Ultra cyclist Lotti Power has completed the Atlas Mountain Race, the Hellenic Mountain Race, and the Silk Road Mountain Race in a single season. Often the youngest rider on the start line, Lotti did not come into ultra cycling through a traditional racing background. Instead she embraces the idea of learning by doing  and it has to be said it has served her well!

Lotti first came into long distance riding through the world of Audax. What began with brevets and Paris Brest Paris quickly opened the door to much bigger ideas, She signe up for the Transcontinental and decided to take race the Trans Pyrenees as a team of two with her dad as preparation! 

Since that she has gradually pushed herself into taking on  more remote and demanding terrain.

A defining part of Lotti’s story is how she travels. She rides to start lines, carries a minimal setup, often sleeps without a tent, and makes decisions as she goes. That choice shapes how she trains, how she approaches events, and how she responds when things get complicated, whether that is punctures, heat, long stretches of desert, or the mental weight of being far away from friends and family.

In this conversation, we talk about learning ultra cycling by doing it,  standing on a podium she never expected, and trusting herself in situations where there is no clear plan. Lotti shares  how riding to events has influenced every part of her racing, and why she believes motivation and time matter more than experience or  labels.

Be sure to follow Lotti via her instagram - @LottiPower

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You are descending from the Annapurna Circuit when one pothole changes everything. A crash, a broken collarbone, and the ride comes to an abrupt halt.

In this midweek update, Olly Hargreaves shares what it was like cycling through India and Nepal. He drops us right into the chaos of riding out of Delhi before reaching the huge peaks of the Himalayas in Nepal. He talks through the aftermath of his accident, a week in hospital, and how quickly long-term bike travel plans can shift.

I also give a shout out to listeners who have been sharing their must-see places, taking us from Japan to Iceland and beyond.

You can follow Olly's journey via his instagram - @Sagas.of_Olly.Hargreaves

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Ever thought about bikepacking across multiple countries?

In this episode, I chat with Belgian bikepacker Xiao, known online as @Ciao_Xiao, who set off on a long journey from China back to Belgium.

Xiao first got into bike travel as a teenager, riding with his mum and later heading off with friends when time was plentiful and money was not. That curiosity eventually grew into a much bigger ride, beginning in eastern China and unfolding west through Central Asia.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• How early bike trips shaped the way Xiao travels
• What it is really like to cross China by bike, region by region
• Riding through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and camping high in the mountains
• Cold nights, mechanical problems, and figuring things out as you go
• His time riding through Afghanistan and how that experience shifted his perspective
• Why bikepacking often works best without a rigid plan

This episode is a grounded look at long-distance bikepacking, curiosity-led travel, and what you notice when you move slowly through the world on two wheels.

Be sure to give Xiao a follow on YouTube and also via his instagram - @Ciao__Xiao

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How long would it take to cycle your way through A Thousand Places to See Before You Die?

This week I am introducing you to Brian Sampson, who has been doing exactly that since 2018. Brian shares an update from his journey so far, and across the year he will be checking in with audio updates as his adventure unfolds.

Follow Brian's adventure via his instagram -@brian.sampson4  and check out his blog - https://justfeltlikebiking.blogspot.com/

Also this week:

Fergal Guihen (Rossi to Aussie) finishing ride: I attended Fergal’s arrival at the steps of the Sydney Opera House, marking the close of his almost two-year bike journey!

Bikepacking Roots gear library hub: A community-led initiative, supported by podcast sponsor Old Man Mountain, bringing together bikepacking gear libraries with a simple map showing where shared gear hubs exist. 

Canberra Bikepacking Gear Library: A local gear library helping people in the Canberra region access bikepacking equipment and build skills through shared community resources. 

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Old Man Mountain
Big thanks to Old Man Mountain for supporting this episode of Seek Travel Ride.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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This week’s episode features a really thoughtful conversation with Claire Sharpe, a mountain bike instructor, community builder, and the founder of the Bristol Rally. It's a great listen if you’re curious about bikepacking, interested in community-led events, or if you’ve ever talked yourself out of an adventure because you thought you weren’t “ready” yet.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Coming to cycling later in life and learning by doing
• How community can be a gateway into bike adventure
• Claire’s journey into mountain bike instruction and coaching with empathy
• Why lived experience matters when helping others build confidence
• The Bristol Rally and how it’s designed to feel welcoming and accessible
• Breaking down barriers through inclusive event design
• Route planning, rights of way, and riding with confidence in the UK
• Misadventures, muddy trails, hike-a-bike moments, and why they become the best stories
• Why you don’t need to be “fit enough” before starting

All Terre (Claire’s website): https://allterre.net/

The Bristol Rally: https://allterre.net/the-bristol-rally/

Follow Claire and her bikepacking projects via the links below:

Instagram: @ClaireSharpe, her website - All Terre.

