Inspiration & Blog

Wherever my travels take me, I always enjoy observing, if not directly experiencing, the myriad ways in which the locals get around town. The family of 6 on one scooter in Thailand, the shepherd with his flock riding on top of an Indian bus, and the over-flowing psychedelically painted Jesus-themed Guatemalan chicken bus are just a few examples. But nothing is more inspiring than seeing the ways people use bicycles.

Here are four great videos that may make you want to hand over a resignation letter, pack up a bicycle and just go. Or, they may just give you something to grin about as you while away your Friday afternoon.

With over a thousand miles of glorious singletrack, excellent touring routes and a plethora of prestigiously awarded craft breweries, is Vermont the Holyland of ‘bikes and beer’ travel destinations?

Is this the best post-ride beer I have ever had? I do believe so.

A solo overnighter on a bucket-list trail that led to playing in the dirt and a conversation with crows.

I do like to bend post-ride beer rules. And really, One Screw Loose’s ‘Brew Ha Habanero’ contains IPA… not to mention the fact that I devoured it after a giant ride. So, yes, post-ride jelly.

Leaving the bike behind and hopping on the train for a non pedal powered trip to see family and a few favorite Italian places.

You know it’s going to be a good day when one of the first things you read in the morning is that it’s International IPA Day. A pretty good excuse to crack one before noon, if I do say so myself…

OK, I am slightly breaking the rules of a ‘post-ride beer’ by definition. But, I am keeping in spirit, that’s what’s important, right? Bike + punishment + joy = damn good beer. This particular treat was imbibed after breaking down an old 80’s Panasonic Touring bike that I found on Craigslist… injuries, soreness and bliss not withheld.

One of the original aspects of bike touring that drew my interest was the ability to explore areas on my own at a slower pace. Sometimes days of loaded down riding just for the sake of making distance can take some of the fun away. In order to get back to having fun I decided to remove the panniers and head out into the mountains to explore the Jungfrau Region by bicycle instead of taking the day off. I’m glad I did.

A week of bicycle touring the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. Two of Europe’s most popular cycling routes. Pedaling down the Moselle River from Luxembourg City to Koblenz and then up the Rhine.

I decided to enjoy this creamy honey-colored IPA while breaking down my Surly Troll. So I put the green long-haul tank up on the work stand and started the chore of pulling it apart to purge its nooks and crannies of gunk and corrosion (and repurpose my Rohloff to a new build).