Loretta Henderson – Page 25 – Solo Female Cycling Around The World

Annie Londonderry…A Flash From The Way Past

This year over the holidays, I received a gift from the past, the way past. In 1895, the first woman cycled around the world, her name was Annie Londonderry. Annie’s great-grandnephew contacted me to wish me well on my adventures and to let me know that Annie would be proud of me. Due to the fact that I am humbled beyond words literally, I asked Peter Zheutlin, Annie’s great-grandnephew to share some stories about Annie. Here is what he had to say…

It was, declared one New York newspaper, “the most extraordinary journey ever undertaken by a woman.” It could have been a story about Loretta Henderson’s intrepid two-wheeled ride around the world in 2010. But the newspaper was The New York Sunday World, and the article was published in October, 1895, more than a century before Loretta Henderson’s remarkable journey.

The woman extolled by the The Sunday World became known around the globe as Annie Londonderry, a name she borrowed from the first corporate sponsor of her bicycle ride around the world, the Londonderry Lithia Spring Water Company of Nashua, N.H.

She was reportedly set in motion by a novel, high-stakes wager that required Miss Londonderry not only to circle the earth by bicycle in 15 months, but to earn $5,000 en route, as well. This was no mere test of a woman’s physical endurance and mental fortitude; it was a test of a woman’s ability to fend for herself in the world.

Traveling with only a change of clothes and a pearl-handled revolver, Miss Londonderry earned her way, in part, by turning her bicycle and her body into a mobile billboard, carrying advertising banners and ribbons through the streets of cities around the world. Thus adorned, and riding a men’s bicycle and a man’s riding suit, Annie turned every Victorian expectation of female propriety on its ear.

At first blush, it would be hard to imagine a more unlikely candidate for a ‘round the world bicycle trip than Annie Londonderry. Annie Londonderry was, in fact, Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, a Jewish, working mother who pedaled out of Boston leaving her husband and three small children behind. Physically unprepossessing — about 5 feet 3 inches tall and a little over 100 pounds – she had never ridden a bicycle in her life.

But Annie proved to be remarkably well equipped for the journey. She was resourceful, cunning, and willful, a master of public relations, a consummate self-promoter, and a skillful creator of her own myth. Indeed, as Annie Cohen Kopchovsky reinvented herself as a new woman – the daring globetrotter and adventurer, Mlle. Londonderry – she turned herself from a working class mother from the tenements of Boston into one of the most celebrated women of the gay ‘90s.

Annie’s fame grew, in part, because her journey took place at the intersection of two of the most powerful social phenomena of the 1890s: the women’s movement for social equality and the bicycle craze. Annie’s genius was to seize on these two social forces in her pursuit of fame and fortune. As Susan B. Anthony said in 1896, the year after Annie’s journey was complete, “bicycling has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.”

Check Out More Great Stories at

The WOW (Women On Wheels) Wall

Buddhas and Bar Stools

As I pedal into Siam Reap in search of a bar stool for the New Years Eve party that takes place yearly on Pub street in the tourists center of the city, I am reminded of Cambodia’s beautiful exquisite history. The main attraction despite the city’s reputation in the SE Asia party scene is not bar stools but rather Buddha’s,

an ancient form of Hinduisms and Animism, a form of shamanism that dates back to the beginning of the 12^th century. This is the world’s largest archeological village and spiritual site with each temple in the village exuding a history complex enough to fill a library all on its own.

Angkor Wat is a the largest temple and the surrounding area is a world heritage site that hosts an ancient village of historic temples, stone carvings and thousands of artifacts of a civilization that took place in the early 12 century . The main temple Angkor Wat is surrounded by a water filled moat and several bridges. The second largest temple is known as Angkor Thom.

ca. 2001, Angkor, Cambodia --- Elephant Taxi at Angkor Wat Temples --- Image by © Steve Raymer/CORBIS — ca. 2001, Angkor, Cambodia — Elephant Taxi at Angkor Wat Temples — Image by © Steve Raymer/CORBIS

As I cycle a 20km/16miles loop in and out of the Angkor Thom temples my cycling pace comes to quick halt. I am stuck in a traffic jam on a road that crosses under a beautiful arched tunnel. One benefit of cycling verses the common form of motorcycle rickshaw taxi AKA tuk-tuk, is that on a bicycle you don’t have to wait your turn in line. As I weave through the idle traffic exhaust, I am more than elated, despite the intense sun, to come across the culprit of the traffic jam. The culprit is not a tourist on a rented motorcycle having a hard time driving on the opposite side of the road or a broken down rickshaw, the holdup is an elephant.

