For Immediate Release:  March 15, 2004

National Lampoon Book to Feature
Comedian's Funny Road Signs

National Lampoon’s Big Book of True Facts, to be published in June, will feature more than 200 photographs of funny road signs contributed by Tom Snyders, “The Bicycling Comedian.”

Snyders has spent the past 16 years pedaling his fully-loaded touring bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances. He’s cycled more than 124,000 miles and to all 50 states. Along the way he snaps pictures of weird and amusing signs he encounters. He now has a collection of more than 7,000 images from America’s back roads – the very best of which are featured in his live performances.

“I’m off the interstate and not going by at 60 miles an hour so I see a lot of strange stuff,” Snyders explains. “Some of it’s incredibly funny, and I always keep my camera loaded and ready.”

Snyders recently signed a contract with Rugged Land Books of New York City, in conjunction with National Lampoon, to use a selection of his comical photos in the soon-to-be-released hardcover book. This new collection of absurd-but-true humor from everyday life will include headlines, advertisements, personals and signs. Snyders and his bicycle will be featured on the cover.

Randi Siegel, Exec. VP Creative Development at National Lampoon, saw Snyders perform at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA, and put him together with NatLamp’s Editor-in-Chief Scott Rubin. “I was excited to see Tom’s show because, not only was he funny, the content of his slide collection was a perfect fit for the material being created and compiled for our True Facts book.”    

Snyders will promote National Lampoon’s Big Book of True Facts this summer and fall on the first ever book tour by bicycle. The tour will begin in Florida and continue up the coast to New York City, the first leg of the combined book tour and his never ending “Smile America Bicycle Comedy Tour.” He will continue pedaling across the country, doing comedy shows and book signings along the way, eventually ending up in Los Angeles in October.

“I’m really excited to be collaborating with National Lampoon,” Snyders says. “I’ve been collecting these images for 16 years, and I’m happy to be able to share them with a wider audience.”

Snyders’ car blew up on his way to a comedy performance in 1987. Since then, he's been using his bicycle as his main form of transportation to bicycle events, conferences and comedy clubs, where he performs his unique, one-man comedy show. Over the years, he’s also pedaled onto the set of nine national television shows, including three appearances on Live With Regis & Kathie Lee.

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.

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