Why?

Do we ride for charity, world peace or the environment? I am afraid not. This is just for the joy of it. Unashamedly so.

Cycling is a joy, meeting people is a joy, experiencing new places is a joy - and life should be a bit joyful.

This may seem frivolous in a world full of problems and in need of economic growth, utility maximisation and productivity improvements. How dare I, as an engineer of all disciplines, do something that serves so little purpose?

I had considered claiming a higher end. One could collect data along the way, conduct surveys, campaign for one thing or another, or raise money for a good cause. In the end perhaps the best thing is to follow the Unix principle: do one thing, and do that well. That one thing is to travel wholeheartedly.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Mark Twain