2 Locos On Wheels: Home Is Wherever the Bikes Stop

Greetings, adventurers!

Recently, we've received a story from Barbara and Jordi of 2 Locos On Wheels, who have been bikepacking their way across the world. So, for this community adventure, we're heading a little further afield with them!

They've spent several years travelling by bicycle, first cycling through nine countries in Europe before flying to South America and continuing their journey there, from the far south of the continent to the north. They also travelled through parts of Asia along the way. And their adventure is still going — they're now back in Europe, heading north towards the Arctic.

To be honest, I'm quite jealous of their life.

And when we say travelling by bicycle, we mean it. Their bikes carry almost everything they need, from camping equipment and clothing to cooking gear, food and water.

We asked them to tell us about their time travelling through South America, where they started their adventure. Seven countries, thousands of kilometres, high mountains, deserts, forests, strong winds, and plenty of days far away from the nearest shop or hotel.

It's quite a journey, so let's see where the road took them and hear their story.

Atacama Desert , Chile

Seven Countries and Thousands of Kilometres

Barbara and Jordi's South American route took them through Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.

Along the way, they experienced almost every kind of landscape and weather you can imagine.

"We experienced almost everything: long empty roads, zonda winds in Argentina, mountains, high-altitude areas over 4,000 metres above sea level, deserts, forests, Patagonia, changing temperatures, and some incredibly remote places where we had to be completely self-sufficient."

And being self-sufficient takes on a different meaning when you're travelling by bicycle.

They cooked outside, camped most nights, and carried their equipment from one place to the next.

"For us, cycling isn't a holiday. Our bikes, tent and camping equipment are our home."

Some of the places that made the biggest impression on them were Patagonia and Ushuaia in the far south, the Andes, the Atacama Desert, Bolivia and Peru, including their journey towards Machu Picchu.

"The landscapes were incredible," they told us, "but the distances and conditions could also be very demanding."

The Rainforest in Ecuador

The Wind, the Altitude, and the Empty Roads

The journey was already testing them, but some parts of South America really put them to the test.

Patagonia was one of them.

The wind could be relentless, and there were days when simply moving forward on a fully loaded bicycle became a real challenge. The weather could change quickly too, with cold nights and periods of rain adding to the difficulty.

When you're carrying everything you need on the bike, even a short day can become a long one.

The Andes brought a different kind of challenge.

Climbing for days while riding at high altitude made even simple tasks more tiring. Preparing food, setting up camp and getting everything packed away could take much more energy than usual.

The altitude also affected Jordi badly, making some of the climbs even harder.

"Sometimes instead of cycling kilometres, we were moving only by the metres."

Then there were the long, remote roads.

They could ride for hours without seeing another person. That's when having gear you can rely on becomes especially important.

"Those are the moments when you really appreciate having reliable equipment, because there is no shop or hotel you can simply go to if something isn't working."

But those remote places also brought some of the best moments of the trip.

They woke up surrounded by mountains and glaciers, travelled through the Amazon forest and deserts, and camped in places where the landscape seemed to stretch on forever.

The difficult days were part of it, but so were those mornings when they opened the tent and found themselves somewhere completely different from the day before.

Machu Picchu

When Every Gram Has a Reason

All those conditions also made their choice of gear especially important.

When your home is travelling with you on two bicycles, there isn't much room for unnecessary gear.

Their setup included fully loaded panniers, a tent, sleeping bags and mats, a pot, a pan and a petrol stove, water bottles, a French press and mini cups, repair and maintenance gear, food and water supplies, and clothing for everything from cold mountain weather to desert heat.

In January 2024, they started using SilverAnt titanium gear for some of their everyday essentials, including cookware, water bottles and coffee gear, partly to help keep the weight of their setup down. When you're carrying everything on a bicycle, even small weight savings can add up over thousands of kilometres.

And among all that gear, their titanium water bottles became part of their everyday routine. They travelled with them throughout the journey and through some unforgettable places.

