Spanish Cyclist Juan Menéndez Granados Conquers Russia's Remote Far East by Bike
YAKUTIA.INFO. Spanish cyclist Juan Menéndez Granados continues his bicycle journeys across the Russian Arctic. A seasoned bike traveler, he has pedaled through Africa, Australia, South America, and even Antarctica, covering many regions of Russia along the way.
In early March, he arrived in the settlement of Chersky. As reported by the Kolyma Pravda newspaper, this is his third visit to the Nizhnekolymsky District. Here's a brief timeline of his recent expeditions.
2022 – In late January, he set out from Chersky with plans to reach Yakutsk. The trip had to be cut short near the village of Kolymskoye due to a gear malfunction. Specifically, his stove failed because of poor-quality fuel, leaving him unable to dry his clothes and shoes. He sought medical assistance.
2024 – Juan returned to Chersky, this time in March rather than January, though the weather was still far from warm. On March 16, he set off and successfully reached Yakutsk.
2025 – The extreme cyclist traveled along the winter roads of the Indigirka River and arrived in the village of Russkoye Ustye on April 18.
2026 – Juan flew back to Chersky and, on March 8, departed along the winter road toward Bilibinsky District in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.
When I first met him in 2022, he hadn't yet planned to go to Chukotka, though he mentioned that he always tries to explore new places with each journey.
This time, he has a new bicycle—one that has already proven itself in previous trips (not the same one he used on the Indigirka in 2025). Unlike before, he isn't pulling a trailer, which he had on earlier Arctic expeditions. His gear is minimal: a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, food, a stove with fuel, a phone, and a small camera. Along the way, he takes photos and videos. After his 2022 trip, he made adjustments to his equipment and other essentials based on lessons learned.
During his first two visits to Chersky, local resident Mikhail Chaburkin assisted him. This time, however, Chaburkin is temporarily away from the district, so a local woman, Anna, helped Juan with logistical and technical matters. Among other things, they had to urgently replace a small bicycle part that had gone missing somewhere along his travels across countries and continents. They managed to find a solution, and he set off without delay.
"Right now, I'm heading to Chukotka. The rough plan is: Bilibino, then Pevek, and after that, I'd like to visit Bilings and Cape Schmidt. From there, I'd like to go to Egvekinot. Obviously, the roads to Bilibino and Pevek are clear. Beyond that, I'll play it by ear—if it works out, it works out; if not, then it doesn't," Juan Menéndez Granados told Kolyma Pravda.
Meeting new people, exploring life in all its facets, discovering unique landscapes, and gathering fresh experiences—these are the threads that weave his travels together, and likely what draws him to distant lands.
