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I am an avid long-distance cycle tourer myself. From time to time on cycling forums someone claims "only privileged Westerners can cycle across multiple countri

I am an avid long-distance cycle tourer myself. From time to time on cycling forums someone claims "only privileged Westerners can cycle across multiple countries, because people from the developing world don’t have the means to, or in those countries social expectations demand that young people stay at home and work hard to support their families." This article is therefore welcome proof that, even though Westerners certainly enjoy some privileges like a stronger passport, this pastime has nevertheless attracted even Indians. And for it’s worth, probably the first mention of cycle touring I ever saw as a young man, was two Iranians (!) cycling around the world and giving an interview to a Canadian newspaper about their experiences while passing through that country.

JKCalhoun 6y ago
> It’s not completely clear what inspired these young Parsis … but Babani believes it was their way of participating in India’s freedom struggle. “Instead of waving flags and joining demonstrations, they chose to pedal on a perilous path,” he says, “to paint for the world a true picture of India that would depict the glorious civilization, culture, and architecture of our native land.” What a beautiful idea.
bellyfullofbac 6y ago
But well, 98 years since they started their bike tour, an Indian's passport would be Indian and not British, and that would shut many borders (unless they can show enough financial stability to satisfy immigration authorities that they're not going to stay illegally), it would be hard to think they'd be hired for odd jobs in the western world or have the Pope welcome them, so my cheap conclusion would be, privileged Non-Westerners would also be able to do a world tour, but middle class ones? But what an adventure, it's almost like the movie Forrest Gump, with them witnessing history and even meeting characters like Mussolini.
whydoyoucare 6y ago
I hardly call this "proof" - the cyclists belong to Parsi community, an affluent and financially stable community in India for a long time now. Thus, they would be an exception, not the rule.
- divs1210 6y ago
  Fun fact: the GP mentions they met Iranians, and these people are Parsis - Zoroastrian Persian immigrants to India.
  - truth_ 6y ago
    True. Even though Parsees escaped Iran to flee Islamic persecution one day, they have become Indians. Identifying them as "Iranians" is dumb.
FpUser 6y ago
With some exceptions most of the would be travelers from the less fortunate countries would simply be denied visas.
- Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  Round-the-world trips may be hard to manage, but people from developing countries can often still visit neighbouring developing countries visa-free. For example, Indians have visa-free access to much of South and Southeast Asia, while Moroccans can go to West Africa either visa-free or for a visa that is always granted. So, when people from these countries get into these forms of travel, they often do take advantage of this to explore the neighbours.
  - FpUser 6y ago
    >"Round-the-world trips may be hard to manage" And yes we talking about that specific type of trips.

JKCalhoun 6y ago

> It’s not completely clear what inspired these young Parsis … but Babani believes it was their way of participating in India’s freedom struggle. “Instead of waving flags and joining demonstrations, they chose to pedal on a perilous path,” he says, “to paint for the world a true picture of India that would depict the glorious civilization, culture, and architecture of our native land.” What a beautiful idea.

bellyfullofbac 6y ago

But well, 98 years since they started their bike tour, an Indian's passport would be Indian and not British, and that would shut many borders (unless they can show enough financial stability to satisfy immigration authorities that they're not going to stay illegally), it would be hard to think they'd be hired for odd jobs in the western world or have the Pope welcome them, so my cheap conclusion would be, privileged Non-Westerners would also be able to do a world tour, but middle class ones? But what an adventure, it's almost like the movie Forrest Gump, with them witnessing history and even meeting characters like Mussolini.

whydoyoucare 6y ago

I hardly call this "proof" - the cyclists belong to Parsi community, an affluent and financially stable community in India for a long time now. Thus, they would be an exception, not the rule.

divs1210 6y ago
Fun fact: the GP mentions they met Iranians, and these people are Parsis - Zoroastrian Persian immigrants to India.
- truth_ 6y ago
  True. Even though Parsees escaped Iran to flee Islamic persecution one day, they have become Indians. Identifying them as "Iranians" is dumb.

FpUser 6y ago

With some exceptions most of the would be travelers from the less fortunate countries would simply be denied visas.

Mediterraneo10 6y ago
Round-the-world trips may be hard to manage, but people from developing countries can often still visit neighbouring developing countries visa-free. For example, Indians have visa-free access to much of South and Southeast Asia, while Moroccans can go to West Africa either visa-free or for a visa that is always granted. So, when people from these countries get into these forms of travel, they often do take advantage of this to explore the neighbours.
- FpUser 6y ago
  >"Round-the-world trips may be hard to manage" And yes we talking about that specific type of trips.