At Machu Picchu, the bottles helped keep them hydrated. In the San Pedro de Atacama desert in Chile, they carried water through one of the driest places on earth.

Then, at the El Tatio Geysers, 4,500 metres above sea level, the bottles had a slightly different job. They were filled with coca leaf tea and a bit of sugar, following local advice for coping with the altitude.

"Which worked very well," Barbara told us.

The smaller routines mattered too. Mornings often started with coffee made using a French press and espresso cups, giving them a familiar start to the day before getting back on the bikes.

And then there was the hip flask kit.

At a colourful mountain in Peru, 5,200 metres above sea level, they brought it out for a little celebration.

"By drinking a bit of whiskey, we could bring it with us in the titanium hip flask and shot glasses."

It might have been a small amount of whiskey, but getting it there was another story. It had travelled all the way up with them on their fully loaded bikes.

A pretty good reason to stop for a drink.

Cooking was also part of everyday life on the road. With a pot & pan set and stove travelling with them, they could prepare meals wherever they stopped, even when they were far from the nearest shop or restaurant.

When you're spending long stretches in remote places, being able to cook for yourself is just as important as having somewhere to sleep.

After thousands of kilometres, these aren't just pieces of equipment that travelled with them. They've become part of the journey itself!

A colourful mountain in Peru

Gear Put to the Test

When we asked Barbara and Jordi what they had learned about their everyday gear after such a long journey, one part of their answer really stood out.

It's a pretty useful lesson for anyone planning a long adventure.

"One thing we learned during this journey is that the best gear is the gear you eventually stop thinking about."

And their gear really did get put to the test over the past two years and eight months.

It went through dust, rain, cold, and thousands of kilometres on fully loaded bicycles. It wasn't sitting safely in a cupboard between trips. It was part of their everyday routine: cycling, camping, cooking, packing everything away, and doing it all again.

"For us, the biggest advantage of titanium on a long cycling expedition is the combination of low weight, durability and simplicity. When you are carrying your entire life on a bicycle for thousands of kilometres, those things matter."

After travelling this way for months and eventually years, they came to appreciate gear that could simply do its job and keep going without needing much attention.

"That is probably the most honest way we can describe our experience with SilverAnt."

Barbara also mentioned something else she enjoys about their SilverAnt gear: being able to personalise it.

"I feel extremely happy to see our logo next to SilverAnt on the stuff we use on our long adventure without a return ticket."

I totally agree with her. I've engraved 10 coffee cups for my groomsmen and a tea set as a Christmas gift for my parents, so I know how nice it is to have something personal engraved on the gear you use or give to someone.

If you'd like to learn more about our customisation service, feel free to check out the page below:

https://silverantoutdoors.com/pages/customize

Barbara and Jordi's Coffee Kit

Every Adventure Has Its Own Pace

Not every adventure looks the same. Melker's pilgrimage to the UK's wild side, Mark's wild overnight among the Wain Stones, and Barbara and Jordi's journey all show just how different an adventure can be.

Some trips last a weekend. Others, like Barbara and Jordi's, are measured in years and countries. And the gear doesn't get to come home at the end of the weekend to rest. It keeps moving, day after day, mile after mile.

That's the kind of real-world test we're always curious about, and it's why we're grateful when people like Barbara and Jordi take the time to tell us how it actually went.

And their adventure has taken a few unexpected turns along the way too.

While travelling through Kazakhstan, they rescued an injured dog named Lulu. She has since become part of their family and is now travelling with them.

We'll share more of Lulu's story in the future, so stay tuned!

Pretty cool, right?

Maybe their journey has even made you want to give bikepacking a try yourself. Before you hit the road, though, a little preparation can make a big difference. Feel free to check out our guide below:

Essential Bikepacking Gear: The Ultimate Titanium Hydration & Cooking Guide

And if you have a trip, some honest gear feedback, or a route you're proud of, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a message, and you might be featured next.

To your next adventure,

Steve