ShacklerViking

I was thinking that it probably would be cool to meet people from your own country or simular countrys on long tour, especially if you are from a minor country.
Would be easier to meet this people of you wearing or have some visible identification on your gear that shows your orgin.

Any ideas or do you do something like that?

imi

No... but there again I'm not a great fan of nationalism, I kind of consider us all as natives of earth (but would love to meet extra-terrestrials) ...
More people from your own country if you stay at home

Cyclesafe

Although I am a patriotic American, I have only Canadian and Swiss flag patches on my panniers. I do not want to take ANY grief for the anti-constitutional policies of our last government. I hope that someday soon I'll be proud to show an American flag.

xilios

X2 nicely put imi

travelmama

IMI- Well put. I don't understand the whole Canadian flag crap. If you are American, you are American or whatever country you come from. I have traveled high and low around the world as a single traveling female and never once has anyone given me grief about my nationality. In fact, people talk to me because I am rather approachable and want to know how life is in my country. People will never know the truth if it is hidden.

Cyclesafe

YMMV. The "America: right or wrong" and the "America: Love it or Leave it" crowd are fodder for facism. When I tour I don't feel any responsibility to defend or find excuses for America's policies. I just want to tour.

Erick L

You look weird enough on a touring bike for people to ask where you're from.

imi

I've never really understood why "Where are you from?" is so important. An icebreaker I guess, but I feel it often reinforces stereotypes. Guess I've just been on the road so long, and a foreigner in so many countries that they all feel like home

Cyclesafe

I think mormons use "where you from?" as some sort of initiation of a secret recognition code. The question often comes up awkwardly and unnaturally out of context.

mev

People can make all sorts of interesting associations with US (and other nationalities). Many are positive, but occasionally you'll have someone thinking you must live a particular lifestyle projected on American TV. So, I don't put a visible indication of nationality on my stuff.

The "where are you from?" question is one of the top three questions I get asked, so I prefer to wait until the question comes up, and is sometimes yelled out as you cycle past.

When cycling across Russia, my initial response to the "where do you come from" question if it was yelled was "Amsterdam" or "Holland". Even though my citizenship is now US, there was some truth to the answer since, I was born in Amsterdam, had started my ride in Amsterdam, speak Dutch fluently and was cycling with a partner from Amsterdam. So, we'd get into basic conversations about the Ajax soccer team and other things they associated with Holland.

If I got into a more extended conversation or was in a situation where I would show my passport, then I would list the US, but I wouldn't start the conversation with that.

Ekdog

Whenever I see a traveller here in Europe with a Canadian flag on his rucksack or panniers, I assume he's American.

Cyclebum

I don't tour internationally, but would not display the US flag if I did. It would serve no useful purpose that I can think of, and in many countries would elicit negative reactions. Not as much as perhaps a year ago, but what with the economic crisis being blamed on shady US financial dealing, not much love for the US right now. Cyclist are vulnerable enough without encouraging nationalisic road rage.

OTOH, I certainly would not try to mislead about my nationality if the subject arose, not that it could ever be concealed in a one on one. The Texas drawl would blow my cover anywhere.

Speedo

When traveling, I've never felt the need to either show or hide my nationality. No need to show it because to most people, with the exception of people from the United States, I seem to be easily recognizable as being from the United States. No need to hide it because except for some minor kidding, I've never been troubled about my nationality.

Hint to people from the United States wanting to indicate that they are from the United States: Don't try to show it by wearing anything with a New York Yankees logo. Yankees logos are everywhere overseas! As a Yankee fan married to a Red Sox fan this caused me no end of glee.

Speedo

mev

When I cycled around Australia, the Australian's I met would more often than not guess that I was Canadian. I'm not sure why, though at least person pointed out that if they guessed Canadian and the person was really American - the guessee would be amused. However, if they guessed American and the person was really Canadian - some of the guessees would be annoyed.

The Smokester

Yes. It is my experience that there are more UK, Canadians, NZer's and Ausies on independent/adventure travel then USAers, population differences not withstanding. Not talking about organized tours since that's not that the way I normally go. YMMV.

staehpj1

Don't most bike tourists stop and chat with all other bike tourists regardless of nationality? That has been my experience.

spinner

Funny, when I was touring in Australia, people often thought I was Irish. Born and bred in Canada, not really sure how the irish thing happened. I think that the "where you from" Question is just a natural conversation starter for most people, as it is usually obvious that your not a local. The loaded bike tends to give that away. I've never really had anything on my panniers that identifies me as any particular nationality. My experience has been that a lot of people will see the bike and come up and talk to you anyway.
Cheers

Randochap

Of course. I sport the Maple Leaf on my fenders via reflective flag. I'm not a nationalist flag waver by any means (like most, I'm an immigrant) but most people you meet on the road are inevitably interested in where you're from.

I'm not sure if I'm flattered that those who are ashamed of their home country/gov't have taken to appropriation of ours as a "flag of convenience."

Randochap

Then, in my case, you'd be wrong! See post #14

Newspaperguy

I don't wear a flag or show my nationality when I'm cycling, but if someone wants to ask me, I'm willing to talk. When I've cycled in the U.S., I can't hide my nationality because people will hear my accent and likewise, when an American is in Canada, I'll quickly pick up on his or her accent.

Dan The Man

I carry MEC gear. All Canadians recognize me.

bokes

I'm an American who speaks Norwegian and Swedish fairly well. I've noticed that my Scandinaian buddies often stich their flag on a backpack or pannier and constantly get approached by HOT, beautiful Scandinavian girls. So if I was a Scandinavian native, I'd have a flag on my panniers big time.
Unfortunately It will probably take 10+ years to recover from the unpopular memory of Bush, so I probably won't be waving an American flag for a long time

Ekdog

I voted against Bush three times: in the 1994 Texas gubernatorial race and in the two presidential races, so I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not a flag waver, but I'd never deny where I'm from.

Machka 

Here's my handlebar bag:

AngrySaki

If I didn't already have other patches on my panniers, I'd put a canadian flag pack and an SGA patch like the uniforms in stargate atlantis.