If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Life Without A Vehicle: Could You Live For 12 Months Without Your Car?

For the last ten years I’ve been driving a 1992 blue and white Ford Explorer. The car was my father’s before he passed it down to me after I received my license at the age of 16… and boy did I love that car!

But you’re probably wondering, why in the world am I talking about my car on a website devoted to bicycle travel?

Well, the reason I’m talking about my car is because I’ve recently decided to donated my vehicle to charity and am now without any sort of motorized transportation.

With my car out of the picture, my main source of transportation is by bike. And because I’ve decided to live for the next 12 months (and possibly even longer) without any sort of vehicle, I thought this would make for an interesting topic of conversation here at BicycleTouringPro.com. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Interbike 2008 Urban Legend Fashion Show

Day two of the 2008 Interbike International Bicycle Expo ended with a fashion show featuring the clothes, bikes, and accessories of more than 50 different companies. The line up included fashions designed for gym, weekend casual, day casual, work, semi-formal, and formal occasions.

At the show the runway was set up in a circular arrangement. The models would ride a bike (sometimes a commuter bike, sometimes a folder, and sometimes a tricycle) halfway around the stage before stopping, exiting the bike, and posing for the cameras. They would then (typically, but not always) walk the bike the rest of the way around the runway before stopping one more time, posing for the cameras yet again, and then exiting the stage.

From what I understood, the goal of the show was to feature fashions that steer clear of the neon colors most often associated with cyclists. Instead, the models were seen wearing more muted colors – clothes you might not ever associate with a biker. In the end, the women came on stage in full-length dresses – something I imagine would be quite difficult to do any serious riding in. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Lance Armstrong’s Surprise Appearance At The 2008 Cross Vegas Cyclo-cross Race

The first day of the 2008 Interbike Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada ended with a men’s and women’s cyclo-cross race located in a park a few miles off the Vegas Strip.

When I first showed up at the event, the women’s race was already underway. The riders were pedaling on grass, flying over concrete sidewalks, jumping over hurdles, twisting around sharp corners and climbing up steep angled slopes. I’ve never attended a cyclo-cross race before, so all of this was quite a sight!

When the women’s race was over, it was announced that Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, would be joining the men’s race – competing against some of the best cyclo-cross racers in the world.

A huge crowd formed as Lance appeared near the starting gate and the announcer called him to the line. Lights flashed and the crowd roared. If it weren’t for his yellow and black LAF (Lance Armstrong Foundation) jersey, he’d look like any of the other riders on the course – an ultra fit athlete dressed in lycra preparing for 10 laps of cyclo-cross hell. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How To Pack Your Panniers: An Inside Look

Currently, the most popular article on the site here at BicycleTouringPro.com is an article simply titled, “How To Pack Your Panniers.” The article features a detailed breakdown of everything I carry in my panniers and also includes a 30 minute video where I physically show you the contents of my bicycle touring bags.

Since writing that article, I’ve received a lot of feedback and questions. My goal today is to expand further on the information I provided in that first article by showing you exactly how I place my gear inside my panniers and by pointing out two very important things you should consider when packing your panniers for a bicycle tour. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

An Interview With World Traveler & Documentary Filmmaker: Brook Silva-Braga

When Brook Silva-Braga left his job as an Emmy-Award winning TV producer for HBO to spend more than 11 months traveling around the world, his co-workers didn’t know what to think. Carrying 5 pounds of clothing and more than 30 pounds of video equipment in a backpack, Brook would spend the next year traveling through 26 different countries and 4 different continents… recording his journey on tape as he went along.

Upon his return to the United States, Brook moved in with his parents and spent the next few months editing his footage into the award winning film, A Map For Saturday. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How To Make Your Own Working Camp Stove

Finding the right stove for your bicycle tour can be difficult. There are dozens of different stoves to choose from and it seems as though each one requires a different type of fuel. That’s why, years ago, when I came across the designs for a working camp stove made out of two ordinary soda cans, I knew I had stumbled upon something special.

Today, I have a short video for you where I am going to show you how to make your own working camp stove – perfect for your upcoming bicycle adventure. The best part about this stove is that its lightweight, easy to use, and runs off denatured alcohol (which can be found just about anywhere in the world). Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How To Pack Your Bicycle For A Long Distance Tour

As part of my three part series on how to pack your bicycle for a long distance touring adventure, today I am going to be discussing how to actually pack your bike with your panniers and other belongings.

In part 1 we discussed how to pack your handlebar bag. In part 2 I gave you some tips on how to pack your panniers. Today we will be discussing how to actually go about packing your bike with its panniers and all the other gear needed for life on the road. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How To Sync Your Cell Phone With Twitter

Yesterday I wrote an article about using Twitter to keep in touch with your friends and family while on you are out on your bicycle tour (Here is the link to that article).

While Twitter’s free service is a great way to keep in touch while out on the road, there is one major drawback: You need a computer in order to make a post or update… and for most traveling cyclists, carrying a computer on their bicycle or hunting down a computer every time they want to make a post or send an email is a huge pain in the butt. Read more

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Tips For Protecting Your Sunglasses & Mirror

When traveling by bike there are typically a few small items that you need to treat with extra caution so as to not damage them. Two such items that come to mind are your sunglasses and your mirror.

For some cool tips on now to protect and organize these items while out on tour, check out the video below:

Recommended Sunglass Cases:

Hard Cover Sunglasses Case

-  Hard acrylic cover for extra protection.
-  Adjustable height fits various size sunglasses.
-  Measures: 6″ length x 2″ width.
-  Height: 1.75″ to 2.75 maximum approx.

Large Zip Glasses Case

- Sleek, black glasses case that zips.
- Great for protecting your favorite pair of sunglasses.
- Handy belt loop on reverse side.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Next Page »