Embrace the ripple effect of hospitality with the Warmshowers Southern California hosting group! This special group has logged well over 600 guests between them. But for them, it’s not about the numbers; it’s about the profound impact the simple act of hosting has had on them. From offering shelter to providing a warm meal, each gesture of hospitality enriches their lives and strengthens their bond with the world. Every open door invites a new story and showcases the beauty of human connection and joy. This special episode of Bike Life celebrates the generous spirit within the cycle touring community and highlights the unexpected joys and enduring bonds forged through the simple act of extending a warm welcome. Warmshowers extends deep gratitude to all hosts worldwide and invites you to connect with this Southern California group through their profiles:Ken FrancisMichael KwanSue StevenCarl BarryBrian KingSandra GuzmanCommunity Building: Reach Out and NetworkWarmshowers is more than just a platform for hospitality exchange; it's a thriving community built on communication and networking. Regional groups have organized bike rides, dinner events, and overnight tours, fostering friendships that span the globe. These groups not only recruit new hosts but also advocate for cyclist-friendly policies like camping in parks. They also facilitate a referral network, where hosts can share information about guests, ensuring positive experiences for all involved.Building a stronger community starts with reaching out to fellow hosts in your area. Utilize Warmshowers' search feature to find nearby hosts and send a welcoming letter to introduce yourself. Organizing events is another creative way to connect with others and foster camaraderie within the community.Join the Southern California Area Warmshowers Host Facebook group and discover more about them by watching one of their backyard barbeque videos. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Are you captivated by tales of historical journeys and the adventurers who dared to traverse the globe on two wheels? Then you're in for a treat as we follow the path of Giulia Baroncini, who embarked on a monumental 5-month bike tour. Inspired by legendary Italian bike tourer Luigi Masetti's groundbreaking travels, Giulia not only honors tradition but challenges the boundaries of modern bike touring. She retraced Luigi’s route from over a century ago, navigating through multiple countries and landscapes from Milan, Italy, to Chicago, USA. Giulia’s ride is a celebration of the enduring spirit of exploration, the meaningful connections made during her long-distance bike tour, and a touching tribute to the cyclists who paved the way. Through her eyes, we're given a window into the past and the transformational power of pushing the pedals toward a grand personal odyssey.Catch up with Giulai and follow her travels on her website, If You’re Looking for Me, I’m Around. Learn more about Luigi Masetti and get the book, “The two-wheel anarchist. Luigi Masetti: the first Italian cycle traveller.”Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Alissa Bell takes us on an inspiring adventure as she shares her transformational journey from the corporate grind to the liberating world of global bike touring.Following the motivating stories of women adventurers, Alissa stepped out of her comfort zone, leading to remarkable experiences in East and West Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. These experiences culminated in a newfound love for bike travel and a desire to share her stories with the world.As the founder of Bike Sleep Bike, her online community project that brings together a diverse collection of personal bike travel stories, Alissa has logged over 20,000 miles cycling across the globe. Through the power of storytelling, she highlights the challenges and rewards of solo travel and overcoming fears. Her insights provide a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of travel and the vibrant spirit of the cycling community.Catch up with Alissa on her website, Exploring Wild, and follow her adventures on Bike Sleep Bike and Facebook.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Join us on an incredible cycling journey with the Bennek family as they share their experiences of leaving behind their life in Southern Germany to embark on a unique family cycle tour.Discover the challenges and joys of bike travel with two young kids as Lorena and Gregor discuss finding the perfect balance between adventure and family life. Their journey is a testament to the power of trust, flexibility, and connection with nature, providing a fresh perspective on the benefits of slow travel and the simplicity of life on two wheels.Lorena and Gregor's experiences remind us of the beauty of living in the present, embracing spontaneity, and nurturing a sense of community no matter where the road takes us.Note: since the recording of this episode, the Bennek family has added a puppy named Maluna to their mix! They can’t wait to hit the road again, albeit at a slower pace. Life is a journey, and they take it how it evolves!Catch up with Lorena & Gregor on their website, StraBenGiraffen, and follow them on Instagram at @strassengiraffen.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. All of our 2023 guests have been simply amazing! We hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Biking 4 Biodiversity.What do you get when you combine a love for adventure and cycle touring with a passion for nature conservation and awareness? Hanna Ollos and Jonas Sommer embarked on an epic cycling journey from Germany to Southeast Asia, with the goal of promoting nature conservation and raising awareness about the biodiversity crisis. Little did they know that their one-and-a-half-year journey would take unexpected twists and turns, pushing them to their limits and teaching them invaluable lessons about flexibility and going with the flow.As Hanna and Jonas navigate through different terrains, climates, and encounters with local communities, they share their firsthand experiences of the challenges and rewards of long-distance cycling. From extreme droughts and scorching temperatures to the hospitality of the South Asian people, they paint a vivid picture of their journey that is both awe-inspiring and humbling. Their insights provide a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, and the urgent need to protect biodiversity.If you've ever dreamed of embarking on your own cycling adventure or simply want to learn more about the importance of nature conservation, this episode is a must-listen. Hanna and Jonas offer practical advice for starting small and gradually building up to bigger trips, encouraging everyone to connect with nature and make a difference in their own communities. Learn more about Hanna and Jonas at Biking4Biodiversity.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @Biking4Biodiversity.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. All of our 2023 guests have been simply amazing! We hope you enjoy this encore presentation of 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 [email protected]’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!

Jane Hertenstein's cycling journey began at a young age when her father strapped wooden blocks onto her tricycle. Since then, she has been deeply curious about exploring the world on her bike. From early solo trips to her epic cross-country adventure, Jane's love for cycling has allowed her to connect with many people along the way. Jane has authored over 90 published articles, stories, and novels, and her work has been recognized by the New York Times. She is known for her unique style of “flash memoir,” which turns small memories into powerful stories. Based in Chicago, Jane has dedicated herself to making a difference in her community as a community activist and working at a homeless shelter. Get inspired by Jane's stories of resilience, exploration, and the joy of traveling by bike.Catch up with Jane on her blog, Memoirous, and on CrazyGuyOnABike. Learn how to create a portfolio of your own life stories in her workshop Your Life is Your Story. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Melissa Pritchard embodies the spirit of exploration. Her passion for cycling has shaped her life and taught her many important lessons. From learning to be content with less to finding happiness in the simple pleasures, her experiences on the road have given her a new perspective.Melissa's passion for cycling extends beyond her own adventures as she has visited schools in 30 different countries, inspiring students and teachers alike with her "Teacher on Two Wheels" project. She shares her various bike tours, including her incredible trip from Barcelona to Oregon, which she fondly calls "The Loong Way Home". What started as a bet with Melissa’s brothers has turned into an incredible journey that has transformed her as a person. Her story will inspire you to embrace new challenges and make a positive impact on the world.Catch up with Melissa on her blog, The Loong Way Home. Follow her on Facebook and on Instagram at @theloongwayhome. Hear how Melissa inspired Murdock to become a Warmshowers’ hosting legend on Bike Life episode #72 Murdock, the Hosting Legend. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Kenneth Wilson, the highway cellist, shares his extraordinary “work of art” journey touring with his cello on his bike.With his book, "Highway Cello," as the backdrop, Kenneth takes listeners on a captivating tale of musical exploration and self-discovery. He recounts the challenges and triumphs of riding with his cello, including the ingenious solution he found for carrying it on his bike.Kenneth shares the joy of connecting with people and playing in unexpected locations, from punts in Cambridge to people's front rooms and back gardens. With his unique blend of music and poetry, Kenneth brings a touch of magic to every performance, leaving a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to hear his beautiful melodies.5 Fun Facts about Kenneth’s Journey:He strapped a cello to the back of the bike.He cycled from Hadrian's Wall to Rome (the edge of the Roman Empire to the heart of the Empire).He performed every day on the way, including at the highest motorable point over the Alps.He biked into Rome and performed for the Mayor's Diplomatic Ambassador on the roof of the Musei Capitolini.He upset the Mafia on the way! Learn more about Kenneth on his website, Kenneth Wilson Highway Cello, and listen to his performances here. Follow him on Instagram at @kennethwilsoncello and on YouTube. You can get Kenneth’s book, The Highway Cello, here.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

