Bike Life
Tahverlee + Warmshowers.org Foundation
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Bringing touring cyclists and hosts from around the globe together to share knowledge, experiences, and stories from the Warmshowers.org Foundation community.
Available episodes
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3 days ago
Jumping in With Both Pedals
Four years ago, Tyler Diedrick had never cycled more than 10 miles at a time and didn’t even know that bike touring was a thing. Then he was gifted a book called To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins, and it changed the course of his life.
Tyler quit his job, sold a majority of his belongings, bought a bike off of eBay, flew to Sacramento, CA, to pick it up, and set off for Alaska! What followed next is an epic tale of a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always adventurous bike tour.
Inspired by the many stories he has heard from our community on Bike Life and the quote from our long-time member Ken Francis who says, “We don’t stop cycling because we get old; we get old because we stop cycling.” Tyler knows now that a vagabond life spent exploring by bike is for him.
Follow Tyler’s adventures on YouTube at A Story to Remember, on Instagram at @tylerdiedrick, and Facebook.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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May 15, 2023
Jo Follows the Call of Adventure
For many years, Jo Davies harbored a natural yearning for adventure. When her US work visa was about to expire last year, she could have just flown back to the UK. But this adventurer decided to take the “scenic route” and ride her bike home instead.
Currently in Panama, Jo shares her incredible experience of leaving Boston for Vancouver, turning left, and heading down the Pacific coast into Mexico, learning Spanish on the fly. She shares her approach to planning long-distance cycling tours, how she became more relaxed about planning as her trip progressed, and the importance of unpredictability on an adventure.
Five fun facts about Jo’s Adventure:
* One of her favorite overnight stays was camping in a barn with a team of paleontologists in eastern Montana, where they were digging up a Triceratops!
* Jo enjoys keeping a log of various statistics about her trip, such as accommodation sources and types, along with all her cycle-related statistics.
* She’s made many great connections, met so many ace people through Warmshowers, and even found a host to teach her Spanish as she rapidly approached Mexico.
* She has kept her favorite traditions throughout her trip, celebrating milestones with espresso martinis and croissants, calling home with family every Sunday afternoon, and stopping for surfing lessons wherever possible.
* After staying at so many splendid bike camps, hostels, and casas de ciclistas during her trip, she dreams of opening a bike camp someday.
Follow Jo’s adventures on Instagram at @gojodavies.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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May 1, 2023
New Wheels for our Bike Giveaway Winner!
Is this a joke? That’s what retired fireman and professional grandpa Steve Diaz said when he found out that he won the Warmshowers 2022 Bike Giveaway.
Steve and Cindy, who live in beautiful Mt. Shasta, CA, heard about Warmshowers 4 years ago and set up a profile. They were excited to get their first guest soon after, who turned out to be Ken Francis! For those of you who don’t know, Ken is a Warmshowers OG and a former board member. Listen to his most recent Bike Life episode here.
Steve entered the Bike Giveaway via postcard and was shocked when he won! He chose a Dolan GXC Titanium Gravel Disc Bike, and we want to extend huge thanks to Dolan Bikes for their help and special attention. Of his new bike, Steve says, “The freewheel makes a kind of purring sound. It shall be called Kitty!!”
The 2023 Bike Giveaway will run from May 15th – June 25th and is open to all registered Warmshowers users. Get more information on how to enter here.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Apr 17, 2023
Around the USA in 420 Days
What do you get when you combine a historian interested in learning about people and a love of bicycling? A 12,000-mile, 420-day perimeter trip around the USA.
When Anne Winkler-Morey and her husband set off, she thought they might only make it through Wisconsin. But pedal by pedal, they made it all the way around the perimeter of the United States.
They stayed with 143 hosts during their trip; many of them were Warmshowers connections. Along the way, Anne learned that radical hospitality could be a possible antidote for the political divide and how trust in others we fear can actually make us safer.
Here are a few interesting facts about Anne’s trip:
* She and her husband biked over 12,000 miles, taking fourteen months, and collected stories from hundreds of individuals.
* Anne has a Ph.D. in history and is able to place stories in a historical context.
* They experienced two major hurricanes, a major drought, months of headwinds, temperatures over 105 degrees, and snow drifts over 30 feet high.
* Anne doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she believes in history and felt haunted during the trip.
Learn more about Anne and get her book, Allegiance to Winds and Waters: Bicycling the Political Divides of the United States, on her website, Anne Winkler-Morey. Read her Life stories through a social justice lens for the Minneapolis Interview Project and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Today’s episode of Bike Life was guest hosted by Jerry Kopack, Warmshowers Board member and finance chair.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Apr 3, 2023
Solidarity Rising
Sanna Ghotbi and Benjamin Ladraa are bike travelers and activists from Sweden, who are on an epic 2-year, 48 000 km journey through 40 countries to Western Sahara. By the time they are done, they will have traveled more than the length of the equator!
This epic trip is not just for fun; they are dedicated activists raising awareness about human rights worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of refugees live in the African desert awaiting a UN referendum that is very slow to happen. Western Sahara is one of the worst areas for human rights violations, second only to North Korea.
This genuinely inspiring couple has already gotten many heartwarming messages from Sahrawi refugees who are following their journey. Sanna and Benjamin have taken on an immense challenge but hope to raise enough awareness to make at least a small impact.
5 Interesting Facts about Sanna and Benjamin’s Solidarity Rising tour:
* They are traveling through densely populated cities such as New Delhi, Beijing, and Tokyo, as well as the harsh Sahara Desert (2000 km in the desert, to be exact).
* By the end of their tour, they will have ridden up and down the equivalent of 27 Mount Everests!
* They will meet with human rights organizations in all 40 countries they visit to learn about critical global issues.
* They are filming a documentary series about their journey and the amazing people they meet.
* Their trip will take them to refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, where around 150 000 refugees have little to no access to food and water.
Learn more about Sanna & Benjamin on their website, Solidarity Rising. Follow them and their cause on Instagram at @solidarityrising and on Facebook.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Today’s episode of Bike Life was guest hosted by Jerry Kopack, Warmshowers Board member and finance chair.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Mar 20, 2023
Turn Left to Nowhere
Meet Tucker Atwood, a math teacher, actor, author, and adventurer.
In 2019, Tucker and his brother spent 4 months thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. The trip gave him a new perspective on life and inspired him to go on more adventures. So, he bought a bike and began exploring while riding.
He bike-toured the East Coast Greenway in 2021 and experienced many ups and downs, inclement weather, and even became a background actor in a TV commercial. Tucker says the beauty of biking and hiking adventures is that you can’t truly prepare for them other than just experiencing them.
Tucker has been captivated by this slow way of seeing life. Next time, he is considering taking the Camino del Santiago Trail in Spain, traveling on the Pacific Crest Trail, or taking a cross-country tour; who knows? The future is wide open, and many more exciting adventures are out there.
Follow Tucker on Instagram at @hubagruben. Check out his accidental appearance in the Third Base Pizza commercial (12, 46 & 56 second marks). Tucker’s book, “Turn Left to Nowhere,” is available HERE.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Mar 6, 2023
Murdock, the Hosting Legend
Richard Martin, aka Murdock, discovered Warmshowers entirely by chance. Eight years and 200 guests later, Murdock has become a hosting legend!
One day, on his way to work as a wildland firefighter, he met a cyclist on the road who had just climbed a steep hill and looked exhausted. He stopped to offer her Gatorade, which turned into an offer of a place to stay, and then dinner, where she told him all about Warmshowers. The rest is history.
In his eight years of hosting, Murdock has met incredible people from all over the world. He’s seen it all; unicycles, tricycles, families with dogs, you name it. For Murdock, it’s all about the story, and someone new with a unique story always comes along!
Follow Richard on Facebook and Instagram at @pinkmoondiving.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Today’s episode of Bike Life was hosted by Jerry Kopack, Warmshowers Board member and finance chair.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Feb 20, 2023
The Bicycle Mayor of Ranchi
Meet Kanishka Poddar, the Bicycle Mayor of Ranchi, India.
In 2015, Kanishka ran into a woman from Spain who was touring India by bike and thought, “who travels India by bike? That’s insane.” But she inspired him to hop on a bike for the first time in 20 years, and he experienced the sheer joy of exploring places at his own pace.