Traffic stands idle to give way to an elephant crossing under the bridge. The presence of elephants in the archeological park dates back to the parks roots in the early 12 century. Ancient art depictions illustrate stone etchings and monumental stone elephants being the work horses and guardian watchdogs of the 4 directions of north, east, south and west inside and on top of the many temples gates. Today’s elephant may not be the watchdog or keeper of the spirits of the north or of the winds from the east but she is magically exquisite all in her own right. She is adorned in a red metallic garment and holds a basket seat of camera flashing tourists for a loop of the many temples within the complex.

The little girl elephant is walking down the street, she is being driven by her Cambodian keeper. I am sure she would rather be grazing on grass in the Mondulkiri jungle, not to far from here which is her home, when she is not working the tourist trail inside the archeological park. She is protesting and procrastinating at the park work while making the world’s most astounding elephant noises.

She lets out a final note and then begins to trot at a pace that the magic bicycle dances along to . The sweet singing elephant finally catches up to her elephant friends as me and the magic bicycle pedal along behind.

Siam Reap, Cambodia a place so rich in history that spans the historical roots of 3 religions and 6 countries that it has firmly planted itself as one of the top tourists destinations of the world. The Angkor Wat archeological park is Cambodia’s national symbol, appears on it’s flag and is Cambodia’s pride and joy.

Tourism is plentiful and the best way to see the park is by bicycle. A brief history of Anchor Wat, Anchor Thom and the surrounding temple sites can be found here, however as mentioned above, the extend of the historical significance and sheer volume of information could be covered in a library all it’s on. For an overview click here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat

Bangkok, Top 3 Things To Not Do For The Holidays

As the sugar plum fairies dance on the streets of Bangkok the city is lit up with pseudo celebratory Christmas cheer. Thailand is a Buddhist country therefore the holiday’s scoot by as just another day. The tourist section of Bangkok is known as Koa San Road, which directly translates as party 24/7/365. Sure there is a rich history of Buddhist temples and 1600 century kings palaces right next door but I don’t think that most people notice. As I stroll down the street at 3am there are midgets holding signs selling $0.80 beer, a man on a unicycle pulling his luggage

, teenagers break dancing, children selling flowers who should be sleeping, drunk tourist dancing in the streets to memories of Christmas’ past and people touting customers for something called a Thai ping pong show. The pornographic nature of the ping pong show will not be described here.

The street and businesses technically close at midnight but this is just the hour in which the police go home. It takes a concentrated effort to remain sober in the intoxicating tropical atmosphere of Asian Christmas chaos personified. Alley ways spread out and encircle the area with hundreds of guest houses. Pet animals for reasons I still can’t sort out wear clothing in the evening. The big white cat next door wears a pink lace dress and the bull dog wears a Lakers basketball jersey, the terrier wears a child’s t-shirt and the list goes on and on. There is something seriously wrong with the air here. Almost everyone I meet is questioning what they are doing here. Why am I here?, has become a daily meditation and conversation that lasts until I start to giggle about the daily fashion show of latest pet attire.

So why am I here? I have come full circled, I have pedaled a line that stretches from NZ north to Mongolia about 20,000km, however that just a guess because I have lost track of my distance. A year and a half ago I wasn’t a cyclist but rather a avid reader of bicycle touring. My perfectly good reading neck and shoulders have now been transformed into a more cycling friendly structure. Until last week that is, when a massage went wrong and a Ozzie masseuse want to be decided to pull my neck in directions only suitable for a contortionist of acrobatic standards. My neck , back and left arm have revolted in protest. The good news here is that I am smack dab in the heart, soul and birth place of Thai Massage. Therefore, for the next few days I will be doing yoga stretches and visiting the wise old professional Thai massage practitioners so they can snap, crackle, pull and pop me into shape so I can hit the road pedaling before the New Year.

In Summary Top 3 Things To Not Do While In Bangkok

Get a massage by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing

Attend a Ping Pong Show

Question why all the pets are wearing clothing

Avoid these three things and Bangkok isn’t all that bad for the holidays.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

This is not a story of rainbows or wanderlust of the original solo female traveler Dorothy and her little dog Toto finding courage in the heart of the lion. Nor is it about having to be smarter then the scarecrow to navigate roads in foreign lands. But rather a down home tale of what happens when you have been cycling for hours with a bladder fuller then the size of Kansas.

