Epic Cycling Adventure in Africa - The Kenya Bike Odyssey
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2022
- The Kenya Bike Odyssey is a true African epic, a bikepacking route featuring 1,000 kilometres of dirt roads and singletrack. Starting in Nairobi, it roams through an array of landscapes, with everything from high mountains, verdant forests, picturesque lakes, rugged windswept plains, red sands, and enormous swathes of wild savannah. Combined with the opportunity to experience the rich and varied Kenyan culture and cycle amongst abundant wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, and elephants, this route offers an experience not found anywhere else in the world. This film documents the story of how the Kenya Bike Odyssey, Kenya's first long-distance cycle touring and bikepacking route, was made.
For the full route including the GPX and everything you need to ride it, see bikepacking.com/routes/kenya-...
Please like and subscribe if you want to help support me and future videos!
WEBSITE: www.tristanridley.com
INSTAGRAM: / tristanrid
BIKE AND GEAR LIST: www.tristanridley.com/gear
Special thanks to Eric Nesbitt and Rift Valley Odyssey, the home of adventure cycling in Kenya: www.rvo.ke
If you'd like to help support me financially:
PATREON: / tristanrid
PAYPAL: paypal.me/tristanrid
Music credit: Kai Engel, Endless Story About Sun and Moon (starting 19:10)
Thanks to everyone involved in coming up with this route. I'm kenyan and I'll definitely do this. You guys are freaking awesome
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the route, Kenya is such a special country!
I made that trip with my bicycle in January 2023. It was the first time in my life I ever followed somebody elses coordinates, but in this case I would definitly do it again. It was indeed an epic trip, so amazing, so beautiful. Thanks so much for putting it together and sharing! :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
That was my childhood right there on your film Boarding school in Nairobi holidays in the bush. The lakes the rift valley the wildlife all of it I lived it for 12 years and you know what watching your film nothing has changed it took me straight back to my childhood in the 1970s 👍 yes you are right Kenya is one of the best places in the world get off the beaten track and you are in paradise 😁
Same same although a few years earlier, we arrived in Dar in 1951, first boarding school with my sister up country in Mbeya hills, seemingly to avoid the oppressive heat of Dar. But the school holidays in my dads car exploring the game parks was epic. Me and my sister hanging out the window with our little Kodak brownie 127’s trying to get a close up of the lion packs!
@ragbag46 I too lived in Tanzania but only for six months and I have no memory as I was only a baby My Mum and Dad lived there during the 50s and 60s before moving to Kenya . Lol yes yours and my memories are very similar my sister and I too used to lean out the windows taking photos ontop of lion cheetah and hyena I always thank my lucky stars for the most wonderful childhood that I had !
è incredibile sapere che in certe parti del mondo dove hanno poco o niente, siano così generosi..a differenza dell'occidente, dove lo straniero, molte volte, non viene mai aiutato..bellissimo video e bellissimo viaggio!!!
What a stunning country. This is a new bucket-list item for sure...
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words! The route has been very busy since it was published, with many riders from all over the world having now completed the full loop, and the feedback has been super positive, so we're very happy. All of the details on the route can be found here: bikepacking.com/routes/kenya-bike-odyssey/ and you can also find some other useful links in the description of this video. Cheers!
What an amazing trip! Such beautiful scenery, and I'm just blown away by the thought of riding through all of that wildlife. Thanks for creating a great video.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure. I would love to ride this route one day.
Fantastic. Downloaded your gpx already.
This looks so good, thanks for all your hard work putting together the route.
could be my winter plan for the next trip - thanks a lot!
This trip definitly comes onto my bucket list! 👍
Simply awesome!
Looks amazing! Great work, Tristan! Thanks for putting this route together. Definitely an inspiration for future bike trips 🥰
Amazing and daring Bikepacking adventure. Am glad that you enjoyed your adventure bringing Kenya into a limelight of Bikepacking Adventure for others out in the world to come and enjoy this kind of adventure.
I am proud to see adventurers like you enjoying in my country KENYA 😊❤😊 That is why Kenya is known as
"Magical Kenya"
Thanks for the kind words, Kenya is such a special country and I can't wait to get back there before too long!
