Lachlan Morton: Modern Hero

Heroes redetermine what is possible. Henri Desgrange knew that. When he founded the Tour de France, he wanted to show the citizens of provincial France what they could do if they could muster up the courage, vim, and vigour. Bicycles could liberate them. The Tour would be a quest for the modern age.

What Lachlan Morton has done over the past 18 days in France will be remembered in 100 years’ time, not for the sheer physical effort of it—5,510 kilometres, 65,500 metres of elevation gain, 220 hours of riding—but for its spirit, for Lachlan’s imaginativeness, resiliance, and good humour on the way. He carried his own gear, slept in a bivy sack, and rode from sunrise to sunset, day after day. Suffering a sore knee just a few days into the ride, he got a set of flat pedals and plastic Birkenstocks that eased the pain, and then crossed the Alps and the Pyreenees with them. When he got blisters, he cut off the lower straps.

Resiliance, imagination, resourcefulness, courage, vim, and vigour, but, above all, everyone who met him on the road will remember Lachlan Morton’s good humour during his journey. He inspired so many dot-watchers who followed him online. They have raised over €400,000 for World Bicycle Relief.

Soon, children all over the world will be riding new durable bicycles, further, faster, and dreaming of doing something like Lachlan Morton—and they won’t give a damn if they are riding in sandals.

Cover photo c/o Rapha