A Deep-Rooted Passion

I’ve always loved bicycling. From the moment I kept my bike upright without training wheels, a bicycle has been a symbol of freedom. Freedom to go wherever I wanted, on my own schedule, without worry of traffic or fuel under my own power. It’s meant better health, fitness and happiness. With these long-held feelings toward cycling, I’ve always loved to ride a bicycle whenever I could.

Growing up in Ottawa, Canada, I was spoiled by the great network of bike trails along the city’s beautiful waterways. Along those pathways, a cyclist could travel from one end of town to the other, rarely having to share the road with a car along the way. The city was also relatively free of the scourge of bike theft that so many other cities are; a bike could be locked nearly anywhere with a simple cable lock without fear of it going missing.

The only downside to cycling in Ottawa had to have been the weather. Being in Canada, the cycling season was limited by the harsh winters. The season would begin in early May once the snow was surely gone, and run until late October, when it would became just too cold to cycle. In addition, summers in Ottawa brought the typical east coast afternoon thunderstorms and occasional rainy day. The limited season, and unpredictable weather require a very hearty cyclist that’s always ready for bad weather.

When I moved to California, I was excited to be in a snow-free, sunny environment ideal for a cyclist. While the weather was almost exactly as billed, nearly all of the other things I’d taken for granted that made Ottawa great for cycling were absent in San Francisco. I quickly found out that bike theft is rampant, when my bicycle was stolen the first time it was locked in public. Busy city streets streets and few dedicated pathways make cycling a risky idea for many. My commute was also over 30km, making cycling everyday commuting by bike impractical.

All the while in San Francisco, I became more and more enchanted with bicycle touring. Watching YouTube channels by  Iohan Gueorguiev and  Bicycle Touring Pro showed the adventure and fun that could be had on self-powered, two-wheeled adventures. I craved the adventure of seeing new places, meeting new people and overcoming the challenge to make it over the next hill to the next vista. My mind’s been set. I’m going for a bicycle tour.