For Immediate Release:  Dec. 14, 2005

“Bicycling Comedian” Returns from Europe
Pedals in for Holiday Shows

Tom Snyders, known as “The Bicycling Comedian,” has returned to Key West to perform a series of special holiday shows Dec. 22 – Jan. 2 at 9 p.m. at the Top of La Concha, 430 Duval St. Tickets are $10, $15 New Year’s Eve. Tickets are available at the door, the hotel front desk and the concierge desk. All shows are appropriate for families. For reservations or more information call: 294-6869.

Snyders has spent the past 18 years pedaling his fully-loaded touring bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances throughout the United States. He’s cycled more than 134,000 miles and to all 50 states. (Hawaii was not easy.) Along the way he snaps pictures of weird and amusing road signs he encounters on America’s back roads – the best of which are featured in his live performances.

This summer Tom pedaled across Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Holland and the UK – then performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the largest show business festival in the world. Despite stiff competition, (On any given day there were 400 stand-up comedy shows being performed.) word of Snyders’ presence at the Festival got out. The Scotsman called his journey and performance “awe inspiring.” By the end of his 23-day run, Snyders’ shows were selling out. “I was really happy with the audiences in Edinburgh,” says Snyders.

During his three-month European bike tour, Snyders shot 23 rolls of slide film  – mostly of funny European roads signs. “Along the Danube River in Germany I met two Spanish nurses on touring bikes and we pedaled together for five days. It was a good summer,” says Snyders. 

In 2004 Tom made his 10^th national television appearance when he rode his fully-loaded touring bike onto the set of Good Morning America after pedaling from Key West to New York City. He was promoting National Lampoon’s Big Book of True Facts, a hardcover book that features 200 photographs of funny road signs contributed by Tom. Snyders and his bicycle are featured on the cover in front of a road sign on the corner of Simonton and Eaton streets in Key West.

Snyders’ journey and his never-ending “Smile America Bicycle Comedy Tour” began in 1987 when he left Las Vegas by bicycle. Since then he’s been pedaling the back roads of this country performing his clean, unique comedy show at bike events, conferences and comedy clubs. Over the years, he’s pedaled onto the set of ten national television shows. In addition to Good Morning America and Live! with Regis & Kathie Lee, he has appeared on Comedy Central and ESPN.

On this journey Snyders has also: been attacked by a police dog; pedaled up a mountain in the middle of a raging snow storm; looked a grizzly bear in the eye from 15 feet away; and been run out of town by local police in Georgia.

Snyders has also written a screenplay; coincidentally, it’s about a comedian who travels by bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances. “It’s Forrest Gump meets Seabiscuit,” he jokes.

National Lampoon’s Big Book of True Facts is available at www.bikecomedy.com. Snyders will also be signing copies of the book at his Key West shows. More show and ticket info: 294-6869.

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