Cycling Around The World – Web Series & Documentary

On May 3, 2012, Bicycle Touring Pro creator, Darren Alff, will leave home and spend the next several years traveling around the world in order to document the travels of long-distance bicycle tourists and to record the various ways in which the bicycle is used by people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. The cycling-centric footage that Darren collects during his travels will then be edited together and used in two different, but similar video projects:

1. A video web series (kind of like a miniature television show, but distributed for free on the Internet) about bicycle touring around the world.
2. A feature-length documentary that showcases the different ways in which the bicycle is used by people all around the world.

This page has been created to not only showcase Darren’s intended route of travel, but also to provide additional information on the cycling-centric web series/documentary that Darren is creating and to let you know how you can help make this project become a reality.

Click here to read about the latest news and updates on this project.

Travel Map:

The map below shows the major cities that Darren will be visiting while on his bicycle trip around the world. Please note that at this point in time, the schedule could, and probably will, change to some degree. The full itinerary is detailed below.

Travel Schedule

Below is a breakdown of the cities Darren will be visiting on his trip around the world, accompanied by the dates he will be in each location and the type of cycling he plans to cover in each specific area.

Feb. 1 – Feb. 28, 2012	Park City, Utah, USA – Snow Bikes
	The winter season means that cyclists who want to continue riding during the cold winter months must battle a diverse mix of weather conditions – snow, rain, ice, hail and more. How do these cold-weather cyclists endure? And what special gear is required for winter snow cycling?

March 15 – March 30, 2012	Moab, Utah, USA – Mountain Biking
	The second stage of Darren Alff’s expedition around the world will take place in an area known as the mecca of mountain biking. Moab, Utah is a warm, remote desert region in Southern Utah (not far from the Grand Canyon) where large rock formations allow off-road cyclists the unique experience of exploring the deserts of the “old west” under their own human power.

May 3 – May 28, 2012	Reykavik, Iceland – Self-Supported Bicycle Touring
	While in Iceland we will hit the Ring Road (the 850 mile road that circles Iceland) and travel for more than two weeks around this beautiful and occasionally isolated road as we travel with nothing but our bikes and the belongings in our bags. Prepare yourself for some scenic cycling scenes!

May 29 – June 10, 2012

London England - Citywide Bike Rentals

In London we will learn about the bicycle rental program that allows citizens and visitors alike the ability to rent a bicycle for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, so as to explore the city on two wheels or quickly get to and from work. How does the rental system function? How much does it cost? What are its main benefits and drawbacks? And do the people of London actually appreciate what they’ve got? All of these questions (and more) will be answered in this segment of the film.

June 11 – June 21, 2012

Amsterdam, Netherlands – City Cycling/Commuting

With more than 17,000 kilometers of paved bicycle paths, Amsterdam is the world capital of cycling. There are more bikes in Amsterdam than there are people and nearly 85% of the population rides a bicycle on a regular basis. While in the Netherlands, Darren will document the daily coming and goings of individuals who use their bicycles for commuting to work, picking up the groceries, dropping their kids off at school, and a whole lot more!

June 30 – July 9, 2012	Tour de France – Road Racing
	During the first week of July, Darren will be following the infamous Tour de France bicycle race as it runs its course through Belgium and Northern France. Darren will camp along the race route each night, documenting as much of the race as possible while capturing not only the riders in the race itself, but also the spectators who are so enthralled by the sport of bicycle racing.

July 10 – July 20, 2012	Bike Switzerland – Guided Bicycle Touring
	The Swiss alps are the epitome of cycling serenity. Over the course of 11 days, Darren will travel with Swiss tour company, Bike Switzerland, as they lead a group of 20 mountain-loving cyclists over the Swiss Alps and across the country – a 564 kilometer ride from Geneva to Rorschach.Click here to find out how you can join Darren on his bike ride across Switzerland.

July 30 – Aug. 15, 2012	Krakow, Poland – Police Bikes
	In Krakow, Darren will tag along with an on-duty police officer who does his or her work from the back of a bike. In this segment of the film, you will get to see how bicycle cops are used to patrol the streets, prevent crime and increase public safety.

Aug. 16 – Sept. 10, 2012	Casablanca, Morocco - Child’s First Bicycle
	In Morocco, Darren will document a child’s first few days on a bicycle and we will see how our experiences riding a bicycle when we are young play a large part in how we feel about cycling as we mature into adults. Plus, you can expect to see some incredible scenery from all around this region or North Africa.

Sept. 11 – Sept. 30, 2012	Cairo, Egypt - Boats & Bicycles
	In Egypt we will sail down the Nile river and explore how boats are used in conjunction with bicycles in the land of the Pharaohs. Traveling by sailboat up the river, we will stop along the way to explore the Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and numerous Egyptian Temples.

