Cycles of a Traveler
Cycles of a Traveler
  • The Acoustic Cyclist
  • Films, interviews & more
  • Inspiring links & books
  • Cool Stuff for Cycling
  • Cycles of a Traveler
  • Photo gallery
  • Give it a Go
  • More
    • The Acoustic Cyclist
    • Films, interviews & more
    • Inspiring links & books
    • Cool Stuff for Cycling
    • Cycles of a Traveler
    • Photo gallery
    • Give it a Go

  • The Acoustic Cyclist
  • Films, interviews & more
  • Inspiring links & books
  • Cool Stuff for Cycling
  • Cycles of a Traveler
  • Photo gallery
  • Give it a Go

THE WORLD IS YOURS TO EXPLORE

Experience the World with Other Adventurous Cyclists

Cycle Across Africa – One Year From Cape Town to Cairo

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

 My cycle across Africa was an immense undertaking at the time. The truth is, it was at the lowest point of my life and during a period of deep depression. I made no secret of this in my Africa travel blog and the following is a short snippet written about my journey: 

Read the article here

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

 How two Irish boys took on a Mexican cycling adventure — and what they found when they got here

Read all about it here

What's it like to cycle the longest road in the world?

A pair of Irish cyclists had the adventure of their life when they traversed Mexico!

What's it like to cycle the longest road in the world?

 

Former special forces soldier Dean Stott tells us how he broke a world record, cycling the 14,000 mile Pan-American Highway in a quest to raise £1 million for mental health charity Heads Together.
Read all about it here

Shattering some preconceptions. Check these out!!!

Can shifting without a battery be so darn good?

This SRAM shifter quietly outperforms its $900 electronic cousins!, without battrey anxiety!!!

Read about it here
Read about it here

A waxed chain promises several benefits including improved performance and a longer life for your drivechain, but is it worth the hassle?

 

Can a waxed chain really make you faster than a new aero frame could? We crunched the numbers to find out if chain waxing is worth it and the answer might surprise you

Read about it right here!

Doggler to Hudski Dualist

 Having developed a strong connection with Hudski Bikes’ flagship model over the last four years, Miles was thrilled to hear that a sequel to the Doggler was on the way: the Hudski Dualist. Curious to see how this unique aluminum do-it-all bike compares to the Doggler, he put it through its paces over the past few months to figure out if it’s the ultimate ATB or if there’s still room for improvement. Find his Hudski Dualist review here… 

Read on and start riding!

Some cool ideas on how to travel the world by bicycle.

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

 

 In this in-depth video I will give you an overview of the complete overhaul of a 40€ barn sale 90’s MTB. Starting with the frame, I build it up to a comfortable & rugged World Touring Bike. After about 25.000 kms I decide to change to a more Off Road oriented style with some unique components. 

The difference is???

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

 

Check out the video for more ideas on the difference.

20 years of bike advice in 10 minutes

World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road )

The only things you need to travel the world.

 

Lots of advice out there on cycle travel. Here is another youtube channel with some of his observations.

The only things you need to travel the world.

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

The only things you need to travel the world.

 I cycled from Europe to China and I travelled very light. I brought with me just the essential for travelling the world, bikepacking, hitchhiking and backpacking. I lived a lot outdoor, and I spent a lot of time deciding for the best tent to travel, the best sleeping back to go camping, the best gears for long distance journeys.  

Which is better Cycle Touring or Bikepacking?!

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

 Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Cycle Touring & Bikepacking [Ep2]  In this episode I cover 

  • What is Cycle Touring? 
  • What is bikepacking? 
  • When you should Cycle tour vs When you should Bikepack 
  • Who can travel by bike 
  • Talk you through some of bike travels biggest myths

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

Packing for Bikepacking - Everything I carry after 10 years of cycling around the world

 After a decade of cycling around the world, this is everything I carry for bikepacking—every piece of gear, every bag, and every system refined through years of trial, error, and tens of thousands of kilometers on the road. In this video, I walk you through my complete bikepacking setup, explaining not only what I pack, but where I pack it, how I organize it, and most importantly, why each item earns its place. 

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

  I will show you how I upgraded a retro MTB to a very capable Touring Bike using second hand parts!  

Bicycle Touring: A Beginner's Guide

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

 For any of you who are new  to bicycle touring, or you just want to get another take on some of the ways of bike touring, this is for you. There is a whole amazing and beautiful world waiting for you to explore, it just takes a bit of planning and preparation. This video can help you get started in one of the most rewarding, healthy, environmentally-conscious, and exciting activities you will ever discover. Cheers! 

