Eric shot me a look of quiet desperation, “Why are we putting ourselves through this?” It was a fair question. The roads crisscrossing the Cordillera, as the Philippines’ Central Highlands are known, are notoriously steep. And rough. 20% grades are not unheard of. Even on paved surfaces, my front wheel often popped up and bucked [...]
The Joy of Suffering
Eric shot me a look of quiet desperation, “Why are we putting ourselves through this?” ...
Life Goes On
A housewife haggles over the price of tomatoes in a busy market, a devout old woman crosses herself as she scurries past an imposing Catholic church, a group of boys shoots hoops on a neighborhood court, young men nap in their tricycle taxis as they wait for a passenger to appear, a wiry youth guides [...]
Top 5 Reasons to Go Bicycle Touring in Iceland
Iceland is Europe’s last frontier. It’s also one of my favorite countries to go bicycle touring. Here’s why… Reason 1: The scenery is fantastic; it is nature at its finest. If you like untouched scenery, glaciers, volcanoes, desert, fjords, rough coastline, ice cold streams and rich birdlife than this is the place to go. Iceland [...]
The Philippines: First Impressions and a Minor Case of Culture Shock
The beauty of travelling by bicycle is that one country gently flows into the next. Crossing from Cambodia to Thailand, for example, you hardly register a change. Sure, the roads are better in the former Siam and people have a little more money to spend. Most Thais can afford a shiny Honda scooter while many [...]
Rural Riding: the DMZ and beyond
Hub repaired, wheel rebuilt, well-rested and a few kilos heavier, we hopped on the Han River cycle path and headed for the countryside. I’d taken in my final glorious Seoul sunset and a tinge of sadness swept over me as the city faded into the distance. Seoul had been home for two weeks. And that’s [...]
Bye-Bye Bike Path
It was time to venture off the bike paths. If we stuck to the official trails, we’d exit the country believing all Koreans ride fancy bikes and look good in spandex. After several car-free weeks, we thought it best to ease ourselves into the reality of road riding. We cruised out of Seoul on the [...]
Eight Underappreciated Bike Touring Destinations
Some spots draw scores of bicycle tourists: Chile’s Carreterra Austral, New Zealand’s South Island, the Pamir Highway, America’s west coast, the Danube River Cycle trail. Other lovely spots around the globe attract relatively few two-wheeled travelers. Here are 8 bike touring destinations that, in my humble opinion, deserve more attention. Castles, quaint villages, winding [...]
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