Stephen Allen is pedaling across the Pacific Northwest on the last leg of his around the world bicycle tour to raise money and awareness about living with epilepsy.
Allen left Telluride, Colorado, some 14 months ago and headed east on his Seize the World bike travels. Since departing, he saw 22 countries and sustained 3 1/2 seizures.
He flew into Seattle from Japan in December, and now he's pedaling his bike across Idaho after passing through eastern Oregon. He continues to give talks, like the one last week in Boise for the Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho, and use his laptop to update his website, SeizetheWorld.com.
Epilepsy
Allen undertook the world bike tour to show that people with epilepsy can realize their dreams. He keeps his epilespy in check with medications. A few times, however, he was unable to take his meds.
One time he writes about was in Vietnam. He lays out an explanation of why he couldn't get to his meds, and the result the next day:
“I remember making an effort to hydrate, and taking several rest stops to try to control things. It was not enough – that day should have been a rest day! I was reaching into my panniers for snacks and iced tea, and then the next thing I remember was looking up into the faces of a dozen people and feeling exhausted and feeling pain in my left shoulder – I knew that I’d had a seizure.
“After 30 minutes of recovering energy and asking about a place where I might be able to stay – understanding was impossible – I found myself on the bicycle once again. Before I left, I gave a Telluride post card to the people (I believe that it was a teacher with students) who had stayed with me throughout the 30 minute process of my waking up. I was lucky to have people there to make sort of a protective bubble around me to ward off traffic, move my bicycle off the road, to make sure I was okay, and just to be friendly faces when I woke up – totally confused as I always am.”
India
Speaking to his hometown newpaper, Telluride Daily Planet, Allen says India was the most formidable country to bicycle through.
“The most challenging part of the trip, generally speaking, was India. You see lots of people who are suffering. Coming from a place like Telluride, you realize that Telluride is really sort of a fairy tale place once you go to India.”
At his blog, he writes about the poverty and bodies in the street in Mumbai and dense traffic. Also, people in India were always stopping him to ask about his trip and offer their hospitality.
He rode across India on NH6, equivalent to the old Route 66 in the US lots of roadside diners and motels. And always, lots of traffic and lots of people, everywhere.
“NH6 in India is about the worst place on the planet that I have found to ride bicycles, but I have never found a place with more of them.”
Lots of people ride bikes in India, from tots to old folks.
Bike and gear
At his website, Allen tells about the components and gear he loaded on this Surly Crosscheck frame and fork. It includes Mach 1 wheels on XT hubs, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. His Ortlieb panniers carried a Big Agnes Seedhouse tent, a Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 sleeping bag and lots more, including a laptop computer.
One of the best upgrades he made on the trip was switching out his 700X28 tires for 700X38 tires. He experienced fewer flats and a better ride.
Inspiring
Allen's world tour in an amazing adventure.
I'm always inspired by people who use bicycle travel as a way to prove that their medical conditions are no longer a barrier to normal life. Let's hope Allen's ride can do that for those living with epilepsy.
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