Seek Travel Ride is a weekly podcast dedicated to the world of bikepacking, cycle touring, and long-distance bicycle adventures. Hosted by Bella Molloy, each episode features inspiring interviews with adventurers from around the globe, sharing their unique journeys and the stories behind their epic rides.
Aiming to fuel that sense of wanderlust for bikepackers, cycle tourers, and travel enthusiasts alike, each episode explores the human side of cycling adventures, offering fresh insights, tips, and inspiration for anyone dreaming of exploring the world on two wheels.
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Bike Touring the Pacific Coast and Patagonia: Laura Buchan
Season 2 · Episode 87
Saturday, August 31, 2024 • Duration 01:18:07
Want to bike down the Pacific Coast or through Patagonia? Then listen to guest Laura Buchan share her experiences of doing just that.
Laura's first experience of bike touring was taken in Taiwan - on an unlikely trip on a folding bike. She was hooked and since then she has toured extensively on solo trips from Vancouver to the Mexican border, as well as the rugged terrains of Chile and Argentina.
Laura faced numerous challenges during these journey's - her bike tour down the Pacific Coast was meant to be undertaken as a team of two, but just a month before setting off her friend had to pull out, leaving solo to take it on solo.
Then grim weather during her tour of Patagonia made for a challenging time, but Laura's resilience and the kindness of strangers shone through her narratives.Laura also shares some awe-inspiring moments in Torres del Paine National Park, and her overall reflections on human connection, confidence-building, and overcoming adversity
Cycle Shorts: 1 Day of Your Trip: May Tettero - Baja Divide
Season 2
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 17:55
What's it like to take a bike adventure on the Baja Divide? This week's mid-week episode features listener May Tettero sharing one day of doing just that with her son Sky.
Do you want to share what it was like for one day on your own bike adventure? To be featured in this mid-week series of Cycle Shorts simply send me an email and let me know all about one day of your trip.
Bikepacking from Norway to Spain: Russell Nankervis
Season 2 · Episode 82
Saturday, July 27, 2024 • Duration 01:32:48
In this episode Russell Nankervis shares his experience of bikepacking from the North Cape in Norway, to Tarifa in Spain. A complete north to south crossing of Europe.
Russell's first journey was taken when he finished up school in Australia and headed to Laos for a self guided cycle tour. It was an experience that took him straight out of his comfort zone, a time before cycling a predetermined gpx route - he had nothing but a paper map for navigation.
Since then he kept cycling - although his adventures were focused on mountain biking. He spent three years racing on the World Cup circuit in Europe, before eventually representing Australia at the MTB World Cup in Cairns in 2017.
Nine years on from that cycle tour in Laos he'd find himself at the very northern tip of Europe at the North Cape, destination Tarifa, Europe's most southern tip in Spain. It was great to hear how the experiences Russell gained from that first trip set him up to plan out this bigger journey.
In this episode of the Seek Travel Ride podcast I interview Stevie Gaebe an endurance athlete and Ultra-distance Cyclist. I first met Stevie during the 2022 Normandicat 900 ultra-cycling event in Northern France. We had both lined up at the start-line, nervous at what would unfold over the course of the next three days. Surrounded by men we were also some of the only women who had turned up to challenge themselves in this self supported long distance event. We would end up riding together for the first few hours and as I learnt more about Stevie I knew her story was one that needed sharing.
Over the course of the episode Stevie talks about her cycling journey, how she made the shift from cycling as a commuter, to cycling for fitness. She discusses how she enjoyed continually pushing the boundaries, from long distance sportives, to then signing up and successfully competing in Ironman Switzerland.
After the Ironman event Stevie was searching for the next challenge and the call of ultra-distance cycling came her way. Stevie did all of the above with her partner and Husband Tom and so they signed up as a team of two for the Normandicat 900 Ultra-cycling event. But hours before taking to the start Tom had to withdraw from the event, leaving Stevie alone on the start-line.
I really enjoyed talking with Stevie about her Normandicat 900 experience. How she overcame the challenges which came her way and her insights into what it takes to compete in ultra-distance cycling events.
If you want to follow along with Stevie's future adventures do check out her channel on YouTube and be sure to watch her video which shows her Normandicat 900 experience.
Interested in the Normandicat 900 event and want to try it out for yourself? Then you can read up more on the Normandicat website.
If you have your own cycling adventure which you'd like to have featured on the podcast than please get in touch via Seek Travel Ride and request to be featured as a guest on the show.
