Crazy Like a Fox

In July, "Crazy James" Zinkand -- you might remember the Sarasota High alum from those "Pink Bus" exploits on YouTube -- embarked on the first leg of his "WorldRider" bike tour, a madcap cycle around three quarters of the country on $100. Seven months later, the 21-year-old is back in one piece and with loads of stories to share. From the urban jungles of Los Angeles to Nowheresville, Montana, from surfing couches in Wisconsin and Minnesota to accidentally pissing on one belonging to an Elle magazine editor, Zinkand and his signature pink Mohawk have learned a few lessons vital for anyone planning a trip on the cheap:

Grab Yourself a "Conversation Utensil"

When voyaging alone, you can't forgo human contact altogether, and having something to spark interaction is crucial. Peddling through Devil's Lake, N.D., in August, James found his way to a backwoods tavern. It was just two sips of charity soda at the bar before he realized everyone was "like cockroaches around me, testing me on places I've been."

What grabbed their attention? "The Mohawk, but it's great. I use it as a utensil for everyone to come and talk to me. Some people may be offended, but most of the time, people are like, 'What's with the hair?!'"

Always Go With Your Gut

Times got a bit rough in Montana's Glacier National Forest, where the fearless biker says he found himself eating roadkill and looking for a hospitable Indian reservation. Things got worse in small-town Shelby, when he accidentally gambled away someone else's money.

Then, in Havre, his wheel broke. "I went to the bike shop to try and fix it, and the guy's like, 'I'm not gonna do this for free -- you're a giant mooch,'" James remembers. The repairman handed him a bucket, and for the next three days, the giant mooch was digging a basement under the guy's house.

"I mean, at this point you have to trust anyone you come into contact with," reasons James when asked if he's ever heard of John Wayne Gacy. "I mean, if you feel a gut feeling that it's wrong, then don't do it. The gut is always right -- listen to the gut."

Keep a Journal

You'll need something to remember the journey. Some people pour their hearts into diaries, or pilfer little trinkets along the way. Crazy James collects tattoos. "I have, like, ridiculous shit on my body," he says, proudly showing off the logo of a favorite L.A. bar inked on the back of his neck.

But even if you're not into tatts, your entire being should still be fully involved in the experience, says James. "You gotta be balls in, you know?" he says. "If you die doing what you're doing, then that's awesome."

To read more Jamesian pointers, or to share your own with the world, check out The 941.