Comment ne pas perdre la carte en traversant les Amériques à vélo

How to Keep Your Bearings on a Bike Journey Across the Americas

La Cordée

September 18, 2025

6 minutes

A lifelong cycling enthusiast, Philippe Robin set out to take on the challenge of crossing the Americas by bike. In 2018, he joined La Cordée to share his passion for cycling. Along the way, he honed his skills and knowledge — the perfect preparation for this new journey. Through this series of articles, follow the highs and lows of his ride across the continent.

It’s now been more than eight months since I left my apartment in Plateau Mont-Royal with one goal in mind: reaching Patagonia by bike. I dreamed of crossing the Americas, powered solely by my own legs, while meeting the people and cultures that shape the New World. Since June 10, 2023, I’ve already ridden more than 15,000 kilometers.

This kind of journey comes with as many psychological challenges as physical ones. Every bike traveler faces obstacles on the road: thirst, hunger, discomfort — but above all, solitude. Alone against the colossal challenge of this expedition, alone in front of the inevitable setbacks, and alone with myself. When you’re pedaling down an empty road in a foreign country, nothing and no one can shield you from your own thoughts.

Over the past months, I’ve had both good and difficult days in the saddle. Those long hours riding solo, far from everything familiar, give me endless time to drift into my thoughts. Many emotions rise to the surface when I’m left defenseless against the twists and turns of my own mind.

Sometimes beautiful memories resurface, and I catch myself smiling or even laughing alone. I can’t help but savor those moments as they come, knowing they won’t last. Other times, doubt, boredom, regret, and fear are part of my daily life — and have been since the very start of this journey.

Doubt

I often doubt my ability to reach the goal I’ve set for myself. Sometimes I even question whether I can make it to the next town, or simply to the top of the next climb. Doubt takes up a lot of space in my mind, but I believe that without it, I wouldn’t push myself hard enough to achieve my dream. Doubt is essential to the success of any ambitious journey. Without it, it would be impossible to anticipate the challenges and obstacles that inevitably stand between a bike traveler and their destination. I hope I never stop doubting, because it’s this constant self-questioning that helps me grow — both as a cyclist and as a human being.

Boredom

It’s hard to leave everyone you know behind for so many months without missing them. My family, my friends, my partner — they’re constantly on my mind. I miss their presence, their laughter, and their support. I miss spending time with people who truly know me, and whom I know deeply in return. On the road, I meet plenty of people, but most interactions rarely go beyond polite greetings and the same repeated questions about my route, my bike, and my state of mind.

Regret

Sometimes, albeit rarely, I regret my decision to leave. This journey has repercussions across my whole life — my career, my health, and my relationships have all been affected by this selfish choice. I fear losing people I love because of my long absence. When I left, I was thinking only of myself, and I can’t take for granted that my friends and my partner will feel the same way about me when I return. Life goes on without me, and I understand the possibility that they might forget me during the 18 months I’ll be away.

Fear

I’ve been afraid of a thousand things over the past 15,000 kilometers. I’ve feared wild animals like grizzlies, pumas, rattlesnakes, and even scorpions. I’ve feared someone might attack me at night while I sleep alone in my tent. But more than anything, I fear losing the map — losing sight of the meaning of this journey and forgetting the reasons that first pushed me, and still push me, to keep pedaling. I fear the fog of solitude could blur my bearings so much that I no longer know why I do what I do.

For now, the greatest lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that nothing lasts forever. Every event, every stage, every situation has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Everything is temporary — the rain and the sunshine, sadness and joy, hardship and comfort. By accepting that everything is fleeting, I’m able to put each situation into perspective. It’s this constant state of change that defines life on the road.

I face countless uncertainties during this trip, but one thing is certain: if I don’t make it to Patagonia by bike, I will regret it for the rest of my life. That certainty is the only constant that follows me wherever I go.