An a adventurous man, a determined man, perhaps the only human-being to bicycle across stretches of the world where no man or woman ever attempted. Ian did not look to breaking records or times. He just wanted to be with nature and feel the earth. He bicycled over 240,000 miles over 40 years until at age 74 a reckless driver struck and killed Ian Hibell. Ian Hibell obituary is a great tribute by the Economist.
As I write this I am looking at pictures of myself and the places I ride bicycles to, normally within 100 miles from home, and consider those achievements. However, when I look at Ian Hibell's accomplishments, not so much as a biker but as a world-wide traveler on a bicycle, my achievements are dwarfed to one millimeter compared to thousands of kilometers (or miles) traversed by Ian on a bicycle in some of the most difficult terrain and difficult conditions in various parts of the world.
As I ride my bicycle, I can only look to Ian Hibell as an inspiration to continue biking both short and long. Although I cannot traverse the jungles of the Amazon and Africa, or the Alaskan Tundra, Ian''s accomplishments motivates me to plod on, to go out onto the trails and woods, away from the city smog to feel the smell of the country side. For those who have not experienced it, when you run or bicycle or cross-country ski outdoors, you feel the earth and absorb the scenery around you in slow motion. For those who have not experienced it. On a bicycle, if you ride far enough, you can have a great vacation, right in your back yard. Some places near home can resemble the scenery of exotic places advertised in expensive tourist brochures. There may be gold right in your back yard, if you look well enough.
Being a biker myself, I have had the same experiences of Ian Hibell in owning and riding bicycles. I sort of treat a bicycle just like how an enthusiastic motorcycle rider treats his or her motor cycle. It is sort of a personal thing, not the same as the family car. If ever I feel bored, I just jump on the bike and go for a ride, sometimes a ride as short as 5 miles. Each day I somehow take a bike ride in addition to a swim or walk.
When I read Ian's obituary, it made me recall the feelings I had on completing my first century bicycle ride. To honor Ian Hibell, on Saturday September 20, 2008, I went for a 74-mile bicycle ride to commemorate the age at which Ian stopped bicycling, number 74 (meaning, 74 years old). As the Trek Bicycle Company believes, I also believe that bicycling is a way of life and can be a simple solution to many of the world's biggest problems. I believe strongly that commute bicycling can solve many of the energy problems facing the United States. As much as Ian Hibell inspires me I hope it inspires other people too to make bicycling a part of their life for fun, recreation, health and energy conservation.
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