Fast forward 8 years, and now Kanishka is the Bicycle Mayor of his town, Ranchi. He works closely to connect his community with the government to support bicycling policies and make his country more bicycle friendly. Kanishka has fallen in love with bicycle touring and traveling in slow motion.
Fun facts about Kanishka:
* He climbed some of the highest mountains while cycling in the Himalayas. From cycling in heavy rains to hailstorms and snowfall, he experienced it all while crossing notorious Himalayan passes.
* While touring in Vietnam, he was invited right off the street to attend a wedding. Later he ran into a random 70-year-old man, and even though they didn’t speak the same language, they could communicate.
* When he crossed the border between Thailand and Cambodia, he was almost mugged by immigration officers. He had the worst night in no man’s land between the two countries, but it taught him so much about himself, life, and beyond.
Learn more about Kanishka on his website Veloventure.in. Follow him on Instagram at @kp1200 and on Twitter at @kp1200.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org_,_ and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Today’s episode of Bike Life was hosted by Jerry Kopack, Warmshowers Board member and finance chair.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Feb 6, 2023
Harnessing Tailwind
You never know what will happen when you stay with a Warmshowers host. When Adriel Klein’s host’s door opened, he met the love of his life!
Adriel’s love for biking and charity work began with his first cross-country tour riding across America with a group called Bike & Build. After that trip, he took every opportunity to bike as much as possible.
On his second cross-country tour, Adriel relied mainly on Warmshowers hosts. After a long day touring, he arrived at his host’s home expecting to meet an older gentleman. But the door was opened by his host’s granddaughter instead, and it was love at first site. The rest, as they say, is history.
Adriel’s enthusiasm for life is contagious. He believes he has been blessed with a “good tailwind” and sees this as a metaphor for his obligation to help those going through the headwind.
Connect with Adriel and purchase his new book at Harnessing Tailwind. Follow him on Instagram at @harnessingtailwindpodcast.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Today’s episode of Bike Life was hosted by Jerry Kopack, Warmshowers Board member and finance chair.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Jan 23, 2023
Conversations Across America
Kari Loya got his love for biking and adventure from his dad, Merv. They took their first bike tour together when Kari was in his early teens and always talked about biking cross-country someday.
When 75-year-old Merv was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s in 2015, Kari knew that “someday” was here. With very little planning, they set off for a father-son journey of a lifetime; 73 days and 4,600 miles across America.
The adventure was a long goodbye for Kari and taught him the power of perseverance and adaptability in the face of uncertainty. Kari and Merv’s story will touch your heart and inspire you to seize the day with someone you love—whatever that means to you.
Connect with Kari at KariLoyaVO.com and get his book, Conversations Across America, on Amazon.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley
Happy riding and hosting!
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Jan 9, 2023
One Pedal at a Time
Pam and Glen Goodnough are living examples of the saying, “age is just a number.” They married 40 years ago during their first cross-country bike tour and have not slowed down since!
Now in their mid-60s, their retirement gift to themselves was to take a world tour, which they started in 2019. They made it through the Pacific Coast, New Zealand, and Malaysia before Covid forced them to return to the US. Never ones to be sidetracked for long, they picked up their tour in 2021 and haven’t stopped since.
Pam and Glen share their lifelong love of bicycling, their love of music along the trail, and their fantastic outlook on life. Their motto is to keep going, stay curious, and never stop wondering what’s around the corner!
5 Fun Facts from Pam & Glen:
* They got married 40 years ago during a cross-country bike tour
* They love music and travel with Pam’s fiddle and Glen’s mandolin
* Road biking in Baja, Mexico, is doable!
* They learned many valuable lessons after G…
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Dec 26, 2022
Shoestring Budget
Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. With over 30 years of experience, John Bolton knows a thing or two about cycling and the gear that goes with it! He shares his vast knowledge on his YouTube channel called Cycling on a Shoestring.
John is passionate about the cycling community and gives honest, objective reviews, tips, and tricks in his videos. He shares low-cost products with great value and the resources you need to follow your passion for cycling and do it affordably. Whether it’s clothing, gear, bikes, routes, or components, John reviews it all.
5 Fun Facts and Observations from John:
* He likes climbing mountains - yeah, he likes to suffer!
* His Road ID wristband says, “ Pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever.”
* Riding a bike gives him time to think and keeps him sane.
* Patching tubes is still a thing.
* You see the world from a different perspective from a bike saddle.…
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Dec 12, 2022
A First Time for Everything
Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and attracted tremendous attention for its unique story. We are happy to bring it to you again and wish you happy riding and hosting!
Nate was biking cross-country on his first long-distance tour. Augusta (Gus) was on a 2 ½ month ride from Washington through Canada to Maine. Two people from different parts of the country on separate trips and routes. How did they come together? They crossed paths the same evening in Midland, MI, and became Matt and Kathy’s first-ever Warmshowers’ guests.
Nathan Babb, Gus Klein, and Matt and Kathy Rassette might have met by chance, but they all share a deep love of life, adventure, and cycling. In A First Time for Everything, hear how even though they spent just 14 hours together one summer, the connection they made will last a lifetime.
As Matt puts it, hosting is fun, and life is short so laugh much, ride far and stay tuned in!
You can follow Nate’s adventures in his Bike Journal and…
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Nov 28, 2022
Pizza Trike
The one thing missing from Sal Garro’s childhood was learning how to ride a bike.
As an adult, he was teased about being the only “grown-up” who couldn’t ride. With the help of friends, Sal finally got on two wheels. However, he lives in New York City, where traffic is fierce, and he just wasn’t confident enough to ride. Enter the adult tricycle; yes, it’s a thing!
Purchasing an adult tricycle was life-changing for Sal. Now he rides confidently around town with his kids and has even taken a few cross-state bike tours. Riding in NYC prompted Sal to get involved in street safety advocacy. He uses his YouTube channel, Pizza Trike, to bring attention to street riding/walking safety.
Sal shares his joy of cycling, how his tricycle became known as the Pizza Trike, and how it serves as his commuter vehicle, cargo hauler, family bike, and adventure machine.
Learn more about Sal on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want more information on tricycles, check out Worksman C…
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Nov 14, 2022
Creating Possible
What do you do when you dream about taking a long-distance bike tour but know nothing about solo cycle touring? You buy a bike, load it down, and ride 60 miles through the Wisconsin countryside, that’s what!
Tarra has been passionate about the outdoors since serving in the United States Marine Corps where she learned to become one with nature to survive. This training gave her the courage and motivation to step out into the space of solo bike touring. Tarra’s time on her bike fosters her creation and helps her visualize what’s next in her life.
In Creating Possible, Tarra recounts how she designed her first solo tour around Warmshower hosts where she felt surrounded by kindness and bike education. Being a part of the bike community has had a profound impact on her inspiring her to do more extensive cycle touring including raising money to help others.
Tarra is a living example of what can happen when you believe in yourself, live outside your comfort zone, and push your own ed…
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Oct 31, 2022
Healing Journey
UK resident Antony Butcher considers himself a “terrible cyclist.” He likes to go on grand adventures and then put his bike away for long periods until the next big trip idea comes along.
After a mental health breakdown in 2017, the idea hit him to cycle across America from New York City to San Francisco. When he began planning the trip, he panicked because it turns out that America is a really big country! But the idea stuck with him, and after some training and a pandemic pause, off he went.
Antony used his journey to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (which his mother suffers from) and recover from his own mental health struggles. It takes real bravery to stand up and say, “I’m struggling, and I need some help.” Cycling is a great way to stay mindful and in the moment.
Antony is passionate about normalizing conversations around mental health, connection with others, and the wonderfully serendipitous moments that occur on tour. This world is full of adventures; say yes…
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Oct 17, 2022
Uniquely Bamboo
Sustainability, environment, cycling, community, leadership, and bamboo. These are all passions of today’s guest, Warmshowers Board Member Lucy Binfield.
Lucy grew up cycling in the UK lake district and always dreamed of taking a long bike tour. She got her chance after university when she moved to China and took a three-month tour through China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. The unique part is that she did it on a bamboo bike.
Riding a bamboo bike is quite the conversation starter. Few people realize that there is such a thing! Lucy’s interest in bamboo led her to become a Ph.D. candidate studying Bamboo Industry Management at the University of British Columbia.
The world of bamboo is a whole ecosystem unto itself and rides in perfect harmony with Lucy’s passions.
