Seek Travel Ride

Cycling Across Scotland, the Netherlands & Belgium with Brian Sampson

Guest Brian Sampson is currently on a bike adventure connecting up 1000 places to see before you die. In this update he gives us the lowdown on what it's like to go cycling in Scotland, Belgium and the Netherlands. If you are planning on riding in Scotland you'll love the ease of wildcamping there and hiking ot the top of Goatfell, the highest peak on the Isle of Arran should definitely make it on your list. But beware of the midges and ticks!Then Brian shares his thoughts on the cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands as well as how he actually plans out his cycle routes. Working out how to join the dots of places he wants to see on a google map and then the reality of physically standing in the Grand Place in Brussels, and then taking in the history right at the site of the the battle of Waterloo. Be sure to give Brian a follow via his instagram - @Brian.Sampson4 to keep up to date with his bike adventure. He is now currently making his way through Europe and the Balkans and plans to wrap up this leg of the journey in Athens, Greece.  Check out the Elkhorn Rack from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)👉 Zorali 👉 Helinox 👉 Ombraz Follow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride NewsletterLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music 

Solo Bikepacking the Nordics: Finland, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands with Marcello Pacifici

Guest Marcello Pacifici shares his experiences of bikepacking in some of the most isolated places in the Nordics. Originally from Rome in Italy, Marcello now calls Helsinki home. He got into riding bikes as a cheap way to get around the city, then expanded that to bikepacking as a way to discover Finland. His first bikepackign trip was 800kms and would take him all the way to Finnish Lapland.  He's since taken many other adventures including time spent on the Arctic Post Road  as well as three weeks spent riding in Iceland. When snow blocked the roads on the Iceland Divide Route, Marcello changed his plans and cycled the Westfjords Way. More recently he has just completed a solo journey on teh Faroe Islands. A place he says needs to be seen to be believed and which left him feeling he was standing on the edge of the world. You can follow Marcello's future adventures via his instagram - @WhereIsMarcello and read his ride reports via his substack blog  Check out the Elkhorn Rack from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)👉 Zorali 👉 Helinox 👉 Ombraz Follow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride NewsletterLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music 

Wild Things Happen on Bike Adventures

What's the wildest thing that's happened to you during a bike adventure?  I asked this question and got inundated with responses so this week I'm sharing them with you.Responses range from marriage proposals, dog chases, nudist beach encounters to being kidnapped by the Taliban! I also share some of my own crazy bike adventure experiences including how I've twice managed to find myself starting a mountain descent wit no brakes (don't recommend!)Also a big shoutout to Adam Leathwood who has been tuning into the podcast for some inspiration to get out there for his own bike adventures and has now gone and done the thing! You can read more about Adam's adventure here:  Support the showBuy me a coffee!I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)👉 Zorali 👉 Helinox 👉 Ombraz Follow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride NewsletterLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music 

Blending Ultra Racing with Bikepacking: Hannah Simon

Hannah Simon has raced ultras in four different continents, but you'd be wrong to assume she is only focused on racing.  She also enjoys strapping gear on her bike and riding through new landscapes.  This year she chose to combine them all by riding to the start line of three seperate events across Europe. I enjoyed exploring her experience as a photo journalist and how she blends her desire to see the landscapes with the competitiveness it takes to race through them as well.Her racing pedigree speaks for itself, she has successfully completed  the Triple Crown (Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail) as well as the Triple Nelson (all three mountain races, Atlas, Silk Road and Hellenic).  In 2024 she finished as first woman across the line at the Silk Road Mountain Race, which required her to ride on a pedal spindle for over 400kms due to a mechanical.But did you know she only learnt how to ride a bike so that she would be able to go horse riding? That her favourite riding food is humous from Lidl and that she enjoyed being humbled by the weather and terrain in Scotland's highlands during the Highland Trail 550?Be sure to follow Hannah's future adventures via her instagram - @HannahSimon_ Check out the Elkhorn Rack from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)👉 Zorali 👉 Helinox 👉 Ombraz Follow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride NewsletterLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music 

From Bikepacking to Ultra Racing: Anna Ruddiman's El Piri Experience

Considering riding an Ultra? You need to listen to this episode!A few months ago Anna Ruddiman was on the podcast talking about cycling from  London to Turkey, and mentioned she might try an ultra cycling race. Well, she just went ahead and did it. Anna has just finished El Piri, an unsupported 800km race through the Spanish Pyrenees (with 20,000m of climbing no less), and she's sent through a full debrief.TL;DR: you're never going to feel ready, you're more capable than you think, and the only way to find that out is to go anyway.Follow along with Anna's future adventures via her instagram @annaruddiman Check out the Elkhorn Rack from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)👉 Zorali 👉 Helinox 👉 Ombraz Follow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride NewsletterLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music