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Montasir Mamun, shares his journey through 12 countires on his Bike Friday Tandem Two’s Day with a passion for fighting Climate Change.
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| Muntasir Mamun is an engineer by training who has incorporated his passion for riding, social enterprise, and environmental care from his home in Bangladesh. He co-founded Dhaka Dough, the country’s first health food brand, and New Market Goods, a Fairtrade slow fashion boutique, while coordinating marine debris surveys and cleanups with Kewkradong Bangladesh and The Ocean Conservancy. His Bike Friday tandem has been a practical partner on many of those journeys….easy to pack, easy to travel with, and easy to share. We sat down with Muntasir to talk about his adventures on two wheels, from how he found Bike Friday, and 13 different countries he has explored astride his bike.
1. When and why did you first get your Bike Friday, and what drew you to it?
I had always dreamed of traveling across the United States, and that idea had been brewing since around 2009-soon after I finished a nine-month bicycle journey across several parts of the world. But getting there wasn’t easy. I faced a few visa rejections from the U.S. Embassy before finally receiving a visa to attend a scientific conference in Hawaii.
I’d long wanted to buy a tandem bike-largely because of the book “Taking a Seat”, which deeply inspired me. But the question was, which one? Coming from Bangladesh, air travel is the only way to reach most destinations, as our country is surrounded by India. So, I needed a tandem that could be easily packed and flown without requiring any unconventional boxes or oversized baggage.
After quite a bit of research, I discovered Bike Friday. At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced-but then I came across several blogs by Bike Friday riders. Their stories sold me on it. This was around 2009–2010, before Facebook was widely popular.
I was looking for a bike that ticked all the boxes-lightweight, compact, and packable-and Bike Friday fit perfectly. I found out that Bfold in New York sold them, so I wrote to David Lam there. We eventually became good friends. I told him I wanted a red tandem with basic components-and that’s how I got it in 2011. Brought to Bangladesh. I still ride the same one today. I got another green one which I brought in 2015.
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2. What do you enjoy most about riding a tandem compared to a solo bike?
People ride for all sorts of reasons. For me, it’s purely about joy and curiosity, not speed or competition. I’m not tall, strong or fast, and I have no record to chase. I simply enjoy the rhythm of a fully loaded tandem-the momentum, the inertia, the glide. It’s a completely different sensation.
I do ride solo bikes too-I even crossed Patagonia this year-but tandem riding gives me a deeper satisfaction. A tandem is a grand machine that carries a certain aura. It always draws attention: a long bike with small wheels, both elegant and eccentric. People turn their heads, smile, wave-and that visibility adds a subtle layer of road safety.
Then there’s the companionship. Sharing a ride means sharing the experience-the quiet conversations, the shared effort, and the unexpected laughter. These become memories I cherish deeply. Well, I do have sad stories too.
And from a practical side-if you ever face a problem, a tandem fold into a car trunk easily. It’s lighter than two solo bikes combined, so air travel and luggage logistics are simpler. For international travel, it’s surprisingly economical.
In the end, it’s a personal choice-but for me, the tandem offers a mix of connection, curiosity, and calm that no solo bike can match. It offers a state of identity on the road too.
3. Where has your Bike Friday taken you?
12 Countries!
• 2011: Sri Lanka
• 2012: Seattle to Washington, D.C., USA
• 2013: Nepal (two tandems)
• 2014: Anchorage, USA to Toronto, Canada
• 2016: India (two tandems)
• 2017: Indonesia (two tandems)
• 2018: Madagascar (two tandems)
• 2019: Nepal (again!)
• 2022: Rwanda
• 2023: Vietnam
• 2025: Kosovo–Albania
• And, of course, many unforgettable rides across Bangladesh.
4. Have you met other Bike Friday riders along the way?
Not too many, honestly-I usually avoid big cities and prefer smaller towns. But once in Albania, I was riding through a quiet street when a pedestrian suddenly shouted, “Hey, Bike Friday!” It made my day. Those who recognize it, really recognize it.
| 5. What’s been a standout or unexpected story from your journey so far?
A few moments stand out. My short documentary on my U.S. ride earned the Connect4Climate Award from the World Bank, where we documented roadside trash using an Android app back in 2012-long before “citizen science” became a buzzword. Another special surprise was when my tandem photo was featured in Adventure Cycling Association’s annual calendar. I truly believe the tandem had a lot to do with both of those milestones. It’s more than just a bike-it’s been a bridge between journeys, people, and stories. |
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Ready to bring the joy of a tandem into your life?
Now that you’ve seen the joy a tandem can bring to one’s life, you might be interested in experiencing it for yourself. You can learn more about our tandem offerings on our website, including both the Tandem Two’s Day (folds for travel) and the Family Tandem (disassembles for travel).Do you already ride a tandem?
Come and join us at next year’s Northwest Tandem Rally in our neighbouring town of Cottage Grove, June 5–7. More information to follow, stay tuned! |
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One Response
Thank you for posting 🙂