How to Bike Around the World
by Allie Comeau on March 13, 2008 
2 comments
If you were to ask Pat and Catherine Patterson how they managed to give it all up and bike around the world, they’d be happy to tell you… they just went for it.
How to Bike around the World:
1. Decide it’s now or never.
2. Sell your house and car(s).
3. Purchase a rental property and rent it out (optional).
4. Give all your furniture to your children.
5. Put the rest of your belongings in storage.
6. Sell your business (if you have one) or take a leave of absence.
7. Buy a few good backpacks and a solid, comfortable bike.
8. Pack your camping gear.
8. Bring your laptop and video camera to record your adventure.
9. Roll with the punches. Plan your route but be flexible and allow for spontaneity.
10. Make new friends, see new places, and bring home “a million memories”.
At the ages of 62 and 48, Pat and Catherine Patterson took off on a four-year tour of the world via bicycle. They visited 57 countries and four continents in their time away. They biked through jungles, across deserts, and over mountains.
Traveling by bike has allowed them a much more personal experience of the world. They’ve been in close contact with locals and met all kinds of unique people, like the possible smugglers who carried them by boat to Zanzibar and the “oldest man in the village” in Guinea (who happened to be the same age as Pat).
Pat says that, more than anything, biking around the world has changed what he values in life. Pat admits that when he was in his 30s his philosophy could be summed up as, “The one that dies with the most money wins.”
“So, I had the cars and the things,” Pat explains, “and then, about that time, I took off out into the world on my own for a bike ride, and decided it was experiences; the one that dies with the most experiences wins.”
As Pat was preparing for his trip with Catherine, he turned 60. He calls that birthday, and the change in mindset it brought, “a biggie.” His philosophy became, “The one that dies with the most friends wins.”
“I’m realizing what it’s going to be in my 70s, and that’s different. It will be ‘The one with the most memories wins.’ “
Pat and Catherine Patterson aren’t the only travelers to share this view. It seems like all the adventurers we report on have similar things to say about life… it’s not about money or fancy cars. It’s about living life the way you want and squeezing every last drop of joy out of it. If biking around the world is what does it for you, then by all means, figure out a way to do it.
Watch Pat and Cat’s videos, complete with an interactive map of their trip.
March 14th, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
Hi dear Pat and Catherine
first of all, congratulations. you are really inspiring people.
I (Nasim) and my husband Jafar are biking around the world for peace and environmental conservation. we left our country (Iran) on 29Th of April 2007 after selling our car and some furniture. we left Iran to Turkey, European countries, Canada, and now we are in your nice country, USA
we are really enjoying this trip by making a lot of friends, planting trees of peace and also visiting countries and touching the culture of people all over the world.
our trip will take 2 years and we are so exited about your trip and also we enjoyed alot after reading about you and seeing your pictures.
again congratulations, wishing all the best, peace, health for you
Nasim and Jafar
here is our website address, hope to meet you two
www.rmc4peace.com
www.rmc4peace.blogfa.com
March 15th, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Hi Nasim and Jafar,
Thank you for your comment. I think you would have quite a bit in common with Pat and Catherine!
I read your website and think what you’re doing is incredible. I’m writing a post about you and your travels — it will be up today.
If you plan to stop in Colorado, please let me know. I would love to meet you and be there for a tree planting.
Best of luck on your journey!
Allie Comeau