This article was written by Oscar Hearnden
From Alaska to Cape Horn: 30 Years of Adventures through the Americas.
Ted Stagnut at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala the deepest lake in Central America.
This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a phone call with long-time Bike Friday rider Ted Stagnut, who has embarked on a series of trips spanning 30 years and totaling some 21,540 miles stretching from Alaska through the center of North America, across the Darién Gap, and then traversed the mountains, rain forests, and vibrant cities of South America before concluding at Cape Horn in Argentina—an epic journey dubbed the “American Adventure.”
Ted covered mammoth distances over 21 separate trips whilst maintaining a consistent professional career (This was completed in a non-linear fashion which is why the dates jump around a little). It is also important to note that not every mile was covered on a bike, as very few do it was his hybrid use of transport that originally drew him to purchase a Bike Friday. Ted appreciated how easily he could fold his bike and hop on a bus, boat, train, or even a light aircraft. It took away a lot of the hassle and restrictions that come with traveling on a regular touring bike.
Cycling is a gateway to greater freedoms granting him the ability to explore at will, to slow down and fully take in one’s surroundings and open up communication with locals that lead to opportunities otherwise missed. He recounts the first time he discovered this freedom after crossing a state line in his youth. Completing this milestone opened up a world of possibilities for Ted, and he never looked back. He has fully embraced his love for travel and bikes, racking up a truly remarkable number of trips across the globe on a variety of bikes. As you can well imagine, he has met many incredible people, seen natural wonders, and experienced many life-defining moments along the way. Ted has documented his many travels around the world on his blog which I have added a link to down below.
We pick up Ted’s journey In Mexico after he has completed much of the North of America. It was at this point in his travels that he discovered the joys of riding a Bike Friday after purchasing his first New World Tourist second-hand.
My thanks to Ted for taking the time to share this reminder of the places a bike can take you and the memories that can be made along the way.
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