Bikepacking the Torino Nice Rally: Simon Willis
Season 1 · Episode 8
Saturday, March 11, 2023 • Duration 01:12:18
In this episode of the Seek Travel Ride podcast I interview Simon Willis. It's fair to say Simon has led a life full of adventure, exploring the great outdoors in a myriad of ways. As Simon mentions, it wasn't so much about seeking out these adventures, instead they always had a way of finding him.
Together we explore the adventures he has undertaken, from the early days of cycling the Camino de Santiago Pilgrim route , hiking the full length of the Pacific Crest Trail, to establishing the Scottish Sea Kayak trail, Simon has an adventure C.V. that would rival most. Recently Simon took on the Torino Nice Rally, a bikepacking route traversing a section of the Alps from Italy to France.
What was really evident during my discussion with Simon, was his passion for the great outdoors, and also for keeping things fresh. He is most happiest exploring new territory and he shares this with an energetic enthusiasm, which both fondly looks back on past achievements but also has an eye on future adventures which will pique his interest.
Simon also hosts his own podcast where he speaks to fellow adventurers about their adventures. You can listen to his podcast at: Always Another Adventure
If you have your own cycling adventure that you'd like to share please get in touch with me via Seek Travel Ride and request to be featured as a guest on the show.
Cycling through West Africa as a Solo Woman: Nikki Ray
Season 1 · Episode 7
Saturday, March 4, 2023 • Duration 01:31:20
In this episode of the Seek Travel Ride podcast I chat with adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete, Nikki Ray. It's fair to say the humble bicycle has shaped Nikki's life in a multitude of ways. From teaching adult refugees how to ride a bike for the first time, to crossing countries on a 10 000km solo cycle tour through West Africa, through to competing in challenging ultra - distance cycling raes. Nikki has done this and so much more.
She is a cycling instructor, human rights advocate, hill climb racer and ultra-cyclist. She is a true adventurer in every sense of the word and I really enjoyed listening to Nikki share her experiences from the bike.
She recounts her time spent on a tour through West Africa - a place where many from western cultures are often told not to travel. Discovering the diverse landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert to deciding to take the more adventurous and less travelled routes on the bicycle tour she nicknamed Ready, Steady, Slow. The overwhelming theme that came through during this journey was the kindness and hospitality received by the strangers she encountered during her travels.
Nikki also reveals how in an effort to help boost women's participation in cycling events she got involved in Hill Climbing races in the UK. All of a sudden going from long distance slow cycle tours, to an intense race of a matter of minutes up short and steep climbs.
Her latest challenge was starkly different once again - that of an ultra-distance cycling race. Nikki signed up for the 2020 Trans Pyrenees Race and despite navigating through the disappointment of two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, she turned up to the start line in September 2022 for a race which traverses the Pyrenees Mountain range from West to East and back again.
I really enjoyed chatting with Nikki and the insights she shared from her experiences and hope it will also equally inspire others to plan and participate in their own adventure.
You can read more about Nikki's Ready Steady Slow tour on her personal website.
Also keep up to date with Nikki's latest adventures by following her on instagram -
Cycle touring from Australia to Paris: Mark Gresser
Season 1 · Episode 6
Saturday, February 25, 2023 • Duration 01:10:20
In this episode of the Seek Travel Ride podcast I interview Mark Gresser, an Australian with a spirit of adventure. In April 2015 Mark set off from his driveway in Perth, Western Australia on a mission to see the world. He would spend the next 2.5 years travelling by bicycle seeking new experiences, with a curious enthusiasm to learn about the different cultures and countries he would come across.
All up, he would travel over 29,000km, crossing through 28 different countries before eventually arriving in Paris, France. So what is it like to explore the world on a touring bike - and where did the idea and inspiration even come from? I explore these questions and more during this interview with Mark who shares his story with an enthusiasm that will no doubt inspire those of us with an adventurous spirit.
We discuss those early days on the road and what it's like to enter a country where you have no expectations or understanding of what will come from one day to the next. Crossing borders and continents, mountain ranges, and deserts - Mark's trip had it all and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him recount the tales from the trip.
One thing that was a constant was the kindness Mark experienced from strangers he met along the way. From the first time staying at a strangers house in Timor-Leste, to being welcomed like a member of the family in Iran, it is no doubt that these encounters had a very impactful experience on Mark.
Ways to follow Mark Gresser
You can find Mark on Instagram with his account - @Budgie_Escapee
I also encourage you to look at the videos he has made to date of his travels on his YouTube Channel.
Mark is also currently writing a book about his trip and I will update the show notes with a link to it when it is released.
