This is a true story, and every story needs a lot of effort to come true.
Any idea, even the most extravagant and unconventional, can become reality, as the creation of a living
individual who makes it real.
Our journey begins on August 1, 2022, after spending about two years building a small budget and
collecting material (mainly second–hand) to be able to start our adventure. The idea was to start from
Rome (Italy) and arrive in Nepal, with two handmade bicycles. More precisely two Tallbikes.
These are bicycles that cannot be bought because they do not exist, they can only be self–manufactured.
These are made of two frames welded on each other from which you get a taller bicycle. This choice comes
from the fact of being able to prove that you can travel simply, with little money and recycled material.
We only need to give up everyday life, the comforts we are used to and material goods, to be replaced
by simplicity. Few material things but many experiences for the soul. A completely different life from
the one we are used to today.
Obviously what everyone was wondering is: “Why?”.
But our answer left people even more perplexed as it turned in another question: “Why not?”.
The goal was to push people to think differently than we are used to; that is because there is no way
to do things. You can achieve the same goal with millions of different tools and paths. It just depends
on us and our creativity. So why not with a Tallbike?
Our Tallbikes are made by welding parts of old bicycles that people do not need anymore. A solution
to not spend so much money and to give a new life to an old object. Then, we painted them and made
them even more colorful THANKS TO THE CROSSO BAGS.
But our answer left people even more perplexed as it turned in another question: “Why not?”.
The goal was to push people to think differently than we are used to; that is because there is no way
to do things. You can achieve the same goal with millions of different tools and paths. It just depends
on us and our creativity. So why not with a Tallbike?
Our Tallbikes are made by welding parts of old bicycles that people do not need anymore. A solution
to not spend so much money and to give a new life to an old object. Then, we painted them and made
them even more colorful THANKS TO THE CROSSO BAGS.
We get on the saddle and start cycling. It is a unique feeling, while the wind caresses our faces, we
taste the first moments of pure freedom. Any people and even animals that see us pass, stop, gaping
for an instant before smiling. Our journey has begun with many smiles including ours.
The first challenge is to cross Italy and test the Tallbikes. In a short time, we manage to reach and cross
the border with Slovenia. The bikes seem to work. On the road, we are taller than the cars, only the
truck drıvers can look us in the eyes. Everyone greets us, someone honks, others take photos, there
are those who remain to observe and those who call us to invite us for a drink. It is impossible to go
unnoticed. Every kilometer we travel makes us more energized and motivated. Furthermore, we
realized that by driving such different bicycles, people who drive cars slow down and go away to
observe our bicycles. This makes our driving really safe.
Our routes avoid cities and busy roads. This allows us to see places where we would never have gone.
Small villages, mountain passes, gravel roads through the forests… We realize that nothing can stop
these Tallbikes.
taste the first moments of pure freedom. Any people and even animals that see us pass, stop, gaping
for an instant before smiling. Our journey has begun with many smiles including ours.
The first challenge is to cross Italy and test the Tallbikes. In a short time, we manage to reach and cross
the border with Slovenia. The bikes seem to work. On the road, we are taller than the cars, only the
truck drıvers can look us in the eyes. Everyone greets us, someone honks, others take photos, there
are those who remain to observe and those who call us to invite us for a drink. It is impossible to go
unnoticed. Every kilometer we travel makes us more energized and motivated. Furthermore, we
realized that by driving such different bicycles, people who drive cars slow down and go away to
observe our bicycles. This makes our driving really safe.
Our routes avoid cities and busy roads. This allows us to see places where we would never have gone.
Small villages, mountain passes, gravel roads through the forests… We realize that nothing can stop
these Tallbikes.
We have nothing planned, we improvise every day. There is no specific number of kilometers per day.
Getting around with two Tallbikes is completely different from a normal bicycle. Much more weight,
and total lack of aerodynamics. On the other hand, we attract people’s curiosity and, at the same time,
satisfy our own, because we often stop to talk with them and learn about their cultures. Our “slowness”
allows us to value our time and to be able to devote more attention to small things of unquantifiable
value, that at another speed and with little time available, would escape. What makes the difference
are the details.
