Riding from France to India (in 1972 on 10-speeds)

[nalax]

Here is an article from Ride with GPS about two guys who rode the 6000 mile trip on $100 Gitane 10-speeds. It's a good read.

https://ridewithgps.com/ride_reports/4601-paris-to-mussoorie-by-bicycle-part-1-fra?otu=

https://ridewithgps.com/photos/7754474/large.jpg

[jpw]

Thanks for this.

[Beldar77]

I'm curious are both still alive and still friends? I could not determine from the article(s).

[redir]

That's absolutely fantastic! Is there a link to part 2?

Those pictures are fabulous too.

[m_sasso]

That's absolutely fantastic! Is there a link to part 2?

Those pictures are fabulous too.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page below the comments or here.

https://ridewithgps.com/ride_reports/4627-paris-to-mussoorie-by-bicycle-part-2-tur

Part 3

https://ridewithgps.com/ride_reports/4649-paris-to-mussoorie-by-bicycle-part-3-afg

[donevwil]

Wow, truly epic! Just skimmed all 3 parts and will read in full when time permits. Thanks for posting.

[fiamme red]

I love reading about bike adventures like this. Thank you for posting the link. :)

[nalax]

I'm curious are both still alive and still friends? I could not determine from the article(s).

I googled their names which showed they were both at their 50th high school reunion in 2019. I wonder if they still ride?

[J.Higgins]

Thats a great trip journal!

Stories like this simply quench all of the arguments that you "need this or that" touring-specific bikes or components to tour. These guys just did it. Ah, the resiliency of youth.

[reuben]

This has to be fake. The bikes aren't carbon fiber and don't have disc brakes.

[verticaldoug]

The saddest thing is this is now an impossible ride.

and the Great Buddha in Bamiyan in part 3 has been destroyed by the Taliban.

[reuben]

The saddest thing is this is now an impossible ride.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

[marciero]

I love ride reports like this-thanks for posting. Didnt read yet but one thing that sticks out is the out and back on the same route in a couple of places; notably the trip into Greece. Will be curious to find out why they chose to do that.

[marciero]

Thats a great trip journal!

Stories like this simply quench all of the arguments that you "need this or that" touring-specific bikes or components to tour. These guys just did it. Ah, the resiliency of youth.

I think those bikes are actually very well suited to touring, even by today's genre-specific standards. In fact, apparently they ordered them to spec. Love the bar bags and panniers too. Those cost a fortune these days-much more expensive, even adjusting for inflation.

[vespasianus]

Fantastic story. A ride back to a different time.


ps. Don't want to give the story away but those times were perilous as well.

[jpw]

Some incredible gravel roads in the photos.

[Hellgate]

When "bike packing" was called touring.

[GonaSovereign]

Great adventure.