Most people get an e-bike to get to work, or for leisure rides near home. Not many people would hop on one and attempt to cycle 2,000km down a fair chunk of Europe. But that's what entertainer and artist Timmy Mallett is currently attempting. Fair play to him.
Mallett set off in mid-March, and he's just crossed the Pyrenees on his way to Santiago de Compostela, his final destination. The final part of the journey is along the well-trodden Camino de Santiago, a Christian pilgrimage route for over 1,000 years. Mallet cites his reasons for doing the ride as historical, clutural, physical and spiritual; you can read about what's inspired him to make the jorney on his blog.
Mallett is riding a Giant Explore E+ 1 GTS hybrid touring bike. With a powerful 80Nm SyncDrive motor and a 500Wh battery it's ideal for tackling the distances and the terrain along the way. Mallett has been riding up to 100km a day on the bike, which is fully loaded both with riding essentials and also an artists' studio: he's painting along the way, and raising awareness
“I like the unexpected adventure of cycling. It’s not how far you go, or how fast; its how much fun you have along the way", said Mallett of the ride. There’s a spiritual aspect to it – the people you meet and the things that may happen. There’s that line – ‘it’s more about the journey than the destination’, and I don’t think that was ever truer.”
You can read about Timmy's adventures on his Camino blog, and you can see the riding he's been doing on Strava.
