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4818 msmn means 4818 meters above sea level - in Spanish of course!
WELCOME to the annual Bike Friday Holiday reading almanac, comprising the most intriguing 'What Do You Do On a Friday?' travel writing for 2004. Scroll to the bottom to go directly to the complete list of stories.
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To kick off this issue:
PASS THE OXYGEN PLEASE: 16,000 Feet On a Friday
 The Galfromdownunder, in an out-of-body moment, signed up for the inaugural PACTOUR Assault on the highest paved road Peru trip. The first two days were 'a Baptism of fire' as tour leader and ultracycling champ Lon Haldeman put it, but after that I was doing 75 miles in jungle heat with relative ease. I consider this tour an excellent combination of great scenery, fascinating Peruvian culture, weird things to eat including guinea pig (cuy) and other small furry animals, excellent cameraderie and support, and challenging but do-able riding that will stretch you to the next level. And what an opportunity to ride with a legendary cycling authority and world champion, Lon Haldeman. Of course, it's even better if you do it on a Friday, like the Galfromdownunder's Bike Friday Lon Haldeman, twice RAAM champ, led the ascent. |
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TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2004: TODAY WAS THE DAY OF RECKONING: I would be one of a handful of questionably sane people who had paid money to launch an 'assault' on the highest paved road in the world at 16,000 feet: The Ticlio Pass, smack in the middle of the Peruvian Andes. A famous railroad operates in fits and starts over this pass, but few attempt this ascent on bicycles, and I'd be one of the first to do it on a Bike Friday.
 At 15,000+ feet, 2.5 km to go and it feels like 250 km ... Our leader: Lon Haldeman (46) , twice RAAM champ, tandem coast-to-coast record holder, 5 times PBP veteran (including this year on a single speed road bike, riding in daylight only 'just for fun'), in short, Marathon Man meets Terminator on two skinny wheels. This time, however, he was on two smaller skinny wheels - his Air Friday - because it packs in a suitcase and 'rides as good as his best bike,' of course. His subjects in descending order of seniority: Charlie Feaux (69) from Alabama, Jerry Segal (66) from Indiana(Air Friday), Glen Martin (49) from Virginia, and the Galfromdownunder (42), fresh as a wilted daisy from my Handsomest Man in Cuba book tour, on my Pocket Crusoe. We'd landed in Lima a couple of days earlier and had already pedaled to 10,000 feet the day before, flanked by the endless spectacular and sheer cliff faces of the Peruvian Andes mountains. I was not feeling too maxed out at this stage, even though my shampoo bottle was starting to look pregnant. Our ascent in earnest began at a misty, mud-side hotel called Chez Victor, in San Mateo (which brings to mind a restaurant downunder called Chez Bruce), at the aforementioned 10,000 feet. All's well that begins well. Lon, superlatively organized, solemnly brought out the cylinder of oxygen and instructed the four of us as to its use, which we listened to as one does the safety drill on airlines - not at all, until the moment of truth. Our laminated route map indicated we'd take 5 hours to do the 23.5 mile, 6,000 foot climb to the summit, whoop it up with photos and congratulatory handshakes, then drop dramatically over the other side for a thrilling 25-mile, 2 hour descent back down to 12,000 feet ... Sign up for the 2005 Bike Friday Arizona Desert Camp, Feb 26-March 5, 2005. Register by Dec 15, 2004 to get a collectible Desert Camp Jersey! Register Now: (262)736-2453 (BIKE) +++ MORE HOLIDAY READING FROM BIKE FRIDAY What better way to spend those warm nights by the hearth (after drip-drying your raingear from your daily commute) than re-reading some of the great travel stories we've featured on our homepage - takes if what People Did On A Friday. We've had stories about the The World's Most Traveled Man by Bicycle Heinz Stucke, the PBP, Tour de France, the Guinas, Mexico, Corsica, Cuba ... everything from performance racing to adventure touring to commuting with convenience - on a Bike Friday. Below you'll find links to the best reading of the year as submitted by the most adventurous of our 12,000+ owners. Enjoy! P.S. Since you love travel writing and bicycles, here are some more books by Bike Friday authors. Great saddlebag stuffers! |
 Guinness World Record holder Heinz Stucke, the Most Traveled Man by Bicycle, now rides a 2004 Bike Friday Pocket Llama. |
 100+ countries and counting - Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe owner Betsy Schwartz in the Guianas, 2004. |
A Lone Llama in Corsica - Spike Hampson examines life, confidence and the coast of Corsica in this reflective piece of travel writing from the saddle of his Pocket Llama
French and Icelandic Adventure! - a breathless, bold and utterly beautiful tale from Alaskan adventurer Suzanne Greenwood on 'the cutest bicycle in the world', her New World Tourist. This tale still sets a benchmark for our 'What Do You Do On a Friday' inspired travelblogging.
Betsy Schwartz in the Guianas - in which '100+ countries and still counting' Betsy Schwartz explores Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana on her Pocket Crusoe called 'Pumpkin'.
The Galfromdownunder in Mexico - a 19-chapter travelogue in which Lynette Chiang explores Mayan ruins, cenotes, Panama hats and guerilla timeshare salesmen in Chiapas and the Yucatan
The Great Baby Talk Avoidance Tour - in which Megs and Phil Edwardes take their Pocket Llamas through Croatia, Italy, France and China trying not to think about having babies (separate hotel rooms? Find out).
The How To Conquer A Mountain Stage of the Tour de France - in which Todd Roger rode all peaks on his New World Tourist
The Greetings from Niue - in which Guinness World Record holder and World's Most Traveled Man Heinz Stucke reports from his latest record attempt, on his 7-speed Pocket Llama - such a change from his 50lb steel bicycle
Paris-Brest-Paris on a Friday - Scott English and Susan Cooper did this seminal feat on the flagship of the Bike Friday fleet, the Twin Air Tandem.
A Bike Friday in the Ginza! - Banjo Bandolas dares to fly his Air Friday among the frenetic and vibrant shopping and nightlife district of Tokyo.
Mile-High Linder meets Liggett - we couldn't resist sneaking this in - it's not often you get to rub tread with Pocket Rocket Pro and Famous English Voice of the Tour de France, Phil Liggett, but if You Do It On a Friday - that's all in a day's pedaling!
Betsy Schwartz does Bulgaria - who better to end this list of travel tales than with 100+ countries and STILL counting traveler, Betsy Schwartz, on her Pocket Crusoe called 'Pumpkin'.
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