Bicyclists take holiday breather in LV before pedaling to Chile

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 9:19 a.m.

Knowing this will be one of the last fun sites on their fund-raising adventure, two German bicyclists stopped in Las Vegas for New Year's, nearly a third of the way through their 10,000-mile trek from Canada to Chile.

Gunter Saverschel, a former Internet firm financial officer, and Roland Rauch, a former owner of a car dealership, said the beauty of North America and the friendly people they have met have sustained them as they prepare to face political upheaval, border skirmishes and other perils in South America.

"Given the political climate of South America, we do not know whether we will be able to follow the route we have planned," Rauch said, referring to food riots in Argentina and rebel fighting along Colombia's and Ecuador's borders.

"When we get to Venezuela, we will decide what to do."

The 26-year-old Bavarians arrived in British Columbia a week before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with the intent of promoting world peace and raising money for Kinderhilfswerk, a German fund that assists poverty-stricken children in South America.

"We almost decided not to do it after Sept. 11, but we decided that we were already here so we should go on," Saverschel said.

The adventure started in late October, a couple of weeks late because the hitches for their bike trailers that each carry 220 pounds of equipment and supplies were delayed in the U.S. airport shutdown resulting from the terrorist attacks.

As a result, Rauch and Saverschel are running a little behind schedule. They spent Christmas in Baker, Calif., instead of in Las Vegas as they had planned.

"Everyone should visit Las Vegas at least one time otherwise you just won't believe what is here with the major resorts," said Rauch, who was visiting for the first time. Saverschel first visited Las Vegas last year.

The bikers, who have been staying in their small tent behind the Elks Lodge on West Charleston Boulevard, today packed up their customized mountain bikes and trailers and hit the road for Arizona. Riding for three days and resting every fourth day, they plan to log 40 to 50 miles a day.

They hope to tour through mountainous Chile by November -- springtime in that hemisphere -- to their destination of Punta Arenas on Chile's southern tip.

The men are financing the trip with their savings and have received sponsorship from German public transit company Busch Muller KG and other companies.

Those who want to donate to the Kinderhilfswerk charity can do a bank transfer to Canada Trust 1-1150 N. Terminal Ave., Nanaimo, BC V9S 5L6. Include the receiver: Gunter Saverschel c/o children's fund, account No. 6204078, branch 00430 and Institution: 004.

Saverschel's and Rauch's journey can be followed on the Internet at charitybikers.com.