As the bicycle seat bounces into my bladder, I need to pee and begin to follow the yellow brick road. It is the tropics of southern Thailand and I have consumed enough water to melt the wicked witch of the west.

I pass a petrol station, there is not a proper toilet, I carry on. I pedal by someone’s pet dog who is squatting over a pot hole, boy does that look tempting, I carry on. As the minutes persist and the urge strengthens with the force of a Oz like hurricane I am faced with the inevitable realization that good hiding spot or not if I don’t pee soon I will certainly pee my pants. Everything I pedal by has turned into a P. There are petrol stations, pet dogs, papayas for sale, people everywhere and no privacy in site.

I pull Pandemic The Magic Bicycle into a new construction area about 20 feet from the road. I run for the trees, drop my be the adventure panties and with the comforts of there is no place like home, I pee under the trees. I glance down taking care to not splash my magic slippers and I am startled by the site of red ants swimming up the yellow brick road and into my be the adventure panties.

One hot air balloon short of a better exit plan I run for the magic bicycle as I pull up my be the adventure panties. The locals look, then laugh as I head off to avoid other poppy fields in search of wishes come true.

Solo Female Bicycle Touring, Is It Safe To Be Pack’in Estrogen?

Well, hello sir, thank you so much, but no thanks, I am OK, I belt out with a tummy jiggling chuckle, a helpful testosterone filled crowd has gathered around me as I repair a puncture in a traffic pull off area deep within the tropical Malaysian rain forest. There are so many oil stained calloused hands trying to hold the bicycle tube or check that my air pump is fastened securely that I can hardly lift a hand in my own assistance. As I crouch over Pandemic the loaded horizontal magic bicycle amongst the, we just love a good hardware store crowd. My stomach has cramped from laughter, for this is country number 14 in which my estrogen has created yet another helpful bunch of skillful men, all in possession of a PHD in fixing stuff.

The sound of my own laughter, as I press the patch firmly onto the tube, is only muffled by my memories of the familiarity of the extravagant display of helpful pointing, and genuine altruistic heartfelt interest of assisting anyone in perceived need. As I round the world solo by bicycle the cultural similarities of men from around the world is endlessly entertaining.

It’s the estrogen you see, a masterful diva of rendering devotion, distraction, and on-call 24hr road side assistance on a bicycle tour of foreign lands. The estrogen extravaganza, a festival of aid in which the men of the world bolt forward unsolicited with thoughtful assistance and not usually required helpful action. Past worldly events consist of carrying the bicycle up the stairs of hotels, patiently gathering around in celebratory anticipation of assistance when I repair a puncture, offering me clothes right off their backs and on many occasions, taking me into the safety of their home for tea and a rest with the family.

The scholarly men in attendance of the international estrogen extravaganza can smell the wafting scent of a female from across the deserted Gobi desert of Mongolia, through the mountain passes of the Himalayas and in the deep mud of the landslides of northern Loa. The olfactory explosive effect of my fresh from pedaling sweat drenched estrogen can draw a crowd of genuine harmless assistance just about anywhere. Need directions to a safe spot for the tent? The estrogen is on it in a flash. Want some extra hands to carry a loaded bicycle up some stairs? No worries, estrogen’s fearless cloaked cape flies into relentless hot pursuit and without even asking the bicycle floats effortlessly up the stairs. My beautiful ballsy estrogen, the most useful of safety plans and survival tools, that I pack daily in my panniers/bicycle bag as I cycle around the world. A tool that so quickly melts all language barriers that at times I wonder why there is such an exaggerated stereotype of women travelling solo as unsafe especially if they are travelling independently by bicycle.

a historical example of estrogen flying into action

When I began my round the world by bicycle adventure a year and a half ago I would turn down most heartfelt offers of aid. I was determined to be self sufficient and my natural, no thanks, I got it attitude, which got me off the couch into this world solo female adventure to start with, would not accept any genuine offers of assistance. However, as the journey continues it has become clearer then an optometrist with new glasses that the men of the world love estrogen and genuinely want to help. So now a days I just say, thank you, and pat my estrogen on the back for bicycle touring internationally as a solo female may be cloaked with attention but the attention is so drunk on estrogen that all I can do is push that pedal into the next country and say cheers to the men of the world.

