Gear Talk / Re: Drivetrain spare parts for a long tour
« on: September 27, 2020, 11:21:47 am »Drivetrain is only one aspect of the consumables on tour.
One of the great things about travelling (on a bike or otherwise) is that it opens our mind to so many different things and people.
I'd read John's advice above again and again until I drew out every bit of wisdom it contains.
You may not believe in Covid but I can assure you that large sections of the world do not share that opinion!
That can show up in many different ways - closed borders and no visas are the big ones, but the smaller ones are mandatory quarantines ($$), no accommodation, no access to food, water or bathrooms. Curfews are another problem. Believe me, you don't want to get caught in a foreign city going to the bathroom in a park during a pandemic.
Travel insurance and health insurance may not be valid in certain countries.
Just taking one example - a lack of hotel accommodation:
No washing/laundry.
No opportunity to recharge electronics
No internet for staying in contact/research
No shelter in foul weather
Poorer countries have suffered greatly and crime, especially against perceived "wealthy westerners" is more likely than before. Desperation.
Where borders have been closed, criminality is rife in border areas - much more than before.
In fact, any information you may have from previous tourers in an area is at great risk of being out of date. That store that you're depending on for food or water may be closed.
On the road there will be a significant difficulty in getting up to date information. How are you with languages?
Have you contacted your country's Embassies and Consulates in these countries and asked advice?
Even getting home in a worst case scenario can be challenging. Do you have any idea what proportion of flights get cancelled at the moment?
Whether you believe in it or not, the changes brought about by Covid are frequent, sudden and often significant. It is not possible to predict what may happen.
People who have been on the road for years have stopped or returned home.
I'm sure there's a great tour ahead of you with the right attitude, planning and preparation.
By the way, are you American? I ask because if not, you may have difficulties entering the US after visiting some of the countries on your list.