Cycling The World documents McKenzie Barney’s multiyear, mostly-solo attempt to see the world by bicycle over 18,000 miles, five continents, and 28 countries. Self-shot and edited, McKenzie is currently touring her documentary around the United States with The Radavist as her media partner. In 2023, the film toured around the country, hosted by universities, breweries, and bike shops such as Treehouse Cyclery and Cycleast.
Now, we’re excited to announce the latest Cycling The World film tour event for 2024: January 24 in Palo Alto, California hosted by Patagonia!
All proceeds go towards Adventure Cycling Association and the incredible work they do empowering people to experience the fullness of life through bicycle adventures. Brand partners include Rapha, Swift Industries, and Kona.
The event will feature a screening of Cycling The World film, presentation, filmmaker Q&A session, food and beverages, branded giveaways, discount codes, a community group ride, unveiling of a new local cycling route, and many more experiential offerings.
To attend the event purchase your tickets in advance: Please RSVP!
“I’m thrilled to announce the next Film Tour stop of my documentary, Cycling The World, hosted by Patagonia, with all proceeds going to Adventure Cycling Association, and in partnership with industry-leading brands Rapha, Kona and Swift Industries.
A journey far from the ordinary, I purchased a cheap second hand mountain bike in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and began pedaling north. I was a complete novice to bikepacking, with absolutely no idea what I was doing. Once I completed cycling the length of a country, I tried to traverse an entire continent, and before long, a dream of cycling 18,000-miles of ‘the world’ was in sight. Three years after my amateur beginnings in Vietnam, I had made it through Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and South America on two wheels.
While I have a background in filmmaking, this trip was meant to be a personal quest, so I left my camera at home and deliberately avoided excess technology. Much to the dismay of Strava account requestees, I never once pre-planned my route. I let instinct run wild, starting at a given point on the atlas with only a rough idea of an end destination and no preconceived expectations for my route to get there. In this sense, I was able to let the experience unfold and, paraphrasing the wise words of Steinbeck, let the trip take me where it wished. Alongside my map-making—in albeit analogue proportions—I intentionally stepped away from the video camera, opting for a first hand experience over one behind a viewfinder. Somewhere along the way in Africa I was at a loss for words to describe what was happening to my inner and outer world, so I reached for my camera once again, breaking all rules I had set for myself, yet somehow feeling like this time I was filming the adventure for all the right reasons. Sometimes the most important stories are those you never meant to tell.
Somewhere along the way in Africa I was at a loss for words to describe what was happening to my inner and outer world, so I reached for my camera once again, breaking all rules I had set for myself, yet somehow feeling like this time I was filming the adventure for all the right reasons. Sometimes the most important stories are those you never meant to tell.
In July 2023 I crossed my self-made finish line in Bogota, Colombia and completed my project to cycle the world. I felt a deep responsibility to continue a ripple effect of many bold explorers before me. If it weren’t for the stories shared by Robyn Davidson, Liz Clark, Kate Harris and Alastair Humphreys (just to name a few), I would have never felt empowered enough to begin on such an ambitious goal.
Almost at once, I began editing my documentary film. Thousands of hours of content wasn’t my only puzzle to solve. I was bursting at the seams with stories, lessons and findings, blossoming from years of experiences on a human-powered vessel, and eager to decode their mystery and share them with the world.
Weaving my message with moving images was a task that became as adventurous as my world-wide quest. Many have asked at Film Tour Q&A sessions the two dreaded words. “What’s next?” To me, the unknown of creating a documentary film, live audience presentations, and writing a book are a kaleidoscope of unknown. A next adventure of its own boundless, bravery-demanding proportions.
My 35-minute documentary film, Cycling The World is coming soon to the world, with a public release slated for February 1, 2024.
Until then, the only way to view the documentary is at Film Tour event. I hope to see you all at the Patagonia store in Palo Alto, California on January 24!” — McKenzie Barney
Read more about her journey in McKenzie’s two-part story: Cycling The World Part I and Part II.