Ride along as Brandon Bell takes us on a journey of self-discovery and environmental consciousness. After experiencing the impact of the 2008 recession and witnessing the growing complexity of the environmental crisis, Brandon embarked on a quest for answers. Leaving behind his career in the property industry, he pursued marine biology and sustainable development, ultimately leading to a deepening understanding of the global challenges we face. Brandon shares his passion for adventure and love for cycling and also reflects on how aging and physical limitations reshape our choices and the importance of embracing new opportunities. His story highlights the struggles of balancing environmental awareness with the demands of capitalism and the importance of finding ways to make a difference. Brandon's inspiring journey demonstrates the power of personal growth, resilience, and the transformative nature of exploring the world on two wheels.Learn more about Brandon and find environmental school resources at Space2Evolve.com, and follow him on his blog. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, Reija underwent extensive treatment and emerged stronger than ever. Inspired to make a difference, Reija and her partner embarked on a 10-week cycle tour, racing against time to raise money for the cancer charity Cycling for Cancer.As Reija shares her story, we learn about the challenges she faced during her journey, from navigating COVID restrictions to adapting their route due to Brexit. Despite the obstacles, Reija's determination and positive attitude shine through, highlighting the power of cycling in overcoming adversity.Join us as Reija takes us through the highs and lows of her tour, including unforgettable encounters with friendly strangers, unexpected detours, and the profound impact of connecting with hosts through Warmshowers. Follow Reija on Instagram at @cycling_for_cancer and learn more about how you can support Cycling for Cancer on their website.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Today, we welcome back former Warmshowers board member, cycle tourer, and legendary host Ken Francis to discuss the important topic of mental health and its connection to both cycling and hosting.Ken brings his deep knowledge and personal experiences to the table, sharing insights about the transformative power of travel and the impact it can have on one's self-esteem and overall well-being. Through personal stories about his cycling trips in the 1980s and 1990s, he highlights the challenges he faced and the friendships he formed along the way. From navigating self-doubt and mental health issues to finding solace in the Warmshowers community, Ken's journey is an inspiring tale of perseverance and growth. Join Tahverlee and Ken as they discuss the importance of feeling safe, setting boundaries, and building connections within the cycling community. From overcoming adversity to finding strength in vulnerable moments, Ken reminds us of the transformative power of travel and the importance of prioritizing our mental health along the way.This episode is best viewed on our YouTube channel @warmshowers_org.You can follow Ken on YouTube at Ken Francis World and The Intimacy Gram. Find him on Instagram @Adventureman_lb and @The_Intimacy_Gram. Get his books on Amazon here: Great Rides Across America: The Open Road Adventures of Mr. Tour and The Intimacy Gram: Diagram a Map to Find Yourself. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Carolyn Stallard, a professor at Brooklyn College and a freelance musician, has found a unique way to combine the freedom of remote teaching, a love of music, a desire to give back, and the joy of bicycle touring. From her first solo trip on the East Coast Greenway to her epic adventure down the West Coast, Carolyn proves that cycle touring is not only a mode of transportation but also a way to connect with her students and give back to the communities she visits. Something she calls “voluntouring.”Carolyn's desire to explore the world on two wheels continues to deepen, fueled by the camaraderie and support she receives from Warmshowers hosts, her students, and the wonderful people she meets on her journeys.5 Fun Facts about Carolyn’s trips:Her first-ever Warmshowers host was...an empty house!On the Pacific Coast Highway trip, she stayed with 16 Warmshowers hosts, including former board member Ken Francis.It's easier to find hosts with pianos than you would think.She finds that her students are more likely to watch her teaching videos when she’s on a trip since she films in cool places. Nothing like watching your professor walk through a redwood forest while reminding you when your work is due!Along the PCH, it was tough to find a place to volunteer, but she was able to participate in a community garden project in Marina, CA, thanks to a woman from Host A Sister (a great resource for female-identifying travelers).Learn more about Carolyn on her website, Carolyn’s Collections, and follow her biking adventures on Instagram at @carolynventures and her music adventures at @carolynsvibes. Find great bike travel stories, including Carolyn’s, at Bike Sleep Bike. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Meet George Balarezo, intrepid global citizen, adventure cycle tourer, seasoned traveler, and author. George shares his fascinating journey through Ethiopia, known for its rich culture and stunning landscapes. From encountering rock-throwing children to navigating through challenging roads, George's experience is both thrilling and eye-opening.Discover how George's unexpected encounters with the people of Ethiopia shaped his journey and influenced his perspective on the country's culture and history. Plus, learn about the power of hosting through Warmshowers and the invaluable experiences it brings to both the host and the guest.Join us as we embark on a thrilling adventure through Ethiopia with George Balarezo, a true intrepid global citizen.Learn more about George on his website, Intrepid Global Citizen, and purchase his book, Unhinged in Ethiopia, Two Thousand Kilometers of Hell and Heaven on a Bicycle, on Amazon HERE. Listen to his podcast, Intrepid Global Citizen.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

What do you get when you combine a love for adventure and cycle touring with a passion for nature conservation and awareness? Hanna Ollos and Jonas Sommer embarked on an epic cycling journey from Germany to Southeast Asia, with the goal of promoting nature conservation and raising awareness about the biodiversity crisis. Little did they know that their one-and-a-half-year journey would take unexpected twists and turns, pushing them to their limits and teaching them invaluable lessons about flexibility and going with the flow.As Hanna and Jonas navigate through different terrains, climates, and encounters with local communities, they share their firsthand experiences of the challenges and rewards of long-distance cycling. From extreme droughts and scorching temperatures to the hospitality of the South Asian people, they paint a vivid picture of their journey that is both awe-inspiring and humbling. Their insights provide a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, and the urgent need to protect biodiversity.If you've ever dreamed of embarking on your own cycling adventure or simply want to learn more about the importance of nature conservation, this episode is a must-listen. Hanna and Jonas offer practical advice for starting small and gradually building up to bigger trips, encouraging everyone to connect with nature and make a difference in their own communities. Learn more about Hanna and Jonas at Biking4Biodiversity.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @Biking4Biodiversity.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

