Bicycle-Touring.com

A Web site about bicycle touring in Vietnam, Turkey, etc.

 

This site was created to share my experiences bicycle-touring. Here's why I think this site is a fun read:

  • I bicycled interesting places, relatively early in their popularity as tourist-destinations.
  • I took many photos.
  • I kept a journal.
  • I was not an experienced tourer, and thus many of my entries capture real mood-swings.

    • Let me comment on that last bullet. The other evening I was working on the Turkey Web pages. As I was rereading my complaints about cold, wind, hills, etc., I thought that I should do some editing, and make the article a positive tale. Likewise my Vietnam writings: I thought that I should edit-out the negative stuff. But I'm going to keep the text as written. It's more entertaining, and it's really what this site is all about -- a normal person figuring out how to complete difficult rides.

    Why Travel by Bike?

    If you're going traveling, riding a bike is unequivocally the best way there is to really sight-see.

    There are negatives:
    · Climbing hills and mountains will break your spirit.
    · Riding in the rain for more than one day in a row will break your spirit.
    · Long boring stretches can break your spirit.
    · Bicycling is work!

     

    But the positives are very positive:
    · You can go anywhere you want - you never have to see if "this train stops there."
    · Getting around town is a piece of cake. While other tourists are still figuring which bus will get them to the museum, you're half-way there!
    · You can eat and sleep for less, since you'll be off the tourist track.
    · You will experience the local culture as no regular tourist ever will.

    Admittedly, the above-mentioned minuses could offset the positives. But with a little pre-trip planning (specifically selecting routes and watching seasonality), you can stack the deck in favor of the positives, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    Visit my Website on bike touring.