Recent visit graduates Morgan Hartley and Chris Walker aren’t your average cycle tourists.  They’re citizen journalists on a quest to explore our planet and share the stories of the people they encounter along the way.   Spend just a few minutes on this bicycle touring blog and you’ll be hooked.

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post that drew me in:

Mind Games for the Tough Hours of the Ride

The first two hours after breakfast are the best. Regardless of the scenery (and all the better if there are beautiful views or interesting cultural things to look at), the initial hours are enjoyable purely from an exercise standpoint. It’s at this point in the day that I think about how great it is to be on the road, feeling my legs driving me forward and the wind coursing by and the sun warming me. My muscles aren’t tired yet, so I’m able to focus on the topics I’ve assigned myself to contemplate that day.

Both Morgan and I challenge ourselves to think about specific topics in the first hours of the ride. These include things like lists of future blog post ideas, or the 5 funniest moments from high school, or what I want to write in an email to a friend, or even about high level stuff like ways I’ve changed on this trip. The challenges are a great way to keep productive, organize our thoughts and make sense of everything going on around our trip.

Then the third hour hits, and suddenly my mind’s toast. The ability to think cogently wanes. Enjoyment of exercise becomes a focus of endurance, and the songs, discomforts, and trip computer start to creep into my head. From here on out I have two options: give in to the manic streams of consciousness, or try to empty my head entirely. The latter is far more enjoyable, but it takes some discipline to get there.

I give it a go; I start breathing deeply; I focus on the cadence of my legs; I listen to my heartbeat; I relax my shoulders; I make myself as efficient as possible. And then….if I’ve done it right, my mind just goes…blank. Bicycle touring Zen has been attained. Now enlightened, hours on the saddle can pass by with little notice. It is a sublime feeling.

For me, it only happens some days. Morgan claims to have slightly higher success rates. Regardless of what we think about during the ride, however – whether it’s butt cramps, imaginary gun battles, or nothing at all — our feeling at the end of the ride is mutual and always the same: Satisfaction. Another day navigating unknown lands down. Another day closer to Shanghai. Another adventure had.

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For beautiful photos and insightful prose, follow along as the Postulate One team pedals towards Shanghai.

[highlight]Visit the blog: Postulate One [/highlight]

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Australians Trace and Dave are cycling south from Canada to discover the Americas.  Not only will this creative http://www.frederic-noel.com/ (she’s a photographer, he’s an illustrator) wow you with their images and designs, they’ll also have you chuckling with their well-told yarns.

I’m sure you can all relate to this sort of incident:

 Heading up a back road we thought we’d found a pretty good dead end street in a new housing development. Not seeing any houses on the sub divided blocks and only a few Mack trucks and car bodies in the area we thought we’d pitch next to a truck not far off the street.

After tucking ourselves up in our cosy sleeping bags for the night we were surprised when a car pulled up, tunes pumping, headlights on the tent.

Dave jumped up to check out what was happening and we were mortified to find out we’d accidentally pitched on someones front lawn. Whoops! The son of the owners came down to pick up his friend and take him further up the mountain where their house was tucked away behind the trees. Telling us he’d let his folks know we were there so they wouldn’t come down with a shot gun, we were grateful to get their permission to stay and took ourselves back to bed.

Hearing a car pull up again a little while later, dread coursed through us with the thought that we were about to be evicted. Dalton, the son, called out to us–after hearing about our squatting his parents had invited us up for coffee!

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Trace and Dave are on a quest to out pedal the fast approaching Canadian winter so follow along and see how they fare with the foul weather.

[highlight]Visit the Blog: Escape Plan A[/highlight]

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How would you like to set off on and never come back?  That’s exactly what happened to Mirjam Wouters (AKA Cycling Dutch Girl) way back in March 2007.  After several failed attempts at settling down, she came to the conclusion that “you don’t necessarily have to study, work, have babies, die.”

Mirjam is truly living the dream and the unfolding of her adventures is fascinating to follow.

Here she shares early thoughts about setting off:

I’ve got the date!
I’m leaving on my bike the 20th of March. And that’s all about I’ve planned.
Personally I think that is a whole lot for a un-organized, kindda lazy, messy and slightly chaotic person like myself…

Six years on, Mirjam has biked through Europe, pedaled across Asia and spent several years exploring Australia’s backroads.

She’s currently in New Zealand and will be heading off to Japan this June to continue her two wheeled adventure.

This bicycle touring blog is[highlight] chock full of inspiring photos[/highlight] and [highlight]entertaining tales[/highlight] from the road.

Follow along at Cycling Dutch Girl.

He has no fixed destination or timeframe.  His plan is to have no plan.

My objective is to live simply and journey to places far and seldom visited in a form which allows complete freedom. Moving through the world at a pace dictated by the land under my wheels, the food in my belly and the stamina in my legs, and learning about the world and its people as I go.

I make some preparation so initially the plan is to cycle Turkey and Iran (visa permitting) and on into Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan hopefully taking in the Pamir Highway, if the political situation permits. But my plans are loose and everything is subject to change on a whim.