The Gear You Need to Get Started with Bike Touring

How to Make Your Own Touring Bike from an Old MTB!

The Gear You Need to Get Started with Bike Touring

 Planning your first bike tour and feeling overwhelmed? Planning doesn't have to be complicated, and there's nothing wrong with starting small. Here's our advice. 

Click on these links from The Radavist

 

 After riding the Stooge Cycles MK7 (£820 frame and fork) since March on everything from fast flow to chunky hillsides and steep alpine terrain, John has developed quite a fondness for the bike. Read on for his in-depth review. 

Click here for the full article. Stooge Cycles MK7 Review: Fun House

 

 Brooks England opened the doors of their Birmingham workshop to host the first Open Factory in over a century. Our European correspondent, and gonzo journo, Petor Georgallou, seized the opportunity to explore their archive of historic designs dating back more than 150 years. Join us for a rare look behind the scenes at one of the longest-running brands in cycling. Enjoy the show… 

Click here for full article. Brooks England Open Factory
After the Eaton Fire: The Lowelifes and Los Angeles Singletrack

After the Eaton Fire: The Lowelifes and Los Angeles Singletrack

After the Eaton Fire: The Lowelifes and Los Angeles Singletrack

 There are no trail gnomes. Trails don’t maintain themselves, especially after flash flooding and fires. In steep and relentless terrain like Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Mountains, a few crews look out for trail users. In these mountains, one group, in particular, the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, keeps those ribbons of stoke runnin

 There are no trail gnomes. Trails don’t maintain themselves, especially after flash flooding and fires. In steep and relentless terrain like Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Mountains, a few crews look out for trail users. In these mountains, one group, in particular, the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, keeps those ribbons of stoke running smoothly. Read on for a look at the Lowelifes and the crew’s contribution to the trails of the San Gabriel Mountains, presented by Fox Racing… 

Click here to read the full article

After the Eaton Fire: The Lowelifes and Los Angeles Singletrack

 

 Chris Case, Vice President of the Bikepacking Roots board of directors, breaks down the renewed threat to National Monuments with the current administration. Many of these places are cherished bikepacking routes among their myriad other uses. Read on for some perspective on what is going on and how to act… 

The Trump Administration Threatens National Monuments: Paradise Lost

 

Boulder, Colorado-based photographer Robert D. Jones brings a selection of studio photographs and excerpts from his book, The Dérailleur Project. No matter whether you prefer friction or indexed shifting, high-normal or RapidRise, mechanical or electronic, the derailleur is one of the most captivatingly complex components on geared bicyc

 

Boulder, Colorado-based photographer Robert D. Jones brings a selection of studio photographs and excerpts from his book, The Dérailleur Project. No matter whether you prefer friction or indexed shifting, high-normal or RapidRise, mechanical or electronic, the derailleur is one of the most captivatingly complex components on geared bicycles. Here’s a brief overview of shifting’s greatest hits from the mid-1960s to the mid-2010s.

Click here for full article. The progression of the derailleur - keeping us rolling with gear changes for nearly 100 years!

 For the Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2024 we looked at pageviews, comments, and social media chatter from twelve months of content to determine what bikes best represent a calendar year at The Radavist. Then, to up the ante this year, we’ve included our Handmade Showcase Awards, featuring bikes from the OZ/US MADE Bike Show and UK/DE Bespoked. Let’s get to it! 

For the full article click here. The Radavist’s Top Ten Beautiful Bicycles of 2024 and Handmade Showcase Awards

Steel frames in Taiwan Bike show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

The Radavist made a visit to Taiwan checking out some steel frame manufacturers. Check out what they found here.

Click me for full article! I Visited Every Boutique Steel Factory at Taipei Cycle Show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

Read it here on The Radavist  


Click me for full article! Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

Sklar Bikes Steel PBJ Review: From Custom to Production Bike show

 Today we have part two of Spencer’s journey to Nutmeg Country. Yesterday we saw Troy’s “studio” and today we see the artwork: his and Jen’s stable of amazing bikes. Let’s dive into this treasure trove of cycling builds… 

Click here for full article. Visit the Nutmeg Country Cycling Museum Part 2: Troy and Jen’s Stable of Bikes

 

2025 Bespoked UK Day 01: Alfano, Clandestine, Condor, Craft, Creature, Drust, Medusa, Singular, Sturdy

Click here for full article. Bespoke British Bikes Connect here to day one

 

2021 Bespoked UK: Part 02 – Fahrradbau Stolz, OTT Cycles, The Vandal Metalworks, Variangle

Click here for full article. Bespoke British bikes connect here to day two

 

 Today, we have a massive project that’s been over a year in the making. Rugile Kaladyte documented Lael Wilcox‘s Around the World record to a level unseen before. 

