Bruce discovered bike touring through a chance encounter with someone organising an adventure race in 2001.
“We got to talking and he mentioned a California tour he was planning for the spring. Intrigued, I asked if he’d mind some company. The rest is history,” Bruce says. The two friends now tour 2-3 times a year together on recumbents. They travel light, put in long daily distances, and end each day with a hotel and a nice meal.
“What do I like about touring? well my touring buddy summed it up best: ‘it’s fun even when it’s not fun’. I love the feel of working for the distance traveled and the way you look ahead with anticipation and respect of what’s to come. You acknowledge every aspect of each day on the road and appreciate the simplest of things. I think you’re just more in tune with the world around you. You pay attention to the sky and what it’s telling you. To the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) changes in wind speed and direction. To the varied quality of pavement beneath your tires. Temperature, precipitation, friendly honks of encouragement and blaring horns of intolerance from motorists sharing the road, all these things play on your morale throughout the day.”
“It’s hard to express to someone who hasn’t achieved for themselves, the sense of accomplishment you feel when you finally crest a summit that’s taken you most the day to reach, and then the reward of the fast flowing descent down the other side.”
“And food… Remember when you were a kid, how you reacted when someone bought you an ice-cream cone? When you are touring, all food has that affect on you.”
“These are the things I love about touring but mostly I love the simple, satisfied, exhausted feeling when I turn out the light at the end of each day.”
In 2011, Bruce’s big challenge is setting the Guinness world record for the fastest solo global circumnavigation by bicycle. Read more on his website: www.globebent.org.