Bike Life

Two near-strangers, zero long-distance touring experience, and a wild plan to pedal halfway around the globe, from the flat roads of the Netherlands to Australia's rugged landscapes. Tessa Molenaar and Marco van der Tuin take us through the adventure, mishaps, and powerful bonds they form on the road. From surprising gear decisions to unforgettable acts of kindness, it’s a story of improvisation,...

One ride across Iowa was all it took to spark a lifelong passion for cycling and community. Nick Gevock shares his journey through decades of touring, kindness from strangers, and what it truly means to pay it back as a host. From the rolling hills of RAGBRAI to the rugged grit of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, it’s all about connection, adventure, and building a global cycling community. H...

What sparks a total life transformation: a new city, a new language, and a rediscovery of two-wheeled adventure? After a move across continents, Brian Wiesner found a new passion for cycling and community in Spain’s vibrant streets. His story is one of fresh starts, lifelong curiosity, and the serendipity that comes from opening your door to strangers on and off the bike. Here’s a sneak peek: • Ta...

What if one simple invitation sparked a life of adventure, kindness, and connection? A chance meeting and a leap of faith led Veronkia Rodriguez to a world of bicycle travel, unforgettable encounters, and a new outlook on humanity. Get ready for stories of trusting strangers with your prized gear, mountain adventures that went far beyond the daily climb, and the magic that happens when you open yo...

🎉 HAPPY 150th EPISODE, BIKE LIFE! 🎉 We are officially 150 episodes in, and to celebrate, we’re diving into the absolute magic of opening your doors to the global cycling community. What’s it really like to host touring cyclists from all over the world? Karen & Tom Carter share all about the wild, wholesome, and unforgettable moments that come with hosting, from solo continent-crossers to fam...

What happens when you swap the tech life for two wheels and a massive 5,000-mile mission? Lifelong cyclist Tim Oey did just that, riding across the US to educate communities about ocean plastics. But this journey isn't just about the miles; it’s about the incredible people met along the way. Tim shares stories of unmatched generosity, backyard camping, and how opening your home to a weary traveler...

What keeps someone spinning the pedals after 40,000 miles ? Janet Anspach-Rickey shares her story of how life's second act turned into the ultimate cross-country adventure. We chat about how a pedal-assist e-bike, a plant-based lifestyle, and a whole lot of resilience made it possible to ride across the United States and tackle the country's perimeter twice. It hasn't all been smooth pavement, tho...

Imagine pedaling 34,000 kilometers around the world... on a single-speed bike. Markus Stitz joins us to share his ultimate slow-travel adventure. From grinding through New Zealand’s hills to experiencing the incredible hospitality of Iranian villagers, Markus proves what can happen when you throw away the itinerary and let curiosity lead the way. Tune in to hear how a simple bike can break down cu...

What do you do when life’s script just isn’t working anymore? You scrap it and write your own. That’s exactly what Marta Ballus did when she walked away from career setbacks and expectations to chase ultimate freedom: a solo bike tour across South America. From freezing nights in Iceland and battling Patagonia’s brutal gale-force winds to finding peace on endless salt flats, Marta’s story is all a...

What drives someone to ditch a comfortable life for a solo cycling adventure across the globe? Host Jerry Kopack chats with James Thomas, a UK cyclist who pedaled from London to India and ended up making the subcontinent his home. We’re diving into his incredible route from tackling grueling Himalayan passes to cruising the beaches of Goa, fueled by spontaneous detours, silent meditation, and the...

Ever wonder what happens when you trade a GPS for a stack of handwritten letters? This week, we’re chatting with Jordi Möllering, an actor-turned-courier who pedaled from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan on a mission that was part mail delivery, part total leap of faith. We’re chatting about: A journey dictated by letters, where each delivery point decided the next destination. Navigating the snowy p...

55,000km of Freedom 🚲 Ever wondered what happens when you just... keep pedaling? Rachel Yaseen does. She traded the "normal" life for a 55,000km journey across Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Australian Outback. From Denmark to Croatia and deep into the jungles of Thailand, she’s seen it all. We’re talking about the highs of community yoga in the park and the lows of recovering from a major crash...

