Cycling Around The World – the Blog

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  • Published: Feb 10th, 2010
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A 38,000 mile around the world without a single CO2 molecule emitted! It’s hard to believe but to raise £1m for charity , the 23-year-old a British cyclist is attempting a 38,000 mile trip around the world over three years — without creating any carbon emissions.

Of course, it is virtually impossible to do anything without creating carbon emissions of some sort, but Kevin’s aim is more about avoiding internal combustion than reducing his carbon footprint to zero. He will be cycling when on land and sailing when on the sea — no fuel needed, and no direct emissions.

“The only time I will be creating emissions will be when cooking. Everything else is battery powered and I’ll recharge all electrics with solar chargers”, he says.

For the trip Kevin will be using a 2008 Specialized Rockhopper with an Extrawheel trailer to carry his equipment.

Get all the details here or here. And of course have a look at his own website

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Feb 9th, 2010
  • Category: Destinations, On the road
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Sure, it feels fantastic to traverse the vast stretches of the best roads in the world. But cycling a complicated road, one that twists and turns, or has downright congested traffic, or unforgiving terrain? They might give you a headache, but it sure feels good when you’ve conquered them.

Here is the  list of the world’s most complicated and dangerous roads I spotted on WAVE,  a website providing free turn-by-turn navigation based on the live conditions of the road. OK it’s for car people, but we have one thing in common with them, we share these roads with them.

two cyclists on death road Bolivia

Some of these complicated mountain passes can be dangerous if not negotiated with utmost caution, while others are complicated sets of roads and bridges, erected to ensure a streamlined flow of traffic at busy junctions (best to be avoided by cyclists). Some of the roads metioned here are probably even off  limits to cyclists.

the 45 km descent from Lava to Gurubathan in India

Amazingly enough on some of the pictures that illustrate this article you can spot cyclists! Yes, we  can go everywhere! Even beyond where cars can go, as we always can push, or even carry our bikes.

Read the full post at http://www.waze.com/blog/the-19-most-complex-and-dangerous-roads-in-the-world/ .

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Jan 24th, 2010
  • Category: Destinations, News, Reviews
  • Comments: 6

Tags: book, holland, netherlands

New photo book by American photojournalist Shirley Agudo

The Dutch are bicycle crazy, but never before has anyone captured the essence of the Dutch cycling culture – until now. American photojournalist Shirley Agudo – a long-term resident of the Netherlands – captures it all in her new book full of surprising and humorous images. Depicted are people transporting ‘anything and everything’ on their bikes – from tables and mattresses to the wildly popular bakfiets overflowing with children – along with witty and bizarre bike designs, and the practical (and not so practical) side of a country having more bicycles than people.

Old, young, barely-walking and, yes, even naked cyclists have been captured in all their glory in Shirley Agudo’s fascinating volume of photography and facts about the Dutch cycling mania.

Shirley and contributing photographers Trevor Waldron, Ben Deiman and Max Rubenacker take us along some of the 29,000 kilometers (18,000 miles) of bike paths and into the heart of Amsterdam and other Dutch cities to show us how pervasive, practical and incredible the Dutch cycling culture really is. It’s all here – the history, the infrastructure, the mentality and the global reputation of a culture gone completely mad about bikes.

Makes a great souvenir for anyone who has been cycling in the Netherlands or a great gift for someone who is planning to do so.  Included are practical ‘Rules of the Road,’ ‘The Lowdown on Fines,’ and many more handy tips, plus a wealth of cycling-related websites. Available now at bookshops throughout the Netherlands and www.bicycle-mania.nl. For international orders, please see www.hollandbooks.nl.

Planning to visit the Netherlands by bike?  Then a visit to this website is an absolute must.

ISBN 978 90 5594 698 3, 180 pages, 150 photos, published by XPat Media with Scriptum.
20 x 20 cm, Paperback, Price € 16

dutch cyclist moving a matress

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Jan 12th, 2010
  • Category: Destinations, On the road
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Thousands of photographs sit on my harddisk waiting to be viewed. Many end up on the trip report pages on Cycling Around The World.  And a few of them I keep using every time again. These  images that tell a story, are now collected on this page. Some of these pictures go back as long as twenty years, when I made my first really long   bike trips.  Read previous post on part 1

Cycling the east coast of Sri Lanka

This photo was taken somewhere along the troubled eastern coast of the island of Sri Lanka. The year is 2004, just a few weeks before the tsunami would hit and destroy most of this coastline. At that moment there was a heavy military presence as you can see from the barbed wire on the right side of the picture. A bit down the  road were checkposts protected by mine fields and heavily armed soldiers. Cycling here was no problem.