Learn more about Lucy by following her on LinkedIn, on Instagram and by visiting her work at Research Group, Alternative Journal, and World Bamboo Organization.
Visit these sites to learn more about bamboo bikes and…
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Oct 3, 2022
The Munda Biddi Trail
If you have ever dreamt about cycling in Australia, then stay tuned. After today's episode, you will want to update your bucket list to include the world-class, off-road cycling experience known as The Munda Biddi Trail.
Rhonda Oshanek, who works with the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation, joins us to share her experiences and fills us in on all we need to know about the trail, including the best time to plan a trip to experience it for yourself.
Munda Biddi means 'path through the forest' in the local Noongar Aboriginal language. The Trail traverses Western Australia's Darling Range and southern forests through eucalyptus bushland, granite outcrops, and unique wetlands.
Southwest Australia is a global biodiversity hotspot where you will discover plants and wildlife found nowhere else. Few places can boast about a 1,000 km trail built through an undeveloped natural corridor!
5 Things to know about the Munda Biddi Trail:
* The trail offers a fun adventure ride immersed in a unique Aus…
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Sep 19, 2022
Mission Driven
Meet Ben Grannis. He was so inspired by someone else’s story it prompted him to take action in his own life. In August 2021, Ben began a 10,000 mile journey to raise awareness for distracted driving and promote digital wellness.
Mission Driven recounts how one family’s response to tragedy taught Ben the importance of community, the impact we make on others, and the need for awareness in our digital age. We catch up with Ben in the middle of his ride and despite being temporarily sidelined by injury, he is determined to complete his mission.
5 Observations from Ben:
* He feels vulnerability can open you up to the world and many unknown opportunities.
* He believes there is a LOT of good in this country that can overpower the anger if we listen to it.
* His dad rode the TransAmerica route as part of the Bike Centennial in 1977.
* To date, he has ridden 5826 miles to promote his mission.
* He wants you to be aware that nine people are killed every day in the United St…
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Sep 5, 2022
Best of Humanity
How do you experience the best of humanity? According to Daniel Stein, you experience it from a bicycle seat. Daniel believes other people view cyclists as trustworthy individuals making them more open to interactions.
Originally from New York City, having lived in Chicago, and now living in Mexico City, Daniel has a unique perspective because he uses his bicycle as his primary means of transportation. Being a city cyclist, he advocates for more bike lanes to increase bike access anywhere in the world.
In today’s episode, Daniel recounts how he had minimal bike maintenance experience on his first tour and was helped by so many along the way. Now he is ready to give back and shares some tips and tricks he has learned since that first trip.
5 Fun Facts about Daniel:
* He believes you meet the best of humanity on a bike.
* Arguably, the loneliest place he has biked was the northern Nevada desert. Still, it's the part of the trip he remembers most fondly for the discoveries/pers…
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Aug 22, 2022
Cycling into Retirement
When you think of retirement, do you wonder how you will fill your days? Do you think retirement may be boring? It doesn't have to be according to today's guest. Meet Anne Breedlove, a seasoned cyclist and soon-to-be author.
In 2008, Anne and her husband retired at 54 and 61 to travel the world by loaded bicycles. Before grandchildren, they spent eight years cycling approximately 30,000 miles through 21 countries. Cycling into Retirement recounts Anne’s experiences on the road, the fantastic people she has met along the way, and how cycling is really about bonding with others.
Are you interested in how Anne and Jim got started in cycling? Then, stay tuned because Anne is working on publishing a book about their early adventures. Watch for Part-time Nomads: Learning how to Travel the World on Bicycles (while raising two kids and holding down day jobs) coming to a bookshelf near you soon.
Anne’s Reflections:
* The richest part of her and Jim's travels was their time with Warm…
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Aug 8, 2022
World Citizen
If you are an avid cyclist who has dreamed about traveling the world, meet Joe Diomede. Better known as Bicycle Joe, this cyclist has pursued his passion for seeing the world on two wheels and has authored a book about his many adventures.
Cycling has changed Joe’s life, and he has spent many years working and living on his bicycle. Inspired by his bike life, Joe recounts incredible memories he and his family have had while cycling and living in various countries.
Joe has spent time in Africa helping provide bikes for people in need and believes the best part of cycling is that it is accessible to everyone. Joe thinks any story that explores the infinite possibilities cycling can add to life is an empowering story.
5 Fun Facts to Know About Joe:
* He was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. He used to be a motorcyclist but saw his first mountain bike in Japan in 1987 and never looked back. Back then, Joe and some friends put together the first dropped handlebar mountain tour…
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Jul 25, 2022
Hosting Handprints
Can you imagine hosting almost 300 people in four years? That’s precisely what Chuck Atkinson and his wife have done.
Chuck and Susan are ex-pats from the U.S. They flew to Istanbul in 2011 with the idea of pedaling on their recumbent trikes for two years. Outside of a few breaks, the couple has remained on the road across the Atlantic for years.
Four years ago, the Atkinsons decided to settle in Shkoder, Albania, along the Balken coast for the winter months. When they began hosting with Warmshowers, they had no idea how many people routed through Shkoder. Hear why they love to host and how their guests have left unique handprints in their lives.
5 Fun Things that Chuck Atkinson wants you to know:
* The people Chuck and Susan have met while traveling have been amazing and supportive of their journey.
* In all of their days pedaling on this Earth, they have NEVER not been able to find a place to sleep on any given night.
* Traveling by bicycle offers a unique experience and…
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Jul 11, 2022
Counterculture
If you are a cycle tourer who takes the ability to tour on your own for granted, then meet Priyanka Dalal. She has overcome many cultural barriers to become the first known female solo cycle tourer from India.
When Priyanka started touring, not one person in her circle had any experience as a touring cyclist. But she didn’t let that stop her! In 2014, she traveled to Europe to complete her first solo cycling tour from Berlin to Copenhagen. She was hooked and over the last eight years, she has had many adventures.
Join us as she explains how she has overcome cultural barriers to find the freedom to follow her dreams and become an inspiration to women cyclists everywhere.
5 Fun Facts to Know About Priyanka:
* When Priyanka started her first tour in 2014, she had never ridden a geared bicycle. So it was only on her second tour in Australia that she understood how gears worked.
* Priyanka has always traveled solo, except for one time in Taiwan when she was with a group.
* S…
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Jun 27, 2022
Family Bonding
Do you believe your bike touring days will be over if you have kids? Meet Ed and Jocelyn and their two boys as they share their bike touring experiences as a family.
This Canadian family joins the Bike Life Podcast from Europe, where they are on a six-month adventure taking them from Spain to Norway.
In this episode, they share their current and past experiences of what it is like to do long-distance touring as a family of four. Ed and Jocelyn have discovered that bike touring with kids is the ultimate family bonding experience.
Enjoy listening to Ed, Jocelyn, and their boys as they share how they are biking from one fun thing to the next as a family.
5 Fun Facts to Know about the Gillis family:
* Ed and Jocelyn biked from Vancouver to Tijuana on their honeymoon.
* They started touring as a family when the boys were ages 3 and 1 (with Chariots, XtraCycles, WeeHoos, Bike Friday tandems, and now their bikes).
* When the boys were 7 and 5, they took a six-month trip (6,000km) t…
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Jun 13, 2022
Shoestring Budget
Do you want to get into cycling without breaking the bank? With over 30-years of experience, John Bolton knows a lot about cycling and the gear that goes with it!
John runs a YouTube channel called Cycling on a Shoestring. He is an avid cyclist who gives honest, objective reviews, tips, and tricks in his videos. Whether it’s clothing, gear, bikes, routes, or components, John reviews it all.
John is passionate about the cycling community. He shares low-cost products with great value and the resources you need to follow your passion for cycling and do it affordably.
5 Fun Facts and Observations from John:
* He likes climbing mountains - yeah, he likes to suffer!
* His Road ID wristband says, “ Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.”
* Riding a bike gives him time to think and keeps him sane.
* Patching tubes is still a thing.
* You see the world from a different perspective from a bike saddle.
Learn more about John and follow him on his YouTube channel Cyc…
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May 30, 2022
The Cyclonaute
Meet Claude Marthaler – a self-described Cyclonaute. For Claude, traveling by bike is a way of life. He has spent the past 16 years biking around the world and has authored 11 books and bike travelogues.
