I am resurrecting a 2019 post from my personal blog. It is well worth the share five years later. I am an avid reader of bicycle touring books with over forty in the books. Ian Lacey’s Half the World Away remains one of my top ten bicycle touring books.
Lacey's book, a testament to his writing talent, deserves a spot on the list. Despite limited cycling experience, Lacey embarked on an epic adventure. He overcame obstacles creatively and captured the stories of the people and places he encountered on his bike.
Half the World Away recounts Lacey’s 15-month 17,000-mile solo bicycle tour from the northernmost to the southernmost points of the Americas. In Central America, a fellow cyclist taught him a valuable lesson that perfectly captures my view of touring by bike.
Deep in Central America, Lacey encountered an elderly cyclist heavily laden with gear. They rode together for a while with Lacey sharing stories with this seasoned adventurer. A 20-year veteran of epic tours, the cyclist now splits his years between six months of long-distance riding and six months at home with his wife.
Their conversation delved into their touring experiences. Lacey emphasized his dedication to riding every mile. He'd faced a setback earlier in Mexico, forced to truck his bike back to San Diego for a major repair. He returned by bus, determined to pick up exactly where he left off, hundreds of miles south of Tijuana, ensuring he cycled every inch of the route.
On hearing Lacey’s story, the veteran tourist shared his view from his long history of touring. He encountered countless tourists over the years who approached long-distance touring as a challenge like Lacey. In his words, “driven to cycle every f*cking inch.” He deemed them members of the Every F*cking Inch (EFI) Club.
Experience refined his approach to bike touring. Now, it's all about maximizing time in the saddle and minimizing needless suffering. He embraces alternative transportation when it eliminates misery with no reward, but the adventure remains epic. The miles are just as epic even with the miles spent off the bike.
As the miles heading south passed under his wheels, Lacey remained determined to cycle every f*cking inch. The veteran cyclist's words resonated deeply when Lacey encountered another grueling situation with no safe passage.
Taking a cue from his newfound wisdom, he opted to take a bus out of the EFI Club, a decision he only repeated once more for a short stretch. This allowed him to maximize his enjoyment on his remaining days. He tackled incredible challenges with renewed focus, savoring every mile on his bike.
My mind had been driven to cycle every f*cking inch of my tours through my years of touring. I left my EFI Club membership card in the rolling hills of central North Carolina in 2019. I told my touring partner, “This is just not fun anymore. I am done for the day.” I adopted the same outlook the veteran tourist shared with Lacey.
I returned to cycle the final days to the North Carolina coast overcoming many challenges in a better mental state. Leaving the EFI Club is about balancing challenges with happiness. I enjoy challenges and know that I grow by overcoming challenges. Cycling every f*cking inch does not contribute to happiness or make the tour more memorable.
The EFI Club is more about life than just bicycle touring. Retirement has a way of making a person evaluate what they do. Our time on earth is limited. I want to spend every f*cking minute being happy and living life to the fullest. Welcome to Every Fucking Minute (EFM) Club where every f*cking minute has more value than every f*cking inch.
I no longer look at things being all or nothing. I achieve what I can and accept challenges. I know that I may or may not overcome all challenges. I embrace the mindset that it’s about trying harder. Whether I fail or succeed, it is something learned to move forward. I concentrate on what makes me happy.
Welcome to the EFM Club, Tom!