For 25 years, Dan Schmitt dreamed of taking a solo bikepacking trip across the northern tier of the United States into Canada. After retirement, his “Kontiki Dream” finally came true.Dan shares his 4800-mile bike trip, where he encountered numerous challenges, and heartwarming moments, making many meaningful connections with people along the way. He believes in the importance of human connections, the power of being kind, and the fulfillment that comes from embracing challenges on an adventure like his. Join us as we dive into Dan’s unforgettable journey and discover the transformative power of embracing the unknown.Six big lessons Dan learned on his epic journey:1.      Human connections happen more easily by being nice first.2.      There is great value in going slower.3.      Solo travel can be highly fulfilling.4.      Sometimes, the greatest experiences come from spontaneity.5.      The real joy is in the journey.6.      Humanity is truly good.Follow Dan’s adventures on Instagram at @kontikic2c. Get your copy of The Kontiki Dream by Thor Heyerdahl.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Stewart Clark and his wife Nancy (the stoker) have been tandem cycling for almost 20 years. They have been all over the world on their tandem and are members of several tandem touring clubs, including the Tandem Touring Club of France.Whether you're an experienced tandem cyclist or just starting, there are many benefits to tandem cycling with a partner. Building community, staying active, and staying connected to your spouse are just a few. When Stewart retired, he turned their tandem into an eBike and has some great tips for hassle-free and budget-friendly eBike conversions.Join Tahverlee and Stewart for this fun fireside chat about wine, food, friends, routes, wives, ants, and tandem bikes!Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

Tadeo Pueyrredon has always had a love for nature, but it was his father’s passion for cycling that inspired him to take up bike touring. His dad bought his first bicycle and began touring at the young age of 72! After hearing about his dad’s adventures, Tadeo decided it was his turn.He has since cycled in many countries, including Cuba, Spain, Chile, Patagonia, Uruguay, and his home country of Argentina. At the age of 40, Tadeo took his dream journey and biked the entire Argentinian Route 40 from La Quiaca to Cabo Virgenes, a trip of 5200 km that took him four months to complete. As much as Tadeo loves touring, he also loves hosting cyclists and experiencing new adventures with them at his home in Argentina. He has made lifelong friends from all over the world and has encouraged other family members to become Warmshowers hosts.Tadeo believes nothing is impossible when you set your mind to it and says, "If I did it, anyone could do it! Believe in yourself and think positively. Life is short; the time is now.”Learn more about Tadeo and follow his adventures on Instagram at @planr40, Facebook, and YouTube.  Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

Sara Qiu Ruan has embarked on a life-changing adventure, conquering her fears and cycling with the profound purpose of helping people.Sara’s solo cycle tour has taken her across 7500km and into 10 countries – and counting. She has overcome her fear of asking for help, adjusted to wild camping, and stepped out of her comfort zone by connecting with people she meets along the way.But her journey isn’t only about personal growth; she is on a mission to make a difference. While in Turkey, Sara experienced the devasting effects of the recent earthquake firsthand. She received warm hospitality from many families who lost everything and has dedicated her trip to helping. Sara is cycling with the purpose of raising 50.000 € for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria.Taking the first step was the hardest, but she learned more about herself in the first 9 months of her tour than in the first 30 years of her life. The best things that happen in the journey are not planned; they are the adventures and people we meet along the way.Learn more about Sara and her efforts to help earthquake survivors on her Journey From the Road website. Follow her adventures on YouTube at Journey From the Road and on Instagram at @journeyfromtheroad.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 [email protected]’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!

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 [email protected]’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!

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 [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 [email protected]’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!

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 [email protected]’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!

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 [email protected]’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!

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 [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 tourThey love music and travel with Pam’s fiddle and Glen’s mandolinRoad biking in Baja, Mexico, is doable!They learned many valuable lessons after Glen’s bike was stolen in Tucson, AZBike touring in New Zealand is not for the faint-hearted!Learn more about Pam and Glen on Instagram and their blog at Glen’s Bicycle Blog.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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.Learn more about John and follow him on his YouTube channel Cycling on a Shoestring, Instagram at @cyclingonashoestring, and Twitter at @ConAShoestring.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 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 [email protected].

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 Cycles, Mission Cycles, and Belize Bicycle Company.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 edges of what’s possible.Fun Facts to Know about Tarra:She is a USMC Veteran, mother, wife, and lover of Christ.The Warmshowers community plays a big role in all her tours, and she is grateful to all her hosts.To give back, she dedicates some of her tours to raising funds specifically for the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial.Tarra’s podcast, The Possible Project, is about people who are affecting positive change and making a difference. Learn more about Tarra and follow her on her podcast, The Possible Project Podcast, on Facebook, Instagram, and her YouTube channel.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 to as many as possible!Fun fact: Antony stayed with 21 Warmshowers hosts on his journey and asked everyone he met to “graffiti” his bike by marking their initials on the frame.Learn more about Antony by following him on Facebook, on Instagram @antonys_adventures, on Twitter at @antonybutcher, and by visiting his website, Antony Across America.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 how to get one; Boomers and Bam-Bu Bicycles.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 Australian forest for cyclists of all abilities (beginner mountain biking experience needed).Encounter a wide variety of wildlife and flora, including kangaroos, emus, birds, lizards, snakes, and amazing wildflowers in Spring.The Munda Biddi traverses a very diverse landscape.You can find facilities (campsites) along the route, including water most of the year.Dwellingup, Collie, and Nannup are just a few of the towns along the route with bike-friendly resources.Learn more about the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation by visiting their website MundaBidda.org.au and following them on Facebook and Instagram @MundaBiddiTrailFoundation.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 States by crashes involving distracted drivers.Learn more about Ben and follow his adventures on his website, Eyes Up Ride, and Instagram at @EyesUpRide.  Learn more about the charity Ben supports and its mission at TextLess Live More.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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/personal realizations about his life that he made. He shares that it was epiphanic.He strongly advocates for more bike lanes in cities and towns and bikeable highways between them. He would love to organize with other community members for greater bike access everywhere.He hopes to never depend on a car again.Every pedal stroke is pedaling for peace since it doesn't require fossil fuels and the wars we fight for them.You can learn more about Daniel’s 2013 tour from Chicago to San Francisco in his blog Bike Big or Go Home. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 Warmshowers hosts. They learned and benefited so much from the kindness of strangers.In 1971, she posted an ad in her high school newspaper looking for someone to cycle across the USA with. She finally achieved this goal with Jim in 2008.The most momentous stretch in their travels was the 14 days it took them to cross Australia's Nullarbor.A 38-hour storm in Mongolia damaged their tent's zippers beyond repair.Their second favorite way to spend a night is free camping in the middle of nowhere, sitting with a cup of hot tea and journals after a day of vigorous cycling. Being alone in nature is the pièce de résistance.Learn more about Anne Breedlove and follow her adventures on her new website, Anne Breedlove, and on Instagram at @speedyab6.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 touring bikes.He spent nine years traveling and working worldwide, with his bicycle being his primary means of transportation.He met his wife 26 years ago on The Tibetan–Chinese border. He was on a bike, and she was traveling with friends by bus. He talked her into buying a bicycle and traveling with him into Tibet. 26 years later, they still ride their bikes, tour, and are Warmshowers hosts.His bike life led him to work in and own bicycle shops for over a quarter of a century. He never stopped traveling, mainly by bicycle. He and his wife have two children who grew up on bicycles and in bike shops, and now they are both mountain bikers and work in bicycle and ski shops in The Pyrenees in France, where the family now lives.He has written a book recounting the central part of his two-wheel travel life. He also has a cycling article in a British magazine called Permaculture Magazine, Issue No. 111.Learn more about Joe and follow his adventures on his website, Cycles of a Traveler, and on YouTube.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 a different way to see the world.The Balkans are an amazing place to explore by bicycle.The people of the Balkans are amazingly friendly, and it is very safe to ride there. Learn more about Chuck Atkinson and follow his adventures on Facebook.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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.She is entirely vegetarian, including a no-egg diet on all her tours. However, she shares that maintaining her vegetarian diet is more challenging in some places than others.Contrary to many other cycle tourers, she doesn’t ride that many kilometers per tour because she likes spending more time in specific places. For example, during a month-long cycling trip in Thailand, she only covered 1000kms.Priyanka has completed long and short cycle tours in 7 different countries around the world (including India).Learn more about Priyanka and follow her adventures on her blog, MapRoute Travel Blog, and her podcast, MapRoute.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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) through Australia, New Zealand, and French Polynesia.Last summer, they biked through the Rockies.Ed & Jocelyn have just published their first book, “Bike Touring with Kids: The Oceania Odyssey.” Learn more about the Gillis Family and follow their adventures on their website and blog, Yukon4Explore, or Instagram at @yukon4explore. Get their book; Bike Touring with Kids: The Oceania Odyssey.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 Cycling on a Shoestring, Instagram at @cyclingonashoestring, and Twitter at @ConAShoestring.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 heartwarming.Many things are possible to realize, many more than one believes.Being open to the world in terms of time and attitude allows things to happen naturally.The Internet has reshaped our ways of bike traveling and looking at the world, not always for the better.Traveling and taking time on the road makes us creative and introduces us to interesting people. Time spent on a bicycle belongs entirely to us; we can be in the here and now, remaining empty and dreaming. You can learn more about Claude and follow his adventures on his website at Claude Marthaler- Cyclonaute.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 cannot make it to Portland, Filmed by Bike is available online through August. A shorter film program also hits the road starting in July to visit cities worldwide. When we travel by bike, it gives us a beautiful opportunity to connect with others. The world needs more of that, now more than ever.Tickets are on sale now! Learn more and purchase tickets for the 20th Annual Film Festival at Filmed by Bike. Follow Filmed by Bike on Instagram at @filmedbybike, Facebook, and YouTube. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley Happy riding and hosting!