From 1994 to 2001, Claude spent an incredible seven years on a solo bike tour traveling through 60 countries and biking over 122,000 kms. He loves the mountains and hiking and has spent a lot of time crisscrossing the Himalayas by bike, concentrating on Tibet, the very center of his inner geography.
Claude says he needs to move to be able to write, so that's why he is always on his bike. He believes it is a privilege to travel by bicycle, without walls and in closer contact with nature. Bike travel is very slow and has great purpose and intent.
Claude lives by the motto of "pouring kindness" on others and giving back more than you have received along the way.
Five things Claude wants you to know:
* People's kindness, helpfulness, and hospitality in poor countries are heartwarm…
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May 16, 2022
Celebrating the World's Best Bike Movies
Storytelling, adventure, love of cycling, human to human connection . . . that’s what bike touring is all about. And that’s precisely what you’ll see in the “world’s best bike movies” presented at the Filmed by Bike Annual Film Festival.
Filmed by Bike is celebrating 20 incredible years of bringing bicycle stories from all over the world to the silver screen. Festival Creator and Director Ayleen Crotty shares how Filmed by Bike started with a group of people who understood the desire to ride bikes simply for fun. What began as a small fundraiser 20 years ago has grown into a movement.
The film festival in Portland, OR, June 9-12, 2022, features a broad mix of movies, everything from comedies to documentaries, from wild mountain bike rides to tales of adventure on the open road. It brings people together to watch award-winning movies from all over the globe made by amateur and professional filmmakers to celebrate their love of cycling in all shapes and forms.
If you canno…
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May 2, 2022
Biking for the Future
What do you do when you are a 71-year-old retired grandmother concerned about climate change, and you want to make a difference? You hop on your pink bike and ride 2500 km from your hometown to the COP26 Summit in Scotland!
Meet Dorothee Hildebrandt. She is so passionate about stopping climate change that she spent six weeks cycling alone from her home in Katrineholm, Sweeden, to the COP26 Summit (UN Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow, Scotland. Her trip started on September 1st, 2021, and culminated when she pedaled into Glasgow for the start of the summit in November.
Biking for the Future recounts what motivated Dorothee to take this ride, the many Warmshowers hosts she stayed with, and the incredible people she met along the way.
Why pedal all this way alone at her age? Simply put, Dorothee hopes to make a difference. She wants the world's political leaders to understand that we must act now to stop climate change. She says, "I know it is a dream, but sometimes dreams come tr…
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Apr 18, 2022
Touring in Tandem
The story of Peter and Tracy Flucke is like a book with many chapters centered around bicycling, together and alone, for more than fifty years.
Their first tour in 1991 was one for the books; a multi-day fundraiser ride with Peter pulling their 6-month-old daughter in a trailer with his road bike. Changing diapers along the side of the road, warming bottles in gas station microwaves, what an experience!
In 1995 Peter & Tracy bought their first tandem bicycle to do longer rides with their two young daughters and realized they also liked riding as a couple. They purchased a road/touring tandem they named Violet six years later, and the rest is history. They like to say they bought their first tandem to make their family strong and bought their second to keep their marriage strong.
Bicycling, touring, and Warmshowers have introduced Peter & Tracy to a different way of looking at the world. Their mission is to help others see the world as they do; through bicycle and pedestrian eyes.
F…
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Apr 4, 2022
Pedaling Through the Pandemic
Ken isn’t one to slow down. When the pandemic hit, he knew he had to find a way to continue touring and hosting his beloved Warmshowers family. It was time to get creative.
Ken Francis is a passionate and seasoned cyclist, a longtime Warmshowers user, host, volunteer, and former Board member. He began hosting cyclists through Warmshowers in 2013 and has welcomed more than 269 guests over the years!
In Pedaling Through the Pandemic, Ken recounts how he continued to tour while taking all necessary safety precautions. He checks the travel guidelines daily and always has a backup plan. Last year, Ken combined his love of cycling with his love of roller coasters and took a trip across the Midwest, visiting eight theme parks. He also toured in Germany and stayed with a wonderful couple he hosted in California years before.
Ken is grateful to be a “shelter in the storm” for folks cycling through California during this lockdown time. Even if we disagree on vaccinations, the virus, or…
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Mar 21, 2022
It's All About Connections
Dave and Leo are not your typical Warmshowers hosts. In fact, there is nothing typical about this couple. They met on a scuba diving trip almost 26 years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history.
They first heard about Warmshowers through a camping forum, and in their thirteen years of hosting, this 62 and 66 years young couple have welcomed hundreds of cyclists to their Florida home. Dave and Leo are located on the Atlantic coast along the route to Key West, a very popular spot.
As an openly gay senior couple, they occasionally have concerns about hosting and touring, especially in certain parts of the country. But they are open and honest in their Warmshowers profile and have always had beautiful experiences hosting cyclists through our community.
Their love of hosting is evident. They believe it’s all about connections and building relationships with people. Warmshowers is the platform for cyclists looking for hosts, but for Dave and Leo, it’s also the platform for hosts lo…
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Mar 7, 2022
Two Wheels One World
Adam Swanson has virtually grown up on a bike. He was just an infant when his family took a bike tour across Mexico, and now, at 18 years old, he is on his first solo worldwide tour. After graduating high school last year, he set off for a gap year traveling the world with the full support of his family who are longtime Warmshowers hosts.
Adam believes that long-term travel at his age makes you a more open-minded person and is the perfect way to get to know the world. Bike touring before college can also spark interest in a field of study you would never have thought of if you started classes right out of high school. Adam has already developed a desire to attend college abroad instead of returning to the United States as he had initially planned.
Adam brings a very unique perspective to what’s possible for young tourers. His advice to any young person considering a tour is to go solo. People feel more comfortable approaching a solo tourer, plus it also makes you more outgoing. He…
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Feb 21, 2022
Nourishing Body and Soul
Bike touring helps us check in with ourselves and our needs. It teaches us how to nourish ourselves appropriately, how to trust the signals our bodies are giving us, how to understand and navigate our fears and anxieties. It helps us develop a deeper relationship with ourselves, our needs, and our capabilities that carry into all aspects of our lives.
What started as a bit of a fantasy for Sheelagh Daly turned into reality when she took the leap and set off on a solo cycle trip across Europe. With the help of Warmshowers' hosts, she overcame her fears and gained the confidence she needed to keep going.
Sheelagh uses her knowledge as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist on bike tours to help her feel and ride her best. It isn't always easy when you're on the road, but she shares some nutrition strategies that can go a long way. There is no right or wrong way to tour; it's just about checking in with yourself, what excites you, what pushes you outside your comfort zone, and what feels li…
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Feb 7, 2022
A First Time for Everything
Nate was biking cross country on his first long-distance tour. Augusta (Gus) was on a 2 ½ month ride from Washington through Canada to Maine. Two people from different parts of the country on independent trips and different routes. How did they come together? They crossed paths on the same evening in Midland, MI, and became Matt and Kathy’s first-ever Warmshowers’ guests.
Nathan Babb, Gus Klein, and Matt and Kathy Rassette might have met by chance, but they all share a deep love of life, adventure, and cycling. In A First Time for Everything, hear how although they spent just 14 hours together last summer, the connection they made will last a lifetime.
As Matt puts it, hosting is fun, and life is short so laugh much, ride far and stay tuned in! You can follow Nate’s adventures in his Bike Journal and meet Augusta and Matt on Facebook.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahver…
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Jan 24, 2022
Wheels of Fortune
A night in a Texas jail . . . a stay with a Canadian Mountie and an opera singer . . . an unforgettable party with a local mayor in a tackle shop. What do these things have in common? They are just some of the incredible times that Chris and Ties experienced on their 14,000-mile bike tour across the US and Canada.
Meet Chris Fieldsend, who, after careful planning, set off on a yearlong tour with his partner Ties Benguedda. They stayed with over 70 Warmshowers’ hosts during their tour, who provided a place to stay and took them on fantastic adventures like kayaking with manatees.
Chris wrote a book called Wheels of Fortune recounting the many lessons learned along the way and encouraging all cycle tourers to host and be hosted. Proceeds from the book are being donated to World Bike Relief, changing the lives of people in need by providing bicycles. You can follow Chris and Ties on Instagram at @CyclinkTheWorld and find his book, Wheels of Fortune, on Amazon.
