Peter Gostelow: A Lifetime of Cycling Adventures. 145,000km through 86 countries.

What sort of adventures does someone who is in charge of putting cycle routes on the map take?  Well in this episode I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Jenn Hammelman, Director of Routes at the Adventure Cycling Association where she has been working as a cartographer for over 25 years now.  We chatted about what it has been like to chart a course for people to undertake their own adventures across the USA, and what goes into creating new routes.

For people planning out bicycle adventures in the US, the Adventure Cycling Association is naturally their first port of call. Not only have they created a network of  over 52,000miles, 83000kms of routes to choose from, the Adventure Cycling Association also has a large amount of information available to help people get on their bikes and explore. To that end, Jenn has also done her fair share of exploring too and in 2017 she took a trip from Portland Maine to Seattle, Washington - the long way - cycling along routes which she worked on for years.

Check out more about the Adventure Cycling Association via their website
You can also discover Jenn's journal of her trip 

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Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

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Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

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Guest Nicolai Bangsgaard is a Danish Anthropologist who has spent almost two decades discovering the world by human powered travel. In ​2006, ​he ​set ​out ​on ​a ​long ​distance ​bicycle ​tour ​that ​would ​span ​four ​years, ​taking ​him ​across ​six ​continents, ​pedalling ​his ​way ​through ​53 ​countries ​with ​a ​total ​distance ​of ​62,000km. But that by no means was the end of his adventures and since then he has kept exploring the world through slow travel. 

I spoke with Nicolai when he had just arrived in Perth to undertaken leg 2 of his latest challenge which he calls the Global Triathlon.  Leg 1 involved a 20,000km cycle from Denmark to Singapore. Leg 2 will see Nicolai traverse Australia and New Zealand on a Kick Scooter.  For leg 3 he will be running across the US before returning back to two wheels in Portugal and cycling back to his home in Denmark. 

I really enjoyed hearing Nicolai share his vast experiences and insights from the adventures he has undertaken so far.  I was able to understand his motivations to keep exploring the world in this manner and to also learn more about his current challenge too.

You can follow Nicolai's adventures via his instagram account - @nicolaibangsgaard
Find him on facebook via : Nicolai Bangsgaard and his personal website is  https://www.nicolaibangsgaard.dk/hjem/

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

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Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

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Steph Devery shares her experiences from a solo cycle tour through Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  Steph set off from Gibralter in June 2021.  When she left on that day she'd never ridden a bike long distance, but with an appetite for adventure and no fixed timelines, she began a trip that would ultimately take her to the very tip of Southern Africa at the Cape of Good Hope.  A total distance of 21,500km and through 40 countries, to say this cycle tour was an adventure is a real understatement

Steph's experiences on this journey lasting 2 years and 7 months were incredible and she navigated through setbacks which would give many an excuse not to continue.  A serious knee injury in the French Alps put her tour on hold, but her resolve to continue this journey never wavered.

She cycled through the Middle East, and is the first Australian woman to cycle through Saudi Arabia.  As her adventures crossed over into Africa and Sudan she was swept up by the incredible hospitality of the Sudanese people.  When war unexpectedly broke out while she was in Khartoum, she took shelter with a family for 10 days before evacuated by the French Military.

Arriving in Paris without her bicycle or many of her possessions,  many would put an end to the adventure. But not Steph. She was still determined to continue with her trip, and after 2 months, she arrived in Zanzibar to continue her journey through Africa. 7 months of pure adventure followed, and hearing her recount the incredible stories from her African experience was a pure joy.   

Be sure to follow Steph to keep up with her future adventures.  You can find her on instagram - @stephdevery and via her website www.stephdevery.com

You  can contribute to the Go fund Me which Steph set up for Raihan via this link

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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In this episode I feature guest Daniel Troia, a filmmaker who  embarked on  a remarkable journey to traverse the United States not just on two wheels, but with an audacious twist. Daniel  set off on this trip  without a penny to his name or food in his panniers. Over seven months and across 19 states, he instead put his faith in the kindness of strangers, proving that generosity can be found in the most unexpected places.

 Daniel captured his experience in his award winning documentary  "We Are All in This Together' which highlights the essence of human connection and the powerful lessons learned from those living on the fringes of society. We spoke about his experiences on the trip, wildcamping,  cycling through beautiful scenery, enduring all the weather extremes,  dumpster diving for food as well as  the power and necessity for human connection when embarking on a trip like this requires.