If you are enjoying listening to the show please take the time to give us a rating and review in your podcast player - it really helps the show to grow and be distributed to a wider audience.If you have a story you'd like to share for a
Biking the Empire State Ride : Kimberly Evering
Season 1 · Episode 5
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 • Duration 55:37
Have you ever considered joining a cycling charity ride? Wondered what it would be like to cycle big distances day in day out for a week? In this episode I chat with Kimberly Evering to discuss her doing exactly that.
Kimberly is no stranger to challenges. In fact she has built up a reputation of taking on new and exciting challenges which would regularly push you out of your comfort zone. She pushed herself to the brink competing in Spartan events and even took on the trifecta - a challenge of completing three Spartans in one calendar year.
So it was in 2020 Kimberly signed up for the Empire State Ride - a seven day charity cycling event which would entail riding across the state of New York as a fundraiser for Cancer research. She enjoyed cycling for fitness but this would be the first time she'd look to take on something so big. She found the fundraising ride would also give her challenge a sense of purpose which would help her keep motivated and focused for the goal. But as we all know the pandemic and the year 2020 meant lots of things wouldn't go to plan. The Empire State ride - like many other events - would have to take place virtually. Kimberly completed the challenge but it certainly wasn't the same.
So in 2021 Kimberly signed up to do the event again. She felt completing the virtual challenge wasn't something that she could be content with and she wanted to push the boundaries and see what it would be like cycling such big distances day in day out. In this episode she describes her lead-up to the event and also the camaraderie of her fellow event participants which helped to spur her on and get through the seven day charity ride.
I really enjoyed this chat with Kimberly, and learning more about how her attitude of saying yes to a life of adventure has turned her in to the 'Gal on the Go', and someone with a reputation of seeing what is possible.
What's it like to Ride the Transcontinental Race (TCR); Lizzie Jenkins
Season 1 · Episode 4
Saturday, February 11, 2023 • Duration 01:04:16
There are many ways to describe Lizzie Jenkins, she is an accomplished film director, adventurer and endurance athlete. Recently she discovered the world of long distance cycling and entered into the ultra-cycling race scene. This led to her signing up for the ultimate event in the race calendar - the Transcontinental Race - TCR. This event would see her cross the entire continent of Europe on a ride of over 4000km with a monumental amount of climbing in between.
During this episode we explore more about Lizzie as we learn about her passion for being in the remotest parts of the world - the Amazon. We discuss whether her ability to find comfort in the most uncomfortable places in the remote rainforest held her in good stead for what she would endure in her ultra-cycling races to come.
We also discuss how her passion for riding bikes led to her signing up for the TCR race and how she prepared herself for the challenges of participating in ultra-cycling events, whilst dealing with the disappointment of race cancellations two years in a row due to the pandemic. She talks us through the experiences of her first ultra distance cycling event - A bike race roughly the size of Wales - where she finished as first female and the learnings she had along the way.
Then Lizzie shares exactly what it was like racing in the world's premier ultra-cycling race - the TCR in 2022. What it was like standing on that start line in Belgium knowing she would need to cross an entire continent before reaching the finishing line all the way in Bulgaria. She would cross mountain passes, endure summer heatwaves and have to deal with being chased by packs of wild dogs in the night. Not to mention then dealing with the infamous compulsory Parcour No 4.
We really enjoyed talking with Lizzie about her experiences and hope this will inspire other women who are perhaps contemplating entering into the world of ultra-distance cycling.
Be sure to follow Lizzie on her instagram channel @lizzjenkins
Make sure to subscribe to the Seek Travel Ride podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.
Lastly - if you'd like to be interviewed as a guest for the show please send us an
Bike Touring Alaska to Mexico in World Record Time: Michiel & Chiara
Season 1 · Episode 3
Sunday, January 29, 2023 • Duration 47:39
In 2022 Michiel Desmet and Chiara Maffina set off from Anchorage in Alaska on a long distance cycle to set the Guinness World Record for the longest ever handbike ride. This would be the first time either of them would undertake a long cycle tour so there were a lot of unknowns on the trip.
In 2013 Michiel was involved in an accident in Thailand and suffered a spinal cord injury which left him paralysed. Through years of rehabilitation he was able to discover the joy which came with riding a handbike and the freedom which goes along with it. It set off a dream to 'see what was possible' and the idea for the record attempt was borne.
I recorded this interview with Chiara and Michiel whilst they were in Mexico, and discussed their experience and journey during this record breaking ride of 8556kms.
To follow along and support Michiel and Chiara's continuing journey please see the links below:
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