Bike Life

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...

What does it take to circle the globe by bicycle? Follow Ted Eliason’s four-year solo journey across 56 countries and over 82,000 kilometers. A journey propelled by a desire to escape the corporate world and experience life at pedal-stroke speed. From sandstorms in Kazakhstan to chaotic Indian roads, he shares stories of unexpected kindness, raw challenges, and the transformation that comes from p...

Follow Tyler Epstein, a high school teacher and coach, who embarked on his first cross-country bike tour, riding nearly 2,700 miles from Missouri to the Oregon coast in less than a month. Trading his usual coaching duties for a lightweight gravel bike, he battled mountain sleet, equipment failures, and tight deadlines while discovering how athletic grit and adaptability fuel epic adventures on two...

Would you leave everything behind to cycle through 35 countries—even if you weren’t a cyclist? That’s exactly what Simon Brain and his fiancée did, turning a bold idea into a three-year journey across the world. They share how curiosity carried them from wild camping and cultural surprises to tense encounters with border patrols. Along the way, they discovered resilience, deepened their partnershi...

What drives someone to cycle from Italy to Iran—and back again—through more than twenty countries?   Matthias Schwarz takes us on a journey sparked by friendship, shaped by world events, and enriched by the connections made along the way. From Balkan fountains to Iranian hospitality, every mile reveals both striking similarities and unique differences across cultures. Along the route, ch...

Ever wonder what it’s like to cycle 60,000 kilometers across continents with nothing but a shoestring budget and a love for simplicity? Isaak Vanthomme takes us on a five-year journey from icy Canadian roads to the jungles and highlands of Central and South America—facing challenges, embracing minimalism, and forging unforgettable connections along the way. Packed with stories of adventure, compan...

What happens when the freedom of cycling becomes both a necessity and a joy? Discover the transformative journey of Jeffrey McElfresh, who is living with CMT1A, a condition that challenges walking but unlocks freedom on two wheels. From conquering multi-state rides to starring in a PBS documentary, he showcases the resilience and joy found in cycling despite physical challenges. Jeffrey shares tal...

Discover the journey of Paul Edkins and Vivien Metairie, two solo cyclists who embarked from Europe with dreams of reaching South Africa, only to find unexpected friendship and adventure in Ethiopia. From navigating bustling cities and challenging terrains to sharing stories over campfires, their experiences shine a light on the joy of unplanned encounters and mutual support during the toughest st...