Join our community at W…
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Jan 10, 2022
For the Children
It started with a bike breakdown on a cycle tour through Namibia, Africa, in 2014. No problem for a seasoned cyclist like Ursula, but she was in a remote area with no access to bike shops or spare parts. Was her tour over? What happened next would forever change Ursula’s life and the lives of countless children.
Today we welcome Ursula Koll, who has had many incredible experiences solo cycling through an amazing twenty-eight countries including; the USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Spain, Siberia, Mongolia, China, Africa, Chile, and Norway!
For the Children recounts Ursula’s chance meeting with Salome, who helps African orphans, and how she has made it her mission to improve the lives of over 120 children in the bush. Learn more about her work to help children on her website Radreisen für Aidswaisen.
Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.
Happy ridin…
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Dec 27, 2021
A Seasoned Cyclist
Today's episode of Bike Life first aired in 2020 and quickly became one of our most popular shows. We are joined by passionate and seasoned cyclist Ken Francis, a longtime Warmshowers user, host, volunteer, and former Board member.
By the mid-80s, Ken had already completed three cross-country tours of the United States, during which he relied on the hospitality of strangers. He began touring pre-technology and used old-fashioned paper maps back then. Finding places to stay along the way was difficult, and Ken mostly camped in the bush. On occasion, he would actually stop and knock on someone's door at the end of a long day and ask for a place to stay. He was hesitant at first but was always welcomed and is still in touch with some of those folks to this day.
Ken began hosting cyclists through Warmshowers in 2013, and over the years, he has welcomed more than 250 guests! Around that same time, he began volunteering with the foundation by helping with new membership applications. At th…
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Dec 13, 2021
Women in Cycling
Today's guest is Pinar Pinzuti, the founder of Fancy Women Bike Ride; a woman-only bike event held in cities worldwide. Pinar's goal is to bring more diversity into the cycling world and empower more women to ride more often.
Pinar has been traveling by bicycle since 2006 and using Warmshowers hosts around the world. She has tried all forms of bike touring; long-distance Cycling in South America, adventure cycling in Iceland, bike-packing in southern Italy, road biking in Spain. She loves discovering cities by bike and believes if you "go slow, you feel more."
As an avid cyclist, Pinar participated in many bike events and began to notice that she was often one of only a few women involved. As a result, she became shy and somewhat insecure when riding. Pinar's neighbor, who learned to ride a bike for the first time at the age of 39, came up with the idea of having a bike event for women only. So together, they held the first Fancy Woman Bike Ride in 2013.
They were only expecting a…
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Nov 29, 2021
Making the Journey Yours
Today, we are joined by Susan Doram. Susan is a published writer, award-winning personal trainer, cycle coach, and worldwide solo cyclist.
In 2017, Susan set off for a 2 ½ year solo cycling tour around the world. Her epic journey took her through 15 countries on four continents! It was a “slow cycle” tour, and she credits her bike for helping her meet the most interesting people, especially her Warmshowers hosts, some of whom she is still in touch with today. She returned home to the UK in 2020, just before the pandemic lockdown and in time for her 50th birthday.
Before her journey, she spent a full two years planning and organizing her trip. The whole idea of a long cycle tour scared Susan. So in 2015, she announced to everyone that she planned to take a round-the-world cycle tour just to push herself into actually doing it. Since returning, Susan shares her story to hopefully motivate others to set off on their own cycle adventures.
Before Susan left, she read all of the book…
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Nov 15, 2021
Facing Uncertainty
We are joined today by Ben Riopelle. Ben is a Vet Tech from Colorado who is combining his love for animals and conservation with a long dreamed about first-time bike tour.
Since graduating college, Ben has worked both as a veterinary technician and a teacher. In 2019, while working as a vet tech at a low-cost, high-volume veterinary clinic in Colorado, he was offered a spot on a trip to Panama to assist with an island spay/neuter campaign. Little did he know that his life would be forever changed, and the trip would become a catalyst for pursuing a bike tour that he had dreamed about for years.
When he returned from Panama, and almost nine years after first thinking about taking a bike tour, Ben decided the time was right. While spending his summer in Alaska, where he feels a deep connection, he began mentally and physically preparing to start pedaling. He recalls planning his trip, telling his family, figuring out what gear he needed (he knew he was overpacking), and finding sources…
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Nov 1, 2021
The Gift of Time
We are joined today by Jerry Kopack. Jerry has bike toured through 17 countries and is a member of the Warmshowers Board of Directors. He is propelled by the curiosity of the “human experience” and lives by the mentality to always say yes.
Jerry had been following the “formula for success” he was taught in college and worked for ten years in corporate finance. In 2005, his mom called and announced that she wanted them to start a hospice together. Jerry didn’t even know what a hospice was and thought she meant a hostel! But after learning more, he made the leap and joined his mom. Dealing with end-of-life care is difficult, especially at a young age. But within days, Jerry found his purpose and knew he would never return to a “cubicle” job again. Running the hospice was the best thing he ever did in his life. The greatest lesson he learned there – the value of time - will stay with him forever.
In 2015, Jerry stepped away from the hospice and suddenly had time on hi…
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Oct 18, 2021
Reigning Kindness
We are joined today by Dan Beaumont. Dan is on an epic 4-month journey cycling 10,000km across Britain to raise funds for Mind Over Mountains.
At the time of this recording, Dan was on day 90 and about 7000km into his journey heading down the west coast of Wales. He was resting in the beautiful yard of his Warmshowers hosts, Catherine and John, who are feeding him well! Dan has stayed with many Warmshowers hosts along the way and says the theme of kindness has reigned throughout his journey.
After graduating from university, Dan left the UK and spent ten years working abroad in Romania, Germany, and Australia. Once back home, he decided to rediscover his country and thought, what better way to do it than on a bicycle. Initially, he planned to take his time cycling around the UK to see the sights, but then his mate Alex, the founder of Mind over Mountains, suggested he turn his ride into a way to help others.
Mind Over Mountains is a mental health charity offering immediate and acces…
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Oct 4, 2021
Queer in the Community
We are joined today by Kevin Belanger. Kevin is here to share his wisdom, knowledge, and personal experiences on the important conversation of being queer in the outdoor community.
Kevin was a guest on Bike Life episode #33, Great American Rail Trail. He is the Manager of Trail Planning with Rails to Trails Conservancy and The Great American Rail Trail, a multi-use cross-country trail under development enabling users to hike or bike across the US on a safe and scenic path.
As a queer person, Kevin has a different point of view on biking and the outdoors. There are many barriers to tour cycling, but the best way to overcome these barriers is by educating and bringing the conversation forward. Kevin travels extensively, especially in rural areas, and is grateful to say that he has had very few bad experiences.
Kevin was young and not out yet when Matthew Shepherd was murdered in Wyoming just for being gay. Matthew’s murder profoundly affected him and always colored his impression of…
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Sep 20, 2021
Road Magic
We are joined today by Aaron Stephenson. Aaron is a Spanish teacher who lives with his family in Massachusetts and uses his summer breaks to cycle for a cause.
At age 13, Aaron began working in a bike shop where his dream of cycling across the country was born. He has always been fascinated with the beauty and simplicity of the bicycle. The speed of a bike is perfect for encountering the world around you. The 360° view engages all of your senses and is so refreshing. Every sense in your body gets turned on when you are on a bike.
When Aaron was younger, he did a few short 5-day tours with family and always knew he wanted to tackle a long-distance ride. He was captivated by the idea of riding cross country on a bicycle. Tour for Becky began to honor the memory of his late mother-in-law, who passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Despite the challenges that Becky faced, she was always sunny and ready to help others. Aaron feels that the tour is the perfect vehicle t…
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Sep 6, 2021
Great American Rail Trail
We are joined today by Kevin Belanger. Kevin is the Manager of Trail Planning for the Rails to Trails Conservancy and the Great American Rail Trail.
The Great American Rail Trail is the flagship project of the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC). RTC was formed in 1986 with the mission to convert unused railway lines into hiking and biking trails. There are many miles of abandoned railway trails across the country, and RTC reimagines public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.
Currently, the route is 53% complete, with just over 2,000 miles of trail across the country. RTC works with state and local officials throughout the country to complete more of the trail. Each of these projects happens on a regional scale, and RTC relies heavily on advocates on the ground. They focus on linking these corridors to create trail networks that connect people and places to transform communities across the country, from Washington, DC, to Washington state.