I highly recommend watching Daniel's film - check it out via his website -  https://www.weareallinthistogethermovie.com/ The film  is available now on Google Play, Apple TV as well as Amazon Prime.

To follow Daniel's future adventures you can find him on:
Instagram - @the_travelin_dude
YouTube - @TheTravelinDude

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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In this episode I caught up with Jack Keogh, an Australian Film Maker who has a strong  passion for the outdoors and bikepacking. Recently he combined the two when he filmed his experience of racing in the 2023 Tour Divide Race.

The Tour Divide is an annual bikepacking race which follows the 2,745-mile (4,418 km) Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to the Mexican Border.  Jack's story is particularly unique in that he turned up to the event with the view of filming his experience along the way.  The output of that was an amazing documentary  - The Hardest Race on Earth: A Tour Divide Film released on YouTube.

His film beautifully captures the highs and lows of ultra cycling events. From the excitement of being in jaw dropping landscapes, to the grim reality of sheltering from huge thunderstorms and having to trudge through kilometres of peanut butter mud.  I really got the feel for his passion for both documenting his experience as a filmmaker, but also just how energised he gets from being in the outdoors.

Jack's first foray into the sport of BikePacking was an event called the Hunt 1000 and I couldn't help but thinking as we spoke, how cycling through that terrain in the Australian High Country was great preparation for the Tour Divide itself.

Jack is also an accomplished thru-hiker, having completed the Pacific Crest Trail previously.   

You can keep up with Jack's future adventures by checking out the following:
Instagram - @jackscottkeogh
Website - https://jackscottkeogh.com
YouTube - @jackscottkeogh
Film - The Hardest Race on Earth: A Tour Divide Film 

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Berenice, Rosie and Tam - three women who were keen to test themselves in the sport of ultra distance cycling .  Often these events can feel intimidating and just getting to the start line is a big deal.  So to try and break down those barriers, a group was created called the Fledglings. 

Previous guest of the showApril Drage, teamed up with Alice Marsh and Carly Williams to mentor the Fledglings group, sharing the skills they would need to participate in an ultra-cycling event. From learning how to use navigation equipment, attending crash courses in bush mechanic skills, as well as figuring out how to find the best bivvy spot; this group methodically went through each topic together - and also had a lot of fun along the way.

The Mallee Blast was their chosen event, which was designed to be beginner friendly.  There were two distance options - 500km and 1000kms and the course was put together with the view that participants would never be too far from services and towns for resupply and accommodation.

Of course no-one could have predicted the weather event which hit just at the start, and the Fleglings would have to deal with heavy rain, flooded roads, and peanut butter mud!

So what was it like to join the Fledglings, learn the ropes of ultra distance cycling and turn up to the start line of that first event?  Berenice, Rosie and Tam chatted with me to give me the low down on their experiences.

Click below to follow along with their future adventures:

Tam - instagram - @kidneying_around
Rosie - @rosiegl0w
Berenice - @bereniceheuberger

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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 Jack Greenwood  recounts his extraordinary South American odyssey on the latest episode of Seek Travel Ride. From the frost-kissed plains of Patagonia to the sun-drenched shores of Colombia, Jack's tale is one of relentless climbs, jaw-dropping vistas, and the transformative power of a long distance bicycle tour.

As a history teacher with a deep-seated passion for the past, Jack's adventure was not just a physical challenge but a profound educational experience, immersing himself in the rich tapestries of South American cultures and landscapes. He shares the highs of waking up to pristine lakes reflecting the dawn, the lows of battling altitude sickness, and the simple joys of being in awe at the vistas he was cycling through continuously.

Jack first conceived this trip years ago when watching the film the Motorcycle Diaries.  He wanted to recreate that trip on a conventional bicycle.

During the trip he connected  with the rich history of the countries he was travelling through. His narrative is punctuated by moments of spontaneous generosity from locals, introspective solitude, and the unbreakable bond formed with his travel companion, Jake.

Listening to Jack speak you will be transported to the rugged trails of the Andes, the vast expanse of the Atacama, and the lush embrace of the Amazon. His reflections are a reminder that the greatest journeys often surpass our wildest dreams, offering gifts of insight and camaraderie that endure long after the last pedal is turned.

You can  Jack's ongoing reflections and stories from his epic tour on his Substack, '10,000 Kilometres Arriba in Latino America,' and on Instagram @Hedgewood.

