Sitting behind a computer all day is Mark Wheatley’s job. But his passion is outside — out anywhere he can get to on two wheels.
“I’m not the kind of guy who really likes to sit still,” says Wheatley, 53, an instructor and systems engineer who bikes often from his home in Bellingham for overnight trips to his job in Bellevue at computer-training company SQLSoft.
“I like to do something bigger,” he says, “getting out and seeing a big horizon.”
In that spirit, Wheatley takes his bicycle everywhere: he rides it to and from work, on tours and even on vacation. He spent a week before and after a Microsoft conference in November 2006 in Barcelona to tour Europe on his bike.
“It’s sustainable transportation, and I never feel like a road trip (in a car) is at all satisfying to me,” he says of his work-and-play biking habits.
For Wheatley, a car doesn’t provide a sense of freedom when he travels. It’s more of a burden than a privilege — something he would have worry about fueling, parking and not denting — and it would require him to stay on the road. “I feel like I have a responsibility to the car. And I don’t get to see things I like; I can get a lot closer to things in a bike than a car,” he says. “It’s more direct and less insulated.” Relying on a bike instead of a car or cabs can makes a traveler take the world around him into closer consideration, he says.
“There’s a whole different kind of planning,” he says. “You have to plan for the weather and the elements as well as where you’re going to stay. You have to plan the distances you can travel in a day.”
But Wheatley doesn’t like to have a schedule so strict that he can’t stray onto an unusual path — or get himself a little bit lost. Though he carries a GPS, sometimes he deliberately covers it up.
“The best times are when I get lost and have to find my way back somewhere,” he says. “I like getting lost intentionally and just having a broad goal: I’ll get to the peak of this mountain range or head to this coast. That way you don’t get locked in.”
It’s this adventurous spirit that led him to the 1,800-strong global warming protest bike ride he joined in Barcelona and brought him to an imposing castle in a medieval French town.
“I like to be as spontaneous as possible; I’d rather explore and then learn from people,” he says. “I hear an idea and I take off for it. To me, that’s more fun for travel. I hate being overly scheduled; it’s more like work.”
BIKE TRAVEL TIPS
Mark Wheatley has ridden his bike through Europe and Seattle and beyond. He’ll share stories and photos during a talk for Bellingham Parks and Recreation from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Bellingham Public Library. A $2 donation is requested. If you can’t make the talk, here are a few tips:
Always carry a bike lock. Even in little villages or on the countryside, it’s best to have a lock to secure your bike.
If your bike skills are rusty, get in some practice and figure out your pace before your trip. “Really work on being able to bicycle to work and back,” Wheatley advises. “If you’re afraid of getting started, do it in the nice weather on the weekend and time it.”
Pack accordingly if you plan to travel by bike. “My whole trip was using only a trunk bag on the bike,” he says. “You have to use that limited space and weight very well, and have clothing that will be flexible.”
Don’t go crazy with the racing gear. Wearing a bright pair of Lycra bike shorts will only make you stand out even more from the people you are trying to get to know. “I’d rather wear something that’s more normal,” Wheatley says. “I don’t think someone would come up and talk to someone who’s wearing skin-tight Lycra in a gaudy pattern.”
Wear a helmet when you ride. But take it off when you’re off the bike. “A helmet can be kind of insulating,” he says. “I find that as soon as I take that off, people will start talking.” Though many Europeans don’t wear helmets, Wheatley says it’s still important to wear them, especially in urban settings.
Don’t overwork yourself. Plan your day-to-day travel based on your pace, not an arbitrary goal. That way you won’t pedal yourself to death trying to get to a hostel you booked.
Keep it simple. “Hostels and bicycling are way more fun than fancy hotels,” he says. “I like to be outside doing things in the city or country or wherever I am.”