Three Continents, 14 Countries, 11,000 Miles, 102 Days: a Q&A with Adventurer Reza Pakravan | Gates Carbon Drive Systems

Reza Pakravan pictured with children he met on his journey 

Reza Pakravan is one tough cyclist. In 2013, he pedaled 11,000 miles (18,000 km) from the Arctic Circle down the length of the planet to southernmost Africa. The journey took 102 days–approximately 107 miles per day for more than three months.  Accompanied by cyclist Steven Pawley, Reza endured incredible hardships: malaria and food poisoning, torrential rains, blistering desert temperatures, dehydration, heat stroke.  Why? To raise money for schools in one of Africa’s poorest nations.

The so-called Kapp to Cape ride (named for the starting point in Nordkapp, Norway, and the finish line in Cape Town, South Africa) was dangerous and difficult, but one aspect was painless: Reza’s bike. He rode one of the world’s finest touring and trekking bikes, a Koga Signature World Traveler with a Rohloff internally geared hub and Gates Carbon Drive. Incredibly, he completed the 11,000-mile journey on one belt. No maintenance, cleaning or lubrication required.

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