Anybody in Alaska???
 

I have a friend who has decided she wants to tour! She flew to Anchorage thinking she could pick up a bike to ride down to Colombia, but she's having a hard time finding one. Anybody know anybody in Anchorage or Fairbanks that could possibly give her some support? She doesn't know anything about bikes and is feeling majorly overwhelmed!

i live in Fairbanks
 

There are three bike shops in fairbanks.
The best one is called Goldstream Sports the mostly sell Trek bikes, they mostly have racing bikes, but the do have some Trek 520's, not sure if they'd have her size. http://goldstreamsports.com/
if you use the contact link you email the owner Joel directly he's awesome.

There is another place called Beaver sports, they sell Specialized and Kona. They have some kona touring bikes, but I think they are a disc brake model.

The last place is Greatland sports. Their hours are really randomed and they moved a couple months ago and still dont have a sign up yet. The sell Giant and Masi bikes, I don't know if the sell any touring models.

As far anchorage the are more bike shops there than Fairbanks. There is also a REI store in Anchorage. I've been to REI the have a decent selection of Racks Panniers and Fenders.

As a note of cocern is you friend riding alone? Also she may want to get some bear spray. Also alot of people carry fire arms in case of bears as well. It may also be wise to get a "spot" tracker if she's alone. There will be very little cell service til she hits the lower 48.

Also the ride from AK to Washington can be brutal. When I moved up her last year we met a cyclist doing a charity ride from AK to Mexico. He was so injured and depressed after a week that he was hitching a ride to washington. That was in the Yukon.

Tell here good luck. I'll keep tabs on this post and could help if possible if she comes up to fairbanks, but it is 300+ miles north of anchorage.

I was in Anchorage just a couple of days ago. There are several bicycle shops there, so I'm not sure what your after. Is she looking for a used bike or new. As 6footeli said there is even an REI there. I noticed a Surly LHT on display, not sure what size however. In you words "she doesn't know anything about bikes" Maybe a tour from Anchorage to Columbia might be a bit much for such a person in any case.

Thanks guys! I'll pass that info on to her. She is a very experienced traveler and and just decided she wants to switch over to bikes (she says it was our journey that inspired her so I guess I only have myself to blame for that one!) She found someone else to travel with and is trying to get things put together.

As for the ride being tough, I think she'll be OK with that. She read our journey regularly and saw what we went through - and I was brutally honest in my blog. She knows it won't be a cakewalk, but I think she's up for it.

Your friend still might want to get a spot tracker or other personal tracking device. Rural Alaksa, Yukon and BC is very wild in many ways. Also Bear Spray is a must. Hopefully her companion is decent at changing flats, adjusting derailluers and brakes. Are they heading east on the Glenn Highway, or coming up to Faribanks first?