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 true, and if I do not try, I can never change anything."Dorothee's reflections:She is grateful to all her Warmshowers hosts. Without them, the trip would not have been possible.She hopes that she can be a good example for others.She wishes for better infrastructure for cyclists around the world. (It would be good for the environment as well.)She thinks this trip was once in a lifetime! But the COP27 is coming up in Egypt, and maybe . . . She wants you to know, "It is never too late!"Learn more about Dorothee and follow her adventures on her blog, Biking for Future, on Instagram at @DorotheeHildebrandt, and on Facebook.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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.Five fun facts about Peter and Tracy:They tour exclusively on a tandem bicycle.Their first overnight stay was in Peter’s brother’s backyard, 60 miles from their home.They bicycle tour for both pleasure and business (We Bike Etc).They are still married. Ha!They wrote a successful book about their first cross-country trip, “Coast to Coast on a Tandem: Our Adventure Crossing the USA on a Bicycle Built for Two.” (Get it here)Learn more about Peter and Tracy on their website, We Bike Etc, and follow their blog. Check them out on Facebook at We Bike Etc or Coast to Coast on a Tandem and on Instagram at @webikeetc. Connect with Peter on Facebook, connect with Tracy on Facebook.Get their book, Coast to Coast on a Tandem, here.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les KonleyHappy riding and hosting!

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 politics, we all agree on the joys of cycle touring, being human, and helping each other out. Let’s focus on what brings us together, not what divides us, and keep pedaling!You can follow Ken on YouTube at Ken Francis World and The Intimacy Gram. Find him on Instagram @Adventureman_lb and @The_Intimacy_Gram. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 looking for cyclists. Get to know Dave Fletcher and Leo Ramos on Facebook; Dave, Leo. Follow Leo on Instagram @HandmadebyLeonardo. Join Dave’s Facebook group Kona Sutra Owners and Fans.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 has met so many more people traveling solo than he ever met when traveling with a group. Adam is making connections to last a lifetime on his tour across the world, helping him mature into a well-rounded individual ready for the next stage of his life. You can learn more about Adam on his blog at Two Wheels One World, on Instagram at @acrosstheworldbybike, and on TikTok at adamswanson067.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 like fun! You can learn more about Sheelagh on her website at Sheelagh Daly, follow her on Instagram at @sheelagh.daly, and YouTube at Sheelagh Daly, Stay Curious. Get Sheelagh's 5 Favorite Bike Touring Nutrition Tips HERE.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] 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 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 [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 [email protected] riding and hosting!

