介绍:
Fancy seeing you here! Years ago, I was travelling in Asia. In those days, it was very difficult to get from one place to another, as you could only use local transport which stopped at every village and even in between. One day, in a place that was not even on the map, I met a German cyclist, and it only took a few minutes to realise that he understood the best way to get around.
Bikes are best. ‘Imagine the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen,’ he said. ‘Now imagine you’re inside a vehicle, which separates you from your surroundings. You might think that you can appreciate it, but it’s nothing like riding a bicycle, which enables you to appreciate the sights, the sounds, the smells ... you’re part of the landscape.’
Be prepared. Having made a number of journeys by bicycle, now I understand what he was talking about. I also know that preparation is important. Obviously, your bicycle is the first consideration. I prefer touring bikes. These are bikes that are built to carry loads and are comfortable for riding long distances. They also have wider tyres, which are less likely to get punctures. On the back and / or in the front of your bike you can fit bags or boxes, specially made bags for carrying the things you need. Take a tent, water and food so that you can camp anywhere if necessary. Then you are ready to go.
Don’t go too fast. The secret is to take things easy. The whole point is to have fun and relax, so don’t set yourself deadlines. If you come to a hill, get off and push your bicycle, and rest as often as you need to. The distance you travel each day depends on different factors, like how fit you are and how hilly it is, but you should soon be able to average 100 kilometres a day. Enjoy the sights, the sounds and the smells all the way.
What a coincidence! I recently saw an article about a German cyclist who left home as a teenager. He has ridden over half a million kilometres and visited 192 countries! Believe it or not, the photograph showed the same man I had met in Asia all those years ago!
