Activist Rides Over 19,000 Miles by Bicycle to Dispel Myths About Cannabis Users
Roger Boyd, a resident of Bristol, England, is passionate about both cycling and cannabis. In fact, he loves these activities so much that he decided to travel around the world on his bicycle, making stops along the way for smoke breaks. So far, Boyd has ridden over 19,000 miles across every continent, including Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Bristol Post, Boyd’s journey began in 2015 after he started using a vaporizer instead of smoking joints. Realizing that vaping was less harsh on his lungs, he set out on a global cycling trip to finally dispel the myth that cannabis enthusiasts are inactive and lazy. He now documents his travels on his website, Healthy-Stoner.com.
Boyd says that despite all the obstacles he’s faced—whether tough roads or extreme weather—he keeps going. Every day, he covers more than 100 miles, aiming to take a smoke break about every 20 miles. This routine helps him stay energized and recover his tired muscles for the next leg of his journey.
“Honestly, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed sports and physical activity. Especially long-distance cycling,” Boyd told reporters. “The idea for a round-the-world bike trip came to me unexpectedly: one evening, I was browsing the internet and noticed that blogs and websites about cannabis rarely discuss using vaporizers with cannabis oils during exercise. It turns out, many people still compare cannabis users to alcohol drinkers, wrongly assuming that cannabis hinders physical activity the way alcohol does. Of course, alcohol is much more dangerous to your health than cannabis. With this trip, I wanted to show the world that cannabis can actually support an active lifestyle and put an end to the stereotype of ‘lazy’ cannabis smokers.”
During his travels, Boyd has met many cannabis enthusiasts from different countries. Whether in the Siberian taiga or the highlands of Nepal, he always managed to find people happy to join him for a smoke break. For now, Boyd and his trusty bike—nicknamed “the Rhino” for its endurance and handlebar shape—have no plans to end the journey anytime soon.
Since his planned trip to the Middle East was canceled due to strict local laws regarding cannabis, Boyd decided to tour North America next. He wants to see firsthand the progress of cannabis reform in the U.S., Canada, and other countries in the region. He estimates that cycling across the Americas will take about 18 to 20 months. Currently, Boyd is looking for potential sponsors to support him financially during his American journey.
“As long as I have food and cannabis, I can keep pedaling non-stop,” he told reporters.