Touring - tierra del fuego

Hi everyone, I have been planning on going on a bike trip from here (PA) to tierra del fuego (southern tip of south america). I've never been on a long bike trip before, I don't have a bike(I have an old trek 930, but , and I don't know what to look for in a bike.

I know the dangers of inherent through out south and central american (esspeically columbia).

By the time I get to mexico I will be in shape(2500 miles from here).

with all that said I need some advice. What should I look for in a bike for such a journey. I plan on towing a trailer, probably a b.o.b.

Any and all advice is very much appreciated.

thank you :)

Hi Elrond!

Welcome to the Bike Forums.

Go into the touring Forums , there are a couple of guys already asking questions aboyt new gear and long bike treks , I am sure you would be most welcome to join the discussions

Regards Willi`c

For tips regarding the U.S. portion of your journey, check out www.redacrossamerica.org -- Steve and Nathan started in New York, cycled down to Florida, and are now enroute to San Diego.

Hi and welcome to the forums.

The following recent threads are well worth browsing (actually the whole site is pretty good apart from the odd joke)...:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4994 Panniers for long trips

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4970 Entertainment on Tours

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3541 Camping gear

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=628 Bob trailers

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4097 Modifying an MTB

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4719 Touring across US

Note you'll also need to be in good 'elf for a journey like that.

Richard

Roughstuff has toured extensively in S America and can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/~roughstuff/

I'm sure there must be a fair few books to recommend. The only one I can think of though is 'Fatman in Argentina' (only available s/h). I seem to recall picking up a second-hand book by Tim Cahill (?) doing a similar trip in a car, but as I haven't got round to reading it and can't recall the title I don't know how useful that is ;)

Richard