Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Niles H.
11-03-07, 04:52 PM
Some Englishman back in the 1800s got the idea that he could save himself a lot of trouble, and have just as much fun, by skipping certain elements of traveling around the world, seeing exotic lands by ship.
Instead, he set up a little ship of his own. It included a very comfortable chair, surrounded by some good pictures of the lands he was visiting at the moment, some of the local food and smells, etc. And some good well-written books.
The Internet has upped the ante. So have certain magazines and books.
Some of these virtual tours can be excellent. There was one in Adventure Cyclist that was particularly good. In fact, there have been several.
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One drawback to virtual touring is the absence of the combination of vigorous exercise and being outdoors under the open sky, the stars and the sun and nature, and all the rest that goes with it.
What if exercise were included, though? --maybe including a good, vigorous jaunt (on a bike perhaps) in the middle of a read?, or reading while on a stationary bike, which could be outside?
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I wonder how far this can be taken.
It seems to me that either one, taken to its furthest limits (if there are limits), can be wonderful. And it seems they can be mixed and cocktailed.
I wonder what all is involved here, what enhances either type of touring, and what else contributes to pushing the limits of a really good tour.
Instead, he set up a little ship of his own. It included a very comfortable chair, surrounded by some good pictures of the lands he was visiting at the moment, some of the local food and smells, etc. And some good well-written books.
The Internet has upped the ante. So have certain magazines and books.
Some of these virtual tours can be excellent. There was one in Adventure Cyclist that was particularly good. In fact, there have been several.
****
One drawback to virtual touring is the absence of the combination of vigorous exercise and being outdoors under the open sky, the stars and the sun and nature, and all the rest that goes with it.
What if exercise were included, though? --maybe including a good, vigorous jaunt (on a bike perhaps) in the middle of a read?, or reading while on a stationary bike, which could be outside?
****
I wonder how far this can be taken.
It seems to me that either one, taken to its furthest limits (if there are limits), can be wonderful. And it seems they can be mixed and cocktailed.
I wonder what all is involved here, what enhances either type of touring, and what else contributes to pushing the limits of a really good tour.