Bike Life

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A Traffic Jam Moment Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Cycling Into the Sunset Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

50 Ways to Cycle the World Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Hosting; A Rewarding Experience Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Saying Yes Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

The Gift of Exploring Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

Wild and Wonderful Times on Tour May 31, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

Around the World with Hollie May 17, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

Where Music Meets Adventure May 03, 2021

Show notes

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 Facebook

Join our community at www.warmshowers.org, or you can reach Tahverlee at tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

Keeping Connections Alive Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

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 tahverlee@warmshowers.org.

Instagram: warmshowers_org

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