Th…
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Aug 23, 2021
A Traffic Jam Moment
We are joined today by Lorraine Lambert. Lorraine is a “later in life” first-time cyclist who discovered her path after a traffic jam moment.
About eight years ago, while sitting in a traffic jam on the way to work, Lorraine was struck by the thought that she was “stuck on the slippery slope of middle age and heading downhill fast with no way out.” She knew right then and there that she wanted her life to change, but she wasn’t sure what she wanted her new life to look like. She didn’t want a minor change, mind you, but rather something big.
That very day, Lorraine made a life-altering decision. She quit her job, left her home and family, bought a tent and a rusty second-hand bike she named Claude and started cycling! The catch? Lorraine had never cycled before and hated camping. But she didn’t let that stop her; she put on her trusty cycling skirt and set off on her first bike tour. What could possibly go wrong?
Her first trip was terrifying – and wonderful all at t…
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Aug 9, 2021
Cycling Into the Sunset
Today's episode of Bike Life, first brought to you last year, contains some great information on planning your next bike tour. Whether it is your first long tour or you are a veteran, you will learn something from our guest Bill Roy.
Bill is a 66-year-old seasoned touring cyclist who has logged over 30,000 miles on his bike! Since 2016, he has taken four major tours visiting almost all of the states west of the Mississippi River. Bill began short touring trips as a student in his twenties but has taken longer trips the past few years since he retired.
When asked what his favorite trip has been, he laughing replies, "they are all wonderful!" He has never been disappointed on any tour, long or short. Bill has biked extensively throughout the American west and says that he enjoys touring much more now as a seasoned veteran than he did when he was younger. That's because, when he was "young and dumb," his judgment was not always the best!
Bill tours solo and joined Warmshowers a few yea…
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Jul 26, 2021
50 Ways to Cycle the World
After releasing their first book, Bike Life, detailing their personal cycling journey, Tristan and Belén dreamed about writing a book featuring unique ways other cyclists travel the world. Their goal is to get more people traveling by bike, so the stories in 50 Ways are relatable to everyone. No matter your situation, 50 Ways to Cycle the World showcases unique stories of riders and how they overcame their barriers to journey by bike. If they can do it, you can too!
Tristan and Belén dug deep into each cyclist’s story and had long in-depth conversations with them to portray their cycling style fully. The book celebrates the vast bike touring community and is divided into four main sections. Companionship outlines cycling solo, cycling with others, and cycling as a family. Cycling Styles outlines cyclists who ride tandem bikes, recumbent bikes, fat bikes, E-Bikes, even a wind bike! Belén’s favorite chapter in this section features an amazing couple from Germany who cycled throug…
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Jul 12, 2021
Hosting; A Rewarding Experience
Today's episode of Bike Life, first brought to you last year, contains great information on hosting that we want to share with you again. Whether you are hosting for the first time or resuming hosting after the pandemic, our guest Ann has some great tips for you.
Now is the perfect time to take a few minutes to log into your Warmshowers' profile to update your preferences, enhance your bio, add some new pictures, and be sure your hosting status is set correctly. Don't forget to download the Warmshowers Mobile App. We have just rolled out our new Host-Only mode allowing hosts who don't need the entire map and search functions to respond to messages and requests free of charge; no subscription required.
Ann, a frequent Warmshowers host located on the western coast of Sweden, is with us to talk about the joy of hosting cyclists from all over the world. She is an American who met her boyfriend in Spain and then moved with him to his native Sweden a few years ago. They both love the Warm…
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Jun 28, 2021
Saying Yes
Sara has been a cycling enthusiast since childhood. She took her first long bike tour in high school, going on a 1000-mile group bike trip that changed her life. She continued her love of bike advocacy in college, and after graduation, Sara and her friends decided to bike to every state in the US. They set off on their year-long trip and became inspired to do more than just bike. To share their love of exploring, they started doing classroom presentations along the way about science, conservation, and adventure.
In 2017, Sara rode her bike solo 10,201 miles from Mexico to Canada and back to follow the migrating Monarch Butterflies. Her route took her to Texas first, and then she followed the energy of the Monarchs taking her up to Canada. Along the way, she made many classroom presentations about the Monarchs. She made her way to the east coast in the fall and followed the migrating Monarchs back to Mexico.
Sara’s goal is to get kids excited about adventure, not material things. Sh…
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Jun 14, 2021
The Gift of Exploring
Katie got involved in athletics as a child. But as she got to middle school, the competitive nature of team sports began to bother her. To fulfill a school requirement, she took a walking/running class and ran her first full mile. That first mile led to her first marathon and started her journey of endurance athletics.
After running her first marathon, Katie set her sights high and decided to compete in the Iron Man Triathlon. While researching cycle training, Katie came across The Ride Across America, which is a 3,300-mile ride from Washington state to Washington DC. The ride raises money for the American Lung Association. Katie’s grandmother passed away from lung cancer, so she registered for the race to honor her memory.
Just one week before the Ride Across America, while on a routine bike ride, Katie fell and broke her pelvis. But she didn’t let that stop her; she completed the race on a hand bike! At 19 years old, with a broken pelvis, she rode 85 miles a day for 40 days str…
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May 31, 2021
Wild and Wonderful Times on Tour
Natalie's love of cycling started with short weekend trips when she was in college. After graduation, she wanted to try something different, making her step out of her comfort zone. In the summer of 2018, Natalie took off for a three-month, cross-country bike tour from Anacortes, WA, to Bar Harbor, ME.
Natalie did not do a lot of training to prepare. She didn't buy a lot of fancy new gear; in fact, she rode the bicycle she had since she was 12 years old! All the rest of her gear was either decades old, borrowed, or bought second-hand. A little camping pillow was the only brand-new thing she bought. Natalie says that all you really need for a bike tour is a bike and a good attitude!
The beginning of the tour was a little daunting, and at times, she couldn't believe she was actually taking this crazy solo trip. Luckily, her mom was able to drive along and camp with her for the first two nights, so she didn't feel quite lonely. After that, she met many cyclists along the way and almost…
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May 17, 2021
Around the World with Hollie
Hollie liked riding her bike as a kid but never really thought about taking a long cycling tour. Years later, while working as a tour guide in the Yukon, a friend convinced her to take a 6-day, 360-mile cycling trip through Alaska. She was hooked! Even during adverse weather conditions and running into some unfriendly wildlife, she knew bike touring was for her.
Hollie spent the next few years working in a bike shop to learn more about the mechanics of bicycles. After reading Barbara Savage’s book, Miles from Nowhere, she decided right then and there to ride around the world on her bike. Hollie finished her schooling, worked to save up some money, and took off on her dream trip.
Hollie started her planned 3-year tour by biking from her home in California to southern Chile. She had beautiful experiences everywhere she went but admitted that her favorite country was Columbia. It is a stunning and ecologically diverse country with almost aggressively hospitable people. She stayed with…
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May 3, 2021
Where Music Meets Adventure
We are joined today by Antonio Piretti. Antonio is an Italian/Canadian musician who has just completed a 6000km musical bike tour through 16 European countries. He describes the trip as somewhat of a miracle in these "locked down" pandemic times.
Antonio began planning his tour over two years ago, but many of his concerts were canceled once the pandemic hit. He did not let this deter him and instead moved on to Plan B. Towing a trailer containing his music equipment and all his belongings, he relied on wonderful Warmshowers.org hosts for hospitality. His trip took him from Northern Germany down to Lisbon and then home to Italy just in time for his son's birth. Then he picked up his journey again and went from Helsinki to Athens.
Since the planed large concerts were no longer an option because of Covid, he decided to do smaller backyard concerts instead. Generous Warmshowers.org hosts set up cookouts in their backyards, invited all their friends and the local community, and Antonio wo…
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Apr 19, 2021
Keeping Connections Alive
We are joined today by Quintin Reich. Quintin is a cyclist and longtime Warmshowers.org host located on the Pacific Coast route.
During college, Quintin worked for a bike equipment manufacturer and developed a keen interest in bike touring. In 1991, he took an extended tour through Europe and was profoundly affected by the experience. The concept of complete strangers offering help, hospitality, food, and fellowship was amazing to Quintin. The connections he made, random acts of kindness he received, and the freedom and sense of adventure he felt on that trip totally changed him.
