Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

Chad Horton and Rose Padilla have been exploring South America by motorcycle for years, with no specific agenda or direction. Recently, they took on what can only be described as an adventurer's route that was far off the beaten path. It was a route that would bisect the Amazon Jungle from east to west, passing through some of the most remote and unfrequented areas of the region. However, what they didn't anticipate was that the Amazon was experiencing a 125-year drought that would affect all travel in the area. Moreover, they were not aware that some of the boats that they were told could carry their motorcycle would not, while others would unload them far from land on the muddy bottom of a diving river. One boat's owner even attempted to hijack their motorcycle deep in the Amazon jungle. It was an incredible story of high adventure that was worth doing, but one that Chad and Rose say they would never do again.

Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show notes. 

Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast, since 2014, and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes every Thursday.

Never miss an episode, be sure to FOLLOW the show on your favourite podcast app.

Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!

If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website.

Thank you for listening!

Throughout the year, we find ourselves busy with various tasks that are necessary for us to live and get by. At times, it can feel like we are stuck in a never-ending cycle of doing the same things repeatedly. As we approach the end of the year, we begin to reflect on how quickly it has gone by, and how quickly every year seems to pass. But, what if there was a way that you could use your motorcycle to slow down the passage of time?

Derek Mansfield is a writer and author in the UK with a passion for riding vintage motorcycles in Europe and Central Asia. A few years ago, Derek decided to take trip to Mongolia, because that's what adventure motorcycle travellers do. Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show notes.  Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast, since 2014, and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes every Thursday. Never miss an episode, be sure to FOLLOW the show on your favourite podcast app. Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you for listening!

Going on a motorcycle adventure triggers the excitement of preparing yourself and your bike. Selecting the perfect jacket and pants, and even contemplating the ideal bag for your top box becomes part of the immersive experience. And for many there’s a satisfaction in knowing that their bikes and gear are meticulously prepared, ensuring they’re equipped with top-notch quality where it matters. However, there exists an entirely different approach, embraced by those who simply hop on their bikes and venture into remote areas with older motorcycles and non-technical gear. This somewhat minimalist approach is their version of thorough preparation, and it works remarkably well for them. Two seemingly polar opposite pre-trip approaches—one meticulously detailed and modern, the other laid-back and relatively minimalistic. It appears that Nick Adams, an adventure rider from Eastern Ontario, Canada, aligns more with the latter description—a testament to the diversity of approaches for gearing up for the open road.

Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show notes. 

Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast, since 2014, and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes every Thursday.

Never miss an episode, be sure to FOLLOW the show on your favourite podcast app.

Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you!

If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website.

Thank you for listening!

This episode of RIDER SKILLS is for all riders, regardless of the type of bike you ride or your riding style. Some simple drills can be done on any surface, be it dirt or pavement. Do them before heading out on a ride, while waiting for a friend, or even when approaching a stop sign or traffic light. These are simple straightforward drills that require no pre-planning, no specific location, and each one will help develop multiple skills at once.

Photos and links related to this episode can be found on our website adventureriderradio.com. Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes. If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you!

In this exclusive series, we’ll explore the captivating stories of riders who found themselves in DEEP TROUBLE. We'll be dissecting these situations, shedding light on the challenges they faced, the strategies they used and the valuable lessons they learned. Most critically, we’ll discuss how the situation could have turned out differently if some controllable aspects were changed. We’ll talk about the possibilities and potential outcomes, so that perhaps other riders can learn from their experiences and avoid making those mistakes that get them into DEEP TROUBLE.

Join adventure travelers Chad Horton and Rose Padilla, along with Spencer Conway and Cathy Nell from African Motorcycle Diaries, as they face perilous challenges in this episode of DEEP TROUBLE.

For photos and links related to this episode, go to our website at adventureriderradio.com. 

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Adventure Rider Radio is your go-to podcast for all things adventure motorcycle and travel. If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, head over to our Support page on the website. Every bit helps, and we'd love to have you on board. Thanks for considering! Your support means the world to us!

Lorraine Spence is an avid traveler who rediscovered her love for riding motorcycles after a two decade hiatus. She decided her first big trip in 2012 would be across Asia via the BAM road in Siberia, which could be considered one of the last challenges for adventure motorcyclists. The BAM road is a dilapidated service road for the railway in Siberia that requires planning, determination, and a bit of luck to overcome.

You can find photos and links related to this episode on our website. Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running podcast on adventure motorcycle and travel, and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes. If possible, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you!

Israel Eugene Gillette is an extreme motorcycle enthusiast and has been travelling to different countries around the world with a dog in his panier for well over a decade. Since he first started riding in 1995 Israel has found himself running from the police, accused of kidnapping and being shot at. Whether trouble finds Israel or he finds trouble himself is a matter of debate, but his adventures are sure to amuse you and make you question why he does what he does.

After months of planning, John Ciribassi headed out on his first Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) adventure in Colorado with three riding buddies. The journey took an unexpected turn on day one when inexperienced in pavement riding, a distracted John misjudged a fast-approaching corner, panicked and locked up the front brake. He collided with the corner of a horse trailer being pulled by a semi-truck. Miraculously escaping with only mild road rash, the incident served as a wake-up call about the importance of skills like counter-steering. And to explain counter-steering, we asked MSF Coach, Jon DelVecchio, to shed light on this essential skill that can make a significant difference in navigating corners safely and efficiently. Photos and links related to this episode can be found on our website adventureriderradio.com. Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes. If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you!

When riding on slippery surfaces, the risk of the rear wheel sliding out from under the bike is ever-present. Whether due to excessive braking or spinning out from rapid acceleration, the rear wheel's speed can cease to match the speed over the ground, causing it to stray from following the front wheel. Without adequate preparation and practice, this situation could lead to a potentially dangerous high side. However, with a grasp of the fundamentals and some diligent practice, managing this occurrence can transform from a potential hazard to an exhilarating experience—one that you might intentionally seek out for the thrill.

Photos and links related to this episode can be found on our website adventureriderradio.com. Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes. If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you!

Some time back, we interviewed Tom Medema from Rally for Rangers, an organization that delivers motorcycles to rangers around the world, to help them safely and successfully protect parks from poachers, illegal tree cutting, manual mineral extractions, and other violations.

When 71-year-old Lester Appel heard the episode with Tom, he decided to take action and apply to join the 9-day motorcycle trip across Mongolia with Rally for Rangers. On this journey a group of volunteer riders would donate and deliver motorcycles to the rangers in Southern Mongolian National Parks. Not only would Lester play a part in helping the rangers preserve the precious parklands they were protecting, but he would also have the adventure of a lifetime riding through some of the world’s most challenging terrain. But, just two days in to the trip, Lester had a crash that could have changed everything for him.

Photos and links related to this episode can be found on our website adventureriderradio.com. Adventure Rider Radio is the longest-running adventure motorcycle and travel podcast and we remain committed to bringing you new and exciting episodes. If you can, we’d love to get your support, please visit the Support page on our website. Thank you!