The next installment of the Creston Valley Public Library’s Great Outdoors speaker series is “The Ups and Downs of Bicycle Touring” at 7 p.m. May 12 in the library meeting room. Join bicycle enthusiast Bryan Miller as he shares his passion for all forms of cycling especially touring for every age.
In January 1982, at age 30, Miller decided that life was getting a little too repetitive so he and a friend started throwing around ideas. After a few beers they came up with the idea of cycle touring around New Zealand — it couldn’t be that hard as New Zealand is a small country! He did cycle New Zealand for four months that year, then moved on to Australia and continued to travel and tour there for another five months. Eventually, the money ran out so they had to head home.
Since that first trip, he has toured numerous places in eastern Australia by bicycle, parts of southern B.C., Hawaii and Fiji. The last big adventure was in Chile and Argentina in 2012.
In his late 30s and 40s, Miller got involved in road racing; it was very challenging and he has great memories of the victories and the defeats, but most of all the cycling friendships that developed and continue to this day. During that first cycle tour 34 years ago, he met a young Australian lady in Tahiti. They married in 1985 and their passion for cycling continues to this day.
He’s now 65, belongs to the Creston Valley Cycling Club and continues to enjoy different cycle sports. Whether it’s riding mountain roads, touring north, south, east or west, or having a good challenging ride with the local club, a bicycle is a great way to get around. Every day is an adventure while cycle touring: the weather, animals (dead or alive!), birds, camping, getting lost, getting found again, meeting people and much more as he rolls down the road of his choice. He hopes to see you on the road someday.
The library’s Great Outdoors series will run once per month for the next several months. Learn how you can get out and get active in the Creston Valley. Watch for upcoming topics “Growing Lavender in the Kootenays” and “Basic Bush Craft”. For more information, contact the library at 250-428-4141.
—CRESTON VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
