Matteo came to the Wanpingkou Scenic Area in Rizhao
At 40, he quit his job and started a cycling life; over two years, he cycled across 16 countries and regions, participated in over 30 AIDS relief programs, and spread the concept of charity through international cycling... On April 1st, this Italian cyclist Matteo Tricarico arrived in Rizhao, and a reporter conducted an in-depth interview with this blonde-haired, blue-eyed international “cycling friend.”
The bicycle became his “cycling love”
On the morning of April 1st, accompanied by Rizhao sofa surfer Zhang Di, the reporter met this Italian international cyclist Matteo. The friendly foreigner shook hands with the reporter and said in English, “Hello, nice to meet you.”
“I finally made up my mind to set off at 40!” Matteo said that before becoming a cyclist, the idea of traveling on a whim had been brewing for two or three years. Until one day at 40, he suddenly realized that some things could no longer wait. So, in October 2009, Matteo resolutely quit his job and began his “life on a bicycle.”
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, China... On the two maps provided by Matteo, covering Europe, Asia, and the Americas, red lines marked a long international cycling route. Over two years, Matteo has traversed 16 countries and regions, successfully completing his cycling journey in Europe and Asia. His entire “belongings” became his beloved bicycle and a GPS navigation device. Relying on this GPS, he found hostels, bus stations, restaurants, and connected with local sofa surfing families.
Matteo pointed to the white bicycle he was riding, calling it his “cycling love.” He told the reporter that this bicycle had taken him nearly 30,000 kilometers, allowing him to explore many parts of Europe and Asia. This €6,000 bicycle was custom-made for him by an Italian company.
Spreading the concept of charity along the way
“During the journey, I can see different people and scenery, and have many unique experiences,” Matteo said. Once, when camping outdoors in India, many monkeys surrounded him trying to snatch his water. “They looked at me like children, and I thought those monkeys were adorable.”
Matteo told the reporter that his cycling trip wasn’t purely for sightseeing but also to fully commit to public welfare and charity. In his view, if he just cycled aimlessly, everything would become repetitive and lose its meaning. For this reason, Matteo used the savings he had accumulated before 40 to create the “TravelForAid” website, dedicated to spreading the concept of charity. Most of the countries and regions Matteo passed through during his cycling journey are developing ones. Wherever he went, he would find local charities and do his utmost to help local AIDS patients.
Fond of Rizhao’s blue skies and blue seas
“I really like China, especially Rizhao. I’d really like to stay in China longer, but my visa has expired,” Matteo told the reporter. Rizhao is very clean, with good air quality, and he thinks it’s a very beautiful city. Accompanied by a friend, Matteo cycled to Wanpingkou, feeling the sea breeze of Rizhao. Matteo said, “A city like Rizhao is very quiet and clean—I really like it.”
Matteo told the reporter that his next stop is Qingdao, then South Korea, and after that, he will start from Alaska in the United States, pass through Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, cycle through the Americas, then fly to Spain, cross France, and return to his home country, Italy, to complete his first international cycling journey. All of this will take about five more years.