We crossed Slovenia, rich in forest and green mountains, to Croatia. Everything seems to work in our
favor. The temperatures are high, it’s the middle of summer and the desire for the sea makes us turn
towards there. We cycled almost all of Croatia side by side with the coast. Sometimes we stop to
observe the horizon that merges with the sea; a thousand shades of blue and a storm of colors every
day at sunset. During the hottest hours, we stop and dive in the sea and then continue pedaling until
the evening.
Step by step, between moments of happiness and also of difficulty, we arrive in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The beginning is a continuous ups and downs that initially is frustrating and consumes us
so much energy but in the meantime, it makes us stronger to cross Montenegro and arrive in Albania.
Here we spend more time due to the fantastic meetings we do. We get to know many people
immersing ourselves in the Albanian hinterland, in the small villages in the mountains, where people
still live with few things. We have the opportunity to observe different lifestyles and understand that
those who have fewer things are the ones who offer the most. These are experiences that allow us to
learn a lot, especially in human beings.
Herzegovina. The beginning is a continuous ups and downs that initially is frustrating and consumes us
so much energy but in the meantime, it makes us stronger to cross Montenegro and arrive in Albania.
Here we spend more time due to the fantastic meetings we do. We get to know many people
immersing ourselves in the Albanian hinterland, in the small villages in the mountains, where people
still live with few things. We have the opportunity to observe different lifestyles and understand that
those who have fewer things are the ones who offer the most. These are experiences that allow us to
learn a lot, especially in human beings.
Then we head towards North Macedonia. The number of punctured wheels increases but now, we are
fast to change them. Here the temperatures begin to change, we experience the first nights of cold
and the first heavy rains but even this doesn’t stop us. We continue more and more motivated along
magnificent roads.
When traveling by bicycle, the rhythm of life is marked by nature. Wake up early with the sun and the
birds singing and then in the tent when the stars come out.
fast to change them. Here the temperatures begin to change, we experience the first nights of cold
and the first heavy rains but even this doesn’t stop us. We continue more and more motivated along
magnificent roads.
When traveling by bicycle, the rhythm of life is marked by nature. Wake up early with the sun and the
birds singing and then in the tent when the stars come out.
After North Macedonia, we enter Greece. A new country with new scents, new flavors and many
people to meet. We head back to the coast to take advantage of the last few warm weeks before the
start of winter. We decide to visit an island before heading to Turkey, so for the first time, we get on a
boat with our Tallbikes and arrive in Samothrace. It is a tiny island dominated by nature. Few houses
and very few streets, one of the most beautiful places seen so far. So we decide to stop for a while.
We take the opportunity to visit it from north to south and from east to west. It is also an excellent
opportunity to fix our bicycles after many kilometers and do some hiking to reach the highest peaks of
the mountains. We recharge and are ready to leave. We take back the boat and return to the mainland.
We are close to the border with Turkey and we can reach it in one day. This is the country that has taken us the most time to cross it, whole due to its vastness. We cycled for almost three months in Turkey and visited many different places. It is a country with a wide variety of landscapes, cultures and traditions. The hospitality of the people was amazing and the liters of tea we drank are not calculable.
This is the country that has taken us the most time to cross it, whole due to its vastness. We cycled for
almost three months in Turkey and visited many different places. It is a country with a wide variety of
landscapes, cultures and traditions. The hospitality of the people was amazing and the liters of tea we
drank are not calculable.
almost three months in Turkey and visited many different places. It is a country with a wide variety of
landscapes, cultures and traditions. The hospitality of the people was amazing and the liters of tea we
drank are not calculable.
We are currently on the border with Georgia, which will be our next stop. It is now 9 months since our
journey began. Every place we explored has left a memory in our minds and every person we met, left
us a permanent teaching. We woke up in a different place every day and saw the seasons change. We
have traveled about 6.500 km and Nepal is getting closer and closer.
journey began. Every place we explored has left a memory in our minds and every person we met, left
us a permanent teaching. We woke up in a different place every day and saw the seasons change. We
have traveled about 6.500 km and Nepal is getting closer and closer.
The bicycle is undoubtedly the vehicle par excellence for freedom. It makes mind and body strong, it
does not pollute, it does not require excessive expenses, and above all, it can get anywhere. It can give
birth to a new person in you. Give emotions and satisfactions that will transform your life forever. It is
something that constantly reminds us that we are alive and that it is worth valuing every moment in
this beautiful land.
TO BE CONTİNUED…
Beatrice Esposito – Jorge Perez
