Whose bike touring stories do you want to hear?
11-12-10, 12:24 PM
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Whose bike touring stories do you want to hear?
Hey all-
I'm a longtime utility/transport and mountain biker and newer to the touring world. To keep myself entertained over the winter (like that's hard!), I've started a series of interviews with interesting people who've done bike tours. I love hearing and reading stories, especially adventure stories, and I was inspired to start this after a lovely couple (The Path Less Pedaled) came through our town and by our shop (Cycle 9 in Chapel Hill, NC) earlier this fall. Instead of just talking to people myself, I thought, why not do some interviews to entertain other people as well?
I'm looking for recommendations on who you think would be the best/most interesting people to interview. The interviews are live call-ins so anyone can listen. There are so many great stories out there, but what are the most interesting ones you've heard? I'd like to get people who do all kinds of tours, different age groups, etc.
Thanks!
-Elise Giddings
https://www.biketouringbliss.com
I'm a longtime utility/transport and mountain biker and newer to the touring world. To keep myself entertained over the winter (like that's hard!), I've started a series of interviews with interesting people who've done bike tours. I love hearing and reading stories, especially adventure stories, and I was inspired to start this after a lovely couple (The Path Less Pedaled) came through our town and by our shop (Cycle 9 in Chapel Hill, NC) earlier this fall. Instead of just talking to people myself, I thought, why not do some interviews to entertain other people as well?
I'm looking for recommendations on who you think would be the best/most interesting people to interview. The interviews are live call-ins so anyone can listen. There are so many great stories out there, but what are the most interesting ones you've heard? I'd like to get people who do all kinds of tours, different age groups, etc.
Thanks!
-Elise Giddings
https://www.biketouringbliss.com
11-12-10, 12:43 PM
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Great idea. This ought to be very entertaining.
2 thoughts come to mind:
A. Dream trips; the adventurers whose videos you can see on youtube running the Cordilleras of South America, the Alps, the Himalayas and the open lands near Mongolia. Oh, they are wonderful material to dream.
B. The everyday joys; the people who are great human-interest stories. Those that cross the USA with a missing leg, who overcome adversity, who go find a reason not to kill themselves. The inspiring soul enriching stories.
2 thoughts come to mind:
A. Dream trips; the adventurers whose videos you can see on youtube running the Cordilleras of South America, the Alps, the Himalayas and the open lands near Mongolia. Oh, they are wonderful material to dream.
B. The everyday joys; the people who are great human-interest stories. Those that cross the USA with a missing leg, who overcome adversity, who go find a reason not to kill themselves. The inspiring soul enriching stories.
11-12-10, 01:06 PM
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I like any stories as long as they have a good doses of their own thoughts and feelings about their trip, rather than just a narrative about where they went.
Also, I like inspiring and sensational stories, but I enjoy stories of extraordinary adventures by ordinary people even more because I can relate better. Too much emphasis on extraordinary people, IMO, can quickly make a sport look like a freak show of sorts. Put another way, even the most normal/boring person probably has some good stories to tell about their adventures...
Also, I like inspiring and sensational stories, but I enjoy stories of extraordinary adventures by ordinary people even more because I can relate better. Too much emphasis on extraordinary people, IMO, can quickly make a sport look like a freak show of sorts. Put another way, even the most normal/boring person probably has some good stories to tell about their adventures...
11-12-10, 01:17 PM
#4
Sore saddle cyclist
You and your listeners really would enjoy an interview with Willie Weir. He has toured all over the world and he is such an entertaining guy. His book Spokesongs is a collection of essays on his travels and bike tours, it's fun to read. I've seen him speak several times, always a fun time!
https://www.willieweir.com/
See him here
https://www.willieweir.com/Programs.shtml
https://www.willieweir.com/
See him here
https://www.willieweir.com/Programs.shtml
Last edited by Shifty; 11-12-10 at 05:26 PM.
11-12-10, 01:57 PM
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11-12-10, 02:48 PM
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Fred A. Birchmore is still alive (98-99 ish) and living in Athens, Georgia.
He is where the term Fred originated (the low tech cyclist in tube socks who blows through a pack of spandex racers definition of Fred, not the dork who has more gear than he knows how to use definition).
His book is Around the World on a Bicycle which documents his circumnavigation in the 30s on a single speed.
Fred is a hero.
Oh, on the cover of his book is a picture of Fred with an anaconda skin stretched out across his bike.
He would dispatch one every now and again when he was on the Sub-Continent when he ran out of food.
The stories about him unintentionally winning a race in Italy and riding through Pashtun lands in Afghanistan are legendary.
He is where the term Fred originated (the low tech cyclist in tube socks who blows through a pack of spandex racers definition of Fred, not the dork who has more gear than he knows how to use definition).
His book is Around the World on a Bicycle which documents his circumnavigation in the 30s on a single speed.
Fred is a hero.
Oh, on the cover of his book is a picture of Fred with an anaconda skin stretched out across his bike.
He would dispatch one every now and again when he was on the Sub-Continent when he ran out of food.
The stories about him unintentionally winning a race in Italy and riding through Pashtun lands in Afghanistan are legendary.
Last edited by Allen; 11-12-10 at 02:52 PM.
