There is a Spanish man named Alvaro Neil, who is better known to most as The Biciclown. He was born into life as a clown, a life of making people smile and laugh. But years ago, as most of us do, he pursued a “normal job”. He studied law, worked a stable job in a notary’s office, and had a fairly predictable life.
All of that changed one day, when he decided to follow his dream. A long time cyclist, he decided to combine his love of riding with his affinity for making people laugh. Most of us would think there was an event, a turning point that caused someone like Alvaro to leave the life he knows and embark on a bicycle tour of the world. The only explanation he can offer, is that “the cemetery is full of dreamers ” and he wished not to join them.
In 2004, Alvaro initiated a project called “Miles Of Smiles Around the World” (MOSAW), which mixes the adventure of bicycle touring with the art of being a clown. He performs free clown shows all around the globe to bring a smile to the world’s humblest people. The Biciclown performs for those living in refugee camps, prisons, hospitals and far-flung villages. Laughter has the power to transcend language barriers, and cultural differences, and connect all of us.
Right now Alvaro is in Mexico. He’s been on the road for 3,168 days, ridden more than 75,190 miles, visited 68 countries, and performed 59 clown shows. He expects to finish his journey in 2017, and has vowed not to go home until this epic, ’round the world bicycle tour is completed.
The goal of Biciclown is a trip without oil/gas. A human powered tour around the world carrying the best thing possible, a huge smile and a respect toward freedom.
On his official website www.biciclown.com, you will find everything from the books he’s written over the years, to all the countries he’s visited, and even a collection of easy to make recipes dedicated to hungry cyclists. Recipes from every corner of the earth. Cultural staples like Solar Rice from Kenya, and a Gabonese specialty called Solidarity Salad.
Alvaro wants to die with the wallet empty and a heart full of beautiful landscapes and smiles. And he will definitely succeed.
And as he states “Taking a year off and travelling around the world should be mandatory to everybody, and if it’s possible to do it on a bike, much better”. You may not take the same route, but take some inspiration from Alvaro the Biciclown. Get on your bike, enjoy the little things, laugh, smile, and have a nice ride!
I’ve heard about this guy dozens of times and I admire him for what he is doing – riding a bicycle around the world is not easy (and I’m sure dressing up and acting like a clown is a great way to personally interact with people who don’t speak your same language).
But my fear (as a bicycle traveler myself) is that people are going to see photos of this guy riding a bicycle while dressed up as a clown and somehow come to the conclusion that anyone who rides a bicycle is a clown (or an idiot) – someone to be laughed at, humiliated, thought less of, etc.
I ride my bike and have even ridden across dozens of countries all around the world… but I don’t think what I do is funny… and I don’t want people laughing at me or thinking less of me in any way just because I ride a bike.
While I admire this man’s determination, I wonder if he is setting a good example for those who follow after him? I think that is my main question…. and frankly, I’m not so sure.
Let the man be. He’s having fun and doing it from his heart! Is it not okay to have fun on a bike and make people smile? Imagine a world with more people like Alvaro. Your argument is invalid.