Click here for full article. Lael Rides Around the World by Rugile Kaladyte

The Bike Farmer Youtube channel, check it out!

Bicycle Camping Paradise on America's First Rail-to-Trail! Amish Country Road Cycling! Scary tunnel!

   Tunnel Trail Campground has been hosting bicycle riders for over 50 years on America's First rail-to-trail bike path. It happens to be owned by my sister-in-law and her husband Scott. Their rental fleet needed some service, so I packed up the BikeMobile and asked the family to join me for some weekend fun in the heart of Wisconsin's Driftless Region, one of the most beautiful cycling destinations nobody knows about! Until now! 

The Last Great Rim Brake Giant Cypress Hybrid! 99,000 Subs and counting...SO CLOSE! SO GRATEFUL!

  To be honest, I just kinda threw this video together without much thought...but it really turned out to be a great one. The epitome of what this channel is all about (well for me anyway). I love this bike, I love this work, and I love all of you! Thanks so much for all of your support up to this point. Let's GOOOOOO!!! 

Cycling sucks?!

 Cycling is supposed to be fun… so why does it feel like such a hassle? From uncomfortable saddles to traffic nightmares, here are 10 reasons why riding a bike kind of sucks. But don’t worry—I’m not here to convince you to quit. In fact, by the end of this video, you might just want to dust off your bike and go for a ride. 

Museum of Cycling!

 Much more than the BIRTHPLACE OF MODERN MOUNTAIN BIKES the Marin Museum of Cycling and the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame is a world class museum that houses one of the greatest curated collection of bicycles I've ever seen. 150 years of bicycling history is exhibited in a little building in Fairfax, CA just north of San Francisco in Marin County. It's simply mind blowing that a few passionate individuals have raised the money and pooled resources in a DIY effort to create something this good - but then again, these guys literally invented modern mountain bikes, so it's really not that surprising. This is hands down one of the most fascinating videos I've made to date. I'm honored to share this experience with you. Enjoy! 

Quality counts

 Well, this one came from Dick Sporting goods and is in good enough shape that I don't feel like a total slimeball for taking $100 to tune it up. I barely think this is worth it, but that ethical dilemma that every bike shop faces has come up again. Please STOP buying department store bikes! 

Cycling across America?

Check out these links before you go!
Cycle friendly camping across the States!!The Top 10 Bikepacking Routes in North America to Tackle in 2025Where to Sleep While Bicycling Across AmericaGet to know the USA on two wheels for the ultimate sense of freedom and spontaneity.

The Great White North - Canada

Discover America's northern neighbour
Cycling Canada12 BEST Bike Trips in Canada21 Best Bike Trips in Canada 2024GREAT CANADIAN RAIL TRAILS

South and Central America. A Latino spin on things!!

From Mexico to The Andes, Adventure awaits!
Want to plan a Mexico cycling trip?Bike Touring Latin America Pan-American Bike TourBikepacking South America Routes across the AndesCycling Latin America: Where To Begin?

Heading Down Under? Good on ya!!

Check out these links and get planning!
Australia's Best Road, Gravel & Bikepacking Cycling RoutesLes meilleures pistes de VTT en AustralieCycling AustraliaAustralia’s top 50 bike riding experiences

Don't forget about New Zealand! Cycling Paradise!!!

New Zealand may be small, but it packs in the natural beauty
Where to go cycling in New Zealand (and why you’d want to)Be prepared for an amazing holiday experience when you ride one of the Great Rides along the New Zealand Cycle Trail.Showcasing some of New Zealand’s most amazing landscapes, our 23 Great Rides are an exciting and environmentally sustainable way to reach must-see sights and activities.Read on to find out about 5 of New Zealand's best South Island cycle trails to ride.

Or maybe something more exotic like cycling in Asia?!

Exotic food, beautiful landscapes, many different cultures
7 of the best cycling tours in AsiaThe Hotspots in Asia for Cycling You Should Know Aboutdiscover at your own pace cycling around AsiaFive Stunning Cycling Routes To Explore Across Asia

Cycle Europe, exciting and accesible!