@@tristanrid Kenya will always welcome you! We say "Karibu Kenya" Cheers
Truly The Pride of Africa💯
Stunning ...and well done , it was an inspiring showcase for cycling in Kenya 🥳
Great camera work and editing, thank you, Tristan!
And yes, Josh IS a quite a character!
Great biking adventure video. Kenya is magical! A true taste of what a Cross Africa biking adventure might look like.
Thank you!
Tristan good job for such an amazing route and documentary. I am local who loves road cycling. Anyone coming in and would like to be taken out of the city for scenic road rides feel to comment and I will be glad to help, happy cycling everyone!
Magical trip and the land!
So much love. 💜💚❤️ What a ride ;)
Legendary!!!
Amazing route and video... I hope I can ride it one day 🤞🤞
Diese Eindrücke sind ein Traum, danke für das Mitnehmen. Gruß Ralph
Awesome route! Think I might have to tackle this in the Winter months!
That eagle swoop was most definitely scripted!! Great video!
Haha thanks, and yeah that eagle was a real diva to work with but he finally got it right 😂
Great!!!!🎉😊
Such a great video. Some Bikepacking videos are just to tranquil. This one is narrated perfectly. Glad I got to view it.
Thanks for the kind words, I've had the same thought about some videos so I'm glad you enjoyed mine!
You knocked it out if the park this time Tristan. Superb camera work and story telling. My grandmother visited Kenya in the 1960s. Easy to see why. Thanks for sharing.
Only colonials were in Kenya during that time. So on behalf of MAUMAU i say to you ; not cool
@@eastkanye254 , no, she was a tourist traveling through Africa. She also graduated Stanford University in 1917. Quite amazing for a woman at that time. My grandfather had already passed, but she didn’t let that stop her and she traveled and saw the world on her own at the age of 70 yrs old. Quite an inspiration actually. But thank you for your cheerful thoughts.
Another superb video !! Great filming interesting the whole way through!! Thank you 😊
Glad you enjoyed it
12:42 January 19 2024
: (in BC Canada). Such an invaluable (and reassuring) video for those following from afar as young(er) intrepid spirits undertake the route; awaiting their arrival at Earth Camp today, a long day for them (thanks to the daily check-ins via InReach satellite communication). Thank you for a captivating and informative film. Well done!
Thanks for watching, and good luck to them on the route!
Really Fricking Epic Video! Glued from start to finish such great quality and insane location, almost has me tempted ❤
One day mate!
What a great film maker you are…fabulous, the best film I’ve ever seen of Africa! A wonderful trail, and Eric is a legend, Josh poor guy, bet he has a mountain bike now.. well done. I look forward to seeing your long career in travel film making pan out..😊
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Awesome video! What an adventure. Nice bike setup. New follower here. Crow✌️
You're a champ. Thanks for the route.
Thanks for watching!
What an unreal adventure!! Once again climate change is wreaking havoc!
Lovely I went to high school in Kenya.
Muchas gracias compañero amigo. Por este bonito increíble viaje África. Es un viaje que tengo previsto. Ya veo que eres un gran aventurero. De la bicicleta tuve la suerte y el placer de conocerte el año pasado cuando nos cruzamos por España en Albacete bajo un puente refugiando nos. De la lluvia me sacaste una gran foto
Ah, Jose! Naturalmente recuerdo a ti, fue en la ruta de don quixote verdad? Una ruta muy genial! Espero que todo esta bien contigo y buena suerte con Africa por cuando vas!
Wow, looks like an incredible adventure Tristan, thanks for sharing!
No worries, thanks for watching!
Wow what a nice ride experience bro, very romantic. Ride safe always to both of you, enjoy the beauty of nature along the way🇦🇪🙏🙏
Thank you so much!
Flippen awesome congratulations and thank you 🙏🏼 `I would love to do it 🫡
I really enjoyed watching your safari...I'm from Naivasha and I've not really had time to enjoy like you guys
Thanks, I hope you get the chance to check out some of the route! :)
Congrats for the adventure, capturing the video and editing it. Really good job. Good luck with your project.