Check out her event - The Bristol Rally

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Seek Travel Ride has just turned three, and for this mid-week episode I wanted to do something a little different.

Instead of a highlights reel, I’m sharing why this podcast exists in the first place, and what three years of conversations with bike adventurers from all over the world has taught me.

In this episode we talk about

• Why Seek Travel Ride has always been about experiences, not gear
• How experience comes after you start, not before
• Why you don’t need to identify as a cyclist to travel by bike
• Choosing your own adventure and letting go of comparison
• Riding as transport and sustainability
• The bike as a connector to people and cultures
• The Seek Travel Ride community and the power of shared stories

I also share insights from a recent article by Alee Denham from CyclingAbout, which analysed years of Seek Travel Ride episodes to identify the best places in the world to travel by bike, based entirely on guest stories and lived experience. Very cool!  Listen to my previous episode with Alee here.

Finally, I reflect on the community that has grown around the podcast, how it has helped people take their first adventures, and why that community is the reason Seek Travel Ride has made it to three years.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

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Why does riding a bike feel like the purest way to experience the world?

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Beaumont to talk about bike travel, wanderlust, and what he's learnt after spending two decades taking human powered adventures.

Beyond his achievements as a world record holder, Mark also shares how his relationship with adventure has evolved over time. Why endurance is often more mental than physical, and how cycling reveals the gradual shifts between cultures, geography, and ways of life.

We discuss the accountability in professional adventure, and the key differences between riding for yourself and riding for work. 

We also touch on how Mark’s travels have shaped his work in sustainability, using his experience and platform to connect people, ideas, and projects that can create meaningful impact.

If you’re drawn to long rides, empty roads, and travel that prioritises experience over outcomes, this conversation will resonate.

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What is it really like to bikepack the Tour Aotearoa on New Zealand’s North Island? In this midweek episode, Rebecca Gross shares her experience riding the TA, including the Timber Trail, Warm Showers hospitality, lush North Island scenery, and how well the route is managed with clear detours for trickier sections.

If you are planning your own TA ride or curious about what makes this route so unique, Rebecca's update offers up great practical insight into terrain, logistics, the NZ Bike Adventure community, and what to expect when riding the trail.

Later in the episode I also share where our Seek Travel Ride listeners on Instagram are planning to ride in 2026 

Also be sure to check out the  Snailblazers events happening in Ireland by @SnailBlazers.cc - You can sign up for more info about them via their contact form.

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What would you do if you suddenly had four months free to take a bike adventure?
For London-based outdoors lover Anna Ruddiman, the answer was simple: buy a touring bike off Facebook Marketplace, catch a ferry to Spain with her girlfriend Fran, and start pedalling east across Europe.

In this episode, Anna shares how that idea turned into a four-month ride through 11 countries, wild heatwaves, Balkan backroads and dreamy alpine passes. Along the way they wild camped in secluded spots, rerouted around wildfires, dodged territorial shepherd dogs, and survived on a heroic amount of pesto pasta.

We cover:
 • The serendipity of both losing work & suddenly having time
 • Buying second-hand touring bikes for the trip
 • Why rigid planning doesn’t work for long bike travel
 • Ferry crossings, river valleys & heatwaves
 • The wild camping learning curve (and mysterious eyes in the dark…)
 • Mechanical drama & flat tyres in Albania
 • The shepherd dogs outside Athens that forced a 60 km detour
 • Finishing the trip in Turkey and what comes next
 • Why comparison steals the joy from adventure

Route Highlights:
UK → Spain → France → Italy → Slovenia → Croatia → Bosnia → Montenegro → Albania → Greece → Turkey

Follow Anna on Instagram - @annaruddiman

Music Pick:
Anna adds “Oysters In My Pocket” by Royal Otis to the Seek Travel Ride playlist.

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This week I'm  sharing some awesome bike adventure gear hacks from those of you in the community. 

I also have an update from Giacomo Turco, who is currently on a huge ride from Cape Town to Italy. Giacomo is updating us from Benin and sharing how the journey has been so far on his bikepacking adventure. He talks about the intensity of the trip, how each day comes with new experiences, and also challenges. 

He describes the challenges of getting visas for countries, a crazy experience of being invited as a guest to a wedding, and also the scary moment of being assaulted while in Cameroon, and how it nearly made him stop the journey.

Giacomo also candidly discusses how despite the finish of his trip being almost a year away, he is already finding himself concerned with thoughts of dealing with post adventure blues. 

You can follow Giacomo's journey via his instagram page - @cycling.beyond and also find out more about his work on the Water Cycle. 

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