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 that time, Warmshowers was still very small, but the organization grew very quickly over the next few years. Eventually, Ken became a valuable member of the board and served multiple terms.Ken's advises hosts to clearly communicate their expectations and house rules with cyclists before and during their stay. Try to be unique, possibly by giving your guests a small but memorable token, taking them to a local restaurant, or by offering them advice on area attractions and best places to visit to make their experience memorable. Ken encourages hosts and guests always to leave feedback, good or bad and believes it is vital to communication.Since the 80s, Ken has toured worldwide, from the US to Europe, Australia, and even Iceland. Because he has hosted so many cyclists over the years, he manages to find a familiar Warmshowers host wherever he goes. He has even heard from former guests who have talked to other cyclists while touring and realized that they both stayed with Ken at one time.Ken believes the saying, "We don't stop touring because we get old, we get old because we stop touring." Cycling is for everybody and is a great way to see the world. Life might get complicated, but that doesn't mean we have to stop. His best advice is just to keep riding!You can follow Ken on YouTube at Ken Francis World and The Intimacy Gram. Find him on Instagram @Adventureman_lb and @The_Intimacy_Gram. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 about ten women to join the ride, but to their amazement, 400 women showed up! They invaded the roads of Turkey with their fancy clothes and decorated bicycles, smiling and waving to onlookers. Almost 50 journalists came to cover the event, which grew from there. Pinar believes that Cycling is a compelling way for women to become visible in society and an entirely new way to interact with their city. Fancy Women Bike Ride is a grassroots event for women, organized by women to remember the liberating joy of Cycling and to inspire more women to ride more often. The more women who cycle, the more women will be encouraged to cycle.  Pinar is also creating powerful ways for women to be seen in the industry. In addition to founding Fancy Women Bike Ride, she works closely with the Woman Cycling Initiative. Women in Cycling is a new initiative to help women get more visibility, impact, and leading jobs in the cycling industry. They seek to boost equality and diversity in the sector, shine the spotlight on women in the industry and provide networking, mentoring, and training opportunities.Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Fancy Women Bike Ride. Look for a local event in a city near you in September 2022. Besides creating more diversity in the biking industry, Pinar hopes to encourage women to dust off their bikes, join the ride, and then keep going for the pure joy of it.You can follow Pinar, who calls herself a cycling brainwasher, on Instagram at @pinarpinzuti, Facebook, and Twitter at @pinarpinzuti. But beware, she will convince you to take up cycling!Learn more about Fancy Women Bike Ride, Women in Cycling Initiative, Bike Italia, and Bikenomist.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 books about touring, which made her believe the trip would be absolutely grueling; cycling all day and night. But in fact, a cycle tour doesn’t have to be that way; it can be whatever you want it to be. The beauty of the bicycle is that it takes you off the beaten track and into so many places that you would not see if you were in a car. Sometimes, not following the recommended, traditional route allows you to see and do some pretty amazing things.Susan recalls some of the highlights from her trip, including; the best food she ate, which was in South Korea, Taiwan has fantastic cycle routes with people cheering you on along the way, cycling the Pacific Coastal Highway is beautiful, but going inland off the path can take you to some amazing places. Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are all very cycle-friendly. Her favorite place to cycle was in Southeast Asia, where she felt very safe and welcomed. Susan’s tour motivated her to become a cycling coach. Her new venture, teaching people how to ride and tour, is so inspiring. She recently taught a woman in her 70s to ride for the first time. Susan’s enthusiasm for cycling is contagious, and her goal is to get more people out there riding.You can follow Susan on Instagram at @SusanLongHaulTrucker and learn more about her adventures on her website SusanDoram.com. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 of inspiration to motivate him. When he told his family about the trip, his oldest brother said he doubted that Ben could handle such a long tour. Ben challenged him to a bet, but his brother was too scared to place a wager!Ben started his tour on Labor Day in Washington, and at the time of this recording, he was just over a month into his journey. He views his travels as less about a bike tour and more about interactions with locals, being outdoors, and, most importantly, wildlife rehabilitation and release. This first tour along the US West Coast should last about two months and is primarily for enjoyment, training, and ironing out the kinks before he takes on a more extended tour abroad. The trip has been a roller coaster so far. Ben had a proper send-off with friends who came to wish him well, and the first couple of days were very exciting. After about four days, his motivation began to be tested when he realized that so much time would be spent deep in his own thoughts. But so far, the trip has been a fantastic experience. Ben has stayed with quite a few Warmshowers’ hosts along the way and is thankful for his experiences with each of them. After this first tour is over, Ben will take a position as a volunteer Vet Tech with the Laos Conservation Trust for Wildlife starting in January. He fully intends on bringing his Surly along and has been told that there is no difference between a 3-day tour and a yearlong tour. The only difference is, you don’t turn around. Ben hopes to spend the next few years biking from one Vet Tech volunteer opportunity to the next across the globe. You can follow Ben on Instagram at @Bennie.andthe.pets.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 his hands. While deciding what to do next, an opportunity to take a bike tour came along. Jerry grew up riding, and bikes have always been part of his life. As he got older, he made some short trips but had never been gone more than a few weeks. Jerry set off for a 6-week trip and met many amazing people along the way. He thought his journey was complete when he met fellow tourers who invited him to ride along with them for a few more weeks. He said yes, and before he knew it, his 6-week trip turned into nearly two years!One of the craziest things that happened to Jerry while touring was in Israel. He made a post in a Facebook group that he was in town looking for good places to camp, eat and visit. Later that day, he walked into a café, and the person behind the counter looked at him and asked, “are you Jerry?” Bewildered, he answered, “yes, why?” The café worker pulled out his phone, called a friend, and handed the phone to Jerry. The friend had seen his post, and without even knowing him, offered Jerry a place to stay for as long as he wanted.That’s one of the things that Jerry finds so unique about bike touring – you never know who you will meet along the way and how it will impact your life. Bike packing has become a passion for Jerry, and he takes every opportunity to tour. Even a few days on the road, experiencing new sights and meeting new people, is not to be missed. He has learned that tomorrow is not promised, so always say yes when new opportunities present themselves. If you are given the gift of time – take it! You can follow Jerry on Instagram at @WorldSpinsBy and learn more about his adventures on his blog World Spins By. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 accessible support through therapeutic outdoor experiences. They believe that time in nature, coupled with professional support, is a powerful way to build resilience and re-find stillness.During his trip, Dan has learned some clear lessons of kindness and is amazed at the help he has received from total strangers. They have been there to aid with bike repair, meals, and places to stay or offer a smile and a kind word. Although he is riding alone, he feels like he has a huge support group around him. Patience is also something Dan is learning on this trip! Carrying everything you need for such a long journey will make you slow down and take your time. Dan views this trip as a life journey and says so much has happened since day one. He has experienced many beautiful moments and believes that everyone would benefit from such a journey. Whether it be cycling, walking, or just traveling, take time out from life to experience all that is out there. Dan takes time every evening to try and capture his day in his journal, but sometimes it is too much sensory overload to get it all down on paper.Dan is a data nerd and has developed a database to record the metrics during his tour. In addition, he has been doing some fun interviews with people he has met along the way. He plans to use all of this information and his journal entries to write a book after the tour is complete. His plans also include starting a nature retreat to help people struggling with mental health. Throughout his life, he has always turned to adventure and the great outdoors to heal and wants to help others do the same.Dan’s advice to everyone is just to get out and go, but take one step at a time. Start small; an adventure doesn’t have to be huge or cross country to be an amazing journey. Use your time for introspection but also put yourself out there and interact with others. If you are hesitating, just go! You will not regret the experience and will come back a changed person. As Dan says, “one is greater than zero!” You can follow Dan on Instagram at DanOBeaumont and learn more about his trip and donate HERE. Find out more about Mind Over Mountains and what they offer HERE. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 non-urban, less diverse areas. His first work trip took him to Wyoming, and he admits to being very nervous. But fortunately, Kevin met great people on that trip that helped changed his perspective.Kevin does not necessarily present as gay and has the privilege of passing. He is a drag queen on the side; his drag name is Whisky Ginger, and she is a salty redhead. But when Kevin is around a group of straight men who don’t know he is gay, he hears many things that he would not typically hear. He finds it fascinating to have a foot in both of these worlds.Kevin feels that the bike community is open and full of love and diversity for the most part. Of course, there is always room for education, but he feels very welcome and accepted while touring. He would like to see more diversity in the outdoors and biking community and is intrigued by the new affinity groups he has read about. These groups create a safe space for people of color, queer people, and various groups to share their interest in the outdoors and cycling. He does not view affinity groups as a place to hide or be separate, but rather a place to share common interests.There are several ways that Kevin feels Warmshowers can help create a more inclusive community. Language plays a key role, especially when asked to identify gender. Also, he would love to see a place on the user profile to indicate that a host is LGBTQ+ and BIPOC friendly. Warnshowers is currently undergoing a technology revision and will incorporate these ideas. The cycling community has been predominately white and straight for a long time, and Warmshowers is actively trying to change that.There is still a lot of work to do around this topic, and some might feel uncomfortable talking about it. If you don’t know how to handle a situation, then do some research. Where ever and however you can, be a part of the change and learn to be more accepting of others. There is a place for everyone in this conversation and the bike community. It starts at the individual level, and it’s ok to make mistakes along the way. As Kevin says, “as long as you are misstepping in love, you’re good to go!”Follow Kevin’s travels on his blog By Way of the Trail and learn more about Rails to Trails Conservancy and The Great American Rail Trail.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 to continue her generosity.In 2019, Aaron started the first leg of his tour and set out from Massachusetts, ending in Minnesota. Along the way, he stayed almost exclusively with Warmshowers hosts. Aaron loves the uniqueness of the Warmshowers organization and has benefited greatly from its hospitality. The first leg of the tour raised over $8000! The funds were divided between a group supporting cancer patients and another organization that helps alleviate childhood homelessness. Although the landscape Aaron encountered while touring was amazing, it was the “people-scapes” that captured his heart. Along the way, he met so many amazing people, including some wonderful Warmshowers hosts. Their warmth and hospitality fed his soul and made him feel like part of the family. He calls this unique Warmshowers phenomenon Road Magic! Aaron is so appreciative of everyone that has hosted him that he makes a donation to Warmshowers.org in each of their names to help offset the costs of keeping our technology safe, secure, and up to date.After a year in Covid delay, he is just back from his second journey pedaling from Minnesota to Montana. He is still supporting the cancer organization, but the majority of the funds will go towards buying high-quality carbon offsets this time. His interest in climate preservation began at the tender age of 9 when he read an article in a cycling magazine about how efficient the biological engine (our body) is. Aaron believes many people are paralyzed by the enormity of the climate change issue and wants to offer a communal way to do something that has a tangible impact. To date, he has raised enough funds to mitigate over 350 tons of CO2. But he is not stopping there; his goal is 1000 tons! Aaron is passionate about finding ways for us to make progress together against this genuinely enormous challenge.Aaron is very encouraged to see the bike culture growing across our country. He loves that younger people are being encouraged to hop on a bike instead of jumping behind the wheel of a car. His wish is that this bike culture will grow in all areas of our country. Up next for Aaron will be the third leg of the Tour for Becky, pedaling from Montana to Seattle.Follow Aaron’s travels on his video blog and website Tour for Becky and learn more about Trees for the Future. Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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.The trail is called the Great American Rail Trail because RTC wants it to have a railroad feel. The unused railways in the eastern part of the country are relatively flat, broad, and pass through many small communities. As a result, many people can benefit from these trails, not just conditioned athletes. The western part of the country presents a bit of a challenge as the terrain is rougher, and many railways are still in use. So, RTC is working with trail planners to create a system of trails that follows highways, canals, and utility corridors, to name a few.RTC has a companion website and app called TrailLink, which maps all of their known trails. When you are looking for your next adventure, The TrialLink app can help you find trails near your location. Whether you’re planning an itinerary or have just found a great trail, you can save all your favorites and track your completed trails. It is an excellent resource, with hundreds of miles of newly discovered trails added each year.Kevin calls himself a “certifiable trial nerd” and has biked since he was a child. He says that the best part about his job has been talking with cyclists, trail planners, state officials, and trail advocates across the country. He has been privileged to visit every state that the trail runs through, and although he has not had the opportunity to bike the entire trail, he has spent a lot of time on the eastern leg (Pittsburgh to DC). His ultimate goal is to bike the whole completed trail someday.You can learn more about Rails to Trails on their websites; Rails To Trails, Great American Rail Trail, and Trail Link. Follow Kevin on his blog By Way of the Trail.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 the same time! But Lorraine knew there was no turning back; she was hooked on the adventure of cycle touring. So, she packed her bags, flew to Canada, and decided to do a cross-country tour. Lorraine jokes that coming from a small country like England, she really had no idea how big Canada was!The start of the trip was daunting; Lorraine was terrified and felt totally out of her element. But she persevered and made it through day one. Week after week, she got stronger and more experienced until two months, and 5000km later, she made it to Vancouver. Lorraine learned about Warmshowers before she set off on her trip and was amazed that such a community existed. She stayed with about a dozen hosts across Canada, and each experience was fascinating and unique. Lorraine has stayed in touch with almost all of those hosts who have become lifelong friends.Here are some fun things Lorraine learned on that first trip. Instant noodles and marmalade are a valid food combination. Every country has a prevailing wind direction, which she did not know when setting off. Almost all mechanical problems can be fixed with strong tape, WD40, and cable ties. When you are alone in your tent at night, every noise outside sounds like a bear. And, most importantly, nothing can make you more grateful than the kindness of strangers. Since discovering cycle touring, Lorraine has changed her career path and moved into the non-profit sector. She is giving back, doing work she loves, and always ready to set off on the next adventure. Taking time to cycle has given her the much-needed balance between life and career that she needed. Lorraine is happy to say that she has not had another “traffic jam” moment since she started cycle touring and is living her best life. You can learn more about Lorraine’s adventures in her book, How to Cycle Canada the Wrong Way, and on her blog, Cycling In a Skirt.Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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 years ago. He prefers to camp when touring to enjoy the outdoors but utilizes Warmshowers host stays whenever the weather is bad or in a metropolitan area. For Bill, bike touring is a way to get out in the world and experience things firsthand. He says that the great thing about being a Warmshowers host is that it brings the bicycling world to your front door. You can re-live the experiences of your guests to bring back memories of past touring trips.When planning a tour, Bill makes sure that all of his equipment is in working order. He sets a general outline of the trip with some spots he wants to hit along the way and then improvises from there. Bill immerses himself in the place and the moment and doesn't worry too much about how many miles he is going that day. He takes things as they come on the road and says that help is never farther than a thumb and a pickup truck away in the US and Canada. If you run into problems on the road, you can always hitch your way to the next town to find a solution.Bill is always dreaming about the next tour. He plans to cycle from his home in Kansas to visit his sister in Fairbanks, Alaska, and back soon. In his younger days, Bill toured in Europe and plans to head back there someday when he is older, maybe in his seventies! You can follow Bill on Twitter at IntoCycling or subscribe to his YouTube page, Cycling Into the Sunset.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @warmshowers_org

