People often say Janka must be very brave to go bicycle touring. Janka says “It’s not true, I’m afraid of many things. But there’s nothing wrong with being afraid, as it makes you careful.” When not at home in Warsaw, Poland she is travelling by bike. She has quickly learned that most people are good and would help rather than harm.-Janka : https://www.facebook.com/janka.konarska
My name is Min. I am riding a bike from Germany back to my home in Taiwan. This trip home is not only a challenge, but the pilgrimage of my life. Every person that I meet helps me understand who I am. During this trip, I face myself, my fears, and my dreams. Every day, every step and every person on this journey is one piece to help me solve my very own puzzle- to understand myself better. And this make me feel good. -Min
https://www.facebook.com/MinkaHsieh
Loretta Henderson was born on a lake in a small town in Eastern Canada, moved to the US and graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1990. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario 1995 and began teaching outdoor leadership programs seasonally in Rochester, NY and Lake George, WI for the Outdoor Wisconsin Leadership School. After graduate coursework in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership at Aurora University, on a quest for wilderness exploration, Loretta Henderson traveled to Alaska and began skijoring in the Arctic and working for the Galena School District doing Grant Management and Program Development. Tenyears of educational contract based employment led Loretta to develop programs for school districts statewide including matching Yurt Construction to 9 th grade algebra and geometry standards for the Kenai School District. Other contracts and programs include Recycling and Youth Development Manager for 52 schools statewide (YITWC). Loretta also served the role of Boys and Girls Club Youth Center Manager which included physical building construction, operation manager and program development. She was also an Outdoor Wilderness Survival Skills Instructor, Suicide Prevention Committee Member, Radio Show Host, Lifeguard, Ski Coach, Cross-Country Running Coach, Science Club Coach, Earth Day Manager, CPR-First Aid Instructor, and Vocational Programs Coordinator.
Loretta, having never cycled before, set off to cycle around the world alone on a route she believed had only been traversed by men. This journey was completed earlier this year after a 5 continent, 41 country effort covering Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America, Oceania and Europe. Loretta is the founder of the WOW (Women On Wheels) Wall on her website, www.skalatitude.com, which profiles 150 colorful pioneering women. The WOW Wall Book ranks first on google for numerous search terms including women bicycle touring, tents for bicycle touring, and solo female cycling, with 62,000 unique visitors (website readers) last year alone.
From Canada to Alaska and across five continents, Loretta Henderson has built a life of adventure, education, and fearless exploration. After a decade developing outdoor leadership programs, she set off on a solo cycling journey—despite never having cycled before. Over 41 countries, she faced the unknown, proving that women can conquer the world one ride at a time.
Her experiences led her to create the WOW (Women on Wheels) Wall on skalatitude.com, a thriving community of 245+ female cyclists, offering support, inspiration, and practical tips for women traveling solo. With 62,000 yearly visitors, the WOW Wall has become the go-to resource for solo female bicycle touring.
Loretta Henderson’s story has been featured in the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, CBS News, and international TV broadcasts, inspiring countless women to take on their own cycling adventures. Now an author and speaker, she continues to share her knowledge, encouraging women to embrace adventure, push boundaries, and explore the world—one pedal at a time. 🚴♀️
Her story has appeared in the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Calgary Herald, CBS News archives library (Travel Tips), the Orlando Sentinel (articles written by MyschaTheriault), and Pedal Magazine. She has been featured on CJSR radio broadcasts, I-tunes and Touring Talk and on South African Broadcast Company and Geo News of Pakistan TV broadcasts. She was also the subject of a documentary about Tourism in Kashmir produced by India National Television. Her online articles have been picked up by over 100 bicycle touring blogs in 14 countries and 5 languages. Loretta Henderson (lorettahenderson.com) is an adventurer, speaker and author. Her book can be found here at skalatitude.com
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BEST AND WORST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE…FOR IT’S OFTEN THE SAME THING
Being a solo female cycling around the world I do receive quite a bit of attention from men. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to be mistaken for a Porn Star as I was in Egypt while cycling the length Africa. As much as I am flattered and utterly humbled by the mistake, it’s been important this year to laugh and pedal on. At times, the worst travel experience is also the best because anything that makes you laugh the most at exactly the right moment is always the best experience.