Thanks so much! 🙏
That was so much fun thank you
Thanks for watching!
Hello my friend, the view is very beautiful, but always be careful, friends
Thank you, I will!
Just found it, RWGPS, thanks for sharing.
No worries!
Guess a special friend of mine shared your video . She is so proud of you . And for me your an inspiration. ❤
Thank you!
Wow! Real adventure! 100 times better than any movie! My verdict: anti-Marvel! 😄Good luck and good mood in your travels!
Thanks for the kind words!
f**king awesome!! Thanks!! Going on the bucket list!!!
No worries, I hope you get to ride it soon!
Milion like.
Thank you!
Very good video. Unfortunately, too short. So many impressions and beautiful pictures, great landscapes……i think, you coud have made a series 😊👍
Thank you!
Beautiful video! Thank you from Colorado!
Thank you!
Very nice
Interesting channel and great videos! Best regards André
Thanks very much!
I grew up in Dar es Salaam, some of my earliest memories was during school holidays going on safari to the Serengeti with my sister and mum and dad, wonderful to see the game has survived, we used to see herds of zebra by the thousands in every direction, antelope and giraffes, then the carnivore circling looking for their next meal, just in one day elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, you name it, all was all there right in front of you as far as the eye could see, rhino, mind boggling. Ngorongoro crater in the dry season, teaming with herds and its lake full of hippo.
That sounds incredible! There's definitely less than there used to be but there's still enough wildlife around to make for a pretty amazing experience!
Yes I remember the herds in the Mara on migration towards the Serengeti zebra and wilderbeest as far as the eye could see. Once sat at a river bank had a lioness lay under the car waiting in ambush she and her pride tried and missed in their attempt to kill unbelievable as they had thousands of wilderbeest to choose from literally .She ended up with a gore wound as the herd stampeded over her ! The noise was incredible are they pounded past and all around us something I will never forget ! I also saw huge herds of elephant in Tsavo. I have seen cine film footage my Dad took in the 50s in Ngorongro walking surrounded by game and even lions that appeared infront of them out the long grass. The lions ran away as they stood their ground .He told me their were no 'rules' in those days and they would often walk through the bush. Unfortunately I also have memories of rhino in Amboseli and one day they were gone. There are no rhino in Amboseli now and sadly I saw them disappear in the 70s. The last rhino I ever saw in the wild was in Tsavo mid 70s 3 of them 2 adults and a calf silhouetted in the sunset at Aruba Dam A beautiful memory that will also always be with me .
This is excellent, really enjoyed watching this
Cheers Harry, and thanks again for the wheels - Kenya is ROUGH and your wheels got me through with no problem at all :)
@@tristanrid let me know if you need another set.
I was envious until you mentioned lions
Great film.
Thank you!
Nice place take care
Thanks, you too!
The hills are steeper than they look.
They always are, you smashed it Josh!
You're a brave man.
great
Wow. This is a real deal. Subbed.
Thank you!
Amazing adventure and nicely done 🔥
Thank you!
Thanks. I'm really impressed and your review opened my eyes for areas in Kenya I didn't know and you made it possible for me to take part of a journey. All my life I have loved exercising and nature experiences by running, kayaking and biking, but 2,5 years ago I got disabled then an reaction from the corona vaccine attacked my nervous system and made me bedridden with a few small sessians a day in my wheelchair. After your review I'm dreaming even harder of using an recumbent e-trike as an local outdoor wheelchair. Thanks for your interesting and impressing review. Best Regards Arne G in Norway.
So sorry to hear about your disability, that's really tough. Good on you for staying positive, though - I think a recumbent trike could a great option. There's always a way, wishing you all the best with everything!
That’s my type of adventure! When will you have the complete route ready? I would definitely consider riding Kenia in the future. Cheers!
The route is published an ready to ride :) The full write-up, published on bikepacking.com, can be found here: bikepacking.com/routes/kenya-bike-odyssey/
Beautiful video😍
Thank you!