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 through Australia on folding bikes.The Duration and Age section outlines older riders in their 60s and 70s who might be thinking about touring for the first time. It also features younger people with low budgets who make tour cycling their job by creating content for magazines and blogs. Finally, the Special Projects section rounds out the book with stories of cyclists who tour with a mission such as fundraising or reducing their carbon footprint.50 Ways to Cycle the World is two kilo’s worth of wisdom and beauty. It features cyclists from 23 different countries and strives to be racially diverse. There are so many differences in our world right now, but Belén believes that cycling can bring us closer together. While cycling, you learn so much more about other people’s cultures and lifestyles. You get to meet real people and realize just how diverse our world is. Giving back is vital to Tristan and Belén, and they have graciously decided to donate portions of the proceeds from 50 Ways to Cycle the World to organizations that help the cycling community further evolve. They both believe so strongly in the Warmshowers mission and community and have chosen us to be their first donation recipients. Their donation was used to provide a cost-free Host-Only mode on the Warmshowers Mobile App, enabling hosts and cyclists to connect to arrange lodging quickly. We are so grateful to Tristan and Belén for all they do for the cycling community! You can learn more about Tristan and Belén on their website TristanBogaard.com. Bike Life and 50 Ways to Cycle the World are available at all major booksellers. Follow them on Instagram; @50waystocycletheworld, @tristanbogaard, and @bellotoscani.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected] us on Instagram; @warmshowers_org

