 FAmily on Bikes- Ushuala- South America |
| The Vogels finally reach the southernmost point of South America after cycling from Alaska for nearly 3 years |
TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH NANCY SATHRE- VOGEL OF FAMILY ON BIKES
The Vogels- Nancy, John, Daryl and Davy- of Family on Bikes are most famous for their recently completed 3 year bike ride from Alaska to the southernmost tip of South America. And that’s an amazing accomplishment! In fact, it even landed Daryl and Davy in the Guiness Book of World Records as the youngest cyclists to pedal the length of the Americas! Too cool for school.
However, that 3-year overland journey was not the Vogels first long distance cycling trip, merely the most recent. Back in 2006, the family cycled across the USA and Mexico. And way before that trip Nancy and John had already completed several endurance bike trips around the globe. As if that’s not enough for this super-charged family, Nancy and John have just written two books about two of those journeys. Wowie, when will they ever stop?
In today’s interview we get back to the roots of their cycling lifestyle to explore how Nancy and John got into cycling in the first place, what other mega trips they’ve pedaled, and what conditions and attitudes they’ve found towards cyclists around the globe. We also find out a bit about their books and the next phase of their lives…
 Family on Bikes |
| crossing the border into USA again |
Q1. Nancy, how did you first get into cycling? Why/how did you get so immersed in long distance travel cycling? What has grabbed you about it?
I fell in love with cycling when I got my first real bike in high school. I quickly discovered the freedom it affords and opted to ride to school on my bike rather than the bus – even in the dead of winter. I used the bike as transport throughout college and never grew tired of it.
In the mid-1980’s when I was in the Peace Corps in Honduras, a friend of mine spent six months cycling around the USA and I was enthralled by her stories. As soon as I arrived back in the USA I bought a bike and then spent the next summer cycling from Norfolk, Virginia down to New Orleans.
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| John, Daryl and Davy entering Canada |
Q2. Same Q to John… John, how did you first get into cycling? Why/how did you get so immersed in long distance travel cycling? What has grabbed you about it?
I distinctly remember riding along a secondary road in the mountains of New Mexico. It was a gorgeous day and the scenery was spectacular. I was really enjoying the moment. Appearing out of nowhere there was an old rusty sign saying 444 miles to Denver. “What an awesome ride that would be!” popped into my head. Sure enough, less than a week later I mounted my ten-speed road bike and was off through the Rockies on my first tour heading for Denver. I have very fond memories of that trip.
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| At market in Peru |
Q3. Could you please give us a list of the major cycling trips you’ve made over the years.
1987 – Norway (John)
1988 – Australia (John) eastern USA (Nancy)
1989 – India
1990/91 – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh (together)
1992 – New England, Baja
1993 – along the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt
1995 – Sinai peninsula and Israel, Yemen
1996 – Mali
2006/07 – USA and Mexico with the kids
2008 – 2011 – Alaska to Argentina
Q4. Wowie! That’s a lot of international cycling! Do you have 1 or 2 favorite trips? If so, which and why?
I can’t really choose a favorite as they were all so different and each one has great parts and not-so-great parts. I loved my very first bike tour from Norfolk to New Orleans because it challenged me in so many ways. I learned on that trip that I – yes, I – could pedal over a mountain pass! I have really, really fond memories of our India trip in that it was adventure at its finest – we had absolutely no idea what we might find on any given day. Mali was incredible – we took a “shortcut” through the desert that led to some incredible experiences. Cycling with our children was wonderful and such a special time together. Each trip has been unique and has led to learning in different ways.
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| Sharing the road… |
Q5. Since you’ve cycled all over the world, including the USA, could you please compare cycling in the States vs. other countries? How does cycling Stateside rate in terms of road and traffic conditions, safety, peoples’ attitudes towards cyclists, ease of logistics: finding food, lodging, money replenishment, bike repairs, etc.
In general, you will find kind, courteous people no matter where you go. The vast majority of drivers will go out of their way to go around and give you plenty of space. That being said, certain parts of the USA are pretty bad. I think the fact that we have more bike lanes in the USA gives drivers the idea that bikes belong only on those certain roads that have bike lanes – which certainly limits where we can go! Costa Rica, however, takes the cake as the worst place to cycle – the truck drivers there are lunatics.
From my experience, the more “third world” the country, the better the drivers. When roads are viewed as the main thoroughfare for everybody – cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, donkey carts, goat herds – then drivers are constantly on the lookout for obstacles in the road. The problems tend to be where the roads are only used for cars.
As far as the other logistical things – it varies so much it’s hard to generalize. ATMs are widely available throughout the world so getting access to money is no longer an issue. Lodging varies too – in some countries you’ll find a hotel and restaurant every 20 or 30 kilometers, but in other areas you’ll go a long way between them. It’s important to ask around and use the local knowledge.
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| with indigenous boys in Bolivia |
Q6. In all the world, where have you found the people and/or drivers to be most welcoming, friendly and considerate towards cyclists/ travelers?
I mentioned this above, but generally speaking the more “third world” the country, the better the drivers.
However, when people are very, very poor and are struggling to survive, what we as bike tourists are doing is so far out of their realm that people don’t even know how to react to us. We’ve found the best reception in terms of meeting people and getting to know them has come in countries that are above that very basic level.
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| Snow at Big Hole Pass |
Q7. Where have you felt the safest cycle traveling- in terms of both cycling conditions and personal safety?
Surprisingly, I think Bangladesh. I’ve heard things are radically different now, but 20 years when we cycled the country there were brand new, pancake flat roads and almost no traffic. There were a few buses and trucks, but private cars were unknown. We had the road to ourselves and it was delightful!
