. That can be done or you took it to a workshop.?

[@ligmuhnugs]

Very cool. What psi do you run in those fat tires?

[@Crankingit]

Depends, on long pavement sections I try to keep them high, around 60, but on long rocky or sandy sections, I drop it down to where there is some give, not sure the exact PSI.

[@rubyharrison-clay9129]

hey! awesome build! what pedals are you using?

[@Crankingit]

Right, pedals are one thing I forgot to talk about despite getting shots of them. On all my previous tours I used clipless pedals because they were primarily on paved roads. Over time I started to wonder how much advantage they were providing. The shoes I had were uncomfortable and my legs got sore from pulling. So for this build I decided to go with spikey mountain bike style pedals. I picked up some generic black ones in a used parts bin, but they didn't spin so freely. A couple days before I left, my dad was at the bike store and just bought me this set. I think he wanted to give my bike some bling, and, being new, they have much less resistance. It was only after seeing this comment that I looked closely at their brand. I think they are Supacaz Kryptos.

[@JmartiStudio]

Can you guide me step by step, with questions

[@JmartiStudio]

You can change the handlebars of any bike, and how long do the tires last, how often do you change them?

[@Crankingit]

Pretty much any part on a bicycle can be changed. I am now on my fourth pair of tires. How long they last definitely depends on the quality of the tires. My first pair lasted about 9 megameters, then I got some worse quality ones that lasted bearly a megameter and a half.

[@Desi365]

I'm late on this but -what bottom bracket do you use ? it's hard to find a good durable square taper BB these days. It's a vital piece of kit, you don't want it to break. -If you change your kickstand, Pletscher is the brand to go to.

[@Desi365]

Nice build, otherwise. I hope you have a great adventure.

[@tinatpasselepoivre]

SKF makes one. Or the IRD middle range ?

[@Desi365]

​@@tinatpasselepoivre They're outrageously priced the SKFs.

[@tinatpasselepoivre]

@@Desi365 yes but they will probably last and last, and last even in rough conditions.

[@Crankingit]

I had a Shimano BB at the start, but it did start to fall apart in New Mexico, so I changed it. Don't remember what. I changed it again in Costa Rica proactively. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.

[@at706145]

Why cantilevers and not v-brakes? The braking power is so diferent

[@Crankingit]

I had originally planned on using v breaks since thats what everyone recommended, but I found that they didn't clear my fenders. I haven't had any problems with stopping power, fortunately. Also, my old bike used cantilevers, so I'm used to adjusting them.

[@butidonthaveaname6543]

Get a click stand.

[@Crankingit]

I considered it, maybe if the replacement kickstand I got doesn't work out.

[@robertwilliams3527]

Uhhh 😬 Darien gap ??????

[@Crankingit]

Yep, I'll have to take a boat.