The Solo Shift: Conquering Fears & Finding Freedom

Celebrating International Women’s Month

What’s stopping you from packing a bag and hitting the road alone?

To kick off the first of two special episodes for International Women’s Month, we’re chatting with Helen Dainty, Eliza Sampey, and Calliopé Georgousi, three incredible women who traded their "what-ifs" for handlebars and open roads.

From the rugged Australian outback to soul-searching across Europe, these riders get real about the highs and lows of solo touring. It’s not all sunsets and smooth pavement—we’re talking mechanical mishaps, heartbreak, and conquering that inner voice that says "I can't."

What’s inside:

• The Leap: Overcoming the fear of the unknown and wild camping for the first time.
• Trail Grit: Real talk on handling repairs and minimizing your gear (less is definitely more!).
• Mindset: How to build confidence one mile at a time and why the world is way friendlier than the news makes it out to be.
• Rapid-Fire Tips: Quick advice for your first overnight trip or your next big expedition.

You don’t need to be an expert to start; you just need to start. The world is more welcoming than it seems, and sometimes the biggest challenge is simply believing you can do it.

Catch up with Helen Dainty on Instagram at @hels.on.wheels, on YouTube @helsonwheels, and connect on Patreon at hels on wheels

Catch up with Eliza Sampey on Instagram at @elizasampey, on her website Eliza Sampey PT, DPT, and follow her on Substack.

Catch up with Calliopé Georgousi on Instagram at @calliope.cycles

Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org, and visit us on Facebook.

Watch this and all episodes of the Bike Life Podcast on YouTube.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Bikeflights – the best in bicycle shipping service and boxes, guaranteed.

Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley

Happy riding and hosting!