Beyond the question of “more a biker” or “more a traveller”, which does not try at all to put anyone in a box or raise the differences among us but show the diversity of approaches and different ways each one followed to get here, I've thought from the beginning that OVERLANDER would a broader term where most would fit, since it proves hard to choose. I mean overlander in the sense of preference to travel while touching the ground and at a natural pace, so that you can see how crossing a mountain chain takes you to a different people, race and creed, how a river makes a different landscape and culture and how a desert separates two former empires… For me, it's an amazing feeling. And it applies to biking, cycling, 4WDing and IMHO of course to backpacking if you decide to go overland. It does not mean banning flying, we all do it, but I refer to it mainly as a contrast to a South East Asian trip with 8 flights in less than 3 weeks or an organized one with 3 days in Bangkok, 2 days in Hong Kong and a week in Bali (sounds like a honeymoon).

And Why a bike?, with the bad things of every world (as backofbeyond mentions)? Apart from the usual reasons as love riding, freedom you feel, closer contact to local people without barriers, etc, I’d say because of two factors: Improvisation and Challenge. It often forces you to change plans (and quite often that’s where the fun lies) and if you are stubborn to stick to the plans, then it’s challenging, with some sort of stamina getting out for body when you have to be at the ferry, it rains, it’s dark and you decide to ride (or drive). For some reason, suffering is also pleasing for many, a mixture of euphoria and relief, by contrast to an organized cruise / tour where all fits to schedule which may become too dull.

Just how I (think I) see it.