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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In this episode I interview Peter Gostelow who shares his thoughtful musings on a remarkable lifetime of cycling adventures. With nearly 145,000 kilometers cycled across 86 countries, Peter reflects on a life spent turning the pedals, from his early days of discovery to the profound realisations of a nomadic existence. He shares the shifts in his motivations for travel, the joy of the ride, the challenges of constant movement, and the quest for community and a place to call home.

We spoke about Peter's approach to wild camping, how he looks forward to finding that magic spot each day. But also how his adventures have evolved, both with experience and the advent of technology.  Peter's first trip long tour was taken in 2005 when he cycled from Japan all the way home to the UK.  Pre-internet, smart phone and GPS when learning about countries was only found in guidebooks and through conversations with locals.

During the interview we delve into the essence of slow travel, as well as the complexities of building a life on the road. Peter's candidness offers a unique perspective on the transformative power of long-term bicycle touring and the balance between the freedom of the open road and the longing for a sense of community.

Listening to Peter sharing his experiences, it was really clear to me just how integral exploring new places on a bicycle has been to him.  I spoke with Peter as he was gearing up for his next journey of cycling through the stunning landscapes of Jordan and into Saudi Arabia.

Be sure to follow Peter's ongoing adventures via:

Instagram at @PeteGost
Komoot - Peter Gostelow
Strava - Peter Gostelow 

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Robert Fletcher and have him share his experiences of cycling from Alaska to Argentina as a 81 year old! Robert came up with the idea of Octo Odyssey as a way of celebrating turning 80.  His original idea was to cycle from the North Pole, Alaska to Panama City where he would set a world record.  He successfully did this - setting the record for the longest continuous journey undertaken on an electric bicycle. 

But Robert didn't want his trip to end there.  He waited out the colder winter months and then set off to continue the journey all the way to Ushuaia, Argentina.  A total distance of over 26,500kms!  He believes he is the oldest person to have completed this journey. Quite an incredible effort.

Robert shared a lot of his past experiences of his travel adventures - from his early cycle touring trips where navigation devices and the age of the internet were not in existence - to his previous trip from Alaska to Central America.  His advice for others considering doing a trip like this in their older age - Just do it!

Listening to this episode is sure to inspire you and fill you with a sense of wanderlust for adventure.

Be sure to follow Robert via the links below to keep an eye out on his future adventures.

Website - www.octooydssey.com
Facebook - Octogenarian Odyssey
Instagram - @OctoOdyssey
Book - Octogenarian Odyssey. Trading the sofa for a bicycle seat

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with the Pascale, Alex, Rosalie, Elliot and Henri - an intrepid Canadian family of five who are currently bicycle touring their way around the world.  They've named their trip 3 continents with 3 teenss and during this discussion they share great insights about what it is like to cycle around the world as a family of five.

What makes this family unique isn't so much their trip - but could you just imagine taking a year out of life with your whole family to go cycling through so many different countries?  But rather, it is doing this trip as a family which includes three teenagers.  The complexities of travelling when the children are very much young adults themselves means they have very different needs and perspectives then say younger children would.  It certainly adds an extra dynamic to a conventional bike tour that's for sure.

They set off from Portugal a few months ago and had made their way to Istanbul when we caught up.  Now they are all in SE Asia enjoying the next leg of their journey.  Eventually this trip will see them take on North America as well as they make their way back to their home.

What was evident during the discussion is just how much taking a trip like this together has helped the family to bond even more.  I was especially impressed with the maturity  each of three young adults of the group spoke with as well. Itt's pretty clear taking a trip like this together has brought them closer as a family unit and also imparted life skills which will stay with them forever.

To follow along with their intrepid adventures be sure to check out their social pages listed below:

Facebook - We the Fam
Blog - A Tour of 3 Continents with 3 Teens
Polar Steps - We the Fam BroJames

Enjoying Seek Travel Ride? Then you can help this Independant Podcaster out by clicking the the link to Buy me a coffee and help support the show!

NEW! - Leave a Voice Message!

Have something you'd like to tell me? Want to chat about this episode more or tell me about your own bicycle adventures? Well now You can now get in touch and leave a voice message! Just click here and record a voicemail message - I may even include it in future episodes!

Join the Seek Travel Ride Facebook group - a place where you can discuss episodes in more detail, learn more about our guests and also where you can share more about your own adventures on a bike!

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist - an eclectic mix with each song selected by a guest of the show. The playlist is available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

Enjoying listening to Seek Travel Ride? Then please give the show some love and leave a rating and review on your podcast player.

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