Tales From a Bicycle Seat: Cultural Storytelling Assembly for Grades Pre-K–12
One Bicycle. A World of Adventure.
And So Much More…
Musician, multimedia storyteller, and adventure cyclist George Maurer takes students on unforgettable journeys across the
U.S., Canada, Iceland, Patagonia, Sri Lanka, the Arctic Circle, Vietnam
and beyond.
Through stories, original music, video, and audience interaction, students explore geography, cultural connections, resilience, and the rewards of going beyond their comfort zones.
A Bicycle Seat Is a Pretty Small Comfort Zone
And that’s exactly why George travels on two wheels. Students ride along as he explores unfamiliar landscapes, meets people from different cultures, and discovers how curiosity, perseverance, and kindness connect us.
GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE
Discover landscapes, communities, and cultures around the world.
EMPATHY & CONNECTION
Explore kindness, friendship, and the connections we share.
RESILIENCE & PROBLEM SOLVING
Learn to navigate challenges with perseverance and creativity.
CURIOSITY & EXPLORATION
Discover what becomes possible when we explore the unfamiliar.
Six Destinations. Countless Discoveries.
From Iceland’s volcanic deserts to Vietnam’s mountain villages, every stop offers a new way of seeing the world.
ICELAND
- Explore volcanoes and Mars-like landscapes
- Find and filter water in the wilderness
- Visit glaciers and powerful waterfalls
- Learn about sustainability in an Icelandic village
PATAGONIA
- Cross remote mountain deserts
- Navigate a glacial lake by ferry
- Communicate across language barriers
- Discover cultures at the end of the world
VIETNAM
- Homestay with a Hmong family
- Cycle through mountain villages
- Compare city and village life
- Learn about landmines and their impact
SRI LANKA
- Visit elephant and sea turtle sanctuaries
- Work with fishermen to cross a lagoon
- Learn about a Buddhist temple
- Troubleshoot a flat tire in the middle of nowhere
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE (NORWAY)
- Bicycle to the northernmost point of Europe
- Descend under the ocean in tunnels
- Troubleshoot bicycle repairs in a remote area
- Stop your bike for reindeer crossing the road!
ACROSS THE USA
- Cross Nevada’s vast desert
- Climb and descend Pikes Peak
- Follow the historic Erie Canal and rails-to-trails
- Explore Glacier National Park
Big Adventures.
Bigger Lessons.
Every performance includes bicycle safety. Programs can be tailored to grade levels and curriculum topics.
Tales From a Bicycle Seat takes students beyond the classroom on a 50-minute multimedia adventure exploring extraordinary landscapes, diverse cultures, and unforgettable human encounters. Along the way, students discover the power of curiosity, resilience, kindness, and stepping outside their comfort zones.
The Story Behind the Journey
A bicycle might seem an unlikely muse for a musician. But for George Maurer, thousands of miles on two wheels have transformed the world into a classroom — and his bicycle saddle into a mobile piano bench.
What began in 2014 as a coast-to-coast fundraising ride has grown into international expeditions filled with extraordinary landscapes, unexpected friendships, and unforgettable encounters. George has pedaled through snowstorms, crossed volcanic deserts, navigated monsoon rains, and experienced the generosity of strangers.
Today, he brings those experiences to students through stories celebrating curiosity, perseverance, human connection, and the rewards of exploring beyond what we think we know.
Click Here for TFAB Bike Safety 10 Tips PDF
Tales From a Bicycle Seat In-Person Setup
It is CRITICAL to provide a parking space for loading/unloading and ensure your show begins on time!
Audience: K-8 Capacity: 400
Presentation Time: 45 minutes
Prefer split younger/older but not required
Set-Up Time: 15 minutes
Take-Down Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Presentation Area: Performance space can be stage or floor-level. If performance space is floor level, please seat students on the floor with an aisle up the middle of the audience, and not in chairs. If the performance area is a stage, please ensure there are stairs for easy-volunteer access to the performance area.
Arrival: No assistance for set-up or take-down of this program is required.
Assembly Requirements:
Please provide an extension cord and access to an electrical outlet. Presenter will also need either a projector or a smart-board (with HDMI connection for a Mac computer). Presenter provides his own sound. If two or more presentations are scheduled, please divide students by grade level for each presentation – K-3, 4-6, etc.
Additional needs: George will need a small bucket/pail half filled with water (less than a gallon). Also, if your students or teachers ride their bikes to school, it would be great to have at least one of these students/teachers bring their bicycle to the assembly, for the purposes of demonstration.
Take Students on a Spin Around the World
Multi-media storyteller, musician, and adventure cyclist George Maurer presents Tales from a Bicycle Seat, a cultural exploration of his epic journeys across the USA, Iceland, Patagonia, Sri Lanka, Canada, and Vietnam.
