Two months of cyclotouring feels like a significant milestone, and is worthy of some reflection. Here are a few initial thoughts and observations from our ramble so far.
1. People’s capacity for kindness is amazing.
The media pumps out a lot of fear, and Cortney and I are doing our best to “unsubscribe.” Being scared and closed-minded, for us, just isn’t a good or healthy way to live. In our bike travels, we’ve been impressed with the kindness shown by the bike community, Warm Showers, friends, and family. It’s been truly wonderful. We’ve discovered most people want to help you and keep you going. They want to hear your story and they want to share theirs. It’s been special.
2. Plan on having your plans change.
On a tour, things will rarely, if ever, go according to plan. You’ll encounter mechanicals, freak storms, washed-out roads, and wacknugget navigation apps that’ll sometimes lead you down roads that are private property, roads that are gated, roads that have become sagebrush and tumbleweeds. (Bless their hearts.) So Cortney and I have learned to take a holistic approach. We consult a couple of apps. We talk to the locals. We don’t blindly follow any one app. And we’re working at building even more flexibility into our upcoming routes and schedules.
3. Time moves more slowly.
Between everyone always being on 24/7, raising a family, and being wrapped up in our workweek hustle, there just isn’t enough time to do the things we really want to do. Traveling by bicycle has helped us. It’s forced us to s-l-o-w down and be in the moment. When you’re cycling every day, you’re not sweating it to keep up with busy-ness of business (but you’re still sweating). And carrying a load has us pedaling slower than a quick weekend spin. Riding slower helps you notice things you’d otherwise miss if you’re zooming by in a car. We like that. Also, being outside all day gives us a stronger connection with nature, its rhythms, and our surroundings. It’s pretty cool.
4. One revolution at a time.
Before we started this trip, Cortney’s dream was to find the flattest route across the country. She’s done a great job mapping it out, but there’s no escape. (Other than Davis, CA, one of the rare truly flat places on the planet.) That means there are a lot more hills and climbing in our future. So patience and tenacity are key. If you apply the effort and the right attitude, you can achieve anything. Little by little. Pedal by pedal.
5. Americans love storage units.
Seriously. Storage units are EVERYWHERE. According to industry statistics, there is more than 2.8 billion square feet of rentable storage in the U.S. (That’s a lot of stuff.) It doesn’t matter where you are in this country, if the town is tiny or huge, there’s no hiding from our stuff. For us, bike touring is an exercise in minimalism. And carrying everything on our bikes makes us think hard about the material things we really need.
An experience like this is the trip of a lifetime. It’s a gift. Cortney and I are grateful for being able to step outside of the day-to-day and look at the world with fresh eyes. (Even storage units!) Looking forward to gaining more perspective as we ramble slow and steady into Southern California and the desert.
-Erik
Love love love this post! Refection is always good!
So happy for you and thank you for sharing lessons learned.
Love your perspective! Since I am physically unable to do anything like this (damn you osteoarthritis!), it’s so neat to follow along, if only in spirit. I love reading your latest adventures and thoughts. You said it, it’s a gift!