🚲️ Thomas Stevens: We’re Doubling Down

Our “on this day” may have given you a preview of Thomas Stevens and how he traveled around the world on the classic version of what little kids ride around on today, but I really wanna dig in on this one.

As I was reading more and more about Thomas Stevens, I sat there and thought, “people need to know about this dude.” I was dumbfounded with what I found. Before I get into the trip, I need to set the scene. Stevens was an Englishmen, who just three years before deciding to cycle around the world, had another idea.

Stevens became the first person to cycle across North America in 1884. He traveled with only a pair of fresh socks and an extra shirt, a bedroll, a tent, and of course, a .38 Smith and Wesson. He rode a Penny Farthing Big-Wheel (pictured above). In total, it took him 103 ½ days to complete his adventure. Now remember, this is before ROADS in some of the country, before highways, all that. He was traveling rocky terrains, rough wagon paths, railroad ways, canal paths, and irregular public roads on an unstable, uncomfortable BIG-WHEELER!

This guy must have been sick because 3 years later he said, “I want more.” Stevens decided to not just do America, but to do the whole gosh darn world. He took off from New York and landed in Liverpool, England, for his first leg of the trip: Europe. He went through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slavonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. He then rested in Constantinople while his bike was being fixed. He also required a new and better pistol because BANDITS were threatening him! BANDITS! He went through Anatolia, Armenia, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran.

Then he hit a speed bump, he was refused permission to travel across Serbia. So he thought, “I’ll go through Afghanistan”, but alas, he was ejected from that country too. So instead, he went across the Caspian Sea to Baku, through Batoum, and then to India by boat. He went across India, to Honk Kong, and Stevens spoke no Chinese, so no directions were given. He then went to Korea, Japan, and back to the US.

In all, Stevens cycles 13,500 miles. A truly remarkable feat given the time, the equipment, and his lack of world knowledge. Dude was just out there riding, absolute LEGEND.

Read Full version of Today's Stump

Subscribe to The Daily Stump