Inspires Students to Embrace Diversity
This Virtual School Assembly and Summer Camp Show touches on diversity, cultural exchange, character education, growth mindset, cultural geography, world cultures, ecology, global environment, climate change, health and wellness, bicycle safety and much, much more.
Part educational, part environmental, part inspirational, and all around engaging.
This program is a blended visual arts experience that includes storytelling along with video experiences from the viewpoint of a bicycle seat. Via drone, GoPro, and modern film technology, students can spin along with George as he shows, up close Icelandic glaciers, Patagonian mountains, a Vietnamese train ride, the sri Lankan elephant refuge, a fishing village in Newfoundland, or his first-hand experience descending Pike’s Peak!
Tales From a Bicycle Seat Virtual Setup
Audience: K-12 Capacity: 100 screens
Presentation Time: 50 minutes
Split younger/older grade levels
Platform: Zoom preferred, school-hosted Google Meet also available
Presenter will: set-up and email Zoom link as late as the week prior to your show date. Please anticipate meeting presenter in the Zoom meeting 15-minutes prior to your start time so they may enable you/school representative as a co-host and accommodate any last-minute details/instructions.
The videos were created well and captivated my students’ attention. I received very positive feedback from teachers, parents and students. Students were very interested in the science, cultures and safety. It sparked many questions from my students to want to learn more. I like how the presenter discussed having a growth mindset, celebrated and embraced different cultures and ended with “Learning more about others helps you learn more about yourself.” Thank you so much!!
Kristy Chan – Principal
PS 98
Douglaston, NY
We had amazing feedback from our school community. The teachers, the parents, and the kids loved it! We all left the show inspired! Some of my teachers comments:
1-Where can we learn and see more of George Maurer and his adventures?
2-By far the best show we’ve had for STEAM Friday this year!
3-What an amazing show! Thank you for bringing him to Machado!
4-The kids are excited to research these places now!
5-How did you find him? Such an incredible show!
and more!
It was a honor for us to meet George. Thank you!
We liked George so much we brought him back for a second virtual visit this school year. Always fascinating and inspirational! We want George to come back next year! He is engaging, patient, thorough, and makes his journey/story very accessible to students of all ages. We love his interaction with the kids. Safe travels, George! We look forward to seeing you next school year! Thank you!
Dr. Valles-Metzger – Principal
Machado ES
Lake Elsinore, CA
George was absolutely fantastic! Our students enjoyed the topics he shared about and everything ran so smoothly. Thank you for a terrific experience! The students couldn’t stop talking about it!
Kelly Whitman – Dean of Upper ES
Calvert School
Baltimore, MD
Wow! What a presentation! I truly loved your adventures. Appreciate you inspiring the children and me!! Fabulous virtual assembly. Breathtaking videos and pictures. Excellent inspiring lesson. George was wonderful for this age group. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Sharon George – Cultural Arts
Mandalay ES
Wantagh, NY
Thank you for two amazing virtual shows! I have gotten great feedback already from both students and teachers.
Nicole Buckley – Assistant Director of Elementary
TEC Connections Academy
Walpole, MA
We just watched your presentation for TEC Academy in Massachusetts. We wanted to say thank you. That was such a treat. My daughter is 9 and loves biking and hopes to travel someday. Your presentation meant a lot to her and brightened her week. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Alison Sleeper Ames – Parent
TEC Academy
Walpole, MA
Thank you, George! The virtual presentation was awesome. The kids were very engaged. We will definitely plan on having you again next year when we study landforms again!
Stephanie DeGaetano – Teacher
Colchester ES
Colchester, CT
Thank you for a great virtual presentation, George! We are hearing great feedback!
Elysa Lepselter – Parent
Plainview MS/Mattlin MS
Plainview, NY
George Maurer was such an engaging presenter! His storytelling was so interesting, graphics were beautiful, and his message of appreciating diversity and expanding our world was absolutely inspiring. And he’s a musician as well! What a talented guy! My students and teachers loved the virtual show. The mines in Vietnam especially captured my students’ attention, according to several of their emails. They were very compassionate towards the children and were curious about their drawings. Seriously, I could go on. George also has such a nice, approachable demeanor that made him all the more likeable to the audience. Great job! I would recommend this to all my colleagues.
Ana Guiterrez – Principal
Lakeside MS
Norwalk, CA
George did an amazing job. The kids were really engaged and liked learning about his different adventures. Sharing of the maps made it more relevant and he did a great job managing the technology. I would definitely recommend him to anyone wanting a great virtual assembly.
Tara Garcia – Library Media Specialist
Graden ES
Parkville, MO
George!!! I can only say AMAZING and that doesn’t even truly describe your assembly – there are no words. I can not wait to share on social media so other schools have the opportunity to experience as well! My son was very excited to talk about it when he got home.
