Tales From A Bicycle Seat

Multi-media storyteller, musician, and adventure cyclist George Maurer presents Tales from a Bicycle Seat, a cultural exploration of his epic journeys across the US, Iceland, Patagonia, Sri Lanka, Canada, and Vietnam. Touches on diversity, cultural exchange, character education, growth mindset, cultural geography and more. Short segment on bike safety in every show. New theme this year is ecology/recycling/sustainability!

In-Person for Schools and Camps!

Age Range: K-12

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Tales From A Bicycle Seat

Multi-media storyteller, musician, and adventure cyclist George Maurer presents Tales from a Bicycle Seat, a cultural exploration of his epic journeys across the US, Iceland, Patagonia, Sri Lanka, Canada, and Vietnam. Touches on diversity, cultural exchange, character education, growth mindset, cultural geography and more. Short segment on bike safety included in every show!

A bicycle seat is a pretty small comfort zone, and that’s exactly why musician, adventure cyclist and multimedia storyteller George Maurer travels on two wheels — and your students can share his adventures.

Nothing comes between George and the people and places he encounters in Tales from a Bicycle Seat, a presentation that lets audiences ride along as he pedals across the U.S., Canada, Iceland, Patagonia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Tales from a Bicycle Seat blends live storytelling, demonstration and interaction with original music and stunning video from George’s international bike-packing expeditions to show students how pushing past his comfort zone broadened his understanding of the world and of himself, tested his limits and showed him that human connection can transcend culture, language and geography.

George leverages his 35 years of experience as a world-class composer and performer to offer a uniquely immersive experience. Youth feel nearly on stage with him, thanks to live Go-Pro and drone footage from his travels. He encourages interactive dialogue, allowing students to ask questions and explore what it means to build character, develop empathy, and grow personally. This approach makes George an exceptional youth motivational speaker.

Iceland

  • glacial lagoons
  • powerful waterfalls
  • geothermal/volcanic activity
  • fishing culture
  • Icelandic interior
Patagonia

  • cultural diversity/hostels
  • overcoming language barriers
  • glacial lake ferry crossing
  • mountain descent
  • Chilean Antarctic Region
Vietnam

  • traditional homestay
  • understanding regional cultures
  • mountain interior
  • trains and transportation
  • Mine Action Visitors Center
  • small village vs. large city
Sri Lanka

  • elephant refuge
  • Buddhist temple
  • monkeys
  • remnants of civil war
  • sea turtle sanctuary
Newfoundland

  • Rails to Trails
  • music and regional culture
  • fishing village/culture
  • wildlife
Across the USA

  • Nevada desert crossing
  • Pike’s Peak ascent/descent
  • Erie Canal historic corridor
  • Rails to Trails
  • Glacier National Park

Tales from a Bicycle Seat is a 50-minute School Assembly that resonates globally and personally, traversing diversity, geography and ecology while examining the growth mindset, goal setting and life-changing encounters that accompany George’s multi-week, cross-country bicycle treks.

New for this year, and fresh back from a trip to Iceland, “ecology/recycling/sustainability” will be one of the main themes this season as a component of how TFAB incorporates ways we can make the world a better place by riding a bicycle, etc. (Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy)

Tales from a Bicycle Seat can be tailored to focus on specific regions or touch on specific topics to complement school curriculum.

About

A bicycle might be an unusual muse, but seven cross-country odysseys on two tires and one extremely well-worn saddle inspired musician George Maurer’s newest artistic endeavor, multimedia storytelling. Although, nothing about pedaling a bike up Pikes Peak in a snowstorm, navigating Iceland’s glaciers and geysers, or sloshing through Sri Lanka’s monsoon season is “usual.” George’s bike adventures have expanded his creative boundaries as much as they have pushed his physical limits during his weeks-long rides across the United States, Iceland, Sri Lanka and Canada. He embarked on his first ride, “48 Across the 48,” in 2014 to test himself while contributing to the greater good by raising money for cancer research at the Mayo Clinic. He reached his $50,000 goal with 2018’s “52 Across Canada.” He also found that he soaked up stories from the people he encountered — often complete strangers who offered to help him or asked questions about his ride, even if they didn’t share a language — the terrain he traveled and sights, sounds and smells he ingested from the open-air vantage point of his bike. For this musician that was just looking for a way to spend his summer’s off from the hectic day-to-day of the entertainment industry, his bicycle saddle was becoming a mobile version of his piano bench. The artistic compositions were now just taking a different form.


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