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| arriving in Honduras |
Q8. Were there any places you found people to be unwelcoming, hostile or threatening towards cyclists? If so, where and what exactly did you experience?
We’ve experienced that twice. Once was in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The area is known for hostility toward foreigners although we didn’t know that before we went. We quite literally feared for our lives and got out of the valley as quickly as possible.
The other was in Yemen. Our tour in Yemen was wonderful until the very last day. We had around 100 miles to go to get back to Sanaa, and would be passing through a very fundamentalist area. We totally expected things to be similar to what we had experienced in the rest of the country, but learned quickly that it wouldn’t.
As we cycled along the road at the base of a big hill, farmers up above threw rocks at us. We don’t know if they threw rocks because I was female or if they would have thrown them regardless of our sex, but it was scary. All day we dealt with rocks – we pedaled faster than ever!
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| John fixing a wheel |
Q9. How do you deal with bike maintenance and repairs on your trips? Do you carry a full tool kit and spare parts? Are you both competent mechanics? Or do you rely on bike shops in the countries you pedal through?
It varies greatly depending on where we’re touring. If we’re in an area where good bike stores are frequent, we only carry basic tools and spares knowing we will never be far from being able to get help. If we’ll be in areas where bike shops/supplies are not so common, we carry a full set of tools so that we can strip the bikes down to the frame and rebuild them. We also carry spares for all parts we think we could reasonably expect to fail.
Q10. Recently you wrote and released your book, What Were We Thinking?, a simply fascinating narrative story of your 1st trip with John through Pakistan, China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh back in 1990-991. I’m reading it now and it’s fantastic! Congratulations. I was wondering why you didn’t write this book much sooner? Why now rather than earlier?
We wrote the book back in 1992, but didn’t do anything with it until now. We were racing the clock to get it finished before we moved overseas in 1993 and, just before leaving the USA, we made copies for friends and family. Then we stashed it on a shelf and headed out for more adventures.
Seventeen years later, in 2007, my husband found the disc with the book on it in his files. He dusted it off and got it transferred to current systems – then we headed off for our PanAm adventures. Now that we’re back, we were able to take the time to get it published.
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| family leaving Grand Cache |
Q11. You’re just about finished with your second book, Twenty Miles Per Cookie, about your 9300 mile cycle trip through the USA and Mexico with John, Daryl, and Davy in 2006. Once again, congratulations! When and where will it be available?
We are working on the final formatting for that book and hope to have it out before Christmas. If not, then it’ll be available in January. It will sold on our website and Amazon.
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| cycling through the desert in Peru |
Q12. You’re currently settling in to your hometown of Boise, Idaho for the time being. What’s on the program for Family on Bikes Travel Blog during the next year or so? What will you be writing and talking about? Any other projects in the works?
Are you asking me about a plan? As in – thinking ahead and figuring things out in advance? Horrors! At this point, there is absolutely no plan.
I’ve realized that my blog has never been about biking, it’s been about pursuing your passion and following your dream. Right now, our passion and dream has brought us to Boise, Idaho and I couldn’t be happier. I am loving being here! I want my blog to reflect that – that “the dream” doesn’t have to be travel related at all. It’s about making conscious decisions and doing what will make your life fulfilling and rich.
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| the start of the Alaska to South America trip |
Q13. Any idea when you’ll be heading out on your next cycling adventure?
We’re not sure. There is a part of us that wants to head back out, but another part that doesn’t. We are seriously thinking of spending next summer kayaking in Alaska – we’d like to expose our sons to other things besides biking.
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Nancy and John thanks for telling us so much about your global cycle adventures. I’m looking forward to reading your other book and can’t wait to meet you all one day. I don’t need to tell you to keep enjoying your lives. cheers, Lash
What Were We Thinking? by Nancy and John
Check out Nancy and John’s great books about their journeys!
is an exciting recount of Nancy and John’s amazing trip through India and Pakistan, their first trip together.
relates the family’s trip across the USA and Mexico.
is their guidebook to taking your kids out for cycle touring.
Follow The Vogels:
Family on Bikes
Facebook: FamilyOnBikes
Twitter: FamilyOnBikes
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You might also enjoy:
Travel Book Review and Interview: ‘What Were We Thinking?’ by Nancy Sathre-Vogel and John Vogel of Family on Bikes
TRAVEL BOOK REVIEW AND INTERVIEW ’20 MILES PER COOKIE’ BY NANCY SATHRE-VOGEL OFFAMILY ON BIKES
TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH MELVIN BOECHER OF TRAVEL DUDES
TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH JASMINE OF JASMINE WANDERS
Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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TRAVEL INTERVIEW ROUND UP: ONE YEAR OF WEEKLY TRAVELERS' INTERVIEWS - LashWorldTour » LashWorldTour
2012/06/22 at 3:43 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
[…] Dani of Globetrotter Girls* and families such as: Theodora and Zac of Travels With a Nine Year OldNancy, John, Davy and Daryl of Family on Bikes Vogels Barbara Weibel in Puma, Nepal Cultural Home Stay#6. What’s their favorite method of sharing […]
Travel Book Review and Interview: 'What Were We Thinking?' by Nancy Sathre-Vogel and John Vogel of Family on Bikes » LashWorldTour
2012/06/22 at 3:45 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
[…] that they completed earlier this year. Last month I interviewed Nancy about their cycling lives HERE. As their book ‘What Were We Thinking’ demonstrates, John and Nancy started cycle […]