Experienced traveller, Want to Bicycle around the world. Anybody want to join?

I'm an American adventurer wanting to do a bicycle trip to every country in the world, or as close as possible. I've already been to 60+ countries so far, and hoping to go to all of them. I'm a decent guide in many of them already...(not to say I know everything, but I've been biking in a good few countries including Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Mexico, Tahiti and the US.)

For me this will be a challenge to go EVERYWHERE, including unusual biking destinations in Africa, South America etc. I'm looking for a companion to help show the ropes and keep good company. I'm going one way or the other, but companionship is important to me and I want to put it out there on "Lonely" planet!

I've traveled by hitch hiking, car, train, bus, and working on cruise ships, and now I want a physical challenge pedaling a bike. For me, biking around the world is the best way to see as much as possible, and to take advantage of my relative health. We may not be completely secure in doing this, but my experience is that if you commit to it you'll find a way to safely have fun and get where you want to go. (Take this from a guy who has been stranded in many countries!)

I'm in Europe now and can start from here, the US, or possibly elsewhere depending on cost. This proposition is NOT for the faint of heart, but if you've even CONSIDERED biking long distance I have no doubt it's an experience that you'd regret not taking advantage of!

You're talking about a multi-year commitment. It will be like a marriage, and not something to enter lightly.

A cycle trip that circumnavigates the globe is one thing, but a visit to every country? How do you propose to cycle to island nations, and through conflict zones, and countries that don't allow cycle touring?

It will indeed be a multi year commitment. As for islands, I've already been to many working on cruise ships, and would hope to return by whatever means available including ships. Conflict zones will be a challenge, but conflicts rarely extend to entire countries so would be satisfied on the fringes of them. It's a lofty goal to reach every country, but even if we were to reach half of them it would be worthwhile. There's nothing saying another rider has to stick it out until the end, but of course it's up to them to start, continue and finish the ride with me.

Ask these guys for some advice. They've been on it for a few years now.

I bet you better start by yourself - sometimes people find others on the road...good luck...!!!
Cheers from the road, Heike

www.pushbikegirl.com

I'm looking for a companion to help show the ropes

You've done a lot of travelling including a lot of cycle touring, I suspect you don't need ropes showing to you, unless you are a liability. Apparently you haven't gone cycling in developing countries, but you will quickly find it is, if anything, easier than cycling in developed countries.

A lot of cyclists have their own very personal ways of doing things, especially in more marginal situations - eg the kind of places where you have to carry lots of food and water on your bike and wild camp, then probably someone who knows the ropes would rather you went and learned for yourself somewhere rather than disrupt their carefully calibrated and highly personal routines balancing pleasure and survival. I have a strong memory of accepting a companion into such a situation, and I would never do so again. Though of course I will happily travel with my wife in such situations because I love her and am willing to accept her preferences altering the outcome I would have preferred.

I agree with Iviehoff. You don't want someone to show you the ropes. That's not a good place to be in . It's much more fun to figure things out for yourself. You can learn a lot from others on forums and from blogs. And cycling travelling is fairly easy on a technical level so its not so scary to learn as you go. Companionship is a good reason especially on a really long ride.

Anyway, tell us more about yourself. How old are you? Is a good start. Presumably you are a guy. When are you thinking of setting off. Where are you setting off from?. Do you have any sort of route worked out? What sort of budget are you likely to travel on? Will it be bear bones all the way, or do you have a stash behind you? Are you looking for a guy or a girl or doesn't it matter.

These are questions that people need to have a sense of from the outset. It doesn't matter if you don't have all these worked out but if you do, it would be nice to know what you are thinking.

Thanks for the link! Another good source of info - i'm planning on setting off on my own RTW adventure come next Spring and reading every blog I can find on the subject. (There's lots of good info out there).

I've now found YOUR blog too! I'm planning on my own trip (solo) starting next Spring - so pleased to have found you Heike - will subscribe and I've started at your no. 1 post.

I've read this post several times to try and get more of an insight.

My understanding from the initial post was that this traveller has already been to 60+ countries, sometimes using motorised transport and other times on a bicycle. They now wish to complete the rest of the world map on a bicycle. However, the follow-up post suggests they want to try and visit as many countries in the world on a bicycle, including those they have already spent time in.

The route planning for this would be a phenomenal task. You could spend the rest of your life on the road trying to accomplish this goal, how would you fund it?

It could be a perfectly innocent cultural misunderstanding, but I do feel concerned about your level of grounding in reality. Although I wish you the best of luck, I would urge you to employ your mind in equal measures to your heart.

Cycletour, i'd say you are worrying for nothing. If this guy is an experienced traveller, he may well be able to spend the rest of his life on the road doing what he says he wants to do. There are other people who live most of their life on the road and manage. And some of them make money out of it along the way.

I wish him the best of luck and hope he succeeds.

Whether the logistics are feasible will become apparent.

Hopefully he will update us.

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