😍
Oh yeah I'm trying to do something like this!
I hope you make it happen! :)
EPIC!!! What an adventure!
Thank you!
Best
Hope travel again in africa with Drone camera,must to be very fantastic view
Yeah I kind of wish I'd had a drone with me in Kenya, although the rules in Africa can be tricky with drones so there's a risk of having the authorities take it off you. I almost lost mine in Morocco so I think the next time I do a trip in Africa I'll probably have to leave it at home!
This is amazing bikepacking through savannah. Do you ever have to worry about lions there?
Lions aren't really a worry, they do exist in the northern part of the route but you'll never see them as they generally avoid humans, especially during the day :)
I feel like the gravel bike got given a hard time here, if he had a set of XC tyres on and ill guess some more friendly gear ratios he'd have been just fine!
Yeah to be fair there's a fair bit of crossover between burlier gravel bikes and lighter rigid MTBs. I mainly wanted to make this point to put off your average gravel biker with skinnier rubber, since most people that ride gravel bikes tend to ride them pretty narrow. I would say though that even with wider tyres I'd still strongly recommend a proper MTB with either front suspension or plus tyres for the KBO, it's a very rough route in parts!
Amazing guys !! I’m just moving to Kenya and keen cyclist. I’d be interested in something like this if you could point me in right direction and perhaps something organised . Thanks. Lee
Awesome, you'll love Kenya. All the details are up on bikepacking.com/routes/kenya-bike-odyssey/ :)
I'm definitely going to do this. I've always wanted to do a bike safari and this looks amazing. It seems like taking a month to do it would be best, would you agree? And is Jan/Feb or June-Oct hotter?
A month would be ideal, that would give you enough time for a good few days off along the way which is definitely a good thing! Jan/Feb is the hottest time of the year so June-Oct will be easier in terms of temperature, although towards the end of that timeframe you might run into the rainy season :)
Ride safe Sir
Thanks, you too!
Great video, what bikes did you ride? you suggested not a gravel bike but it looked like your friend had drop bars on her bike. you mentioned a MTB but it looked like you had no suspension on either bike. Many thanks
I was riding a Surly ECR, fully rigid but with 29x2.6" tyres. Gretchen was on a Bombtrack Beyond, rigid 29x2.1", drop bars but flared for offroad. Both bikes did fine, with mine definitely having an easier time of it, but if I were to go back and do it again I would definitely bring a suspension fork, my current bike is a Tout Terrain Outback Xplore 29 hardtail and the extra cush from the suspension fork would have made the route more comfortable for sure!
@@tristanrid Thanks for the info I have a Moots RSL and a Santa Cruz hardtail. If I get around to the doing the ride I would look to use the hardtail. Many thanks Derek
Que lugares lindos!! Vcs são bem corajosos. Quantos km vc pedalavam por dia e vcs acampavam savana ou tinha pousadas?
Os quilómetros variam dependendo de quão montanhoso é, mas geralmente percorremos cerca de 50-60 quilómetros por dia, uma vez que é normalmente lento a percorrer o terreno queniano. Ficámos principalmente em alojamentos e acampamentos ao longo do percurso, pois são muito acessíveis e é bom tomar um duche para lavar o pó da estrada :)
Fantastic video. What was used to film. Is it still safe in 2023?
Thank you! All I had for this video was a Panasonic TZ100 compact camera, and my Samsung S20 phone camera for the cycling shots. Gretchen was using a GoPro for the few bits she recorded, I'm not sure which model. I've since made some major upgrades to my camera gear so the next film, which will be coming in the next couple of months, will be a big step forward in quality :) The route is still safe and good to go in 2023, there are a fair few people currently on the route right now!
Ohhh my good, lying in Bed an know i want to see this epic route....of you ever need help in any case from Germany, I would love to help....business cases...
Thank you!
fantastic, but what about the cats? I would be so worried
Nah they aren't really an issue as they only really roam inside the national parks, where you can't cycle anyway. The exception is Laikipia, which is why I don't recommend wild camping in that section, as the cats are mainly active at night. In general, the big predators are far less of a danger in Africa than animals like buffalos
After injury, misdiagnosis, surgery and recuperation, I have no muscle left. Only 15 minutes on bike. Uggh!