(I’ve written many guest posts and articles, the above article was for alastairhumphreys.com)

How to Find Bomb Proof Gear For Your Outdoor Adventure?

Bomb proof gear because at times the road literally looks like it has been hit by a bomb!

It is December 1 2010, at 12:13pm. The short tempered, explosive, we are everywhere, terrorist sky glistens in suspense, as tropical shrapnel rays of sharp crisp sunshine ricochet through the villainous ocean top gaining velocity as the day advances into the trenches of the afternoon Malaysian humidity. The vehicle is a ‘hooded gangster up to no good’ dark green magic bicycle equipped with a rap sheet of 20,000km of world rolling experience and a long criminal history of destroying gear during outdoor adventures. The accomplice is a solo female bicycle tourist sporting a ‘not even Asama Bin Laden could destroy my gear’ kind of confidence. The accomplice is notorious for conspiring with terrorist type magic bicycles and plotting elaborate international outdoor adventures and considers her motive to be classified due the severity of the problem. The explosion takes place on a downhill section of a heavily trafficked coastal road in northern Malaysia. A giant pot hole detonates; the magic bicycle has been hit. Ortlieb panniers/bicycle bags that have been loosely locked to the back rack implode in seconds and bounce, drag and scrap over the unapologetic road as the accomplish clenches the handle bars and narrowly avoids a road side fatal injury. The Ortlieb panniers bicycle bags prove to be bomb proof and weather the attack relatively unscathed considering the magnitude of the blast, although, had the pannier attachment clips for the rear rack not succumbed to the blast, the capricious incident could have been avoided altogether.

How To Find Bomb Proof Gear For Your Outdoor Adventure?

Ortlieb Panniers/bicycle bags…these panniers prove out time and time again, they come with a lifetime warranty and replacement parts and clips can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the world. Ortlieb panniers are 100% waterproof, and slightly breathable therefore condensation inside the bag does not become an issue. My attachment clips have come 20,000 kilometers and have only now started to give way. I have mine secured with a back up piece of string in the likely case of other pot hole assignation attempts, replacement clips are also available. My 2 classic small size Ortlieb pannier/bicycle bags cost $220 USD in America. They originate in Germany and are available worldwide, however in Australia and New Zealand the costs can become prohibitive. For world wide locations on where to purchase Ortlieb panniers bicycle bags click here

http://www.ortlieb.com

Vaude Panniers/bicycle bags are less expensive and have a similar design. They are not as breathable therefore condensation can accumulate in humid climates. This is easy to deal with by opening up the bags at night and airing out the contents more frequently. For more info on where to find vaude panniers click here

http://www.vaude.com

Handmade handle bar bag on the front is hanging strong, it has come through the winter in New Zealand and the tropics. I have oiled the zipper a few times and that is about it.

Make Your Own Panniers/bicycle bags. Cut the arm straps off of an old backpack, tie to the back rack of the bicycle with rope or a bungee cord and off you go! My third pannier that sits on top of the rack is a light weight Seal To Summit dry bag it cost $28USD in Australia. My front handlebar bag is made from the top of an old backpack that I purchased in Nepal. I strap it on to the handlebars with the webbing that came from the backpack. It cost me next to nothing and works like a charm. For more ideas on how to make panniers/bicycle bags yourself click here

http://www.bicycletouring101.com

Mr. Potato Head Comes To Town…How To Find a Cycling Partner

When a big, fat bald man who looks like a Potato says “hey do you want to join up for a while and pedal through the Middle East and into Africa?” my first thought as a solo female traveler is well Mr. Potato Head always was a fun activity and great company on a rainy afternoon. In the basement as a young little whipper snapper, I used to spend hours making up long traveler’s tales of epic journeys about Mr. Potato Head, the optometrist off to smell the world with his huge nose. Monsieur Potato Head when he visited France, would always wear his mustache, formal top hat and scarf and say “oh la la” as the rain cascaded off the basement window cell throughout a long afternoon. Mr Potato Head on a business trip at the international optometrist convention in Singapore would bring his suitcase, extra glasses and stethoscope and wear his travelers cap. Mr Potato Head, an impressive world traveler for such a stout round fella who always seems to wear such uncomfortable shoes. A glorious soul full of nomadic voyeuristic ambition and great company for the solo female traveler. Therefore, Me and Mr. Potato Head, an easily entertained fellow cyclist and avid reader of this website will be joining up and heading through the middle east and into Africa.

