What years on the road have taught me about bikes.

Sign up for my RoadNews Newsletter

 Written on the road as I travel around the world on my bicycle

*Help Support this Web Site and Continue My Travels.

Places I have been
(How can I afford this?)

India and Neighbors
May 2010 to present

Alaska / Canada / USA
May 2008 to April 2010

New Zealand
Sept 2007 to May 2008

Australia
Sept 2006 to Sept 2007

SE Asia / China
Nov 2004 to Sept 2006

South America
June 2003 to June 2004

AZ, Mexico, and Central America
March 2002 to April 2003

How I started
The 5 years before I left

Equipment Pages Index

Introduction
How Much to Bring and Weight
Some Advice About Advice
A Note to Perspective Sponsors and Gear Suppliers
(See more about Sponsorship)

START HERE for Touring Bikes and Commuting Bicycles
Custom Touring Bicycles and Bike Upgrade Buyers Guide
Bicycle Touring Frames 
The Steel Repair Myth.
Steel and Aluminum Derailleur Hanger Repair.
Bicycle Touring Wheels
Phil Wood: The Best Bicycle Hubs

Panniers / Bike Bags
Cargo Trailers Vs Panniers
Tires for Bike Tours..
Bicycle Touring Saddles.
Women's Specific Bike Touring Saddles
Brooks Leather Touring Bicycle Saddle Care and Conditioning
Bike Computer
Touring Handlebars, Bar Ends, Adjustable Stems, and Padded Grips.
Sealed Cartridge Headsets
How to prevent flat tires
Bike Route Trails and Maps

Camping
Buying Camping Equipment
Tent and Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Camp Stove
Pots and Pans
Water Filter
First Aide Kits
Solar Power for Camp

Clothing
Bike Touring Shorts

Electrical
Short-wave Radio
Computer
Internet
mp3
Bicycle touring lights

Books
Packing list
Pictures of Equipment Failures
Shopping

DownTheRoad.org Bicycle Touring Around the World

The Ongoing Multi-Year Bike Tour and Travel Story -  March 30, 2002 to Present

---

New : Plan : Funding/Cost : Pictures :  NewsLetters : Journals Bikes : Gear : My Books : Media : Shopping : About : Contact I am Tim Travis, an ordinary American who decided to live out my dreams.  I saved my money, quit my job, sold my possessions and set off to travel around the world by bicycle.  I left my home in Arizona, USA on March 2002 and have been on the road ever since.  I have no plans to stop.  This web site contains my ongoing travel blog, short videos and photo journal. Where I am now? Himachal and Uttarakhand, India

Bicycle Touring Tips & Advice  (see all Equipment Pages) Touring Bicycles Panniers Racks Saddles Tires Lights Fenders Tents Sleeping Bags Camping Mattress Camp Stove Water Filter Pots and Pans

1st book:  The Road That Has No End How I traded ordinary life for a global bicycle touring adventure.	2nd book:  Down The Road in South America A bicycle tour through poverty, paradise, and the places in between.	3rd Book: Down The Road in Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam A Bicycle Tour Through War, Genocide and Forgiveness	Printed Soft Cover MP3 Audio Book  Download US$9.98 Hear First Chapter NOW PDF eBook  Download US$4.99 Amazon's KINDLE
Buy all three books together and save over a third off the retail price here -

Index  This website is bigger than most people think.  It has been constructed over several years in hotel rooms and campsites while traveling through dozens of countries.   It has thousands of pages and many hidden areas that only the determined repeat visitor can find.  The bulk of the pages are organized into an index for each continent.  These indexes are a great way to quickly learn the basic structure of the website and find something specific.  Click below to go to each continent's index.

North and Central America - South America - South East Asia/China
Australia - New Zealand - Alaska / Canada / USA - India. Nepal, and the Subcontinent

TIP  If you are looking for something specific try searching this web site with our Google Search Utility.

search DownTheRoad.org below

Custom Search

Short Downloadable Videos  Traveling around the world on bicycle since 2002 provides unique opportunities to capture in photography the rich layers of culture that make up the fabric of the societies I visit.  I have shot several hours of video in exotic countries from the seat of our touring bicycles. These movies are turned into short videos and released at regular intervals.  Check out my special website where you can watch these videos today Watch Videos HERE

You can also subscribe to receive these free downloadable videos as they are released by sending a blank email to: http://www.downtheroad.org/EmailSignUp.htm

Tim's Thumbnails and Pictures Gallery  I believe that the best pictures are taken at the most awkward times.  I keep a camera in my handlebar bag, always ready to record that incredible moment.  I have thousands of pictures posted on www.downtheroad.org.  Click to see the complete photo index

Cindie's Daily Journals:  My journal started on the first day when Tim got a flat tire and has continued ever since.  I describe our surroundings, my general impressions, catalog daily distances ridden and record costs when possible.  Click to see the complete journal index.  (Cindie)

TIP  At the top and bottom of Tim's Thumbnail pages and Cindie's Journals are arrows that will lead to the next section like turning pages in a book.

Previous

Next

RoadNews: Emailed updates sent from the road  What started as regular updates emailed to family and friends has turned into a tradition with  thousands of email subscribers   Sign up HERE to receive email updates sent every four to eight weeks.

How did you two meet?  Who's idea was it to sell everything and travel around the world on bicycles?  How can you afford it?  I get asked these questions the most.   It might seem impossible that someone could make the decision to go, save up the traveling funds, sell everything, quit a good career and take off on a bicycle.  All of these questions are answered in the first chapter of my book which is available to read free online.  MP3 Audio: Hear Chapter 1 of the Audio Book!

Equipment and Gear Reviews:  Selecting bicycle touring and camping equipment always involves difficult decisions.  I do not claim to know it all but I have learned a few lessons along the road.  Here I try to share my gear experiences in an open minded and scientific way.

Help Me Travel and Continue this Website: I'm always pleasantly surprised when someone writes and asks how they can help me continue travelling.  It may be easier than you think.  A simple link to www.downtheroad.org from your web site actually helps a lot.  Website owners can also add information to their websites about my book and where to buy it.  By far the most popular way to help me stay on the road is by shopping. Buying the book is an excellent way to get to know about my journey while adding to my time out on the road. .  If you find this website enjoyable and valuable there is another popular way to continue it.  Shopping online at one of the participating store links provides me with a small commission with no extra cost to you.  Read the full details of all the ways to support this website HERE.

Buy the book here.

Online shopping at outdoor, camping and bicycling stores.

My hand-picked selection of books and travel guides.

Touring Bicycles and Bike Panniers

More information on how you can help me continue this website and travels.

Contacting Me:  Contacting me is easy with email.  I try to send/receive email at least once every two weeks.  If you write, it may be 2 - 4  weeks before I am able to send a reply.  I try to reply to every reasonable email.

  
Bicycle touring along the beach in Costa Rica