Purpose
But Why?!?!
Point Blank:
I want to see more people use cycling to get around!
Cycling is such an awesome method of transportation.. way better for individual, social, and environmental health than cars.. particularly within urban and suburban environments. So.. I want to see people adopt cycling ‘as thair primary method of day to day and life long mobility.‘ Heck, it’s worked for me, for the most part.. so why not?
I’ve been cycling for over 35 years- as a triathlete, as a commuter.. as a bike courier.. and even as a treeplanter. During all that time I have converted exactly one person to ‘the fold.’ Small numbers.. numbers that evidence the exact ability of “leading by example.”
I realized that if I wanted to really shake things up.. I needed to do something really sensational.. really eye- catching.. and really news- worthy.. and it had to be done all by pedal power!
Thus- Full Global Circumnavigation…
100% Pedal Propelled..
100% Powered by Pedals!
Route
The Route
I’m leaving from Vancouver, BC, Canada in the spring of 2024 and it’s my plan to arrive back in Vancouver, BC, Canada… about two years later! Check the 30s. vid that estimates the route:
It’s about 45,000km from start to finish.. and at about 4knots per hour, that means I’ll be covering about 100Km per day.. for an estimated travel time of 450 days or 1.25 years of pedalling.. so long as nothing goes wrong.. and I don’t decide to hang out in one or another location for awhile.. or I don’t get sick. That’s why I say it’ll take about two years to get back to Vancouver after I leave.
And I’ll probably be digitally connected from start to finish!
The Boat
The Boat
The Plan
I’m taking a 16′ Open Cockpit Kayak (2 person- ish) and:
A) removing the deck (done) and
B) Cutting her in half (done) and then
C) Lengthen Her to about 22′ (DONE!) and then..
D) fully enclosing her cabin structure.. imminent!
She’s in The Boatshed.. cut and cored.. she looks like a chameleon.. not a boat.. and pieces are being added, glued.. screwed down and cut off to make her perfect!
She won’t be the most cutting edge pedal powered boat around.. but the costs of her refit will be realistic.. she won’t have any “proprietary” equipment.. most of her running gear will be sourced from Craigslist.. which is where I found her donor hull to begin with. Other goodies~ like the propel style pedal drive~ are sourced through Alibaba.. and other things will be made right here in Calgary.. By Hand!
All in the interest of keeping her build costs.. Realistic. And realistic means.. affordable!
Sustainability
Sensationalism for Sustainability
We need to adopt sustainable lifestyle options if *we* are to see a future for humanity. Cycling is one heck of a sustainable choice and it leads to almost ever- expanding realizations for additional and augmentative options. It’s my goal, through this project, to highlight and discuss such options for audience education and general promotion.