Bicycle Touring Pro Darren Alff-- MIA ?
#3
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I had never heard of him, but did a quick google search and see that he is still active on facebook or at least has posted there recently. https://www.facebook.com/darrenalff
Maybe his business site is slow/on hold due to the pandemic? Not too many folks are actively touring so I'd think business would be pretty slow.
Maybe his business site is slow/on hold due to the pandemic? Not too many folks are actively touring so I'd think business would be pretty slow.
Last edited by staehpj1; 09-25-20 at 06:27 AM.
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Most of his tours were in Europe, where he has not been able to travel, so that puts a crimp on content. As well, I suspect as others have stated, that the CV crisis has him scaling back even his US based tours. He was as well in almost burn-out mode. I saw a video he did last year of the south of France into Spain where he announced he was stopping his video recording as he was just too tired to keep logging every day, he just wanted to bike.
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People are now getting paid to bicycle tour? Where do I sign up?
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#7
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He started touring roughly 15 years ago, maybe earlier. Started video recording maybe 5 years or so ?, posted on YT, developed a following, makes some money from that I assume, gets gear from companies to try and review, seems to get comped at hotels and the like, does some supported tours and provides a good video, so I'd bet that gets at least partly comped as well. Figured out a while back how to travel cheap, but he's doing something right as he's got 2 very expensive Co-Motion touring bikes. Sells books and how-to videos as well. I don't begrudge him anything, as his videos have been terrific to watch.
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#8
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He started touring roughly 15 years ago, maybe earlier. Started video recording maybe 5 years or so ?, posted on YT, developed a following, makes some money from that I assume, gets gear from companies to try and review, seems to get comped at hotels and the like, does some supported tours and provides a good video, so I'd bet that gets at least partly comped as well. Figured out a while back how to travel cheap, but he's doing something right as he's got 2 very expensive Co-Motion touring bikes. Sells books and how-to videos as well. I don't begrudge him anything, as his videos have been terrific to watch.
As a 20 something, he is down to earth with a Huell Howser quality about him. I am guessing that he is getting into bike packing, along with his year old stealth van. I surmise since travel advocacy is currently down, he is working on improving production quality for his future projects. Just a guess. He is quite an entrepreneur, and collaborator. I noticed he started using a drone to highlight a hotel, and traveled with a music composer to cross promote. When many young adults were struggling to find a job, he demonstrates creativity and resilience while in economic difficult times.
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I followed him. I am not in the know but my take is:
1. Burnt out - nothing wrong with it as long as you regroup and move on
2. May have fallen in love and reevaluated his direction
1. Burnt out - nothing wrong with it as long as you regroup and move on
2. May have fallen in love and reevaluated his direction
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I fully agree with jlmonte’s post, though I think Darren in now in his early 30’s. I admire his resiliency and perseverance, though sometimes question why he rarely wears tights or leg warmers in very cold conditions. As well he does not use padded shorts as far as I can tell, so has a remarkably tough and conditioned butt !. Power to you Darren, if you read this.
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