You may not know it, but there’s a place online where you can watch films about bike touring from all over the world.
It’s the Wereldfietser group (that’s Dutch for World Cyclist) on film-sharing site Vimeo. Nearly 200 members have added over 400 videos about their bike touring adventures.
Don’t be fooled by the Dutch name. Many (if not most) of the videos are in English and very high quality. People work hard on these films to make them inspiring and it shows in the final result.
So, with the help of the group moderator we picked out 5 great films for you to watch. Some give practical tips. Others are inspiring, and still others are just plain amazing. Make yourself a bowl of popcorn and sit down to enjoy. You’re in for a treat…
1. How to make a cycling expedition film if you are both the cameraman and the presenter: In 2004, Rob Lilwall flew to Siberia and started cycling home to England. He’s written a book and National Geographic made a TV series from his self-filmed journey. In this video, he shows us how to film your bike adventure, when you’re the cameraman, director and the star.
2. The Wind In His Face: Cyclist Bow Jones met this incredible man while traveling in India. What an inspiration! You have to see his passport at the end of the film.
3. Journey as Destination: Explore some of the highest, most remote, and most challenging roads in the world in this award-winning film about a 4500km bike journey across Tibet. The film was made by Dave A.
4. Au Soleil (To The Sun): “Au Soleil” is based on memories of a one-month cycling trip across Eastern Europe from Berlin to Istanbul. “The locals were nothing but friendly and helpful and the trip shattered my many jaded stereotypes,” says the film’s creator,
Josh Wedlake.
5. Tamazight: “About 11 years ago we fell in love with the country and the Imazighen, the people of the Tamazight. We fell in love with Morocco. Since then there is a spell resting on us and we have to return whenever we can.” With these words, Blanche introduces us to her experience of Morocco by bicycle.