The Accidental Bicycle Tourist

Fueled by a quarter-life crisis and the desire to break free from routine, bikepacking newcomer Melanie Schautt embarked on a transformative half-year cycling adventure through South America with her friend Louise, a seasoned cyclist. From battling fierce headwinds and a near-quitting moment on the Carretera Austral in Patagonia to overcoming mechanical issues and a couple of injuries, Melanie had to be resilient to keep pedaling. Amidst the struggles, she also discovered the unexpected joy and freedom of finding her own pace, the value of enduring friendships, and the thrill of conquering challenging terrain, including the Lagunas Route and Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and Cotopaxi in Ecuador. Melanie’s vivid storytelling may leave you craving to launch your own South American bikepacking adventure.  If you would like to explore Melanie's posts for yourself, her Instagram is @livingintents [https://www.instagram.com/livingintents]. She also maintains a website [https://www.living-in-tents.com] with additional information. Fan Mail: Send ABT an SMS [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2294957/open_sms] For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist [https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist]

This episode takes a highly experimental turn as Gabriel, your host, brings in not one, but *two* AI guests, Scout and Rambler – instances of Google’s Gemini AI. These digital personalities debate hot topics in bicycle touring, offering unique and sometimes hilarious perspectives. Prepare for a wild ride as Scout, the hardcore bikepacker, extols the virtues of solo touring and meticulous planning, while Rambler, the easygoing newbie, champions the joys of companionship and spontaneous detours. Their clashing philosophies ignite lively discussions about route planning, solo versus group rides, and the impact of e-bikes on traditional touring. The conversation takes unexpected twists and turns, including a harrowing tale of Scout’s scree-field descent and a shared passion for pie that transcends their differing approaches to adventure. And did sparks fly between our AI guests? Listen in to find out! This episode is packed with information, unexpected humor, and thought-provoking insights. You won’t want to miss this unique AI-powered exploration of the world of bike touring. Fan Mail: Send ABT an SMS [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2294957/open_sms] For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist [https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist]

Alan Gilbert has always been interested in long, challenging bicycle rides. For Alan, the chance to ride across the United States from Pacific to Atlantic in 38 days finally presented itself in 2022, upon retiring from his job as a technology executive. The timing also coincided with the end of COVID, which had kept Alan cooped up at home and yearning to get out, meet people, and explore the country 100 miles at a time. Rather than undertake this Big Hairy Audacious Goal alone, Alan found a riding partner, Dave, and their respective spouses, Sue and Dee, became known as the Support Angels. In this episode, we will dive into Alan’s BHAG, as well as trace his love of touring to its origins (a trip in Ohio when he was seventeen) and what he’s been up to since finishing his coast-to-coast adventure (a fully supported tour of classic mountain climbs in France).   You can learn more about Alan’s adventures by reading his blog [https://ajgilbert.medium.com/] on Medium. Fan Mail: Send ABT an SMS [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2294957/open_sms] For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist [https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist]

Roger Levy, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, considers himself a scientist of language and a polyglot, speaking five languages fluently and many more conversationally. In this episode, Roger will share the sounds and flavors from his six bike tours across three continents. Since Roger also happens to be a longtime friend, I was his partner on two of the six tours. On his solo adventures, Roger enjoyed the delicious breakfast offerings in Taiwan and ended each day of riding in Scotland in a pub and perhaps a whisky distillery. He also trained with the Stanford University triathlon team and discovered the bicycle-friendly country of Rwanda. Everywhere he went, Roger bravely took on the roads, the weather, and the language barriers he encountered. Fan Mail: Send ABT an SMS [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2294957/open_sms] For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist [https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist]

Barbados. Dominica. Guadeloupe. Martinique. These are some of the exotic Caribbean islands visited by André Plumeau with his bicycle, Frieda. In Part 2 of this double episode, André again defies the odds by sailing west from the Republic of Cabo Verde on various boats, with diverse crews. Eventually, a spontaneous assignment to pick up a sailboat in Florida separates him from Frieda and the rest of his touring equipment. He makes his way around the United States to Mexico, where he hopes to be reunited with Frieda. At the end of the episode, André reveals his surprise plan for the end of the year, which we also hope will come true. Fan Mail: Send ABT an SMS [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2294957/open_sms] For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist [https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist]