Listen "ABT042. The Accidental Origins of Bicycle Touring"
Episode Synopsis
Ever thought your daily commute was tough? Try cycling around the world on a high wheeler in the 1880s! Our guide to these incredible-but-true stories of journeys sparked by sheer chance is Canadian author David Houghton, who has traveled to over eighty countries around the world, cycling most of them, and participated in the Tour du Canada, Tour d’Afrique, and the Race Across America. David introduces us to Thomas Stevens, the Englishman who only intended to cross America on his high wheeler but accidentally kept going around the world. Then there’s Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, whose own global trek was launched not by a grand plan, but by accidentally overhearing a bet by two businessmen that a woman could not bicycle around the world… and deciding she would prove them wrong. And you won’t want to miss the tale of Thomas Orde-Lees, whose choice to bring his bicycle to Antarctica contributed to the unfortunate distinction of being voted “first to be eaten” by his starving crewmates! David’s hilarious and harrowing tales of these cycling daredevils, visionaries, and adventurers prove that a simple bike ride can accidentally become an epic, unplanned adventure.You can purchase 33 Cyclists: Daredevils, Visionaries and Adventurers by David Houghton at your local bookstore or on Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Amazon DE. Vote for your favorite episodes and provide any kind of additional feedback on The Accidental Bicycle Tourist podcast 2025 survey!For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist
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