Amble across Europe with autonomy!
Destinations 12 best cycling destinations in Europe 2025The best of cycling tourism: top 21 cycle routes to explore [2025]5 Easy cycling routes in Europe – Cycling Holidays for BeginnersEuroVelo - Cycle Europe on designated cycle paths

African Cycle touring, A great Big Adventure

Get ready to explore the big continent below Europe
10 tips for cycling in Africaafrica bike touring: top ten myths about cycling in africaThe ultimate cycling adventureThe Big Guide to Bikepacking & Touring in East Africa

Cycling in France? Check out these links

Click on any of the links below for more information
veloroutes & Voies Vertes If you plan on cycling in France, start here for a guide to bicycle routes and cycling greenways.Cyclo Camping international A French cycling organisation with all sorts of two wheeld opportunities awaitingEcologie, Nature, ça vous dit ? Les Camparols sont nés de notre envie de partager les trésors méconnus de notre région, et vous offrir une parenthèse de plaisir.La Véloccitanie (V84) est un itinéraire cyclable de 237 km, qui rejoint le Canal des 2 mers à vélo (V80) de part et d’autre, en parcourant les terres du Lauragais, les paysages du Haut-Languedoc et les vignes du Faugérois et du Saint-Chinianais.

Books from other inspirational Acoustic Voyagers

The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold :Adventures Along the Iron Curtain TrailOne Man and His Bike

  

 'Bill Bryson on two wheels' Independent

Scaling a new peak of rash over-ambition, Tim Moore tackles the 9,000km route of the old Iron Curtain on a tiny-wheeled, two-geared East German shopping bike.

Asking for trouble and getting it, he sets off at the Arctic winter's brutal height, bullying his plucky MIFA 900 through the endless and massively sub-zero desolation of snowbound Finland.

Haunted throughout the journey by the border detritus of watchtowers and rusted razor wire, Moore reflects on the curdling of the Communist dream, and the memories of a Cold War generation reared on the fear of apocalypse - at a time of ratcheting East-West tension.

After three months, 20 countries and a 58-degree jaunt up the centigrade scale, man and bike finally wobble up to a Black Sea beach in Bulgaria, older and wiser, but mainly older. 

buy it here

One Man and His Bike

 What would happen if you were cycling to the office and just kept on pedalling? Mike Carter needed a change. Fed up with a Britain rife with crime and sliding into economic downturn, one day he decided to cycle straight past the office to find out for himself what was going on. He would follow the Thames to the sea and then ride around the entire coastline, a journey of 5,000 miles, the equivalent of London to Calcutta. If he completed it, he would end up exactly where he started. Physically, at least. Camping or relying on the hospitality of strangers, Mike met an array of brilliant characters and experienced innumerable random acts of kindness. He encountered drunken priests and drag queens, gnome sanctuaries and hippy communities, fellow travellers and people building for a different type of future. He also found a spirit of unbelievable kindness, generosity and hope that convinced him that Britain was anything but broken. During the five month journey, cycling the byways of the nation, he became...happy. 

buy it here

BIKEPACKING

 They say that what matters is the journey and not the destination, and that couldn’t be more accurate when one goes bikepacking.

Choosing the path less travelled, exploring the surroundings at every pedal of the way, and embracing the freedom it offers: long-distance cycling is more than a method of transportation – it’s a vibrant travelling philosophy. Bicycle Getaways is the ultimate publication to discover the adventurous spirit of bikepacking.

Exploring journeys in different regions around the world, introducing the people and culture around it, and giving you the lowdown of all the tips and tricks, this book presents the insights and inspiration to plan your own expeditions, no matter how experienced (or not) you are. Pack your bag and prep your bike, the journey awaits! 

buy it here

The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman

 In The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman, committed Belgophile and road cycling obsessive Harry Pearson takes you on a journey across Flanders, through the lumpy horizontal rain, up the elbow juddering cobbled inclines, past the fans dressed as chickens and the shop window displays of constipation medicines, as he follows races big, small and even smaller through one glorious, muddy spring. Ranging over 500 years of Flemish and European history, across windswept polders, along back roads and through an awful lot of beer cafes, Pearson examines the characters, the myths and rivalries that make Flanders a place where cycling is a religion and the riders its lycra-clad priests. 

buy it here

Cycling to The Ashes

 One man, one bike, two Mongoose cricket bats, one tropical disease, 16,000 miles and a lot of dead kangaroos ...

Oli Broom loves cricket. So much so that in 2009 he left his 9 to 5 in London and set off to cycle to Brisbane for the Ashes. Along the way he played cricket in the shadow of the Blue Mosque, slept in a goat pen in Sudan, dodged a 5-metre crocodile in the outback, battled mountains in sub-zero temperatures in Bulgaria and successfully negotiated the treacherous highways of India.

