2017 was once an abstract notion: that's the year we quit our jobs, that's the year we leave our homes, that's the year we start biking our way around the world. In the comfort of 2016, it was something far-off, a whole calendar away. But now it's 2017, and so now this is the year we quit our jobs, the year we leave our homes, the year we start biking our way around the world. Things are getting close, anxiety is mounting (excitement too!), and planning is getting serious. Here's what we've gotten done this past month, and what we still have to do.
Why we're biking around the world without insurance
A whole lot can go wrong when biking tens of thousands of kilometers across dozens of countries. Bones can break, tendons can tear, and microscopic bacteria can do some pretty hefty damage to one's innards. And so when planning for a 'round-the-world bike tour, insurance seems a responsible, reasonable, risk-averse purchase. But a third of long-haul bike tourers travel with no insurance, and we're leaning toward becoming a part of that third. Here's why.
5½ great books about bike touring
A good way to pass the time before a big bike trip is to read about someone else's big bike trip. There aren't many books concerning the niche world of bicycle travel (and even fewer that offer well-written and engaging stories, versus instructional how-to guides), but this handful of books does a really wonderful job of capturing the beauty and the simplicity of self-propelled adventure—for someone planning a bike tour, or someone just looking for a good read.
Planning update: 6 months until departure
Once per month until we depart on our 'round-the-world bike trip, we'll be sharing an update on what we've been doing and the lots we still have to do before we take off. Here's how we're doing on bikes, gear, visas, paperwork, vaccinations, flights, telling people, internet stuff, route planning, research, finances, moving out, test rides, and the feels.
GEAR REVIEW: Project Fi cell service (for touring anywhere in the world)
Touring with a cell phone can be a hassle. Monthly cell phone plans (at least in the States) are expensive, prepaid plans a bad deal, and swapping out local SIM cards when traveling from country-to-country a real annoyance. Project Fi, a new(ish) service offered by Google, makes traveling the world with a single cell phone (and single SIM card) a breeze. (As always, this isn't a sponsored post—just some good stuff worth recommending).
Traveling the world as a vegan
5 bike touring blogs that are much more helpful than this one
The problem with starting a blog about biking the world half a year before you actually begin biking the world is that there’s not a whole lot to write about until you actually set off. We aren’t exactly experts just yet, but we know of some people who are, so if what you’re here for is authoritative and comprehensive and inspirational and just really great tips and tales about biking the world, consider stopping by one of these sites until we have a little more to share of our own.
GEAR REVIEW: Kindle Paperwhite (and, more broadly speaking, all e-readers)
When traveling by bike, downtime is important. Whether a mid-afternoon break, a rainy day, or a long, dark night stuck in a tent, reading can help to pass the time, give you something to do, and—if you have the right books—teach you a little something about the country you're pedaling through. Great as books are, they're heavy, mostly single-use, and encourage deforestation. They're also pretty useless in the dark, requiring a headlamp and batteries. Enter the backlit e-reader.
A really, really long story of biking in Morocco
Before starting this site, I wrote on and off elsewhere about my various travels. Most of it's pretty useless and doesn't really belong here, but my bike trip through Morocco in February 2016 felt pretty relevant, so here it is in it's unabridged entirety: a rambling travelogue of a month spent solo cycling in northern Africa.
Why bike around the world? (Wouldn't it be quicker to drive?)
Cycling is slow, arduous business. When loaded up with gear and food and water and bodies that need frequent breaks, a bike traveler isn't moving very quickly, and as climate-controlled cars zip by with speed and comfort and ease, bicycles may seem like an inferior vehicle for travel. Here are eight reasons why Lauren and I are going for it anyway.
Getting in and out of Iceland with a bicycle
Being in Iceland with a bicycle is an excellent recipe for adventure. But actually getting there with said bicycle can be a little more challenging. Disassembling, flying with, putting back together, and escaping the airport with a bicycle is rarely fun, so here are a few tips to make that part of the journey a little less painful.
What to know about cycling Iceland
Kilometer for kilometer, Iceland may just be one of the most diverse, unique, and beautiful places on earth. From lush green farmland to spiky alien lava fields to a mind-boggling abundance of waterfalls, the little island packs a lot in. As such, it's a popular cyclist destination, and it isn't difficult to find lots and lots of really great and really comprehensive bike-specific information before setting out. Here's our take, based on a month of exploration in July of 2016.
Quitting one's job to travel the world: costs and opportunity costs
What to know about biking from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC via the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath
In April 2016, I rode from the Pittsburgh Airport back home to Washington, DC via the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath. The overwhelming majority of this route—spanning 300+ miles—is set on lovely, car-free paths and rail trails through the forest, snaking along a series of slow-moving rivers. It's a very easy (albeit sluggish) journey, and a great introduction to bike touring. Here are a few things worth knowing.
What to know about cycling southern Morocco
In February 2016, I headed to Morocco for my very first cycling trip. Starting in Marrakesh and heading south over the Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Test pass, I traveled to Tafrout and onwards to the southern Moroccan coast—requiring two climbs over the Anti-Atlas range—before reaching Sidi Ifni, turning north to Essaouria, and returning to Marrakesh at the end of the month. It was a challenging, rewarding, amazing journey; here are a few things I learned en route.
Why cycling Iceland counter-clockwise is a really good idea
If you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland—or cover any distance on the island, really—you'll first need to decide which way to travel. The internet seems to lean in favor of cycling clockwise, from Reykjavik to Akuryri and continuing on, citing prevailing winds. Thankfully, we ignored this advice during our ride, for a few good reasons.