Over the years, his busy career as a mortgage broker curtailed his bike touring. It has been 30 long years since Quintin took that first bike tour, and he still dreams of touring again someday. In the meantime, Quintin hosts cyclists as much as he can. Both through Warmshowers.org and by introducing himself to cyclists passing through the area. Offering hospitality is Quintin’s way of repaying the hel…
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Apr 5, 2021
Turns in the Road
We are joined by Harry Shepherd, a cyclist and environmental campaigner from England.
Today, Harry talks about what got him into cycling, his passion for the natural world, and an eventful journey across Europe during 2020. The trip formed part of the Team Townend Challenge, an annual cycling sportive held in the Lake District in memory of Niggy and Christian Townend, two cycling brothers who were killed on their bikes in 2010. Harry helps to organize the event with friends of the brothers each year.
When not on the bike, Harry works in environmental communications, promoting the work of organizations dedicated to protecting the natural world.
You can learn more about Harry on his website at FollowTheShepherd.uk or Instagram at HarrySheph.
To learn more about the Team Townend Challenge or make a donation, visit their website HERE.
Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at tahverlee@warmshowers.org.
Instagram: warmshowers_org
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Mar 22, 2021
Touring Across England with E.T.
We are joined today by Josh Garman. Josh is a touring cyclist who lives in the U.K. and recently cycled 600 miles across England ~ with E.T. as his co-pilot!
Josh is an accidental touring cyclist who started his first tour with no prior cycling experience. He had spent time in Australia as a barefoot long-distance walker but had never considered a bike tour. When Josh returned to England, he learned about Chris Brannigan, a father who walked across England barefoot to raise money for his daughter’s medical treatment. Josh was captivated by this unique story and decided right there and then that he would do something to help.
He came up with the idea of doing a cycle tour to raise funds for Chris’s charity, Hope for Hasti. While planning his trip on a gloomy, rainy day, the scene from the movie E.T. where Elliot rides across the sky with E.T. on his bike came to him. The vision brought such a simile to his face, and he decided that he would take E.T. along with him to bring attent…
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Mar 8, 2021
Slow Traveler
We are joined by Josiah Skeats. Josiah is a people-focused author whose 3 year journey taught him to be a slow traveler.
While studying law at university, Josiah came across an article about someone who had cycled around the world. The light bulb went off, and even though he was not a cyclist, he immediately started planning a solo trip. After graduation, he set out for his grand adventure to travel from England to Australia. Along the way, Josiah has fallen in love with bike touring, the experiences it brings, and mostly, with the people you meet.
Josiah didn’t do much training to prepare, but he did tons of planning. He wrote a list of every obstacle he thought he would encounter on the trip and then tried to solve it. He laughingly recalls that a week after he set off, all his carefully made plans were discarded, and he decided to just wing it.
A big turning point came for Josiah about a month into his trip. After rushing his way through Europe and central Asia, he met two fell…
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Feb 22, 2021
Protecting our Planet
We are joined by Mike Dits. Mike is a corn-fed Indiana Hoosier and adventurer who now lives in Colorado. He is extremely passionate about clean energy and sustainability.
Mike had his first bike touring experience as a sophomore in college when he spent a summer working with a non-profit organization called Bike and Build. After touring the country helping to build homes for those in need, he knew that a solo bike trip was in his future.
After graduation in August of 2015, Mike set off for a 4-year solo trip around the world. The theme of his journey was promoting sustainability and renewable energy. He spent his time learning about clean energy and helping install solar water systems for families in Africa.
After visiting 63 countries and 5 continents, Mike returned home in October of 2019. You can tell how impactful this trip was on him by the enthusiasm in his voice when he recalls the amazing people he met along the way. He says nothing is better than traveling on two wheels to…
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Feb 8, 2021
Woman on a Mission
We are joined by Anastasia Bouzdine. Anastasia is a 25-year-old woman on a mission to connect with humanity on a bicycle.
Anastasia is an engineer, working in a male-dominated field and surrounded by men who do many sport challenges. She decided that if the men could do it, so could she. After trying a few short cycling trips, Anastasia made her first solo trip in September of 2020.
She set off on an exhausting 10-day journey across the Alps with the end goal of taking a little swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Anastasia says that when she started, the trip was all about how far or how fast she could travel in a day. But after a few days, she realized that the trip was more about the experiences and the people she met along the way.
Every day, the Warmshowers community welcomed and supported her. She was so encouraged by all of her hosts' warm hospitality, some of whom have become lifelong friends. The relationships she made prompted her to become a host herself.
Anastasia loves cycli…
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Jan 25, 2021
Riding the Wild Life
In this episode, Andrew Lee joins the show to discuss awakening through bike touring. Andrew describes how he felt like he'd had some amazing life experiences that had led him to a spiritual awakening. He decided to have one last adventure and undertake a cycling tour across Canada to consolidate his experiences and inspire others before returning to his community to give back and make a difference in the lives of others.
Andrew cycled across Canada following the acronym of H.I.L.L, which stands for Hope, Inspiration, Love, and Let Go.
Andrew created the H.I.L.L acronym while tackling the tough hills of British Columbia. He describes how he thinks that there is something that happens to us when we overcome big challenges, or we take steps to push ourselves into uncomfortable places where you can learn resiliency, which can help us in every aspect of your lives.
We learn about Andrew’s experiences with wild camping and the challenge and excitement of trying to find free places to…
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Jan 12, 2021
Cycling For Personal Growth
On the show this week Tahverlee is joined by Jérôme Pilette. Jérôme had suffered from depression for many years, despite attempts to remedy it with a healthier lifestyle. In 2017 he decided to travel from Montreal to Chile by bike to gain perspective and work on himself.
Jérôme talks about the challenges he faced along the way, the difficult biking conditions, and a particularly intimidating experience while traveling through Mexico.
He also talks candidly about depression and how you can let it defeat you or you can find your strength in the difficult moments and carry yourself forward.
You can reach Jérôme on Facebook where he posts about the projects he is working on at https://www.facebook.com/jerome.pilette
Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at tahverlee@warmshowers.org.
Instagram: warmshowers_org
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Dec 7, 2020
Transformation Through Hardship
Tahverlee is joined today by Seth Davidson, a recovering lawyer who has spent his life racing bikes since 1984 and now seeks to be a beacon for truth and introspection. In recent years Seth has concluded that there is a better life available so much so that over the coming years he seeks to spend zero time practicing law and all of his time on his bicycle supporting himself with his writing.
We talked about the idea of desperation and how often, the thing that connects the
creators of the greatest works, is a need and having their back against the
wall. When Seth set out on his 3600-mile bike tour he found that through
encountering hardship, he rediscovered his creativity and gentleness along with
meeting incredible people along the way who have changed his outlook on life.
We talked about how by getting rid of belongings and ‘things’ we can experience a new
kind of freedom as we become untethered from the emotional bonds that connect
us to them.
Seth plans in the next 5 y…
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Nov 23, 2020
Redeeming Eden with Adam
Adam Lineberry, who has just completed a tour riding from Seattle to key West Florida, joined the show on day 86 of his journey.
Adam tells his incredible story of being saved by god after being an IV Cocaine and Opiate user then starting his own Rehab center to give his life to other people.
He had no funds to get the rehab started and needed to get to Tennessee to make it work so he had no choice but to start from scratch using donated equipment and a Walmart bike to ride there!
Along the way he raised awareness about addiction and recovery to the people he met. His journey is documented on his YouTube channel ‘Redeeming Eden’.
This episode is brought to you by bikeflights.com. Go to bikeflights.com/warmshowers
to find out more information and to book your shipment.
Tahverlee can be reached at tahverlee@warmshowers.org
Join our community at www.warmshowers.org
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Oct 14, 2020
Cycling in Everyday Life
Our guests on this episode of the Bike Life podcast are Tristan Bogaard and Belen Castello, authors of the new book entitled “Bike Life.” Tristan and Belen met about 5 years ago in the Netherlands, maintained their relationship while Belen lived in London, and then about 3 years ago jumped into a touring lifestyle together, Belen having no significant biking experience to speak of. Over the past 3 years, they have been able to make a living while cycling across Europe and Asia and they have compiled their photos and stories along the way into their newly released book (link below).