Alex is a [highlight]talented photographer[/highlight] and documents his journey meticulously through images and words.

Although he’s just five weeks into his tour, Alex has already seen his share of adventure.  Check out his Hills, Hospitals and Hospitality post to find out more.

[stextbox id=”grey”]Visit the blog:  Cycling East[/stextbox]

They form a trio, hop on their bikes and start riding south from Mexico City.  Virginia Krabill, Michael Vigilanco and Logan Watts began their ride in December 2012 and are currently biking Gutemala.

Their site, Pedaling Nowhere, is a photo-driven blog all about bikes, culture and the bliss of travel.

The writing is engaging and the photos are superb so why not start following along and find out what happens as Virginia, Michael and Logan cycle south.

Visit Pedaling Nowhere

Australians Alex and Kat set off in July 2012 to ride their bikes from Amsterdam to Melbourne.  The couple intends to be on the road for at least two years, but have nothing holding them back from riding longer.

Their plan is to follow the summer…

meeting awesome people, learning about new cultures, tasting new foods, hearing the most soulful sounds, appreciating different lifestyles, seeing the coolest attractions, smelling amazing new scents, finding out the secret to happiness, taking amazing photos, making new friends, riding up the biggest mountains, swimming in the bluest lakes, patting the cutest kittens, bribing the dodgiest police officers and more.

On Cycling About you’ll find inspiring stories of people and places plus a wealth of bicycle touring resources.

What’s more, the site is one of the best organized bicycle touring blogs on the web.  Be sure to check out Cycling About’s  bicycle touring tips, their information on bikes and gear and the helpful section on World Trip planning

Alex and Kat are currently biking in Georgia (the country, not the state) heading towards Central Asia and Iran.  This is a fun and inspiring bicycle blog so be sure to follow along as Kat and Alex bike home to Melbourne.

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[highlight]Visit Cycling About[/highlight]

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If you’re short on click but still want to keep on top of everything that’s happening in the world of bicycle touring, there’s a new resource that’s perfect for you.

Bicycle Traveler is a FREE online international magazine that’s all about bicycle touring. It’s full of entertaining stories and inspiring photography which will have you dreaming over new destinations and the latest cycling gear.

Highlights from the latest edition include:

Cycling the Americas
Cass Gilbert reflects on bicycling, travel and the final destination.

Ian Hibell
An interview with a bicycle touring legend.

French Alps
Inspirational photography from Kees Swart

Subscribers can download the first three issues of Bicycle Traveler plus a Show-It! E-book by simply subscribing.

The enthusiastic duo behind the site, Los Angeles-based journalists Ryan McAfee and Michelle Cassel, recently biked across the USA on the TransAmerica Trail.

They’ve teamed up with the Adventure Cycling Association to produce a series of videos and entertaining and informative blog posts on bicycle touring across America.

Here’s what you’ll find on the Adventure Cycling Blog:

10 Ways to Stay Healthy on a Bicycle Tour

10 Things You Absolutely Need on a Long-Distance Bicycle Tour

How to make a Bicycle Touring Blog

On the actual America ByCycle website you’ll find more stories from the saddle, including this post recounting  the “Shake Down”

A “shake-down” is a term that the AT hikers use when they get rid of unnecessary items to shed some weight and lighten their packs. The hikers take weight very seriously, and will go as far as ripping the pages out of their hiking books as they finish each page. Ryan and I desperately needed a “shake-down,” since we were both carrying around 90 pounds of gear, and we’re about to attempt the hardest climb in the TransAmerica trail. It couldn’t have been a more appropriate time to ship some stuff home.

Both Timber and Denim were there to assist us with the “shake-down,” but I think it was also for entertainment. Timber was laughing at all the ridiculous stuff we brought. “You brought a full size can-opener?! Get rid of that shit, go visit ‘Yard Sale Larry’ and get a P38. It’s a tiny can-opener that weighs less than an ounce.”

Item by item, pound by pound, Ryan and I painfully threw things away. Fire starters, clothes, a recorder, a sleeping pad that wouldn’t stay inflated, three books, and Ryan’s 7D Canon camera (there was no reason to be carrying two cameras) were some of the items thrown into the pile.

When it was all over, we weighed everything on Craig’s scale. Amazingly, we were able to “shake-down” around 21 pounds of equipment.

If you’re toying with the idea of biking the TransAmerica Trail in 2012 rush on over to America ByCycle and fill up on some USA cycling inspiration.

Here’s a short list of the most common touring bikes we’ve come across on our world cycle tour.   You’ll also find links to reviews of expedition touring bicycles and the low-down on who rides what in the world of long-distance bicycle touring.

Thorn Touring Bikes

If you meet a cycle tourist from the U.K., 90% of the time he or she will be riding a Thorn.  These bikes have got a solid track record and Brits swear by them.

Check Bike Radar’s excellent review of the Thorn Raven for complete information on the Thorn’s components and handling.