How To Find Your Mr Potato Head and Cycling Companion?

On the Road

South-East Asia, the loop of Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam is a popular destination for bicycle touring. I met many cyclists there; I shared many a meal and headed north out of Vietnam into China with a fun kiwi fellow that I met on the road.

Mongolia, my favorite country has far more bicycle tourist then you would think. I spent several days camping with some new Italian friends I met cycling through central Mongolia. I also shared cycling maps with two German fellows and spent some time sharing stories with a Spanish man who was pedaling west out of the capital city of Ulanbatar, down the road I had just cycled.

New Zealand, the south Island of New Zealand is such a popular destination for bicycle travel that there is plenty of company here is you want it. My favorite people that I met were a family of bicycle tourists who were towing there super smiley baby in a trailer. The family had come 3000km (1865 miles) by bicycle on their family vacation.

On The Internet

Crazy Guy On a Bike is a website that serves as a resource for bicycle travel. There is a classified section that has a cycling partners section. I have met a few people here. Also, I met people who posted their bicycle travel journals on the site then later while travelling posted ‘a looking for other cyclists’ request through their journal. They formed a group of seven cyclists to share the costs of permits for the Tibet region.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com

The Lonely Planet travelers forum has a ‘On Your Bike’ section dedicated to bicycle travel and up to date information on road conditions. Several people I have met have connected through the forum and pedaled together.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com

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How To Crew On A Sailboat and Avoid A Sunshine Enema?

Hello Mr Lord Hemorrhoid, where IS your neighbor’s sailboat? I have been invited to crew on a sailboat heading around the middle east and into Africa, I have pedaled 900km in 7 days plus 2 ferry boats to reach the yacht on Langkawi Island. I was told to hurry. As I stand there next to the yacht owner, I realize I am getting blown off and shoved off without explanation to the neighbor. I do believe someone may have blown sunshine up my ass about this crewing thing, a sunshine enema of sorts that has the personnel growth potential of a inflamed hemorrhoid. Mr Lord Hemorrhoid the boat owner and captain has labeled his group the spirit sailors and they are looking for eclectic/good people to join them and have e-mailed me several times this month about crewing with them. The “spirit sailor” apparently loves the website blah, blah, blah.

As I process the fact that I have now pedaled onto an Island and my plans have been canceled, my behind begins to glow with the stench of a sunshine enema; the sunlight is indeed so bright I radiate effortlessly over to the neighbor’s yacht. He is looking for someone to yacht sit for a few days. The following day, I find out that Mr. Lord Hemorrhoid the spirit sailor didn’t like the looks of me on our first 3 minute meeting. You see, I arrived for the first meeting by bicycle in the pouring rain, I was wet, go figure. Apparently, the silly sailor, Mr. Lord Hemorrhoid flared up and decided he doesn’t like solo female cyclists arriving wet to his sailboat. As the comic irony of Mr. Lord Hemorrhoid the spirit sailor who doesn’t like to get wet sinks in Pandemic The Magic Bicycle is drenched in oil battling the salty air on the neighbors yacht and I am coordinated the pedaling for pennies Be The Adventure Africa T-shirt Project and sorting out my route through the middle east into Africa.

Another one of my favorite hemorrhoids

How to Crew on a Sailboat and Avoid A Sunshine Enema?

Find A Crew is a website dedicated to matching people up. I have met many legitimate, wonderful people who have found crew and boats to crew on through the site. The majority of the yachts, when I sailed from Australia to Indonesia found crew through the site, but as stated above there are a few Mr. Lord Hemorrhoids out there as well.

www.findacrew.net

Cycling Sandals…And the Happily Ever After

I would like to announce the upcoming matrimonial vows of Ms. Keene Cycling Sandal to Mr. Shimano Cycling Sandal. They will be married on the shores of Pantai Cenang Beach, Malaysia. In attendance will be a Canadian female bicycle tourist and her monkey. They will arrive by magic bicycle to attend the event and will be cloaked in floral bohemian cotton. The monkey will be wearing a Speedo swimsuit, a banana hammock of sorts to remain politely covered amongst the burka clad local Muslim women. Amongst the guests will be topless Swedish sunbathing tourists, Indian Malay parasailing entrepreneurs and local Malay Rastafarians adorned in decade old dreadlocks. Reggae beats unheard of since the heights of the Jamaican music scene in the 80’s will percuss through the shell lined sandy shores of the Andaman sea on Pantai Cenang beach. The menu will consist of $0.40 duty free beers and nasi goreng pedas (spicy fried rice), the local Malay specialty