Starring the colourful characters he met on his travels, this is a funny and poignant tale for anyone who's ever dreamt of jacking in the day job to embark on an incredible adventure. 

buy it here

The Cyclist's Bucket List :A Celebration of 75 Quintessential Cycling Experiences

 The smell of lavender at a roadside picnic, waiting for the Tour de France to race past. The Pacific Ocean view from the 10,000-foot summit of Hawaii's Haleakala volcanic crater (after 5 hours of uphill riding). A fresh Fat Tire ale hitting your lips at the new Belgium brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. These, and a wide-ranging variety of other experiences, all rooted to a specific location or event, comprise The Cyclist's Bucket List. The book will definitively catalogue both the iconic and little known - the accessible and aspirational - sensory and emotional experiences that instill cyclists with a deep passion for the sport. In this book, Ian Dille compiles and showcases the world's quintessential cycling experiences through extensive research and interviews with expert sources, vivid storytelling, stunning photography, and compelling design. The format includes lengthy in-depth descriptions as well as much shorter, easy to consume write-ups, ranging from locations such as Italy and Belgium to Nova Scotia and Texas.

buy it here

The Cyclist's Bucket List :A Celebration of 75 Quintessential Cycling Experiences

  LOST LANES will take you on 36 meandering tours of the most beautiful and hidden destinations in southern England. The book includes: Route overviews, distances and maps Overnight stops, from B&Bs to camping under the stars Best pubs and tea stops Wild swims, breathtaking views and fascinating history How to access each ride by train (no car required!) So take off on a trip past hedgerows and open meadows, along sparkling rivers and wild seashores, and see it all from the best vantage point of all: that humble yet extraordinary transport of delight, the bicycle. MOBILE DEVICES & DOWNLOADS All the routes in this book are supported by downloadable route instructions you can print out take with you, plus a GPX navigation file for your GPS device or smartphone app. 

buy it here

Hungry for a ride? Read this one!

The Hungry Cyclist

 

Over 100,000 miles to cover, one man, one bike and one hungry stomach.

Having created his alter-ego, the Hungry Cyclist and with thousands of pedal-powered miles before him, Tom Kevill-Davies pushed off from New York City on one of the most ambitious gastronomic adventures ever undertaken.

A ballsy travel memoir The Hungry Cyclist follows Tom's adventure into the hearts and minds of the people he meets. Revealing the diverse cultures of the Americas, Tom’s journey from over the Rockies to Baja California, through Central America down all the way to Brazil via Colombia, gives the real flavour of this truly extraordinary landmass.

This is a tale of death-battles with squadrons of mosquitoes, malodorous public toilets, of galloping dysentery one day, to drowning your sorrows with cowboys and dining with beauty queens the next. But above all it is an ambitious story of getting to where you want to be – even if you have to endure cactus-induced punctures, unforgiving desert heat, uphill struggles through never-ending cocaine plantations, or artfully dodge hungry bears, neurotic RV-driving Americans, angry rabid dogs and run-ins with local law authorities in the process.

An amazing tale of what can happen when you get on your bike and go.

Buy it here

The Hungry Cyclist

 

 

A Healthy Love of Cycling, Good Food and Burgundy.

Welcome to The Hungry Cyclist Lodge website, a small corner of the internet dedicated to my passion for cycling, food, wine & Burgundy. My name is Tom Kevill-Davies, I love riding my bicycles, I love to cook and I relish good food and wine.  That is why I have chosen to live in Burgundy and by setting up The Hungry Cyclist Lodge I hope to share these passions with you. 

It has been a long and winding road to set up The Hungry Cyclist Lodge, but it is perhaps apt that this whole journey began in France in the summer of 2004. Taking my annual ten days holiday from the advertising agency where I worked, I decided to cycle the length of France. Pedalling for days and eating and drinking more than I should have, I discovered the wonderful marriage of cycling and food. At the end of this fateful trip, I decided to hang up my mouse and take to the road on my bicycle in search of the perfect meal. 

Over the next two and a half years I pedalled from New York to Rio de Janeiro. A mad mission that was driven by a desire to seek out the best cuisine in the Americas. A delicious adventure that culminated in the publication of  my first book, The Hungry Cyclist - Pedaling The Americas for The Perfect Meal, which was short-listed for the Guild Of Food Writers Award in 2010. 

A Place to eat well with a fellow acoustic cyclist

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