Get to know Ken Francis of the United States, one of our 2025 Global Ambassadors.
A little bit about Ken in their own words…
I have been actively bicycle-touring since my first multi-night ride when I was 13. Before Warmshowers and the internet, I used my knuckles to knock on farmhouse doors and churches as a means of finding hospitality. Technology, bicycles, fabrics, equipment, and the world in general have changed a lot over the years. At 62, I just completed my 60th notable tour. That comes to well over 100,000 miles under my belt. What hasn’t changed is the loving hospitality I receive while touring the world.
My cycle touring experiences (weather, road conditions, personal and physical challenges, and hospitality) helped me to believe in myself and shaped me into the man I am today. I believe in helping others achieve their goals, as I was helped in my early years. Hosting along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route allows me to help others become the heroes of their own epic journeys.
Why did you decide to become a Warmshowers Global Ambassador?
I feel I have always been a bicycle-touring ambassador to the world and a strong advocate for the Warmshowers community. This just makes it official.
Share a memorable Warmshowers experience with us…
Since college, my nickname has been Mr. Tour. I believe in making strong connections with other touring cyclists. We are all Mr. and Ms. Tours.
I have remained in contact with families I have met while traveling in the 1980’s as well as Warmshowers guests and hosts. I feel fortunate to have sat on the Warmshowers Board during its formative years. I made it a point to meet, in person, as many board members as I could (I think the final number was 6). I am also very connected with several Warmshowers hosts in my area. I have also traveled abroad and stayed with several of my former guests (reciprocal hospitality at its finest).
It warms my heart when I stay with a host and read in their feedback that they have hosted some of the cyclists I have hosted. I also love to hear when others meet and realize they both have stayed with me and my partner in Long Beach, California. This is a tight community, and I celebrate the friendships I have made through it.
Catch up with Ken on Social Media…
Instagram: @kenfrancisontour
YouTube: Ken Francis World
TikTok: Ken Francis World
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