Eric Matthes, author of the bestselling Python Crash Course, embarked on a life-altering, year-long bicycle journey around the United States in the late 1990s. This episode dives into that fascinating period in Eric’s life, when he interwove bicycling with his other passions: programming, teaching, and writing. Eric candidly shares his initial struggles, including a pivotal near-knee-destroying trip to Niagara Falls that almost ended his touring career before it began. Successively more challenging outings culminated in his 14,216-mile Seattle-to-Alaska-via-Florida circumnavigation. Hear about Eric’s cross-country adventure, including his memorable time riding alongside his friend Sara, scary moments in the south, and encounters with bears in the north. Discover how this transformative experience shaped Eric’s path to becoming a successful author and his unique perspective on overcoming life’s obstacles, both on and off the road.