Seek Travel Ride

Imagine cycling from Glasgow to China for your honeymoon! Well that's exactly what guest Helen Watson did with her husband Ed, back in 2010. That extended honeymoon turned into a huge 15-month adventure across Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and into western China.
Helen gives us an insight into what it's like to use cycling as a way of moving slowly through cultures, and about what it feels like to experience places that are often reduced to headlines. She shares powerful stories of hospitality in Iran and Syria, including an experience which left her husband needing treatment in a Tehran hospital.
Helen has recently published a book about this journey, Tea and Grit: A Bicycle Journey Along the Silk Road
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What is it really like to cycle solo from Vietnam to the UK?
In this episode, I’m joined by cyclist Matt Whitley, who set off from Ho Chi Minh City in March 2025 to ride home to the UK. Nearly a year into the journey, Matt shares stories from riding solo across the Tibetan Plateau, Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Europe.
We talk about the intensity that comes with taking long-distance bike travel, choosing the remote mountain routes, managing mechanical issues when you are far from help, as well as how Matt was able to share parts of the journey with his Dad and sister. 
Be sure to follow Matt via his instagram - @Matty.Travelz
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Ever wanted to cycle the South Island of New Zealand?
Rebecca Gross shares an honest update from her time bikepacking the South Island. It was a bikepacking trip shaped by relentless rain and freezing summer temperatures. This led to long days of riding chasing weather windows that would allow for side quests such as hiking around Mount Cook.  From Te Araroa sections and west coast gravel to the high mountains around Mount Cook, the final days of riding saw her and partner Javi ride into Paradise near Queenstown.
A must listen if cycling in New Zealand on the South Island is on your own bucket list. 
Be sure to give Rebecca a follow via her instagram - @Rebecca_Grb

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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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Check out Old Man Mountain for the perfect way to carry gear on your bike.
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👉 Zorali
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Follow us on Social Media!
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Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

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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Check out Old Man Mountain for the perfect way to carry gear on your bike.
Support the show
Buy me a coffee!
I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:
👉 Zorali
👉 Helinox
👉 Ombraz
👉 CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!)
Follow us on Social Media!
Instagram - @SeekTravelRide
Facebook - Seek Travel Ride
YouTube - @SeekTravelRide
Seek Travel Ride Newsletter
Leave me a voicemail message

Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music