Dutchies Bikepacking in Colombian

The other day, Harry and Roelie, a semi-retired Dutch couple, took a break from their epic ride across the Americas to do our bike tour.

Like so many Dutch, they were lifetime bicycle commuters. They made their living from stressful jobs with the local government in their small city of Eindhoven in southern Holland.

But in 2015, Harry underwent multiple heart-bypass surgery, which he attributes to stress, overweight and smoking in his younger days, as well as genetics. That brought a change in philosophy for the couple. He and Roelie quit their jobs and that same year went on the road, riding to the Mediterranean coast in France.

After the surgery "I looked at life another way," Harry recalled.

Two years later, they rode from Mexico across the Rocky Mountains up to Canada. The epic ascents were far different from flat Holland.

"Lots of climbing, but we loved it," Harry said.

"That was a life-changing experience," Roelie recalled. We realized "you don't need much to be happy."

Back in Holland, they sold their house, cars and other belongings and departed for bike tours in Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Then in 2000 they started riding north from the southern tip of Argentina, but got interrupted by the covid epidemic. Last year, they resumed their trip.

The toughest riding in South America has been crossing the Andes in Peru, where they faced steep climbs on gravel roads, as well as cold nights. "Our sleeping bags aren't great for minus 10 degree temperatures," Harry observed.

They aren't in a hurry. They have ridden about 60 kilometers per day in Colombia, because of the mountainous terrain. But in flatter regions, such as Australia, they covered up to 200 kms daily. They prefer secondary, unpaved roads, and research routes on https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/.

Photo taken in Bogotá, Colombia, during a bike tour on

Their Pilot-brand bikes have performed well mechanically. Not even any flats, thanks to the tires' kevlar lining. Sadly, however, the Dutch bikemaker went bankrupt late last year.

The couple to arrive in Vancouver, Canada in October

"I hope that we're not finished," says Roelie, "but the start of another trip."

Follow their trip (in Dutch) at: https://www.hearttobeat.nl/ Written by Mike Ceaser.