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 Warmshowers mission, so they signed up to be hosts.Ann isn't a cyclist herself, but she 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. The cycling community is very laid-back and simple, really only requesting a shower, a quick meal, and a place to sleep. You don't need a huge home to be a host; Ann lives in a one-bedroom loft apartment, and guests sleep on her pull-out sofa or an air mattress. Don’t stress about hosting; every interaction is unique and happens organically.Ann says that 1-2 weeks advance notice is ideal, but she has had folks schedule months out or even the night before. The first thing she does when she receives an inquiry is to read the user's profile. Ann's advice is to complete as much of your profile as possible. Even if it is short, a well-written personal bio is essential and helps her determine if the cyclist will be a good fit.Ann has had guests who are first-time touring cyclists as well as veterans. Some of her favorite guests have been families because she sees the benefit of traveling the world with kids. She has made so many amazing, beautiful relationships and hopes to visit some of her guests at their homes someday. She keeps a guest book to record all of her guest stays and their contact information. You never know; one day she may be traveling in another country and have the opportunity to connect with a former guest! Join our community at Warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram; @Warmshowers_org

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. She started BeyondABook.org to help shine a spotlight on the Monarch migration and encourage people to plant native gardens in their yards, roadside ditches, and public spaces. Monarchs need these stopover sites to rest and eat. Isn’t it amazing how a migrating Monarch and a cyclist can have similar needs and experiences as they travel?Sara believes that adventure can be found anywhere if you allow yourself to say yes. When preparing for a trip, her main concern is that her gear is in good working order. Then she sets off, taking it slow and only going as far as she wants to each day. In her five years of touring, she has always managed to find a place to sleep. It might not have been the best place, but Sara says that when you are in the thick of it and things are going wrong, remember that these are the stories that will stick with you the most. You will get over the hardships, but the story will be with you forever.Sara’s adventure with the Monarchs continues, and this month, her book, Bicycling with Butterflies, will be available. It is part science, part adventure, and part love letter to nature. She is dreaming about her next big adventure. Will it be riding a horse across Mexico? Or taking a half land/half water trip to study amphibians? Who knows? But whatever she does, it will be an adventure! You can learn more about Sara and her work on her website BeyondABook.org or Facebook. Her book, Bicycling with Butterflies, is available for purchase on Amazon.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 straight. She was one of 40 cyclists who participated in the ride, and together they raised $225,000 for the American Lung Association.Katie’s love of adventure has brought her all over the globe. In 2010, Katie set the world record as the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, rowing 3,038 miles from West Africa to South America. The trip took 70 days, and she was utterly alone with no support crew. It was constant motion, and she rowed about 10-12 hours a day. The trip raised more than $150,000 for clean water projects.Katie’s mission is to raise money for safe drinking water projects worldwide, leading her to co-author a book about rowing called Just Keep Rowing. The book shares experiences she had at sea and highlights the lack of clean drinking water in our world. Amazingly, only about $30-$50 can help a person get clean water for life, and proceeds from the book fund clean water projects worldwide. To date, Katie’s fundraising efforts have enabled over 18,000 people to get lifetime clean water.Katie believes strongly in mind over matter, good mental health, and the best way to intimately connect to your surroundings. She wants to inspire others to tackle their challenges by sharing her journey from benchwarmer to world record holder. Her sense of adventure is never-ending, and her future plans include cycling across South and Central America. Katie never dreamt that this would be her path in life, but she keeps going, taking it one mile at a time.Follow Katie’s adventures on her website KatieSpotz.com, on Instagram at KatieSpotz, or Facebook. You can learn more and support her campaign for clean water at H2O for Life.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 always had a traveling companion. The warmth of the cycling community eased her concerns about traveling solo.Some of Natalie's wildest tour experiences were sleeping in a city park bathroom in Montana one night to escape a severe thunderstorm. It was actually quite comfortable, and she got a personal visit from the sheriff! Making it onto the local television and radio station in Fargo, ND, and then being recognized by someone on the street, just like a celebrity. Eating a meal that was entirely grown, hunted, or foraged by one of her Warmshowers hosts in Wisconsin. Having a crazy dream about a colorful chameleon in Michigan, and then the next day, while cycling on Highway 2, finding a chameleon Beanie Baby on the side of the road. She picked it up and named him Calvin; he is still with Natalie and lives on her nightstand. Natalie shares that cycle touring is not about the gear, your level of experience, or how physically fit you are. It's about just going out there and doing it. It's about the surprising encounters you have with other cyclists, with Warmshowers hosts, with passersby who give you water or a big thumbs up. No matter how small, these interactions are what kept her going through deep loneliness, exhaustion, or frustration, not high-end gear or a ton of training.Natalie truly believes that to restore one's faith in humanity, you just need to hop on a bicycle and go explore.You can learn more about Natalie on Instagram at Nizzo.Hope.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 several wonderful Warmshowers hosts there that made her feel like part of the family. The warmth and graciousness of the Columbian people inspired her to be a more generous and open person herself.Unfortunately, Hollie’s journey was cut short by the Covid pandemic. After so much planning, it was hard to cut her trip short, but she knows she will finish her world tour someday.Hollie encourages solo women travelers to get out there. She advises always to be cautious, but not to let fear stop you. Hollie believes that the amount of good people in this world far outnumbers those who want to cause you harm. Fear is not a good reason to hold you back from the joys of solo bike touring.You can learn more about Hollie on Instagram at Hollie_Holly or on her blog at Hollie and Her Bike.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 would literally sing for his supper! He performed in every environment; backyards, local pubs, small neighborhood parks, and sometimes even in host's living rooms. He played 31 shows in all during his tour, always following local pandemic guidelines.Antonio is so glad he didn't let pandemic restrictions stop his adventure. He believes that things could not have turned out any better than they did. Antonio is amazed by the kindness he received from all he met and is happy he could provide musical pandemic relief to so many wonderful people along the way. You can learn more about Antonio and listen to his beautiful music on his website at AntonioPirettiTOZ.com, his YouTube channel TOZ Antonio Piretti or FacebookJoin our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 help and fellowship he received during his bike tour in the 90s.Quintin has made lifelong friends while hosting and loves that he has been able to stay in touch with many of the cyclists he has hosted. In fact, his family took a trip to Europe a few years ago and connected with a former guest of his. Although there have been times when Quintin felt burned out on hosting, he has never said no to a guest. His guests’ stories and adventures have enriched his life so much he feels he gets more out of the experience than they do.If there is one lesson Quintin has learned over the years, it’s that the freedom of bike touring is all about connection. His advice is to stop, slow down, open yourself up, and really participate in the experiences and people you meet along the way.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 attention to his fundraising cause. In 2 short weeks, with very little planning, a small budget, and way too much gear, he set off. Josh spent a total of 23 days on the road. It was very slow going at the start, and he quickly realized that a mountain bike loaded down with gear is not the right way to travel on the English roads! Having E.T. along brought him tremendous attention. Josh spent the first night sleeping in a small tent, but people started offering him shelter after news of his tour got out. He spent 21 of the 23 nights on the road staying in people’s houses, some of which were Warmshowers hosts. Josh was overwhelmed by the kindness he received from total strangers on his journey. On the second last day of Josh’s tour, he and Chris Brannigan from Hope for Hasti finally got to meet. His trip was such a magical experience for him that he knew he would do it again. For his next challenge, he plans to cycle 5000 miles around the coast of England, towing a bicycle camper he built to resemble a school bus while raising money for charity.You can learn more about Josh on Instagram at ExpeditionJosh, on Facebook, on Patreon, YouTube, or his website ExpeditionJosh.com. To learn more about Hope for Hasti, or make a donation, visit their website HERE.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 fellow cyclists in Bosnia that significantly impacted him. They taught him it wasn’t about how fast you are going, but rather how slow. After this encounter, Josiah slowed way down, and his trip went from a planned one-year journey to three years. His goal became to seek adventure and learn about the people he met along the way.So many fantastic experiences came from that one decision back in university to cycle around the world. Looking back, Josiah is amazed that he dared to believe that a trip like this was possible. He urges everyone that if bike touring is something you are interested in, it is worth pursuing, even if you don’t have cycling experience.Josiah’s advice is to always be curious and open to the unexpected. Let your gut instincts guide your path, and you will be amazed at what opportunities arise. You can reach Josiah on his website where he blogs about the projects he is working on at JosiahSkeets.com or follow his posts on Facebook at Josiah Skeets and Instagram at josiahskeets.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 take in the world's beauty while learning about diverse cultures.Mike's advice for anyone planning a long-term trip is to put yourself in the proper mindset. His motto for life is simple; look around, smile, and keep your hands open. Don't just look ahead or behind but look all around and be totally present. Smile to bring a positive energy, an energy with respect and humility to everyone that you encounter. Keep your hands open, to receive but also to give.  You can reach Mike on his website, Renew Ride, where he blogs about the projects he is working on at RenewRide.com.Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 cycling through the mountains, so she is planning on crossing the Dolomite Mountains in Italy for her next trip.For Anastasia, what started as a sport challenge to prove herself, turned into an extraordinary trip of transformation. In the end, it was the connections she made along the way that made the trip such a fantastic experience.You can learn more about Anastasia on her YouTube channel, Anastasia Bouzdine. Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 stay.Read Andrew's blog at http://allineedismy2barefeet.blogspot.com/And follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/my2barefeet/Join our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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.piletteJoin our community at www.warmshowers.org or you can reach Tahverlee at [email protected]: warmshowers_org