Camping on the shores of a glacier lake in Iceland

This a Lake Jokulsarlon and as you can see  it’s cold out there. After a long day of battling a strong head wind we just had to stop there, The next campsite was still miles away and here we found a great shelter behind this stone wall already setup by previous campers. Later that afternoon the wind ceased to blow us away and seals came to have a look at us.

Exploring Denali National Park (Alaska USA)

Another icy picture. This is Denali NP in beautiful Alaska. Initially we had planned to take the park bus to the far end of the park road, camp there a night or two and then peddle back. Unfortunately it was half way september and the first snow swept in. The park road was closed, and would remain closed for the rest of the winter. We ended up at another park campsite but wre able to make a great trip along a deserted and snow covered park road.

Crossing a Amazonian river by canoe

Of of our earlier trips. This image is in the hot and humid jungle of Ecuador. The river is the Rio Napo, one of the tributaries of the mighty Amazon river. Just by following this stream we could have travelled to the eastern side of the south american continent, thousands of kilometres away. But we just crossed 😉 and explored some remote roads before climbing back to the Ecuadorian highlands crossing a mountain pass of 4200 m.

Navigating in the Namibian desert

This was really a very lonely place. Desert indeed must originate from the word deserted. Of course we had a map and knew where to go. But signposts were rare and by afternoon the sun burned on our heads. Swakopmund, our destination was still 1oo kilometers away. Yes, we  would finally get there.

Read previous post on part 1

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  • Published: Jan 11th, 2010
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There’s no better way to explore a place than by bike. Lonely Planet named the top 10 trips that should be on every cyclist’s wish list. Here’s is their list:

  • OTAGO PENINSULA, NEW ZEALAND
  • CAPE BRETON ISLAND, CANADA
  • FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, ITALY
  • ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND
  • WEST COAST TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
  • LUBERON AND MONT VENTOUX, FRANCE
  • SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON, USA
  • COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND
  • LA FAROLA, CUBA
  • NATIONAL HIGHWAY 1, VIETNAM

Well I would put none of these on my top 10 cycling routes list, first of all for the simple reason that I have not been to most of these destinations (except the Otago Peninsula). But tha’s a story for another post 😉

Read full excerpt on the Sidney Morning Herald website

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Jan 10th, 2010
  • Category: Fun, On the road
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Tags: alaska, kentucky

t’s no ordinary summer vacation. Imagine loading up the family for a 7,000 mile trek from Kentucky to Alaska. but not in the mini-van.  On a bicycle built for 5. The Pedouin family is already on their way.

“Well, why? Because so many people shelve their dreams and we’ve had a dream of traveling. And we’re just blue collar folk and uh, I had a small business doing home repair and remodeling and still keeping very busy despite the downturn in the economy.  And we just talked to a lot of people and they got old and never lived their dreams. and we love to do our dreams, and my wife loves to ride bikes and so we put it together, why don’t we travel by bike. and we’re going to fairbanks because I was there for 2 summers and enjoyed it and she wants to see what it is like,” says Amarins of of the five on the bike.

Five on one bike

Read full story here or follow them on their own site

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Jan 6th, 2010
  • Category: Fun, On the road, Tips
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This DIY gadget is dubbed the “smart charger” and it’s from two Kenyan students who reside in rural areas without electricity. They also use bikes to get around. Jeremiah Murimi and Pascal Katana use a dynamo attached to the bicycle in order to charge cellphone batteries. The whole process costs practically nothing.

cell phone charger

They used parts from old discarded radio and television sets to assemble the small charger. The user is able to plug the dynamo lead right into the device. An hour of pedaling can fully recharge the battery in about the same time it would take if it was plugged into an electrical outlet. The idea is that the user would avoid paying $2 each time for battery recharges by making a one-time smart charger purchase worth about $4.50.

The Kenyan National Council for Science and Technology is backing the project, so the students may see their invention mass produced very soon.

