“I want to bicycle around the world, doing small, good deeds and writing a commentary on how people define and identify with happiness. To start, I want to ride my bicycle from Alaska to Argentina.”
It’s been two years (give or take) since I decided to do this, and I’m still not used to the responses I get from people when I say that. It ranges from blank stares while calculating the sheer distance in their minds, to concern for my safety, to lots and lots of questions. But almost always, the person’s eyes get big and they let out an audible ‘wow.’
Honestly, that’s exactly how I felt three years ago when I first learned that a human could physically travel the world on a bike. And not a superhuman, but a normal, average girl like me.
It might not require super powers, but it sure would require some planning. And, being a huge fan of list making, I did exactly that.
Things I don’t (or didn’t) know about bicycle touring:
- How to ride a bike long distances
- Let’s be honest – bicycles – but specifically, touring bikes
- The ins and outs of camping
- Gear needed to live out of four panniers for an unknown amount of time, allowing me to cook, sleep, work and navigate
- Outdoor survival skills, ranging from sourcing water, campsites and a warm place to sleep to how to fix a bike and what first aid to know
- What routes I would – or even could – take
Other important things I’d need to learn for a life on the road:
- How to design and build a website
- Blogging and writing from a tent/bike
- How to budget and make money while traveling as a digital nomad
- Photography
- Language and culture (presumably Spanish)
Oh, it that is? I pretty much knew nothing about bicycle touring. I didn’t even own a bike.
Needless to say, I was probably in over my head. But for some reason, this idea of living and traveling on a bike touched my heart right to my very core. As soon as I learned about it, it felt like what I needed to do. So, going from not even owning a bike to cycling around the world is a huge step. I have a long way to go. This is where I’m writing about each of these things and sharing my journey as I check items off my list.
Hopefully, we laugh along the way, as I learn some lessons the hard way. And maybe you can learn a little about bicycle touring and outdoor exploration yourself! Who knows, maybe I’ll see you out on the trails one day.
