Motivation to tour by bike
Some words to get you on a bike discovering yourself and the world
I am by no means an epic bicycle tourist. I love touring by bike. It started in 2011 and gradually grew over the years. I gained experience, and confidence and learned to live outside my comfort zone. I never imagined being in this position thirteen years ago.
One of the compelling reasons I travel by bike is to meet people and discover the world they call home. Common in my conversations with them is that they could never imagine doing what I am doing. Here are six quotes to motivate you to get on your bike and discover the world on two wheels.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. — Chinese proverb.
Think epic and embrace the ordinary at the same time. I routinely see cross-Ohio bike tourists on my local trails which are part of the 326 miles of the Ohio to Erie Trail. Their weeklong tour may be a bucket list item, a challenge, or a routine. Know that most of these tourists dipped their toes in bicycle touring with day rides or weekend adventures that birthed their desire to explore longer and farther. Find a doable yet challenging tour to set you on a path of epic touring.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness. — Oscar Wilde
I never reinvent the wheel when I set out on a bicycle tour. Whatever your appetite: rail trails, backroads, hills, or flatlands, cyclists find their way to the best places to ride their bikes. The internet is a vast library of bicycle touring resources. Bicycle touring journal websites such as Crazy Guy on a Bike and Cycle Blaze are good places to start your discovery. Countless bicycle tourists share their personal stories in YouTube videos and Facebook groups. Online dreams lead to on-bike adventure.
By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. — Benjamin Franklin
I spent countless hours intricately planning my first bicycle tour. The result was an overloaded bicycle and a way too ambitious schedule. Reality came into focus as I turned those pedals with great effort. I lightened my load and loosened the schedule as the days passed. Planning is a delicate balance. Never set out without a plan, but plan realistically. You do not need to account for every possible issue. Use the experience of more experienced tourists to temper your degree of planning. Plan but do not over-plan.
There’s no fear when you’re having fun. — Will Thomas
Never lose sight that one of the best things in life is to have fun. Life was about having fun every day in our youth. Somewhere along the way that got lost. Touring on a bike is the perfect place to embrace what being on a bike at six years old was about – FUN. Planning a bicycle tour is not just about miles and days. It is about what happens between the start and end. Seek out fun adventures from behind your handlebars. Embrace your inner child every minute on your bike.
There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met. — William Butler Yeats
If there is one thing I want my readers to take away from this post, this is it. When I set out to discover the world on my bike, I saw it as seeing things I had never seen and achieving something I never imagined doing. I quickly learned that the most rewarding thing about bicycle touring is my encounters with strangers. It broadens my view of their piece of the world. It motivates me to live better, opens my mind to new perspectives, and keeps me going. People love to tell their stories. Stop and listen as often as you can on your bike.
He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Celebrate! There is certainly fear in leaving the security of your home, job, and family when you set out to explore on your bike. I have never lost that fear. I have embraced it and challenged myself to silence it as I pedal. Fear is a great teacher and motivator. Challenging your comfort zone helps you grow and learn new things. I challenge you to celebrate fear. This is the way you turn fear into pride and accomplishments.
Happy trails!
Tom of the Trails
❤️❤️