It is my hope that within these pages friends and supporters will find enjoyable and informative reading, along with useful tips, tricks, resources and advice for the leisurely and independent recumbent bicycle touring enthusiast.

Bicycle touring is truly among the most intimate and ecologically sensitive ways in which we can experience a people, their culture, and land. There are few other activities where you can feel such freedom and independence. Imagine a world where you are carrying everything you need to be safe and comfortable, while moving along slowly under your own power through exotic lands. The pace of a bicycle is perfect, neither too fast or too slow. You see and experience more as you're ready to stop, explore, or photograph anything or anyone interesting catching your eye.

I have been bicycle touring independently with a Lightning Stealth recumbent for over ten years. On these pages I'll do my best to answer your questions, and welcome you to open a dialog to discuss anything related to recumbent bikes or bicycle touring in general. My life is as an open book, and I'm happy to share with anyone willing. If you want to know about my travels past and present, or meet up for a future tour, I'll do my best to help you. As a beginner, I'll encourage you to make a break free from old routines if they're holding you back, and help you plan your first tour. It'll be my pleasure to offer you personal advice, tips, and encouragement, so go ahead and write if you feel inclined.

In 1996, at forty years of age, after going through life changes and hard times many of us must often find, I was looking for new, unique, and definitive challenges. With freedom, independence, and a love for nature high on my list, I rediscovered the beauty and simplicity of bicycling many us once knew as a child. Still I found it difficult to believe that I could tour long distances, but was encouraged by a friend to take up cycling. Now, at 54, bicycling has done wonders for my health and vitality, and among the few things I own, a good touring bicycle will always be my number one material possession. No matter what your age or situation, I want you to know that a good bicycle and knowledge of how to tour, can open doors and opportunities which you've never dreamed.

If you have the desire, determination, and patience to begin, you too can do leisurely cycling on a recumbent bicycle, as I believe nearly anyone can. You'll need a love for adventure and the outdoors, but money, strength, and experience are not as important for your success as you might believe. Independent long distance bicycle touring requires time, determination, courage, knowledge, and the right equipment. Recumbent cycling in particular, is a healthy, leisurely, low-cost, low-impact, fun and adventurous activity in which you can participate far into your retirement years. With a wireless notebook computer, and a little ingenuity, you might even postpone retirement indefinately, and earn a living while on the road.

Major Independent Recumbent Tours

• Flagstaff, Arizona to Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Fayetteville, Arkansas to Roswell, New Mexico
• Phoenix, Arizona to Salt Lake City, Utah
• Southern California Coast
• Honolulu, and the Island of Oahu, Hawaii
• Hilo, Kona, and the Island of Hawaii
• Siem Reap, Cambodia to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Rome, New York
• Rome, New York to Toronto, Canada
• United Kingdom, Wiltshire, London and Surroundings
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Chiang Mai, Thailand to Sing Buri, Thailand
• Aranya Prathet, Thailand to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Savannaket, Laos
• Mukdahan, Thailand to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Aranya Prathet, Thailand
• Chiang Mai, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Siem Reap, Cambodia to Mukdahan, Thailand and back
• Siem Reap, Cambodia to Chanthaburi, Thailand
• Chanthaburi, Thailand to Sisaket, Thailand
• Sisaket, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Presently, I have been working as a teacher in Siem Reap, Cambodia. My travels have brought me to Thailand and Cambodia, which are rather ideal places to live and tour. Cambodia in particular offers many opportunities for being of service to others, and opens our eyes to the deeper meaning of poverty, wealth, and social security, which very few people understand.

The tours listed above ranged from periods of less than one week, to more than six weeks, between the years of 2000 and 2010. All tours were done solo, except one, which was completed alongside fellow sojourner, Jeff Pike. Distances covered on each tour ranged between 400 and 4000 kilometers, with an average distance of about 100 KM per day. With a tail wind on a flat smooth surface, I'll roll along easily at about 25 km per hour, and uphill against the wind, I may climb at 5 km per hour. I rarely ride at night, but it happens on occassion when I'm pushing to reach a destination.