Solo bike trip to Arctic Ocean, 3 biggest countries in 75 days. Probably the "first" person in human history with about 90 pounds (40kg) weight, 5 year history of bike riding, succeeded in doing this.

Stories by day, from day 1 to day 87

Route map for 2001 56days diagonally crossed North America , solo ride in USA, Canada and China (finished by October 26, 2001, a few unexpected breaks, like robbory, accidents, injury...).
North America route map
China route map

In the maps, red line is the main route,blue line is additional route that finally reached Pacific Ocean. Lighter blue lines on the north America map are routes finished shortly before August 1,2001 (round trip, more than 1000 miles, 1700km). In China map, part of the lighter blue route is also done in this 2001 trip.

Professor Phillip Griffith, Department of Mathematics,university of Illinois at Urbana, some staff in OISA of UIUC expressed concern and support the courageous idea. Some people in Government of Yukon also expressed concern about the trip.
The trip is insuranced for 10 weeks. Without financial support, difficulties like robbery, got stolen, continuous hot weather followed by freezing Arctic cold, injury, the trip was a hard one.

  • August 1,2001, left Quad of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Entered Canada on August 13, 2001 from North Dakota.
  • Crossed Arctic circle on September 12, 2001.
  • Reached Inuvik, NWT, Canada, 61 miles from the Arctic Ocean by September 15, 2001.
  • Reached Edmonton (with bike), Abert in the evening of September 16, 2001 by airplane.
  • From September 18 to 25th, 8 days, reached Vancouver, BC, the east cost of Pacific Ocean.
  • Arrived Beijing, China in September 29, 2001.
  • On 0ctober 1, 2001, reached the Great Wall of China.
  • October 6, 2001, started the ride in China. Reached all cities that will hold events of the 2008 Olympics:Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Qingdao, Shanghai.
    Total distance is over 7000 miles.

    The round trip to Detroit to get a visa to Canada was done by July, 6, 2001. Much earlier, in 1999, the rider finished the 880 km (about 550 miles) trip from Beijing to Qingdao via Tianjin and Jinan, China. In 2001, via Shenyang, Dalian to Qingdao, thus, finished a trip of circle around the Bohao Sea of China. At the same time, the trip somewhat like ride bike from America to China, via Arctic areas of the Earth.

    Some of the trip photos (after August 1, 2001):

  • Reach Minnesota

  • Leaving Geographical center of North America->Rugby, ND

  • Friendly dog

  • On Alaska Highway

  • The highest point on Alaska Highway

  • Muncho LakeŁ¬near the end of Rocky mountain

  • In Yukon

  • Entering Dawson city, approach Alaska

  • Leave Dawson, ride Dempster highway

  • Part of the road surface of Dempster Highway

  • Ride on Dempster highway (About September 10, 2001)

  • Snow and bike in Arctic Canada (September 9, 2001)

  • Arctic Circle (September 12, 2001)

  • Crossing Arctic Circle

  • A frighting hill

  • End of Dempster, approaching Arctic Ocean
  • Arrive Inuvik, close to Arctic Ocean

  • The northenmost modern city on the earth

  • Mount Robson, more than 10000 feet above the road, (not sea level), making it looks as high as Mount. Everest looks form Tibet side.

  • In Vancouver

  • On Great Wall of China and Beijing(October 1, 3,2001)

  • Shengyang

  • Qingdao, the 80th day

  • Jiangsu Province, crossing the longest river of China


    The following are some certificates and signatures

  • Enter Canada

  • Cross Arctic Circle

  • ALT Bike Shop

  • Near Inuvik

  • Arrive Inuvik

  • Revulution Cycle, Edmonton

  • Qingdao

  • Shanghai

  • More photos taken at Dempster Highway (Northwest Canada)
    Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo 9

    Part of training photos of 2001.

  • State line of Ohio and Indiana
  • My tent and bike

  • State line of Michagin and Ohio
  • View of Canada in Detroit
  • Renaissance Center, Detroit

  • My bike in Detroit

  • Road sign

  • In Detroit

  • The last 393.64 km


    Part of the data and pictures of 2001 summer training
    For the first 121 km,rode without feet touch the ground, finally have to stop to avoid serious sun burn. The last period ride of the Detroit round tripŁ¬is about 26 hours continuous ride, except eat and shopping. About 70 miles small hills, a long night ride for a whole night, some head wind, cross some "big" cities, partly ride on gravel sholders, bags to increase air resistance, fat tire. Despite all the above difficulties, ride the fully loaded bike for 393.64 km. The Max. Speed is 45.4 km/hour (On a fully loaded fat tired mountain bike). One day ride is about 360.60 km.

  • total distance(including part of training distance, in KM)
  • Max. Speed (Fully loaded mountain bike, in KM)
  • The last continuous ride
  • 121 KM without feet ever touch the ground (Fully loaded bike!)


    This is a very safe ride, including night ride. Training, apply Visa, travel, are the goals of the trip, it's very successful.

    The total distance of 1250 km without any big mistake, without lost anything.

    Some previous experiences:
    In the year 1998-1999, had a lot of hard training in mountain climbing, winter survival training, including rock/ice climbing.
    Also, After April, 1997, done many hard bike training in all kind of weather and road conditions, got some precious experiences.
    Earlier, have some experiences in mountains with deep snow, some times snow as deep as 3 feet. Facing any challenge, deal with risks with cool head. Major plan very careful, try to be make it sure that no danger of anything going wrong. Safety is put on the first place in the efforts of making any plan.

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