Year Three of No Flying

My last flight was in the fall of 2021, so it’s really been about three and a half years, but this has become an annual holiday post and I like that (see Year Two and Year One for some throwbacks and more context).

Speaking of holidays, I’m on vacation right now. Staycation. I finally decided to try taking a few days off in a row with zero work. May as well do it while everyone else is AFK anyway. It feels a little weird: it’s highlighted how often work pops into my head (all the time), which was never the case until I started this new life. I’ve been keeping myself entertainingly occupied. Even baked a cake. Interestingly, I’m also sleeping less: about 8 hours a night, down from my usual 9-10 of the past few months. It’s nice to think that those additional rest needs might be simply due to the work, not like, my body having gotten permanently worse at recovering. Ha. That’s still years off, hopefully.

But back to the no flying thing. Yes, 2024 has been a year of even greater joys and adventure in motion, all sans plane. I travelled all over the country in the first half of this year. Here’s a brief recap:

March: travelled from Boston to Moab, Utah via train and bike, my longest trip yet. Probably had my gnarliest bike touring moments in the hinterlands between Colorado and Utah. Drank AND ate stuff I found on the side of the highway. Otherworldly beautiful experiences alone in the desert. Performed on guitar for strangers on the train.

April: lots of fun rides around Moab, UT while I was volunteering at Community Rebuilds. Completed my hardest ride yet (La Sal Loop, about 62 miles with 5,450 ft elevation), which was massively humbling. Biked up to 25 miles each way to hiking trails, enjoyed massive of sense of superiority while rolling in to trailheads full of cars. Got violently shaken by washboard roads. Reached maybe my highest speeds and deepest leans yet, flying down mountain roads.

May: Took the train up to Michigan to visit my parents for the first time since I’d last flown in 2021. Very symbolic homecoming, returning on my own two wheels as a much more fledged adult. Enjoyed several weeks at their house, spending quality time together and sharing my cooking. Experienced independence in my teenage hometown for the first time, being able to bike to wherever I wanted, seeing the place from a new perspective. Pleasantly surprised by the local bike trails that had been under my nose this whole time.

June: Went on a two-week tour to enjoy more Michigan and get up to a natural building project near Petoskey. My longest tour yet, definitely pushed myself with a new level of grind, 10-12 hours on the road every day. Had no idea that my arms would hurt so much. Learned that I wanted to tweak the dials for the next tour: either less miles, more company, or fewer days. Met many amazing, kind, beautiful people. Unashamedly ate entire pints of vegan ice cream right outside grocery stores, which was honestly so healing due to my past with eating disorders. Finally felt like I’d truly “been to Michigan” despite having spent nine years of my life there.

July: Finished my tour with a train-boosted stretch into Pennsylvania, where I might have been the first person to bike tour to one of Sigi Koko’s natural building workshops (to be confirmed). Dipped into Maryland and had an unexpected night in New York, bumping up my states-biked-in count up to eight for 2024. Returned to Boston, super glad to have made it all with no injuries or major problems. Renewed love and appreciation for metro Boston bike lanes.

August-December: Got settled into my new life at home, lots of bike commuting for my building project, started dreaming of buying a lengthy bike trailer to transport building materials myself. Stayed put besides a quick trip to New York for a tiny build. New appreciation for the rooted life, the (big) little things like having a home, a steady community to be part of, space and energy to exercise in ways other than bicycling (I missed you, weights!), and a longer future to plan things into.

Here’s one small problem with flying: bringing a bike is not exactly convenient. Compared to bike-on-train, it costs more, you have to box it, and it passes through more hands. So even if I had taken a plane instead of a train and still done a bunch of biking, it would have been different. Worse, even, since the train is far more pleasant than a plane.

Reasons why trains are more enjoyable than planes:

• More to see out the window. Especially if you take a train with a viewing car (train car with huge windows wrapping upwards) through scenic lands.
• More space. You can pace the length of the train if you so wish. Seats are more comfortable (economy-to-economy comparison, who do you think I am?)
• People are more sociable. You can wander around and find people to chat with if you want.
• Funnier conductors on the PA. I’m a sucker for conductor comedy.
• Larger bathrooms
• The food is just as bad, so bring your own.
• You can bring more baggage for free.
• You can get off at certain stops to stretch your legs and breathe some fresh air (providing you can get far enough away from the smokers).
• Nobody claps when the train stops.

I don’t deny that plenty of people have wonderful experiences that involve cars and planes. That would be silly. My point is that this also exists: a life with zero flying and close to zero automobile riding that is full of adventure, fulfillment, and love. As someone who never wanted to be a car driver, bike and train travel has freed me beyond what I’d ever imagined. I feel powerful. It’s not just the power to cover miles, on which a plane has me easily beat, or the power to ride hard and fast, on which any roadie has me beat, but the ability to plan and strategize, to deal with challenges, to connect with strangers, to ask for help, and to do hard things. In short, it’s about the power to live life on my own terms. Now I believe that about anywhere I’d like to go on the continent is free game: all I need is time and some modest funds.

I’ve talked to a lot of people this year who tell me they want to bike tour. I always give the standard advice to start small. If you’ve never ridden more than a couple hours, plan a day trip on a nice day, preferably with friends. If you’ve ridden long days, try a single overnight to a campsite or simply a friend’s house (sleepover!). You can practice the camping part separately from the biking part, and then put them together. Borrow gear to try it out, use what you have, and for god’s sake, don’t get sucked into the consumerist black hole of ultra-light and fancy gear. It’s not that serious.

In truth, what I do isn’t really bike touring in the full spirit of the term. I’m not riding just for fun and tourism. I’m long-distance bike commuting. I’ve still never done a multi-day trip just for fun: there’s always been a commitment at the end point, usually work-related. But there is no doubt lots of fun and tourism along the way. Could use more, really. That’s one thing I want to do in 2025: have some more “purely fun” bike touring, maybe some more scenic routes, chiller days, more friends. Always feel free to reach out about any of the above.

A few bike-related recommendations if you’re feeling the spirit:

• I fell in love with Laura Killingbeck’s writing this year. She’s a seasoned bicycle traveller, adventurer, and all-around badass, and her viral piece, “Man or Bear” touched hearts and minds around the world this year.
• Local legend and bike influencer Sam Westby writes a weekly newsletter about bikepacking, urban biking, and more. Check it out at Bike Bulletin.
• Save the date: the 2025 Ciclismo Classico adventure bicycling film festival is coming back to Davis Square, Somerville in March 2025 and you can bet I’ll be there. I first attended in 2023 and it literally changed my brain chemistry.
• No matter where you are, you can tune into the Virtual Bicycle Film Festival from now through March. They have a huge roster of films spanning many topics. I co-hosted a viewing party last year and it was great.
• Warmshowers is how I find warm showers and wonderful people to stay with on tour.
• Consider making a commitment to reduce your flying at https://flightfree.org/