The Art of the Long Ride 🚲 Ever dreamt of trading the 9-to-5 for the open road? This week, we’re joined by James and Jane Hall, a legendary British couple who did exactly that. With two decades of touring under their belts, spanning from the peaks of South America to the orchards of Scandinavia, they’re sharing what happens when you prioritize adventure over a paycheck. Inside the Episode: Lesson...

Ever had a canceled plan turn into the best thing that ever happened to you? We’re sitting down with Kristy Bellmer, who turned a "what now?" moment into a record-breaking solo odyssey across the globe. We’re chatting about: The Humble Start: How a last-minute Thanksgiving ride in Texas evolved into a massive journey through Patagonia and Europe. The Power of Community: Why Warmshowers hosts are t...

Celebrating International Women’s Month What actually happens after you say "yes" to a solo bike trip? In part two of our International Women’s Month special episodes, we’re sitting down with Jessica Sarah Lawrence, Cat Lau, and Emma Karslake, three incredible women who traded the comfort of the group for the freedom of the open road. We’re diving into the raw reality of solo adventuring, from the...

Celebrating International Women’s Month What’s stopping you from packing a bag and hitting the road alone? To kick off the first of two special episodes for International Women’s Month , we’re chatting with Helen Dainty, Eliza Sampey, and Calliopé Georgousi, three incredible women who traded their "what-ifs" for handlebars and open roads. From the rugged Australian outback to soul-searching across...

Ever wondered what happens when you trade your midlife routine for two years on two wheels? Host Jerry Kopack is joined by Mark Graham & Ellie O’Byrne, an incredible Irish couple currently pedaling their way across the globe. From desert heat to mountain peaks, they’re proving that the best way to see the world is at a "human pace." We dive into the nitty-gritty of how they made it happen, inc...

What do you do after finishing uni? If you’re Coline Berret, you skip the "real world" job and spend four years pedaling across the globe instead. We’re diving into an epic 35,000-kilometer journey that spans 29 countries. This isn't just a stats dump, though; it’s a deep look at what happens when you swap a career ladder for a bicycle and an open mind. In our conversation, we chat about: The Big...

What started as a spontaneous one-year bike tour across the U.S. turned into a thirty-year odyssey for Bob and Claire Rogers. In this episode, they take us along for the ride through the Australian outback, the winds of Iceland, and everywhere in between. You'll hear how they navigated remote deserts with broken gear and relied on intuition to find their way through foreign lands, proving that a l...

Sarah Morgan and Josh Sutton-Ziaian set out to cycle from the UK to India, but their adventure didn't go as planned, and that's what makes their story so good. Between health issues, winter cycling, and countless unexpected detours, they learned to let go of the original plan and embrace whatever came their way. Volunteering in remote villages and crashing with locals through Warmshowers, they dis...

Ever wonder what happens when you combine cross-country cycling, charity work, and a love of soccer? Follow Jessica Lawrence’s epic journey from Connecticut to San Diego, raising money for youth sports and catching professional matches along the way. It's part travelogue, part fundraiser, and entirely powered by two wheels and determination. From chance encounters with strangers to moments of pers...

After spending six years living in Tanzania, Naomi Rouse and her family decided their return to the UK would be anything but ordinary…they'd cycle home from Berlin to Bristol. Discover what drew them to Tanzania in the first place, from the stunning landscapes and warm local hospitality to the everyday adventures of village life, chapati dinners, and learning new languages on the fly. Naomi shares...

What happens when you combine the spontaneity of bike touring with the expressive soul of a trumpet? Follow Ines Hartmuth’s unique journey through southern France, where music, movement, and intuition replace rigid plans and routines. It's a story about breaking free from everyday expectations and discovering what emerges when you travel without a fixed itinerary…from playing trumpet for cows in t...

Follow Eliza Sampey, an adventurer and physical therapist who has turned van living and bikepacking into a lifestyle spanning the North Cascades, Pakistan, Guatemala, and beyond. She shares stories of navigating remote singletrack with pack rafts, crossing international borders by bike, and using simple solutions to keep gear secure, proving that resourcefulness and simplicity are key to authentic...

Tired of wrestling cardboard boxes through airports after a bike tour? Then Bikeflights, a cyclist-founded shipping solution designed specifically for touring cyclists and event-goers, has the answer. Sue George, VP of Bikeflights, shows us how easy it is to ship bikes, e-bikes, wheels, and gear with support from a bike-loving team that understands the unique challenges of traveling with your ride...