Quit job for long bike tour-ride?

Ever known anyone who did the above? I only knew 1 --I think she worked it out so that she enrolled in a college program after she returned from a cross-Canada ride with her hubby on their own..about 3 months..from Vancouver to Newfoundland.

I'm probably too staid and conservative by now to do this..to quit a job. My partner is setting off cycling and taking Eurail trains in Europe for 1 month. He's doing it with another guy...partially all of this for analyzing cycling facilities. So it's not all siteseeing. Still at the end, honey will be cycling in the Black Forest region, Germany and seeing relatives.

I couldn't have quit my job for this but yet another opportunity for cycling abit lost. :confused:

Anyone work for a company that provides sebatical (sp?)? Some companies do. I can take a leave of absence at my work for up to a year and a half. Of course I loose seniority while I do that and I'm not quite sure how my health coverage works and there's that whole not being paid thing :rolleyes: But for the not being paid thing if I wanted to do something like that :cool:

One of my high school teachers did this during the summer. He would go around the country or locally, I am not sure which, on the bike and take pictures.

I think he was getting to many requests for the pictures so it was taking up to much of his time so he ended up dropping the teaching gig and went for what he really wanted and has enjoyed it ever since.

I hope this helps.

Ellen

doubt I would ever do that...

I would be able to get a month off or 6 weeks off I'm sure if I asked well in advance... thinking of maybe doing this for 2010 for ride across America, we'll see.

The friend who got me interested in biking took 2 years off between his undergrad and his masters. He spent 6 months biking in SE Asia, 6 months teaching English in Korea, then a year biking from Vladivlostok to Spain. He had a hard time readjusting to life back home after that.

I suppose in between degrees is a good time to do that. Maybe if I don't get into UBC I'll go do the Scandanavia trip I've been wanting to do.

I usually try to find ways to combine work and travel. I lived in Germany and England that way, and I'm hoping to spend a few months in Austria and/or Switzerland in the next few years. If I get either of those I'll be working during the weeks buy exploring on weekends.

A guy I used to work with has done just that. Quit the job and is riding from Seattle to Tierra del Fuego.

Check out his adventures at http://www.ridesouth.net/. Keep in mind he can't update frequently.

I have a good friend that actuallly took 2 years off and went trecking in Nepal in the mid 90s then about 3 years ago she and her husband took the whole summer off and biked from canada to mexico. They always say " you can always find a job somewhere" Granted she's a PT and he is a computer guy. They never hold back with anything.

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Originally Posted by solobiker

I have a good friend that actuallly took 2 years off and went trecking in Nepal in the mid 90s then about 3 years ago she and her husband took the whole summer off and biked from canada to mexico. They always say " you can always find a job somewhere" Granted she's a PT and he is a computer guy. They never hold back with anything.

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I wish I were that spontaneous and carefree. I could not function that way. I need my predictability/stability. I would worry so much about money, where to find a job, what will I do if I get hit by a truck and I've quit my job so I have no medical and I'm in Mexico....I am far too type A....

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Originally Posted by cyclinnewbie

I wish I were that spontaneous and carefree. I could not function that way. I need my predictability/stability. I would worry so much about money, where to find a job, what will I do if I get hit by a truck and I've quit my job so I have no medical and I'm in Mexico....I am far too type A....

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Methinks at least for cycling aimlessly abit for a day or so, many of us could / do it spontaneously whereas there are many others that wouldn't.

I've done my risky thing in life already...I voluntarily left a well-paying job, sold my home and moved several thousand kms.to be with my partner several years ago. Had to find a job all over again.. at mid-life it's not as simple..

No, I don't regret it. But this type of major risk taking ...once is enough. But I do envy people who just do it...several times in their life. I do know some friends who have worked for govn't for ages and can/will take a sabbatical.

I don't know... but I fear I won't be able to talk myself into that.

I don't have a real job currently but I'm hoping that both myself and my husband will be able to manage our financial situation and job situation to take 6 or 12 months off work every seventh year or so to go somewhere and do something different. I must say that our professional choices may not be compatible with that, though, but perhaps I'll land a job with opportunities for self-funded leave.

*sigh*

That's exactly what Eloise Hanner did. I just finished reading her book which I enjoyed: The First Big Ride: A Woman's Journey. It's not possible for everyone but I would imagine that it would be a life-changing experience if you were to do it.

I recently left my corporate job and now I work from home with my own company (3 people in 3 cities in 2 states). It's so much more flexible. I don't see myself taking a year off or anything, but I could take a few months off as long as I had internet access and could work on my projects part time. With a laptop and the internet I could go cycle through France, for instance, for a few months. Perhaps I will do just that!

Of course, I'm very connected to my work. It means alot to me, what I do. But if I had a job that I didn't care about (like the position that I left), I wouldn't want to take that work with me.

My massage therapist is doing that ride this dummer (B.C. to Newfoundland)
Wah!..... no massage therapist. She has her own business, so she can close up shop for 3 months. I am totally envious.

About 8 years ago, I tried to convice my husband to get someone to replace him at his job (he is a physio, 1/3 partner in 2 clinics), rent out our house and go live in Whistler B.C. for a year. (I love to ski) He told me I was impractical. So we never did. But I still wish I had. Life experience. And it would have only for a year. Kids were still in elementary school. Life is too short. I think if you have planned it out well, it is not that big of a risk. And what an experience in return.

I'd ask for a sabbatical, LOA,whatever. I'd work extra. And if that is a dream of yours, I say go for it. Make it happen.

One observation:

Generally, speaking, you are much more liable to regret the things you DIDN'T do, as opposed to the things you did. There are exceptions, of course, but this is generally true.

As the poet (Burns?) said:

Of all the words of mice and men
There's none so sad is "it might have been"

(OK, I tried to Google the quote, but it didn't come up, but that's the jist of it)