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I have done it, I have cycled around the world on a singlespeed bike. From 3 September 2015 till 27 August 2016 I covered 34,097 kilometres trough 26 countries, all on the same gear. I had a lot of fun, I had good and bad days, I met wonderful people along the way.
With only a few plane tickets booked and no planned route I first rode through Western Europe over the Pyrenees to Barcelona. The next stop was Iceland to finally experience the Aurea Borealis, but as I soon found out it came with fierce winds and rain, all good to harden me up for the rest of the trip.
Next I went to cross the US from New York to Santa Monica and on to San Francisco for the New Years fireworks. I had worked in both New York and San Francisco in my pre-bikepacking life, so it was great to be back finally.
Tracing back more memories I jumped on another plane to ride the Tour Aotearoa Route through New Zealand in January, cycling mostly off-road in the country where I lived before settling in Scotland. The most remarkable part of the journey for me was crossing the Nullarbor plain in Australia on one gear. As I chose a mountain bike ratio of 32/18 for the whole trip to be able to cycle as many hills as I could find, riding flat roads wasn’t an easy feat to do. After Australia I touched down in Singapore to ride through the fierce heat and humidity of Southeast Asia in April, through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to Hanoi. I lost one clothing size in the process, drinking up to 12l of water to survive the heat. From there my brother joined me for three weeks cycling across Northern Iran, the highlight of my trip, sampling the outstanding hospitality of the Iranian people, and riding up to the highest pass of the journey at 3150m. Crossing Turkey the rest of the trip took me through the Balkans and back to my family in Germany, and from here the long way to Scotland.
If you would like to know more about the trip, I recommend watching the video above. If you would like to speak to me about the trip, please get in touch here.
Here are a few links to pieces about the trip:
Feature on Bikepacking.com
Feature on Limitless Pursuits
News Article on Road CC
Podcast Interview with Paul Graham
Podcast Interview with The Pursuit Zone
And finally. Why singlespeed? Why not? I have a huge passion for adventure cycling, it has given me the life I love with many superb friends across the globe. At the same time my appetite for simplicity and endurance has developed, and since I took a one speed bike to Germany I have continued to tour on that, cycled Land’s End to John o’Groats, climbed mountain passes in Scotland, finished the Highland Trail 550, Strathpuffer and Relentless 24, all on one very fine gear.
Good luck and have fun Markus!!!
For sure! Thanks Bruce, some of build was inspired by you!
If you go by Frankfurt, you can stay in our house. I’ve got a bike workshop in the basement, a yard outside for a nice BBQ and a spacious guest room.
Cool, not sure about route, but will keep that in mind (;
Impressive! Can I ask what front/rear gear ratio you will be using?
Sure, likely to be 32/18, but this might change to 33 possibly. The freewheel from Halo comes in 16-18, so that’ll be the range, Surly rings go down to 30 I think, but 32 is the lowest I’d go for.
Hi there, planning to do a 32-18 ratio, but that might change once I have packed and ridden the bike in the next weeks.
All the best! You whizzed past us at The Crook Inn where banana man was stationed, on the Carlisle to Crammond night ride. We then met you on the prom at Crammond…have a fantastic time.
Thank you! Yeah, was in good form that night, new bike arrives tomorrow. There’ll be a few training rides before I leave (;
Wow, alles Gute für das Abenteuer und die Reise!
Hi Markus,
Trip sounds great, have a good one.
I am in New Zealand Feb & March for the Tour Aotearoa next year, if you are about at that time drop me an email, we could have a beer.
Andy
How do you like that Cambium Saddle for the long haul?
It’s pretty ace, will take it for round the world. Done a great job so far!
Hi,
What is your route West from Singapore?
Ian
Hi Markus:
Velkomín to Iceland and to Hotel Rjúkandi in Snæfellsnes!
I just want to say congratz! Amazing adventure! I hope you will be fine in your trip to Grundarfjörður.
Probably in your way out of Snaefellsnes you will cross our place so you are very velkomín!
Góða ferð!
This looks like an excellent way to spend a year. One question; your pics show WTB Nano tires, but your list has Schwalbe. Which is it and why? Thanks and have fun!
Hi Markus, are you still touring? If you pass through Albania, I can host you for a night or two. I like singlespeeds myself, and I wish I could get some more info on your bike. Single speeds are easier to maintain and sometimes easier to ride. If the hill is very steep just walk to the bike.
Hi Ervin, I am stationary at the moment, but still riding bikes and planning (shorter) adventures. Albania sounds great, a part of the world I haven’t been to.