Oct. 1 – Oct. 20, 2012	Nairobi, Kenya – Farm/Water/Work Bikes
	Our time in Kenya will provide us with a chance to see how bicycles are used as workhorses in this African country to transport water from wells, carry food to nearby villages, and transport people and their belongings across the country.

Oct. 21 – Nov. 5, 2012	Johannesburg, South Africa - Recumbent Bikes
	In the largely English-speaking country of South Africa we will follow a group of recumbent cyclists as they travel about the Johannesburg area on these oddly shaped, yet incredibly comfortable bicycles. Along the way we will discover why people are attracted to recumbent bicycles and what makes them so ideal for people with knee and back injuries.

Nov. 6 – Nov. 30, 2012	Cape Town, South Africa - BMX Racing
	We’ve arrived in Cape Town, South Africa just in time for the BMX racing season – a time of year when young BMX riders tackle small dirt mounds, large jumps and sharp turns in an effort to be number one. We will learn what it takes to become a professional BMX racer and experience first-hand the rush of competitive racing.

Dec. 1 – Dec. 20, 2012	Delhi, India - Work/Utility Bicycles
	India is a madhouse… and it is a country filled with bicycles, tricycles and quads. During our time in Delhi, we will see how bicycles are used in a work/utility capacity. In a place where bicycles can often times outnumber motorized vehicles, the bicycle truly reigns supreme. But how exactly are bicycles used by common citizens in this crowded Asian country?

Dec. 21, 2012 – Jan. 10, 2013	Bangkok, Thailand - Transportation
	The bicycle is one of the main means of coming and going in Thailand. While in Bangkok we will see how individuals use their bicycles to get to and from work, carry goods of various types from one place to another, and allow tourists to access local sites of interest for just a few dollars a day.

Jan. 10 – Jan. 31, 2013

Shanghai, China - Folding/Travel Bikes

With a population quickly approaching the 1.5 billion mark, China is a place where space and efficiently play a key role. During Darren’s travels in China he will document how individuals are able to use folding travel bikes to not only cycle to and from the places they need to go, but also take their bikes on board many of China’s most popular modes of public transportation – such as buses, trains, and boats.

Feb. 1 – Feb. 14, 2013

Sydney, Australia - Fixed Gear Bicycles

Fixed gear (or single-speed) bicycles have become incredibly popular over the last several years. Young men and women, especially, have taken to fixed gear bikes as not only a means of transportation, but as a mode of self-expression. During our time in Australia we will learn why this is… and we will see some of the country’s best fixed gear cyclists perform stunts on two wheels like you would not believe.

Feb. 15 – Feb. 28, 2013	Melbourne, Australia - Critical Mass
	Further south in Australia, Darren will document a critical mass bike ride – an event in which hundreds (and even thousands) of local cyclists take to the streets, block traffic, and ride as one giant mass through the streets of Melbourne.

March 1 – March 16, 2013

La Paz, Bolivia - Downhill

If you’ve ever wanted to experience what it might be like to ride your bicycle along a sheer cliff face while giant trucks pass just an inch or two from your handlebars, here is your chance! While in Bolivia, Darren will travel with a group of downhill mountain bikers on a tour of the most dangerous road in the world. You’ll be treated to magnificent mountain views of Bolivia and terrifying glimpses of the valleys that lie thousands of feet below.

March 17 – March 30, 2013	Puno, Peru - Tricycle Taxi Cabs
	Finally, the tour will come to an end on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where reed boats and tricycle taxi cabs are some of the city’s main means of transportation and food delivery. While in Puno, Darren will spend a week with a local tricycle taxi cab driver and document his life both on and off the bike.

April 1 – April 15, 2013

California Coastline – Self-Supported Bicycle Touring

Upon his return to North America, Darren will then travel down the Pacific Coast of California, following a couple of self-supported bicycle tourists as they slowly pedal their way from the Redwoods of Northern California to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, we will learn about self-supported bicycle touring and see some of the most beautiful cycling scenery in all of North America.

Please note that this itinerary is not set in stone. Any aspect of this schedule is subject to change as the trip grows closer. We will do our best, however, to keep this itinerary as accurate as possible during the planning process.

Photos By: TrailSource.com, Mike Baird, FaceMePLS, Adam Baker, fung.leo, nakedsky, Johan Vandamme, Xavi Talleda, Bracketting Life, Steve Lietzau, Robert Couse-Baker, jdanvers, Kyle Taylor, planetlight, ownefinn 16, ItzaFineDay, Phillie Casablanca, Vivelevelo