Tristan and Belen’s ultimate goal is to encourage more people to integrate bikes into their everyday lives, from their daily commutes and running errands to choosing to take bike tours rather than traditional holidays. Their experiences cycling across diverse cultures and landscapes have taught them about the fragility of life but also the immense beauty that comes in the most unexpected places, which…
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Sep 30, 2020
Cycling as an Art of Being
On this episode of the Bike Life podcast, Tahverlee talks with Mark, a native Hollander who has spent the past several years on the road full time. Mark has spent the last 4 and a half years cycling all over the world, calling the Netherlands home but often not knowing where he going to sleep every night until sunset. Currently, he is “stuck” in Chile where he has been since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the conclusion of a cycling ride he was doing to raise money for a soccer program in Rio de Janeiro.
Mark has been posting on his website for years about the people that he has met in his travels and the stories that they have to tell, and in the spring of 2020 he published a book as a collection of these stories and as a way to fund his travels around the world. One of the biggest things that Mark has learned during cycling is to be adaptable to any situation. Additionally, he has found himself growing immensely as a person while riding both through the challe…
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Aug 26, 2020
Taking Care of Cyclists
Our guest on this episode of the Bike Life podcast is Bill Alcorn, founder of Bike Flights. In 2008, Bill and a few of his cycling friends realized that there was a gap in the market and a potential opportunity for a company providing specialized transportation services for bikes and bike parts. The next year, Bill decided to pursue the idea by working with vendors and carriers to concept the logistics. He knew that the biking community would expect high quality shipments and customer service, so Bike Flights had to meet those high expectations. They now ship to over 60 countries year-round because they have found that people like to tour all over the world regardless of the season.
During this quarantine time, Bike Flights’ business has become more heavily e-commerce for bike parts in addition to the usual shipment of bikes and parts between family and friends and those folks who are still doing tours in the winter months. Even now, people are finding ways to do bike tours in the U…
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Aug 19, 2020
A Seasoned Cyclist - Ken Francis
During this episode of the Bike Life Podcast, Tahverlee talks with Ken Francis, a Warmshowers user, host, volunteer, and former Board member. Ken began hosting cyclists through Warmshowers in 2013 and he has welcomed more than 250 cyclists over the years. Around that same time, he began volunteering with the foundation by reviewing new memberships for spam. He found this process very enlightening and it was a great help to the organization. Before Warmshowers came along, Ken had already completed 3 cross-country tours of the U.S. – in 1985, 1986, and 1994 – during which he relied on the hospitality of strangers when necessary, so he was very glad when Warmshowers came along.
Ken’s advice to hosts is to clearly communicate with the cyclists before and during their stay with you regarding expectations and house rules. He also recommends that you try to be unique, either giving your guests a small but memorable token, taking them to a local activity or restaurant, or by offering so…
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Jul 15, 2020
The Joy of Hosting
On this episode of the Bike Life podcast, we are joined by Ann, a frequent Warmshowers host located on the western coast of Sweden. Ann is an American who met her boyfriend in Spain and then ended up moving back with him to Sweden a few years ago. She became aware of the Warmshowers Foundation around that time and she and her boyfriend signed up to be hosts as soon as they heard about the mission of the organization. Ann isn’t a cyclist herself, but she really enjoys hosting guests from all over Europe and the Americas and hearing all of their touring stories. She likes the fact that she doesn’t have to be 100% “on” when she is hosting because the cycling community is very laid-back and simple, really only requesting a shower and a place to sleep.
Ann says that 1-2 weeks advance notice is ideal, but she has had folks schedule months out or the night before. When she is deciding whether to accept an inquiry, she reads the person’s bio to see if they seem like a good fit, and…
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Jul 8, 2020
Eco and Cycle Driven
Our guest on this episode of the Bike Life podcast is Caroline Burrows, a cycling enthusiast in Lancaster, UK. Caroline’s grandfather was really into cycling while she was growing up and she was always encouraged to ride her bike as a child and adolescent. When she was in her early 30’s, she decided to take her first ever solo tour, which she called the Tour de Family. You could say that she “caught the bug” to do more tours throughout Europe and as far away as Cuba, Argentina, and Mexico.
Caroline describes her relationship with her bike as the “most reliable and longest” in her life, so she decided to make a point of investing in that relationship and pursuing what she loved. One of Caroline’s other loves is literature and poetry, leading her to go on a “Jane Eyre to Dracula” tour in France and England to get to see the landscape surrounding her favorite literary figures. Her most significant tour to date is the tour she created for herself of Wilfred Owen’s scho…
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Jul 1, 2020
Clonakilty Bike Festival
On this episode of the Bike Life podcast, Tahverlee interviews Allison and Justin, founders of the Clonakilty Bike Festival in southern Ireland. Allison and Justin’s passion for biking was invigorated when they were in their late 20’s and several of their friends shared with them their love for biking and about a bike festival they had been hosting in their own town. Immediately, Justin and Allison were drawn into the cycling community and they set up a festival in their hometown of Clonakilty which is celebrating its 9th festival this year. The festival is a very grassroots endeavor with very little formal marketing and overhead, but the comradery and support they receive every year confirms that they are doing it the right way. Allison and Justin have also set up a community bike workshop which is open year-round and they are constantly petitioning with their local governing bodies to make their town a bike town with the infrastructure needed to make the roads safe for everyone.…
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Jun 26, 2020
Opening Doors Opens Hearts
Meet Jessica Levine.
Jessica and her friend Irena left home just outside of Seattle and embarked on a 3-month journey across Canada, culminating with a celebratory dip in the Atlantic ocean in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout her nearly 5,000 mile journey, she learned that an open door is really just an open heart because letting people in your home is an act of courage and vulnerability. But her most valuable tool on the trip? A little black dress.
You can read more about Jessica’s trip here:
www.spokeandstories.com and Instagram: @olivemybike
To join our community, visit www.warmshowers.org or on Instagram at warmshowers_org
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Jun 17, 2020
Celebrating a Lifetime of Memories
After the death of his father, Alex de Chantal took 6 months off work to fulfill his father’s last wish: to have his ashes spread in his 6 favorite locations around the world – Quebec and British Columbia, Canada; Mexico; Mauritius; Thailand; British. Alex decided to do it all by bike. Things didn’t always go as planned, but he forged a lifetime of new memories and connections along the way.
You can read more about Alex’s trip here:
https://wanderingwwoofer.blogspot.com/
To learn more about our community, visit www.warmshowers.org.
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Jun 10, 2020
Shrinking the World by Bike
Tim Mooney, an experienced bike packer from the DC area, lives by the motto “Let’s shrink the world by bike.” On this episode of Bike Life, Tim talks about how he was initially reluctant to try Warmshowers but he says that once he did, on a tour from DC to Cincinnati in 2019, he realized that the best part about bicycle touring has very little to do with the bicycling or the touring - it's the people you meet.
You can find Tim at:
https://pedalshift.net/ or @pedalshift on all the social media sites
To join our community, please visit us at
https://www.warmshowers.org/
or on Instagram at warmshowers_org
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Jun 3, 2020
Bike Touring at Any Age
66 year-old veteran bikepacker, Bill Roy, has logged over 20,000 miles through 20 states west of the Mississippi. In this episode, Bill shares some of his experiences and passions about traveling and hosting and has some tips for those looking to try bikepacking. “No matter what your age or experience, you can do it.”
You can find Bill at:
Twitter: twitter.com/intocycling;
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqdqthri2vF6KTKsGTM7u2A
To join our community please visit us at https://www.warmshowers.org/ or on Instagram at warmshowers_org
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May 28, 2020
How Biking Became a Way of Life
Candice Dawson joins the show to share her initial tour as a solo female, to moving and building a life around her passion for riding, hosting and touring. She has experienced new places and met amazing people on her journey. As part of the Warmshowers community, she shares openly about memories and experiences and meeting her partner on the road.
You can find Candice at:
www.candidawsonphotography.com
To join our community, please visit us at https://www.warmshowers.org/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/warmshowers_org/.
Thank you to Bike Flights for fueling this show! https://www.bikeflights.com/warmshowers
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Apr 9, 2020
Bike Life Trailer
Tahverlee brings the stories of touring cyclists and hosts from around the globe together, to share knowledge and experiences of Warmshowers.org Foundation community.
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