If you want to go on a long cycling trip, be prepared to talk to strangers and give random interviews. Even in the most odd circumstances. Why? Because not only is it a great opportunity for you to meet people, but you and your heavily stocked bicycle will definitely draw people’s attention at you!

Case: Stopped by a journalist on the roadside of Argentina

On 27th of January, cycling down the road from Saladillo to General Alvear, a car unexpectedly pulled over on the side of the road just a few meters ahead of me. A man stepped out and stopped me to ask me where I was coming from. His jaw dropped as I told him about my trip and following this initial reaction, we had a short yet brilliant conversation about life and bicycles. The following day, approaching the town of Roque Pérez, I suddenly saw a woman snapping pictures of me further down the road. As I got closer, she started waving vigorously and shouting out my name: “Sissiiiiiii!!!”. I had no idea who this lady was and how she knew my name. Out of her breath for excitement, she quickly explained it all: she was a friend of the man from the previous day, a journalist who had been devastated by the fact that she had neither gotten the chance to interview me, nor invite me to her home for an ‘asado’ (barbecue) as she had heard my story. But here we were, meeting each other accidentally one day later! Very efficiently she interviewed me shortly then and there, snapped a few more photos and wrote a cute recollection of her encounter with me for the local news paper.

Here it is (in Spanish).

Case: Couchsurfing host’s father sets up interview for the radio

On the 27th of November, me and fellow Finnish cyclist, Antti, couchsurfed in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. We had a lovely host, whose father was a bicycle enthusiast and also an influential figure in town. As soon as he met us, he wanted nothing more than to hook us up with a local journalist, who would do an interview on us for the local radio and newspaper. And no later than a day after from the idea, the journalist was there, in the kitchen of our host, with his microphone, camera and notepad. We didn’t stay in Rio Grande long enough to hear the radio interview, but here is the newspaper clip.