Below are reviews of Thorn Touring Bicycles written by experienced cycle tourists:

• Helen Lloyd’s review of the Thorn Raven after 16,300 kilometers cycling through Africa.
• The team from A Bike Journey’s review of the Thorn Raven Tour after cycling 18,000 kilometers from the U.K. to Australia.
• Peter Gostelows’s review of the Thorn Raven Tour after pedaling 30,000 kilometers through Africa.
• The team from Pedalling About’s review of the Thorn Nomad after cycling through South America.

Other notable cyclists who ride Thorn Touring Bikes include Loretta Henderson of Skalatitude and Julian Bloomer of The Slow Way Home.

Surly Touring Bikes

North American cyclists favor the Surly.  One reason is the attractive price tag.   For a little over $1,000, you can get outfitted with a basic Surly Long Haul Trucker.  A Koga or a Thorn could run you more than twice as much.

You can find several  honest reviews of the Long Haul Trucker on the REI website.

On Road Bike Review, the Surly Long Haul Trucker received an average rating of 4.56/5 in 32 reviews.

Notable cyclists who ride Surlys include Harriet and Neil of Pikes on Bikes, Tara and Tyler of Going Slowly, Chris Roach of the Cycling Strongman (who has been riding a Surly Troll for the past 45,000 kilometers as he circumnavigates the planet) and the three Berg Brothers from Bound South who rode most of the way from Alaska to Argentina on Surly Trolls.

Koga Touring Bikes

The Koga World Traveller tends to be favored by Northern Europeans and the Dutch (naturally) since these quality touring bikes are hand built in the Netherlands.

Bike Radar gave the new Signature World Traveller a stellar review with Cycling Plus magazine’s product editor Simon Withers awarding the Koga  a 9/10 rating for the frame, handling and equipment and an 8/10 for the wheels.

Nicolai Bangsgaard cycled more than 62,000 kilometers around the world on a Koga, Mark Beaumont rode a Koga on his world record breaking ride around the world and Grace Johnson and Paul Jeurissen of Bicycling Around the World are riding Kogas as they cycle the world in search of inspiring bicycle touring images.

My reliable Koga World Traveller has been with me for more than 110,000 kilometers on five continents.

Santos Touring Bikes

Santos touring bikes have been gaining popularity in recent years.  In a review of the Santos Travel Master, Bike Radar described it as, “an extremely capable tourer, with superb attention to detail and a wealth of build options.”

Steve Fabes of Cycling the Six is bucking the trend for British cyclists and riding a Santos Travelmaster2.6 Cromo Rohloff.

Fellow Brit Sarah Outen is also riding a Santos on her London2London via the World bike and boat adventure, Ollie Broom rode a Santos on his 14 month, 25,000 kilometer ride from London to Brisbane and Friedel and Andrew of Travelling Two are now riding on Santos Bikes.

One man who’s taken them all out for a spin

Cass Gilbert of While out Riding has toured on a Santos Travel Master, a Thorn Sterling and most recently a Surly Troll.  He discusses the pros and cons of each touring bike here.

[stextbox id=”grey” caption=”What’s your touring bike?”]Are you a Thorn, Kogo, Surly or Santos rider?  Please share your experiences and opinions.  Suggestions of other quality bicycles suitable for long distance touring are most welcome.[/stextbox]

And this one’s a real ride around the world.

Julian Bloomer set off from Ireland in July 2008 to cycle to Cape Town.  Somewhere between Benin and Botswana, he became captivated with the idea of cycling each of the continents.  After his ride through Africa, Julian set off cycling through South America and he still hasn’t stopped spinning his wheels.

In 2010, his tour changed dramatically when he met Ellie Beck who was backpacking through Bolivia at the time.  Ellie traded in her backpack for a bicycle and the two have been cycle touring together ever since.

The duo is currently riding through Southeast Asia.

Julian’s blog posts  give you great insight into the daily life of a cycle tourist and often focus on broader social and political issues in the countries in which he is travelling.

Here’s a recent snippet from Thailand:

We arrived groggily back to the mainland on the night boat to Surat Thani, stumbling onto a deserted pier at 4.30 a.m. and setting off through the city while the monks collected their alms. In a couple of days we crossed the peninsula to the west side and the Andaman Sea. Through tropical cash crop plantations of rubber, coconut and palm oil. The sweaty grind being rewarded with friendly locals and fiery curries. Sitting outside the market in the village of Thap Put, our German friend Patrick rolled up and we camped together in a nearby temple where the monks gave us a couple of wooden cabins for the evening to lay down as well as presents from their morning’s alms including mineral water and soya milk. We chatted in the dark while the rain fell and woke up at 5 am with the morning’s prayers being broadcast on loudspeaker. As we handed over a small donation, we were given rice desserts, sandwiches and tea to take with us. And south we went. Patrick said goodbye for the third time in a few weeks as a rain cloud burst overhead as he headed to the climbing mecca of Railey and Ellie and I rode past the forested limestone outcrops into Krabi for day’s rest before continuing on over the Malaysian border in a few days time.

There’s still much more to come as Julian and Ellie take on Central Asia before riding back to Europe.  Follow along at:  theslowwayhome.blogspot.com/