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 thecreators of the greatest works, is a need and having their back against thewall. When Seth set out on his 3600-mile bike tour he found that throughencountering hardship, he rediscovered his creativity and gentleness along withmeeting 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 newkind of freedom as we become untethered from the emotional bonds that connectus to them.Seth plans in the next 5 years to be an itinerant minstrel on a bicycle reciter ofmedieval Chaucerian poetry. He has already memorized 4000 of the 17000 wordsCanterbury tales by Geoffrey Chaucer in Middle EnglishRead Seth’s Blog Cycling in the South Bay at www.citsb.comQuote: "writers are desperate people and when you stop being desperate, you stop beinga writer" - Charles BukovskyJoin us at www.warmshowers.orgThis episode is brought to you by bikeflights.com. Go to bikeflights.com/warmshowersto find out more information and to book your shipment.

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/warmshowersto find out more information and to book your shipment.Tahverlee can be reached at [email protected] Join our community at www.warmshowers.org

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 many people these days do not ever slow down enough to take in. The trip that stands out to both of them as phenomenal was their tour of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan which lasted about 2 months and during which time they were overwhelmed by the hospitality and kindness of everyone they met, from other cyclists to the locals. Be sure to follow them to see where they go next and purchase a copy of their book for some incredible photographs and for inspiration.Connect with Tristan and Belen:https://www.amazon.com/Bike-Life-Different-Tristan-Bogaard/dp/2390251153/ https://tristanbogaard.com/http://instagram.com/tristanbogaardhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbmaYiRNS0n1k5gt1b91NYwhttps://www.instagram.com/belletoscan/ Warmshowers.org Foundation www.warmshowers.orgTo reach Tahverlee, [email protected]

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 challenges he has faced while on the road and through meditation. In fact, he has recently started teaching a 3-month program on meditation by movement and making healthy lifestyle changes and he hopes to be able to impact many people with this important practice.Connect with us:https://www.cyclingforstars.com/https://www.cyclingforstars.com/mybooks/ Warmshowers.org Foundation www.warmshowers.orgTo reach Tahverlee, [email protected]

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.S. safely, perhaps driving somewhere farther from home and having their bikes shipped or just exploring the area where they live. Bill’s favorite tours involve the mountains, water, and good food, the best of which he has found in France and Switzerland, but international trips will have to wait for now.Connect with us:Bike Flights: https://www.bikeflights.com/warmshowersWarmshowers.org Foundation: https://www.warmshowers.org/Tahverlee can be reached at [email protected]

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 something else that will make their experience memorable. During this time of COVID-19 quarantine when people are not touring as much, Ken recommends looking for more local routes or alternative trips to the ones you had planned and to look back at photos or reach out to connections from previous trips to keep those memories alive until you can travel again.Connect with us:Bike Flights: https://www.bikeflights.com/warmshowersWarmshowers Foundation: https://www.warmshowers.org/Tahverlee can be reached at [email protected]

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 then they communicate a few times before their arrival. As expected, she has not had any guests over the past few months, but she is hoping that cyclists will start touring again as soon as it is safe to do so because she loves being a part of the community. Some of Ann’s favorite guests have been families because she sees the benefit of traveling the world with your kids and she hopes to be able to do the same someday.Connect with us:Bike Flights: https://www.bikeflights.com/warmshowersWarmshowers Foundation: https://www.warmshowers.org/

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 school, museum, birthplace, and the house where his parents lived. Caroline appreciated his poetry prior to taking this tour, but her understanding of his life deepened after the trip to the point where she began doing presentations upon her return. Overall, Caroline has only experienced friendly people along her rides and she greatly appreciates her membership in the tight-knit worldwide biking community.Connect with Caroline:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfagvsYi3w_p-Un63KgS_AConnect with us:Bike Flights: https://www.bikeflights.com/warmshowersWarmshowers Foundation: https://www.warmshowers.org/

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.Allison and Jason also shared several heart-warming stories about their experiences with the Warm Showers Foundation. With over 100,000 users on the site, many of which reside in Europe, this is a great resource for long-distance bikers to find a welcoming place to stay along their route and get to meet some great people along the way. This is a tight-knit community of people who love biking and want to practice reciprocal hospitality, of which Allison and Justin are an active part.Connect with the Clonakilty Bike Festival:http://clonakiltybicyclefestival.org/https://www.facebook.com/clonbikefest/Connect with us:Bike Flights: https://www.bikeflights.com/Warm Showers Foundation: https://www.warmshowers.org/

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: @olivemybikeTo join our community, visit www.warmshowers.org or on Instagram at warmshowers_org

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.

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 sitesTo join our community, please visit us at https://www.warmshowers.org/ or on Instagram at warmshowers_org

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/UCqdqthri2vF6KTKsGTM7u2ATo join our community please visit us at https://www.warmshowers.org/ or on Instagram at warmshowers_org

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.comTo 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

Tahverlee brings the stories of touring cyclists and hosts from around the globe together, to share knowledge and experiences of Warmshowers.org Foundation community.