Where, when, how?

Cycling has been my passion for a handful of years, ever since I realised it was the only reasonable solution to help me lose weight. My interest then developed into a full-time hobby. Transition through  various phases (setting sportive challenges, starting to race, riding the classic mountain ranges, taking up cycling guiding as a job) has taken me to where I am today.

I'm lucky enough to be able to only work part-time, with my free time (sometimes a couple of months unbroken) now dedicated to travelling with my bike. Living in Sweden it's very tempting to want to spend some of the winter in warmer southern climes. Last winter for example I spent guiding on winter training camps in Andalucia, Southern Spain. Hence my choice for the first of my "Cycling around in circles" projects.

I'm packing the bike and flying off to New Zealand for 7 weeks throughout November & December this year (2014). It's Spring down there, I've never been before and there's so much to see and do.

Cycling around in circles is all about the journey. By starting and ending in the same place I can solve a couple of the main logistics questions - what do I do with my luggage? / what if something holds me up along the way? The luggage part is easy - I'll be travelling extremely lightweight. All I need for 6 weeks on the road will be packed in my small backpack. Then my bike box which I pack the bike in for the flight will be left waiting for me at the hostel I overnight in at both the start and the end of the trip. Which leads me to the second question - I've reserved 3 nights in my end destination, so if anything delays me by a day or two during the trip then all I need to do is move everything else back as necessary and I should still hopefully be able to get back to square one on time.

More about my equipment and pre-planning later...

On the journey

What goes around comes around.

So they say.

I'm not sure myself.

At this tender age I've got some good years behind me and some great ones ahead. I've chosen another route which might often bring me back to square one, but at the same time more enriched, more curious and more energised. The bike will be my ever present companion. My guide, my challenger, my beast of burden.

It's all about the journey. Journeys where the start defines the end but what goes on in between is what matters. I'm out to satisfy my endless sense of curiosity, appetite for learning, desire for seeing, meeting, experiencing, savouring. It may take some time.

And then I'm really a frustrated romantic. So these will also be journeys seeking to inspire, excite, entertain those who choose to join me along the way. Through visuals, words and thoughts.