Putting Metal to the Pedal: Cycling Route 66 with Love Hope and Strength is a book about Lydia Franklin’s intrepid 28 day cycle tour in the USA. Covering 100 miles a day she completed the trip with a rock gig with Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighter’s fame. Lydia says “I never had any problems with people… in fact because I was solo and female they were more willing to chat/help/support the ride”
“My name is Sandrine and I’m a French woman. Next year 2015, I’ll cross Canada by bike from Vancouver to Montreal on My Happy Canada Tour (FB Page)! I wish to be one of these women on wheels and write my own story. I would never have launched into this adventure if it weren’t for the inspiration I get from other solo female cyclists on the WOW (Women On Wheels)!”
“Hola! Greetings from West Germany! Great to have the chance to meet other women on tour” Tanja
The Wall’s Youngest member Bianca is far deserving of an award for inspiring young cyclists, at 12 before she even started high-school, she cycled the southern USA trailed by her Dad. Pavel (her Dad) says “he was in the way back slowing her down”, Bianca says “I only learned to ride a bike at 10 years old And I only got my own bike last summer. It wasn’t the best, it was a hundred dollar target bike. But to me it was much more, it was freedom in it’s simplest form, at least that’s what it seemed like”. Prior to the journey Pavel was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma, though he said he’s more energetic than he’s been in years. He says he wanted Bianca to have a strong sense of herself so she wouldn’t be afraid to do things. Bianca’s amazing cycling accomplishments even made the news!
Crazy Girl On A Bike? Stephanie wrote to say “Thank you for this WOW page. It is very inspiring to see how many girls are cycling on their own out there” Stephanie’s blog is written in French. Her photos are sure to inspire other men and women to pedal out the door. Here’s the one she took after arriving in Ushuaia, more than 23000 km after leaving Canada.
“My name is Shirine, I’m on a quest for beautiful mountains and untouched cultures, the bicycle has proven to be my key into both of those things! I’m a twenty year old gal cycling around the world. During the last nine months I have cycled the highest passes in the world (Northern India), slept in a slum, and stayed in rural farming villages in far western Nepal I didn’t even know still existed. Maybe our wandering trails will someday cross! I love how you have set up a page for solo females, people tend to think we are a bit nuts don’t they?”
“Thank you so much for the WOW Wall. It is a great source of inspiration as I sit here, 4:27am in Fiji, unable to stop reading everything I can get my hands on about my upcoming bike tour. I’m 22 yrs old, just graduated from college with a degree in Folklore & Mythology, a Language Citation in Arabic, and a head full of questions. I lucked my way into a postgraduate traveling fellowship that supports me for a year of solo travel. I’ve been collecting stories about water and climate change. Tomorrow AM I leave for New Zealand, at which point my bicycle will become my main mode of transportation for the rest of the year…” Devi Lockwood
“My name’s Baerbel, I’m a world cyclo-bum from Austria. I want to ride my bike, cook one-pot meals on wood fires and sleep under the stars in my hammock. I did not plan my route ahead of time. The important thing for me isn’t “where to?” but “how to?”. I find my equipment at second hand stores. I don’t take airplanes. I recycle and reuse everything. I find food in nature and in the dumpsters of supermarkets. In 3 years, 3 months, I’ve made it almost around the world, cycling on land and hitchhiking on sailing boats across the oceans…Many smiles and bike-love!”
“Hello, I’m Kelly! This year I am set to embark on an adventure I have never attempted before; bicycle touring. Around September time I plan to head to Iceland where I will spend around 4 weeks pedaling my way around the country, wild camping and cooking my own food as I go. I’ve set a target of spending no more than £1000 on the entire trip. So far it’s turning out pretty cheap – I’ll soon be handed over a free bike and gear – a bike which has already ventured through Spain and will soon be headed across Germany – and there’s a chance I’ll be given free hostel accommodation at the start and end of the ride. The question is, just how cheap can I make this trip? I should also mention that I’ve pledged to raise £500 for TREEAID to aid in the planting of 1 million trees and any money left over from the £1000 will be going straight to the cause. I’ve never travelled alone before, am yet to experience my first puncture. Follow my journey on blueyedview.com”
“Originally from Brazil, I started my cycling experience after doing the St. James Way, a long hiking journey through Spain, last year. After such a strong experience of freedom and meeting other interesting people who also value freedom, including some cyclists, I decided to give it a try :o) I really like the tempo and simplicity of cycling. It feels very organic to be propelled by my own energy, while feeling the air and everything that happens around me without any separation from it” Leila
“Valeu a pena? Tudo vale a pena, se a alma não é pequena.”
“Was it worth it? Everything is worth it if our soul is not small.” (Fernando Pessoa – Portuguese Poet)