Ms Keene Cycling Sandal is a delicate poorly constructed sort with a serial bride burnt out glow and a reputation for short marriages with a 3 month longevity. Her faults lie in the foot bed, angle strap and shoddy neoprene lining. Even since finding the perfect therapist and having new and improved angle straps sown in place, she still proves to be too delicate for bicycle touring. This is Ms. Keen Cycling Sandal’s third marriage in 16 months, she hopes by her union to Mr. Shimano Cycling Sandal to escape her serial bride reputation and turn a new pedal in the rolling game of bicycle touring commitments and longevity.

Mr. Shimano Cycling Sandal is the hearty, sturdy type with 3 thick velcro straps and concrete stiff inlaid spd housing, a rock solid masculine bloke with a stiff upper lip and proven longevity amongst bicycle tourists. This is Mr. Shimano’s Cycling Sandals first marriage.

The Canadian female bicyclist and her Speedo clad monkey have high hopes for Mr. Shimano Cycling Sandal’s sturdy commitment and proven longevity. And after 2 failed marriages, Ms. Keene Cycling Sandal could use a strong, sturdy well constructed replacement. Following the ceremonial exchange of vows, Ms Keen Cycling Sandal and Mr. Shimano Cycling Sandal will be honeymooning on a magic bicycle with the Canadian female bicycle tourist and her Speedo clad monkey in the semi arid Middle Eastern plains and the Africa sub-Saharan desert.

And if it doesn’t work out this time, there will always be lift out of town.

Dear Spandexers,

Hello my name is Pandemic The Magic Bicycle. In response to a few people wanting to get to know me, I wanted to step out front, confront my shyness and introduce myself. I am a Thorn Raven Touring bicycle. I am a beautiful rain drenched dark green and my frame is made of solid steel. I am tough, mighty and strong and roll all day long thanks to my rohloff hub. My rohloff is an internal gear system. It has 14 gears that are built into the back wheel. It is constructed kind’a like a car clutch. I get my oil changed with special light viscosity oil every 5000km.

I don’t have a derailleur to slow me down or get clogged with dirt. My gears change on the fly, fast and with ease which is great for stop and go traffic and steep hills. I am a reliable bicycle for bicycle touring and was purchased because my owner had 7 cars the year she left Alaska and decided to put down the tools and give up tinkering for good.

For more about the rohloff hub click here

I have handmade well constructed wheels. I have never broken a spoke. In fact when I was purchased my owner tried to buy some extra spokes in case mine broke. The man in the bicycle shop laughed and said we build those wheels strong enough for 400 pound men. You won’t need extra spokes, turns out that the wheel builder was right.

In the last year and a half nothing has gone wrong and there has been a minimal of repairs. I have had 4 sets of tires, one new set of brake pads and updated the break cables to high grade steel. My Queens throne, my saddle in which she perchs to see the world is a leather Brooks saddle and my pedals are double sided Shimano spd pedals. My rider wears keen spd cycling sandals and can barely keep them on her feet because they have been repaired many times and are poorly constructed, a disappointment from such a great company such as Keen.

In Ireland at the start of the world journey when my owner was praying a lot about pedaling to Ireland prior to ditching the front panniers and condensing everything into 3 bags on the back.

My rider doesn’t wear spandex, or believe that you need special shoes to go for a hike. She pedals in regular clothes, bohemian cotton shirts, long hiking shorts and has been caught cycling in a skirt. She rides with 2 small Ortlieb panniers, one dry bag lashed to the back rack and a handle bar bag she made out of the top of a backpack. In the panniers are a Vaude Hogan Utra-light tent. However, last week she lost the tent poles and will be looking for new poles. My owner is a big fan of german made gear because it seems to last longest. Rohloff hubb, Vaude tent, Ortlied bicycle bags are all German companies. My tiny owner loves to eat and cooks on a MSR international multi-fuel stove, burns petrol as fuel, eats out of a non-stick pot with a broken handle and chopsticks. Chopsticks are the greatest invention for bicycle touring ever. Chopsticks serve as a fork, knife and stirring utensil. For eating and drinking she drinks and eats from a large tupperware container. Any item that has at least 3 uses has a home in my owners bicycle bags. It sure feels good to introduce myself in great length.

Signed still rolling,

Pandemic The Magic Bicycle