Bike Around the World!

Referred to by some as the best day of the summer.

Last week marked the 7th annual Ladies' Bike Around the World event. This is a day-long celebration that I organize every year, and it brings together many of my favourite things—biking, eating, traveling, socializing, and sipping on a well-made cocktail.

I invite a group of women (a.k.a. my friends) to ride bicycles from house to house over the course of an afternoon and evening. Usually we have eight stops, each with a different country theme, where the host has prepared drinks and snacks in advance to match that theme. We feast and drink, spending about an hour before making our way to the next stop.

Since its inception in 2017, this event has grown enormously and become a highlight of the summer. The first year had four participants, including me; this summer, there were 30. Of course, it can't grow much beyond that point, as it poses logistical challenges, but the eagerness and enthusiasm of participants never fails to delight me. We look forward to it, planning our stops with care (if we're hosting that year) and looking forward to see what everyone else has come up with it.

This year, we traveled to Scandinavia (a blend of Norway, Sweden, and Finland), Belgium, Greece, Scotland, Paris, Japan, Italy, and Quebec. Some hosts emphasize the food more, others the drinks. Some have impressive decorations and music—and sometimes it's even live, as we discovered happily when a Scottish bagpiper welcomed us in.

Paris, BATW ‘23

There are a few loose guidelines. Countries can be repeated from year to year (just not on the same year), and it's interesting to see how how different people interpret the same places through food, drink, and decor. For example, several years ago, a host created Italy with a vast charcuterie spread. This year, our Italian stop featured grilled Margherita pizzas. Japan, however, always seems to have sushi, though one served us sake and another Sapporo.

Japan, BATW ‘23 (Photo: C. Chidlow)

We've learned to make less food than we did in the past because it is, after all, a relatively quick stop on a longer tour. I think the shortness of the stop is precisely what makes so many hosts willing to open their homes. Thirty women for an hour is much less daunting than a dinner party or other prolonged event, so people are eager to volunteer.

Scandinavian meatballs and “the best cake in the world”

Everyone pays a small amount of money to participate, which goes back to the hosts to help cover expenses. And, contrary to what some people think, we really aren't biking much, only covering a 15-km loop in total. The event is more about the food and drink than the exercise; the bikes are just practical and add to the sense of adventure.

The day ends at my house, where people's partners and other friends are invited to join for an afterparty. It's usually a mellow affair by that point, as the bicycling ladies are worn out from a long day of fun-having, but last year's event was enlivened by a performance by my husband's cover band. We had people coming in off the street to see what was going on. It felt like a true serendipitous travel adventure!

Mexico overlooking Lake Huron, BATW 2022

Earlier this spring, I read Catherine Price's latest (and delightful) book, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, and it got me thinking about this event in particular. I think its success and popularity speaks to a broader hunger for creative, unusual, and thoughtfully planned events that stimulate us, leave us feeling fulfilled and deeply satisfied and connected to others—what Price describes as "true fun." I’ve also described this as “supercharged socializing.”

Sure, people have their phones out taking pictures (myself included), but there is a glorious sense of camaraderie and merriment that infuses the day and makes it stand out. Everyone is so present, engaged, and invested in its success that you can't help but feel swept up in its energy. In a way, it's a perfect analog day.

Scotland with real haggis! BATW 2023

Plus, there is something liberating about such a large group of women letting go of their work, home, and family responsibilities for a day. Mothers desperately need the chance to leave kids at home with partners or babysitters and get some time off from parenting; and every woman needs a chance to relax and let loose, surrounded by other women doing the same. It feels validating and exhilarating. (We accommodate and embrace everyone in this group; last year, I rode my e-bike so that a new mom could sit on the back and use her breast pump in between stops.)

I do hope that Bike Around the World will continue for as many years as I can physically ride a bike, and even beyond. Maybe someday it will morph into “Walk around the Block.” But for now it remains a uniquely special day whose happy memory puts a smile on face for the rest of the year.

Part of the BATW ‘23 crew

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