For Immediate Release: July 20, 2004

“Bicycling Comedian” Pedals to Sturgeon Bay
for Aug. 4 Shows

Comedian Tom Snyders has spent the past 17 years pedaling his fully-loaded touring bicycle to all his stand-up comedy performances. He’s cycled more than 125,000 miles and to all 50 states. Along the way he snaps pictures of weird and amusing road signs he encounters – the best of which are featured in his live performances.

His next stop is SAGBRAW in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., where he will perform his one-man comedy show at the Sturgeon Bay High School auditorium, 1230 Michigan St., on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Snyders will perform two shows – at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $6.00, payable in cash at the door.

Snyders, known as “The Bicycling Comedian,” will arrive at the show by bicycle, pedaling in from performances at RAGBRAI in Marshalltown, IA. Before getting to Iowa, he pedaled from Key West, Fla., to New York City, performing at comedy clubs and bike events on his way up the East Coast. He will eventually end up in Los Angeles in October.

Sturgeon Bay is one of many stops Snyders will make on what he’s calling “the first-ever book tour by bicycle.” He’s promoting National Lampoon’s Big Book of True Facts, an all-new collection of absurd-but-true humor from everyday life. The hardcover book, which was released June 23, features more than 200 photographs of funny road signs contributed by Snyders. He and his bicycle are featured on the cover.

Snyders’ journey and his “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, one-man comedy show at bike events, conferences and comedy clubs. Over the years, he’s pedaled onto the set of ten national television shows, including appearances on Good Morning America and Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee. He’s also appeared on Comedy Central and ESPN and he’s been a featured performer at the “Just For Laughs” International Comedy Festival in Montreal.

“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.”

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; been run out of town by local police in Georgia; and tried to figure out how to possibly have a steady relationship while on the road for 17 years.

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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It's not just a comedy show, it's an adventure!