Original post on http://www.slipperybrick.com/2009/07/kenyan-students-charge-cellphones-with-pedal-power/

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  • Published: Jan 5th, 2010
  • Category: On the road, Reviews, Tips
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In the past twenty years or so I’ve been cycling in dozens of countries around the globe I’ve made ten thousands of kilometers and burned up many tyres.  I’ve has every brand on my wheels but recently switched to Schwalbe.

In preparation of our bike trip through the rough and lonely south west corner of Southe Africa we were looking for wider and stronger tyres. And we found it. the Schwalbe Marathon XR seems to be for extreme journeys.

Marathon tyres in action

This expedition tire is now better protected against thorns – the most frequent destroyers of tires on long journeys: A new, extremely densely woven Aramid protection belt protects the Marathon XR in particular from penetration punctures.

We have used them on the rough gravel roads in the lonely Karoo area of South Africa and again in this year on the desert and mountain tracks of Oman on the Arabian peninsula.

The tyres offer lot’s of grip and so far ( > 3000 km) we had no punctures.Right now the tyres look like we can use them another trip this year.

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  • Published: Jan 5th, 2010
  • Category: Destinations, Tips
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After having travelled by bike around a more than 30 countries there are a few that stay in your memory as a very menorable biketrip. A place to return and to enjoy again. Here is the list. It may change in the future (more biketrips to come, more countries to explore)  but for now it’s pretty final.

The Netherlands
Ok, I live there 😉 Because Holland is the most cycle friendly country in the world. Cycling is a way of life…  Holland has got the best cycle lane network in the world. You can cycle on more than 19.000 kilometres of bicycles paths and lanes. It makes cycling in Holland enjoyable and safe (Holland is the fourth safest country as far as traffic concerns. Only the U.K., Sweden and Norway have lower numbers of fatalities). And there are a few other reasons as well. Just have a look at this website entirely dedicated to bicycle travel in the Netherlands.

Homepage of holland.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl

The USA
Another great place with a wide variation of scenery, excellent roads (most of the time) and plenty of facilities. I’ve been there a few times (Arizona, Utah, Alaska) and it’s always good cycling. Actually the USA is a good place to start your first overseas biketrip when you’re an unexperienced around the world biker (and not living there).

Just north of Denail NP (Alaska)

South Africa
This is a place that never stops to amaze me. The scenery is just as good as the USA, the road network in prime shape. Plenty of places to camp or stay as well. Few people seem to travel here by bike but racing and mountain biking is very popular (so plenty of bike shops as well). A lot of people consider SA an unsafe option. Yes indeed, there seems to be a lot of violence in the cities but outside on the countryside everything is much more relaxed. There are high mountainpasses to climb, beautiful coastal roads and endless deserts. Check ut my South African travel on http://www.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl/southafrica

Overlooking Sani Pass on the border of South Africa and Lesotho

India
 I must not forget this one! A country you either love or hate, or even love and hate at the same time. I´ve been there three  times now and will return some time in the future,  The largest democracy in the world 1 billlion people never ceases to amaze. OK it can be very busy there, avoid the main roads and stay away from the cities, although I have biked in Delhi as well and survived it! My first trip was a all India tour lasting 5 months from the Nepal border down to the hot and steamy south, ending at Chennai. Indian food is still among my favourites.

Visiting a local shop in Northern India

to be continued….

  • Author: admin
  • Published: Jul 27th, 2009
  • Category: Fun
  • Comments: 1

Tags: quotes

Why cycling aroun the world.  Just because it make sense and because it is fun. Arthur Canon Doyle, Albert Einstein and a few other agree on this.

1.” When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
Arthur Conan Doyle

2. ” I thought of that (the theory of relativity) while riding my bike.”
Albert Einstein

3. ” When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.”
H.G. Wells

4. ” For instance, the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon.”
Bill Strickland

5. ” Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live.”
Mark Twain

6.”  It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.”
Ernest Hemingway

7. “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.”
John F. Kennedy

8. “I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle; I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride my bike; I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride it where I like…; I don’t believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman; All I wanna do is bicycle, bicycle, bicycle…”
Freddie Mercury, Queen

9. “A bicycle does get you there and more And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun.”
Bill Emerson

10. ” Marriage is a wonderful invention; but then again, so is a bicycle repair kit.”
Billy Connolly

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