Transcontinental biking for beginners
Go on a personal odyssey, and amaze and impress your friends without taking any real risk: bicycle solo across Europe, North America or other large land mass.
This is easier than it looks. Unlike a marathon, kayak crossing or other iconic physical achievement, a person of healthy weight and minimal physical conditioning need not train or learn special skills. Just start pedaling. Don’t worry about distance. I guarantee you’ll be in shape in a few weeks.
You don’t need an expensive bike. I’m partial to 1980’s-era touring bikes, because they are indestructible, last forever, and cost under a hundred bucks in good condition. But anything with at least 32c width tires will do.
You don’t need expensive equipment. Install front panniers, loaded with food and a single change of clothes, and start pedaling. Bring a cheap netbook, and spend at least a few evenings at wifi-enabled motels, so you can google questions as you think of them. You will discover quickly what you need, and, more often, what you don’t.
When I bicycled from California to Florida years ago (4500km), I constantly encountered middle-aged men who said wistfully, “I wish I had done something like this.” My answer was always the same. Nearly anyone can afford it, and nearly anyone is physically capable.
You can do it. Just start.
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