Cycle Mexico '05

December 20, 2004 - January 27, 2005

Why Mexico?

It's close, cheap, and less dangerous then other South and Central American Countries. (In comparison to Guetamala, El Salvador, or Columbia)

Why bicycle?

Originally, the plan was to have a motorcycle by this point. However, Burning Man blew my budget through the roof, and there's no way I can afford a motorcycle.

Why solo?

I can't explain it - I feel like I need to challenge to myself.

The route?

Currently, the plan is to start at the Yucatan pensisula, where it's all flat, just to get used biking 60 miles a day. I'm flying into Cancun, and from there I hope to go all around the pensisula (possibly Merida, Belize, or both) and then vaguely make my way overland through the tough mountain areas to Oaxaca, ending up in the Oaxaca coast area. Possibly meeting up with Reuven and/or Stacey. Depending on how I feel, I might decide to bike further up along the Pacific coast, to the Acapulco area. My only restriction is that I need to be in Mexico City a couple days before my flight back to NYC on January 27th.

Are you crazy?

Yes.

Do you even speak Spanish?

I'm taking Spanish 1 right now, and believe me, this class is no joke! We learn ALOT. Anyway, I've never spoken the language of any country I've travelled to, and it's never been a problem. You'd be surprised how far gestures, a phrasebook, and a smile can take you. (Moscow being the evil exception.)

Are you physically ready?

No, not yet. I plan to start training 1-1.5 months before the trip.

Safety?

This is my biggest fear. Every day I read conflicting reports. For any country, it's nearly impossible to gauge the true nature of the dangers before you get there. For example, before we went to Nepal in 2002, we read countless warnings of Maoist rebels, but travelers in Nepal (on forums like the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree) continuously assured us that it was safe. And it was - the Maoist rebels do not target tourists. Same thing when I went to Egypt alone ("you're gonna die") and I ended up living with an extremely hospitable Bedouin family! With regards to Mexico, travelers on the backpacker route have confirmed its safety. I've heard from many people that the countryside and small villages are friendly places. BUT, I do read reports of highway robberies, banditos, robberies and assaults, and I'm aware that certain areas are probably very unsafe, especially for a solo woman on a bicycle. In recognition of these issues, I'm planning on asking the locals in each region about the safety. If they tell me that it's dangerous, I'll take a bus through the region, and start biking again in a safer area. I will have mace and a knife, although I don't plan on ever having to use them.

But the drivers in Mexico are crazy?!

Some say that Mexican drivers are courteous, some say that Mexican drivers are crazy. From what I've been able to determine, in some places Mexican drivers are nice, but in some places they drive like madmen. Either way, the traffic outside large cities is supposed to be very, very light. I'm prepared to ditch my bike on the side or completely stop and pull over for cars if it does turn out that the motorists are crazy. Also, I will NOT be doing any night-riding.

Where will you sleep?

Right now, I'm looking into a route in which I don't have to bring a tent - I'd rather not sleep out alone at night in unfamiliar places. Hopefully, I'll be able to find a place to sleep in each town every night. But this might not be a possibility.

What gear are you taking?

My bicycle, for one. (Northwest airlines lets you transport it for an extra fee.) A sweet Marin hybrid, 21 gears, with cool tires that ride super-fast on roads yet are thick enough to ride over bumpy dirt roads. I just got a pair of nice panniers from REI. A toolkit, a handlebar bag, my Nalgene backpack/hydration pack, powerbars... we'll see what else. Riding with lots of gear is not fun.

Do you know how to fix your bicycle?

Nope, not yet. I'll be taking bike-mechanics classes at Broadway cyclery over the next month.

Questions? Advice? Comments? Email me:

anna (at) annawexler.com