BEYOND BORDERS: 7,000 KM OF WINTER BIKEPACKING FROM ZURICH TO KYRGYZSTAN

For several weeks, I was riding in temperatures of minus ten degrees and below and spent almost my entire daily life outdoors. Sleeping, cooking and riding the bike, in winter that quickly adds up in terms of equipment. Warm clothing, winter camping gear, a stove, camera, repair kit and of course the full ski setup with boots, avalanche shovel, probe and transceiver. With water and food, the total weight reached up to around 55 kilos depending on the section.

At the same time, I still wanted to stay efficient and be able to cover long distances. That is exactly where the GRID came in. Stable enough to handle heavy loads, yet light and fast. The bike itself only made up a small part of the total weight, and that balance was key.

The longest day was 301 kilometres, despite carrying all that weight. Loading a lightweight gravel bike in a way that it still rides stable and controlled is technically demanding. What impressed me most was how calm and reliable the GRID felt, even under that kind of load. I could still ride hands-free at times, which is definitely not something you would expect with that much weight.

There were so many memorable moments, but one really stands out, mainly because of the contrast. In Turkey, I had a serious cycling accident and ended up in hospital for quite some time with a neck injury. Afterwards, I could barely walk for five minutes. In that situation, continuing to believe in this project felt quite unreal. You start questioning everything and look for reasons why you are doing it in the first place.

And then, just over a month later, I’m back on the bike, riding 300 kilometres in a single day through the desert in Uzbekistan. It felt completely surreal. I had already ridden several days of more than 200 kilometres before, but 300 kilometres, carrying all my gear and as part of a journey where I was also riding more than 100 kilometres on the days before and after, was on another level. Twelve hours on the bike, hardly any breaks, just constantly moving. At times, I could hardly believe what was happening myself.

I was riding on studded tyres, carrying skis on the bike, several litres of water and food for two days. Temperatures were just above freezing, right in the middle of a sand desert. My biggest concern was that my water might freeze and I would have to melt it again before I could drink it. And still, you just keep going, pushing on and trusting that everything will work out.

One moment in particular has stayed with me. After around 150 kilometres, I saw a few people standing by the road. I rode past them and exchanged a quick high five, but then realised they had actually been waiting for me. They were holding out a bottle of water. Out there, in the middle of nowhere, just sand, sky and road. I stopped straight away and spoke to them briefly. That encounter, in that place and in that situation, was simply unimaginable.

In the end, a bike needs to do one thing above all: endure. Maintenance is almost impossible in those conditions, simply because it is often too cold. That is where high-quality components really make a difference. They keep working reliably even without constant maintenance. Especially in remote regions, that becomes crucial. In Uzbekistan, you cannot just pick up a new chain or spare parts.

Dealing with water and cold is another key factor. Liquid water is the biggest challenge. That is why hydraulic brakes proved to be a clear advantage, as there are no cables where water can get in and freeze. The same applies to the drivetrain. I was running a single chainring at the front and an electronic shifting system at the rear. It was actually the only electronic device that kept working reliably even at minus 25 degrees. The key is to keep moving and to shift through the gears regularly so nothing freezes.

Then there are the road conditions. In many regions, roads are not salted or treated in winter, so they can be completely icy. Studded tyres are essential in those situations, even though they do wear down over time. Towards the end of the trip, the studs started to push through from the inside and I ended up with multiple punctures at once. That required some improvisation to keep going.

In the end, it comes down to a balance of stability, reliability and efficiency. That is what made the difference for me.