{"id":1001036489,"date":"2025-10-27T09:09:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/?post_type=story&p=1001036489"},"modified":"2025-10-27T09:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:10:23","slug":"across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/","title":{"rendered":"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

When our resident adventure cowboy set his sights on Peru, it wasn\u2019t for a race or a record. It was for the pure joy of bikepacking \u2014 900km along the spine of the Andes with nothing but towering peaks, freezing nights, and his titanium mini to carry him through. This is the story of how rider and machine took on the Peru Great Divide, and why it\u2019s a journey he\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It had been years since I\u2019d flown to a completely new country with my bike for an adventure that wasn\u2019t<\/em> a race. No pressure, no checkpoints, no expectations\u2014just two and a half weeks, towering mountains, and my titanium mini. A journey full of challenges, greater rewards, and the kind of views that stop you in your tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A LUCKY TWIST OF FATE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The week before I left for Peru, I was scrolling through Instagram when a story popped up from my mate Steve back in the UK: \u201cLast preparations for Peru.\u201d<\/em> I messaged him immediately: \u201cSteve, are you going to Peru? I\u2019m going to Peru\u2014on Friday!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By pure chance, we\u2019d both made separate plans to ride the first 900 km of the Peru Great Divide<\/strong>\u2014a rugged off-road route that traces the spine of the Andes. Our dates matched almost perfectly, and suddenly I had a partner for the ride. In mountains this wild, that\u2019s no small comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

RACING ROOTS, BIKEPACKING MINDSET<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before ultra-racing, I had done plenty of bikepacking around the world. But racing in far-flung, remote places on my own has left me more confident about being out in these wild spaces. Even though ultras feel solitary, there\u2019s always a safety net: organisers, trackers, fellow riders somewhere out there. On a trip like this, it\u2019s different\u2014there\u2019s no one watching, no dots on a map. Just you and the road. But that racing experience has made me more relaxed when bikepacking\u2014better at handling the unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve turned out to be an excellent teammate. Also with an Ultra racing background, and a track rider\u2019s workhorse mentality, he could power through long stretches but was equally enthusiastic about food and coffee stops. He climbed faster than me, but faffed more at breaks\u2014we balanced each other very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

LIFE IN THE ANDES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Andes is the world\u2019s longest continental mountain range, and parts of its Pacific side rank among the driest places on earth. For thousands of years, people here have adapted to an unforgiving climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We timed our ride for Peru\u2019s winter, the dry season, which meant crisp skies but bitter cold at altitude. Nights dropped to -8\u00b0C, freezing our bottles solid. Sometimes it stayed cold until midday, all under that deceptively bright blue sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

FINDING CONNECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the trip\u2019s highlights for me had nothing to do with the terrain and everything to do with people. In past adventures\u2014Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Sri Lanka\u2014I often felt the barrier of language. But in Peru, being fluent in Spanish meant I could ask questions, crack jokes, and actually connect. Every conversation, however small, was a chance to learn, to laugh, and to feel part of the place. The kindness and warmth of the people we met left as strong an impression as the landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

HIGH AND BREATHLESS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Altitude was my biggest worry going in. We spent days above 4,000 m, often pushing toward 4,500\u20134,800 m. Early on, I was constantly short of breath. But the body adapts\u2014slowly, steadily. Each day felt like training the lungs a little further, stretching the limits. Everyone responds differently, but with rest, patience, and persistence, adaptation comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE FINAL STRETCH<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

As the mountains rolled on, fatigue began to creep in. Luckily, our schedule was loose. We took rest when needed, which made all the difference. For the last 200 km, I rode alone\u2014Steve had to leave early for his flight. Riding solo again felt like closing a circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

REFLECTIONS IN HUANCAVELICA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I rolled into Huancavelica exhausted but elated. Peru had given me more than I expected: staggering scenery, the strength of my body to carry me through it, the kindness of its people, and, maybe most importantly, the reminder that adventure doesn\u2019t have to be a race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard work still brought rewards, but on my own terms\u2014slower, lighter, more joyful. Peru is a trip I\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

All words by Allan Shaw follow on Instagram: @allanshawphoto<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When our resident adventure cowboy set his sights on Peru, it wasn\u2019t for a race or a record. It was for the pure joy of bikepacking \u2014 900km along the spine of the Andes with nothing but towering peaks, freezing nights, and his titanium mini to carry him through. This is the story of how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2432,"featured_media":1001036500,"template":"single-story-story.php","class_list":["post-1001036489","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When our resident adventure cowboy set his sights on Peru, it wasn\u2019t for a race or a record. It was for the pure joy of bikepacking \u2014 900km along the spine of the Andes with nothing but towering peaks, freezing nights, and his titanium mini to carry him through. This is the story of how […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-27T08:10:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/\",\"name\":\"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-27T08:09:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-27T08:10:23+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"dk-DK\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"dk-DK\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1333},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stories\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/blog\/stories\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/\",\"name\":\"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\",\"description\":\"Buy direct from OMNIUM Bikes for delivery worldwide\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"dk-DK\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"dk-DK\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/omnium-logo-large-mix.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/omnium-logo-large-mix.svg\",\"width\":1397,\"height\":135,\"caption\":\"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","og_description":"When our resident adventure cowboy set his sights on Peru, it wasn\u2019t for a race or a record. It was for the pure joy of bikepacking \u2014 900km along the spine of the Andes with nothing but towering peaks, freezing nights, and his titanium mini to carry him through. This is the story of how […]","og_url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/","og_site_name":"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","article_modified_time":"2025-10-27T08:10:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1333,"url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/","url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/","name":"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI - OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-10-27T08:09:47+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-27T08:10:23+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"dk-DK","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"dk-DK","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ef4faa20-6dc7-43ff-9416-6a1055ab1677_opt.jpeg","width":2000,"height":1333},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/stories\/across-the-andes-on-a-titanium-mini\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stories","item":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/blog\/stories\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"ACROSS THE ANDES ON A TITANIUM MINI"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/","name":"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","description":"Buy direct from OMNIUM Bikes for delivery worldwide","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"dk-DK"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#organization","name":"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop","url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"dk-DK","@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/omnium-logo-large-mix.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/omnium-logo-large-mix.svg","width":1397,"height":135,"caption":"OMNIUM Cargo Official Shop"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stories\/1001036489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1001036500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omniumcargo.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1001036489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}