Living on the bike

[Bigtallfatbloke]

It's all well and good doing these poncy summer jaunts etc that I do but my thoughts have been turning to what it must be like actually living permanently on a bike, through the winter etc. I know some peeps do this. It has an appeal I must say, but what about the different gear etc? I would be interested to learn about what life is actually like for those permanently on the bike

 

[Dayvo]

It's a life that also appeals to me a LOT!

Be self-sufficient, and work for a room/supper/pockey money every now and then.

Being your own boss in every possible way out on the road.

Surf the net; I'm sure there's plenty of books about it; Ian Hibell, for example.

 

[domtyler]

Sounds like running away to me.

 

[Dayvo]

Have you been for a 'long' ride, Dom?

 

[domtyler]

How long is a long ride?

 

[Dayvo]

A few weeks; possibly months.

Same applies to living on the road; not just two weeks in the sun, but months travelling/bumming around, living out of a rucksack.
There's no luxury, but it sure does take some beating!

 

[Creamcrackered]

Well, the Mrs and I only did it for six months, but it was bloody brilliant. And we could have quite happily continued indefinitely. It's strange because it is a very simple life, i.e. you get up, you cycle, you camp; but at the same time it is incredibly full. You have more fun, more adventure, experience more pain and meet more humanity in one day on the road than a week back home.

We cycled through some very bad weather, but we never contemplated giving up. In terms of adverse weather, very cold and dry is no problem - you just wear more layers and have a good sleeping bag. Cold and wet is a bit more problematic as you have to spend money on B&Bs to dry your kit out. As long as you have good waterpoofs not much can defeat you.
In general it is easier being a perpetual nomad in poorer countries, where accommodation is cheaper and people are more hospitable.

If we ever have the opportunity to go away for a year, we'll be off like a shot.

 

[Dayvo]

Good post, Creamcrackered!

I agree completely.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

I think it's interesting that in poorer countries it's better...I guess because of the pompous 'commuterbelt' attitude so prevelent in the uk towards cyclists and camping etc

..living off of savings is one thing, but living off of what you earn as you travel, that is something completely different...I think that is where the line is between touring and living on a bike...also between a holiday and vagrancy I guess

Sounds like running away...erm...yep...so what..but it sounds like running towards something to me. Dunno...just dreaming I suppose...the reality is that the holy dollar rules all and those wrapped up in their money grabbing greed driven lives will always look down on, and hinder, those who measure success by other criteria.

Also I suppose things like having the readies to fix broken gear is important...like a busted tent etc I dont fancy living out of B&B's in bad weather, I'd rather be in my own tent still...still just waffling here..thinking aloud...it would get pretty lonely as well I guess...unless i get a succesful response to this:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=18618

 

[Dayvo]

BTFB!

Did you get many replies?

 

[P.H]

Heinz Stuckle is the only example I know of who lives on the bike, he's been doing it since 1962 so must have found a way to make it work.
http://heinzstucke.com/

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Did you get many replies?

Yep..been fighting them off all night...the queue outside the front door reaches around the corner and I had to have a police escort when I ventured out. So far only 3,478 meet the grade though and out of those only 1,879 have a decent bike. The biggest dilema I face is deciding whether to take looks over cooks though...only 546 can cook and look great naked at the same time.
Lucky I broke my wrist, at least i have time to invite the 546 with a good bike, who can cook and look stunning naked at the same time back for a second interview. What I need to do I suspect is to devise a set of practical exercises for that second interview, just to be sure those eventually shortlisted are up to the job.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Heinz Stuckle....WOW

 

[friedel]

Life on the road, hummmmm. Sometimes it's fantastic, sometimes it's boring, sometimes it's downright tough. A bit like 'real life' then! The real joys that we have gotten out of this tour are spending more time with one another and finding out that we can live happily on very little money. Waking up to a stunning mountain view instead of a commute on the tube. I'd put that in the priceless category. But it's hard work. You never have a home where you can truly relax and call your own. Sometimes it rains and rains and rains and you are soaked with nowhere to go. You may think it is very relaxing and sometimes it is but you are always chasing seasons or expiring visas or some other deadline so it's not as free of restrictions as you might imagine from the other side of the screen. And I think after a while you lose the appreciation for it, like anything else it becomes normal. And some people we have met just become plain old weird! I think three years will be enough for us, then we'll take a break, earn some more money, wait for work to become boring again and then take off again for a couple years. A constant life on the road for years and years on end? I wouldn't do it.

 

[rich p]

there's a nice article in this month's Cycling Plus about a bloke who cycled from Alaska to The tip of Argentina with a tandem picking up stokers as he went. He had 200+ different partners on the trip, many of them attractive, young and female. He was a good looking young bloke but a great idea.