Melissa Ferraro – PTA
HD Fayette School
Merrick, NY
George was amazing! What a great life he is leading. His message of growth is an important. We would love to have him back to hear about his other adventures.
Howard Merims – Principal
HD Fayette School
Merrick, NY
Great pictures and videos! Very open to questions. Thanks a lot!
Shane Thelen – Educator
Crown Point Central School
Crown Point, NY
We absolutely LOVED the virtual assembly and George as a presenter.
Jennifer Sheehy – PTA
Martin Ave ES
Bellmore, NY
The presentation was very interesting. The kids seemed to like seeing the different places that he had been to and he was very informative.
Matthew Gernold – Coordinator
Warren County SADD
Warren, PA
I just want to say what an amazing show George did for Lindell. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and it was wonderful to incorporate the remote students as well. Long Beach is such a biking community that this definitely resonated with the students. I heard some students say that the boardwalk seems boring now that there can be so many more adventures with a bike. And I know of friends whose kids came home and asked for a bike if they didn’t have one and asked for their bike tires to be pumped up and wanted to go for a bike ride that afternoon. So it was so perfect for Long Beach!! Please thank George so much for us.
Lauren Voege – PTA
Lindell ES
Long Beach, NY
The students shared reflections from your presentation this morning. They really enjoyed it! Thanks again!
Jackie Chiumiento – PTO
Fuller Meadow School
Middleton, MA
Teachers, students from all grades, administrators all had such positive feedback. They were engaged, enthusiastic, and excited about the program. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with our school!
Jennifer Melnick – Arts-in-Ed
Barnum Woods ES
East Meadow, NY
We had a great experience with George. He was very professional and prepared to engage with our students and staff in this experience. I immediately shared it out with my fellow principals in Roseville as must see. Here is a special moment we experienced:
Student Noah sent in chat to George – “I’m Hmong. I think it is really neat to see my culture in your trips”
Here are some of the comments from staff:
It was great! Virtual assemblies may be the way to go from now on!
Thought it was great. For many reasons, but especially from a phy ed teachers perspective. It shows the students how riding a bike can provide exciting adventures and serve as a tool to learn about the world around them. (all while they are improving their fitness)
Wow. I was very impressed. So well-formatted, immersive, and engaging.
Loved it! That was my favorite assembly ever.
Beth Behnke – Principal
Falcon Heights Elementary
Falcon Heights, MN
Wonderful and educational presentation. George Maurer was very informative and an outstanding presenter. His presentation was captivating and the students were very engaged. He took the time to answer all of the questions that the students had. The other staff members also had similar feelings that the presentation was outstanding.
Maryann Braen – Teacher
The Calais School
Whippany, NJ
George – thank you so much for the awesome, engaging, educational assembly today!!! We appreciate you sharing your experiences, and the teachers and students loved it. Thanks again!
Michael Schanze – Principal
Withrow ES
Lake Elsinore, CA
He was a big hit! The students and teachers loved him! Thank you very much!
Allyson Meyers – Admin Asst.
Harbor Hill School
Greenvale, NY
Places visited were interesting and liked the phrase go-know-grow!
Helen Persing – Administrator
John Paul II Regional School
Stratford, NJ
Great presentation! The students were amazed with the different countries you traveled and they were amazed with the different types of bicycles.
Diane Smith – Teacher
Miami Heights ES
Miami, FL
I just wanted to send a very big thank you to you for the assembly yesterday. I walked into school this morning with many compliments from students and teachers!! You were masterful at incorporating your adventures with a multicultural aspect! Hit the nail on the head for us here!!! Thanks again George!! Look forward to seeing you presenting for Franklin again in the near future!!!!
Stephen Untisz – School Counselor
Franklin Elementary School
Bloomfield, NJ
Awesome connection and presentation with the kids. Quite possibly the best show we booked yet this year. The kids and staff loved it.
William DuBois – Teacher Liaison
Canaan ES
Patchogue, NY
It’s excellent! Everyone loves it! Thank you! It really was a fabulous and inspiring show. We have done several this year and this was by far the best. I truly appreciate it!!
Rachel Goodman – School Counselor
Truman ES
Parlin, NJ
It exceeded my expectations. Very well done and I heard great feedback from both teachers and students.
Rachel Harris – PTO Board
Wilson ES
Coppell, TX
Thank you so much for your presentations today! All of the grades were very engaged and curious about your adventures! It was exciting to hear you say that one of the students asked you the best question you’ve ever been asked! We’ll be sure to recommend your program to our neighboring schools. Thank you so much again!
Erica Schulman – PTA
Walt Whitman ES
Woodbury, NY
