Aleksander Gamme and Erik Gran Kvaasek are about to cross the world’s largest desert, Sahara. They are two adventurers from Norway who are tandem riding through Sahara not only for adventure but also as a part of an educational project called “Sahara 2010″. “Sahara 2010″ is a six-week interactive learning project in which 1000 students from Hamar are participating. They follow the bike ride every day and they solve tasks given by their teachers, Aleksander and Erik. While I was reading about Sahara 2010 - project, I  remembered that Colin and Julie had similar idea with their Student Corner. In September 2008, Julie and Colin completed a  7000 km journey from the Scotland to the heart of Syria using exclusively human-powered amphibious rowboats. The whole expedition was planned with a corresponding school program, School Rowed Trip, designed to inspire, motivate and teach kids through adventure. What a great idea, or in Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. Wishing all good luck to Aleksander and Erik.

This morning I found this great photo essay with twenty of the freakiest custom bikes on the road. I fell in love with the shoes-as-wheels one:

While still writing about bikes, this morning I saw the trailer for movie “Veer” which explores America’s fast-growing bicycling culture and the bike-centric social groups. I would love to see it ’cause “all the freaky people make the beauty of the world”:

I was doing yogalates and deadlifting at Spartacus this morning, and managed to hurt my lower back again, so I stayed in my bed for whole day watching documentaries online. The one that I really liked is a documentary about bike culture and bike lifestyles around the world:

In the 1890s, before automobiles ruled the roads, bicyclists were referred to as “Scorchers” because of their blazing speed. A century later, in a world filled with car-related environmental and social problems, Return of the Scorcher discovers an inspired and evolving bicycling renaissance.

It was about time to begin pedaling a bit and make sure we’re ready to start biking across Norway soon. We went this time southwest in the direction Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. According to many people, Pitt Meadows is the best kept secret in the Fraser Valley.  It is almost a rural community with farmlands, golf terrains and bike paths along dykes with benches all the way. Maple Ridge was named after the ridge of Maple trees on John Maclivor’s farm. The Scottish-born John Maclivor was namely the first pioneer to successfully turn rainforest into farmland. Anyways, we were pedaling for more than two hours, and approximetaly 40 km. The ride along the scenic dykes was fabulous and very pleasant. So, the secret is out now. Go and visit Pitt Meadows.