Sorry to hear, that sounds rough. I hope you can get it back!
I am from Africa. What I don't understand is, how did you not come across lions because where there are zebras and other animals then you find lions also. Please let me know.
In Kenya there are only really lions inside certain game parks. There are lions inside Soysambu Conservancy but they track their locations to make sure people are safe. There are also lions roaming wild in Laikipia, but we didn't see any. Generally they stay away from people :)
You mentioned after you posted the video the area has become very busy. Well that what happens is that people have to post everything they do and give details. Everest Base Trek is now overcrowded and ruined do to You Tube. Appalachian trail is ruined there is a bubble of hikers. Continental Divide trail ruined due to You Yube. So is it worth whatever you make for money or make a living going places and posting and then be responsible for ruining the area. 78000 people watch this so now the experience is ruined. I have gone many places that would make amazing videos but last thing I would do is post it on RUclips. I have too much respect for what wild if any places that are left to post them on RUclips. I climbed Ama Dablam 12 years ago and could of filmed and posted but why ruin it. But that trek is overcrowded now because other just had to put it on RUclips.
Thanks for posting.
I completely understand your point, and I feel you. In the case of Kenya I feel it's a good thing if more people get to experience it, and more visitors are very beneficial for the local communities who rely on tourism and have had a very rough time since Covid. I don't think it likely that Kenya will go the way of any of those places you mentioned, but yes it's potentially possible that creating the KBO could have some negative effects. Nothing is ever black and white.
Personally I'm not at all motivated by money. I have 100% lost money on the Kenya project, it was never about that. I just wanted to give people the opportunity to explore a country for which I have a lot of love, and if I'm able to inspire some people to get out adventuring then I actually think that's a really good thing.
I have a question around possibility to go with a touring bike. Is the terrain to hard ?
It's possible! It will definitely be rough and bumpy in places, and I hope you're travelling light as there's a lot of climbing, but it's still definitely doable, even if it won't be as much fun as it would be on a MTB!
Better do this now before the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative has highways running right through the center of this country
Heh there are already big highways running through the centre of the country, the trick was finding routes that avoided them as much as possible! ;)
Did you swim in the lakes or its unsafe?
It's possible in certain spots but unless you know what you're doing it's definitely not recommended, there are crocodiles and hippos in some of them!
Forgive me if you have already explained this, but how did you get back from the end point to Nairobi?
Easy bus or taxi connection from Nanyuki back to Nairobi :)
What bar was she using? Thanks
It's just the standard handlebar that came with her Bombtrack Beyond :)
Хороший фильм хоть и не понял ни слова )))
If you turn on the captions it should automatically translate them for you I think :)
Nicht vom Löwen gefressen worden..?😂
Where can we see the trace ?
The full route write up including the GPX is published at bikepacking.com/routes/kenya-bike-odyssey/ :)
Was für Zelte hattet Ihr auf Eurer Tour?
I was using a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent, Gretchen was using a Naturehike 1p tent. Both did a good job!
Best months to do it?
The dry seasons, either Jan/Feb or around June-September
@@tristanrid Thanks.
No big cats or predators??? How??
In most of Africa the big predators tend to exist only inside national parks, they're generally not just wandering around. Part of the route goes through Laikipia where predators do wander, but it's a huge area and predators tend to avoid humans, so you're pretty unlikely to see them even there :)
Hey Tristan we go to Nairobi in Juli with our bikes. Can you please give us the contact of eric may he help us with our route....
Thank you Anna and Patrick
Hi Anna, if you check in the video description you'll find a link to the route on bikepacking.com. If you scroll down and check the tab marked 'must know' you'll find his details, as well as William's. Good luck with your ride, and enjoy!
@@tristanrid Thank you (:
@@tristanrid Sry Tristan I cant find the contact of Eric. Can you please write it down in the answer? thanks
gravel bike for travel the unknown... NO thank You!...
😂