In December 2021, Adrien spoke with Axel about his bike crossing of Jordan . Since this adventure, Axel hasn't stopped cycling: a record for crossing Corsica, a 3,171-kilometer tour of France, BikingMan Brazil in daunting conditions... To end the year, Axel decided to connect Luang Prabang in Laos and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam on the famous track of the same name. This structure, which made it possible during the Vietnam War to supply the inhabitants with food and weapons. A look back with Axel on this timeless crossing...


Annabelle : For three years you've had the idea of ​​connecting Laos to Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What appealed to you about the idea of ​​undertaking this expedition?


Axel : I have a fascination for the human structures that enable migration: roads, tracks, and paths. For several years now, I have been exploring mythical routes by bike, such as the Pan-American Highway in South America, the Qhapaq Ñan (Royal Inca Trail) in Peru, the Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile), and the Kings' Highway in Jordan.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was originally a military construction. It has now become a trade hub between Laos and Vietnam. I wanted to explore it and discover the history of this trail.



Annabelle : The great thing about this cycling expedition was that it put you to the test on many terrains with unpredictable weather ⛈️
Did you expect to encounter so many different terrains? How did you prepare to cover these 2,700 km?


Axel : The conditions were indeed of a rare variety, even though the weather was mild. In the middle of the rainy season, for example, the track would be completely impassable on several sections. I've been traveling by bike for 12 years and I've been preparing!


Each trip brings its share of unforeseen events, challenges, and difficult conditions. I'm in "continuous training," so to speak.


Annabelle : Can you tell us a memory or a memorable anecdote from this trip?


Axel : During the first week, a lack of concentration while riding the bike sent me crashing. Nothing serious, but it could have marked the end of this expedition, which required a lot of time and energy to prepare. The positive side of this anecdote is that it allowed me to have a special encounter with a village shaman who "chased" the evil eye off my bike to wish me a good trip. I didn't fall again after that!


Annabelle : After this shaman's intervention, was there anything difficult during this adventure? And conversely, what helped you the most?


Axel : In order to retrace this adventure in images, the second musketeer of the BikingMan races (Didier Martin) followed me on a Chinese motorcycle. The terrain was sometimes so challenging with this type of motorcycle that the mental stress of falling and injuring himself was sometimes greater than enduring the extreme conditions on a bike?
Every evening, however, the memories of the day we had just experienced will remain engraved because the terrain was really crazy at times!


Annabelle : During this trip, you must have met a lot of people! How does traveling by bike facilitate contact?



Axel : The bicycle is a time machine. The migratory routes I explore on my expeditions systematically allow me to meet people. It's even the ultimate goal of each of my trips. Beyond the difficulty, the bicycle is a formidable tool that allows us to connect territories inhabited by humans?
I don't know if it's the look you have on a bike or the tool itself that fascinates the locals, maybe it's a bit of both. In Laos and Vietnam, arriving in the villages was memorable with children calling out to you, running after you and adults inviting you to drink tea.



Annabelle: You've been using a Go'Lum for your adventures for three years. What do you think are its best features for bike packing?


Axel : Its autonomy and the ability to use the power bank as an external battery reassure me in case of problems, for example, to recharge other devices. The robustness of the Go'Lum is also a big advantage because I don't need to worry about protecting it during my expeditions. It has resisted all conditions (desert, torrential rain, cold at high altitude, etc.).



Annabelle : Do you have any advice for a Go'Luminé(e) who would like to undertake this expedition?


Axel : Choose the right season before exploring the Ho Chi Minh trail!


Annabelle : Finally, at the start of 2023, what are your next goals?


Axel : Finalize the organization of the 2023 BikingMan season which starts at the beginning of May in Portugal and will end in Morocco at the end of October! I am leaving at the end of January to explore a new area of ​​the Andes mountain range in Venezuela by bikepacking to maybe one day organize a BikingMan stage who knows?


➡️ Find Axel on Instagram , Facebook and on https://axelcarion.com/expeditions/ ?

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