Why Travel by Bicycle?
Most people are amazed and mildly dumfounded when they see a cycle tourist.
We are the kind of poor sap you feel sorry for when looking out the window on a rainy day because all their earthly possessions covered in plastic and strapped to a wobbly bicycle.
By God, Marge, what is that?! A wayward cow?
A cycle tourist is just someone who chooses to enjoy the scenery from the saddle. We are huffing and puffing the hills and flying down the descents with tears of joy. We have radars for the best buffets, biggest cookies and can gobble up entire boxes of granola bars in one sitting. Not only are we just plain hungry, but we are craving the best and most scenic routes the country has to offer.
Most people have heard the saying “the journey is the destination.” They might interpret this to mean they should go slowly and take more photos, or maybe be happy when they miss a bus or lose their wallet.
What a cycle tourist understands is that to be out cycling on the road is why you left home in the first place. In fact, pumping your legs and listening to your labored breath while ascending a hill just may be the only one true thing you ever wanted in life. A cycle tourist enjoys not knowing what is up ahead or where they will sleep tonight. Whether the road goes up or down, whether it rains a little or a lot, whether the road is paved or filled with potholes really does have impact, but is also part of the fun.
No other traveler out on the road will have the same intimacy with the road as the cycle tourist. The cycle tourist earns each and every mile. Sure, some days can be longer than others, but how many miles you cover is just a number.
What a cycle tourists gets in return for blood, sweat and tears are many. The body is a machine, and you can begin to notice how it responds best. As for any fear or apprehension you may carry in your heart, it gets replaced with accomplishment and victory. The senses become highly attuned. Strange coincidences and chance encounters become normal. All you can do is hope you can make these changes last long enough until your next bike trip.
The cycle tourist asks what destination? The road is why you go; the road is life. And, surely, wherever you end up is far from where you expected. It always is.
Cycle on!
Most people are amazed and mildly dumfounded when they see a cycle tourist.
We are the kind of poor sap you feel sorry for when looking out the window on a rainy day because all their earthly possessions covered in plastic and strapped to a wobbly bicycle.
By God, Marge, what is that?! A wayward cow?
A cycle tourist is just someone who chooses to enjoy the scenery from the saddle. We are huffing and puffing the hills and flying down the descents with tears of joy. We have radars for the best buffets, biggest cookies and can gobble up entire boxes of granola bars in one sitting. Not only are we just plain hungry, but we are craving the best and most scenic routes the country has to offer.
Most people have heard the saying “the journey is the destination.” They might interpret this to mean they should go slowly and take more photos, or maybe be happy when they miss a bus or lose their wallet.
What a cycle tourist understands is that to be out cycling on the road is why you left home in the first place. In fact, pumping your legs and listening to your labored breath while ascending a hill just may be the only one true thing you ever wanted in life. A cycle tourist enjoys not knowing what is up ahead or where they will sleep tonight. Whether the road goes up or down, whether it rains a little or a lot, whether the road is paved or filled with potholes really does have impact, but is also part of the fun.
No other traveler out on the road will have the same intimacy with the road as the cycle tourist. The cycle tourist earns each and every mile. Sure, some days can be longer than others, but how many miles you cover is just a number.
What a cycle tourists gets in return for blood, sweat and tears are many. The body is a machine, and you can begin to notice how it responds best. As for any fear or apprehension you may carry in your heart, it gets replaced with accomplishment and victory. The senses become highly attuned. Strange coincidences and chance encounters become normal. All you can do is hope you can make these changes last long enough until your next bike trip.
The cycle tourist asks what destination? The road is why you go; the road is life. And, surely, wherever you end up is far from where you expected. It always is.
Cycle on!
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