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
Google search the key words world-pissing-girl and the article I wrote while in Thailand called “Is Peeing In the Snow Really Considered Artwork?” will probably show up. After I was asked by the media and politely refused to talk about stupid plastic peeing devices for women, I wrote an article about how proud I am to pee like a girl. An expert, I have apparently become on road side peeing. Funny, because what woman or man that hangs out in the outdoors isn’t.
BEST LOCATION DESTINATIONS
In Party Like A Rock Star I pedaled into the party scene of SE Asia. SE Asia is a great destination for a 2 pannier bicycle tour or swinging trapeze intoxication. Cheap, fun and accessible, you can’t beat Vang Vieng, Laos in SE Asia for a hangover or a first, second or third adventure.
BEST TRAVEL LESSON
I became convinced that despite having only met three in person that women on wheels are growing in numbers. So, I started the WOW (women on wheels) Wall, where women can share their solo female cycling experiences. Best travel lesson? There are a whole lot of amazing women out there, all of whom I could nominate as my picks for best of the best.
I got the chance to have a wonderful chat with Amaya Williams from world biking. Our podcast chat is also available on itunes.
LISTEN TO THE WORLD BIKING PODCAST
HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK?
“Thank you sir, will you come to my funeral? I like purple flowers” I mumble while giggling at the dramatics that are unfolding.
“I sort of just wanted to know how locals navigate on a wet high altitude Bolivian salt lake. There´s nothing to follow, the tracks have been washed away.” I say
I do not have a GPS (global positioning system) but the GTL (Global Locals System) usually works… well everywhere but here I think to myself.
“We don´t do tours to the island in the rain season, too much water” He says, a grin softens his right cheek. His eyes begin to sparkle.
“So where is the lake at? Is it there or there?” My gloved hand points out over the vast expanse of a white plateau.
I am willing to walk if the water is deep I think to myself
“You are going to die, and alone!!!” He says less loudly then the first time. His smile is expanding. My grin is reaching flirtatious proportions as I patiently wait for some instruction on how the locals find the dry camping island.
“Thank you sir, have a good day, I am going to just go west, there is a island out there somewhere….” I say while I peering out through my weak sunglasses at the sea of salt. I shift my feet in the slushy wet salt. I am strattling Pandemic, my green bike. It is speckled with white dots and salty chunks, a perfect look for a bike called Pandemic.
“The Sahara desert in North Africa, looked a lot like this. I really enjoyed cycling alone in Africa.” I say.
Boy am I really shining it on now I think to myself. Maybe if I tell him scary Africa stories this dude will give up which bump out there on the horizon I should aim towards
“Did you know that my small wheel here fits inside a lions mouth” I grin while leaning down and brushing the salt off my wheel.
“That giraffe I cycled with, I can´t believe how fast he could run. How do you say zebra in Spanish, sir?”” I grin and chuckle even enjoying my own sarcasm at this point.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE BIG BOLIVIA PHOTO SHOW
“You see that volcano there…” I am abruptly interrupted like a mouth full of soap.
“Keep the vocanoe on the right and those mountains on the left. Look for 3 bumps on the horizon, aim for number 2. The island will appear in 55 km on the left.” He is using his figure as a pen. His clean shirt tightens over his back as he crouches down over the salty puddle. His hand drawn map of Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Copiaso, the worlds largest salt lakes appears before me.
“Buenos Viajes (safe travels)” He says
“Thank you sir . The GLS (Global Local System) works everytime. I say as I adjust my sunglasses, tighten my face bandanna and head off though Bolivia´s Inter-salar (salt lakes) Rt 1 to the inter- volcano route and eventually to the capital La Paz.
HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK?
Want’a check out my favorite interviews from the BIG WOW Book? Anahati is seriously hell’a inspiring! “I was traveling around my country when I realized how rare it is for other people to see an Indian woman traveling alone,” 21-year-old Anahita Sriprasad said. It was this thought that laid the groundwork for what would come next. She wanted to raise awareness and promote women’s safety by cycling across India self-supported. From Leh to Kanyakumari, across the provinces of the vast country, she spoke to people about women’s empowerment. Anahita quickly became a role model, reaching national iconic status. I’m definitely not the only one who finds her remarkable adventure inspiring. I met Anahita through Twitter when the government’s Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh celebrated her success.
HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK?
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My name is Angela and I’ve just started solo touring the world. I’ve done some short tours in my home country, Australia, and have just finished circumnavigating the big island of Hawaii. I’ve got big plans to tour New Zealand, Cuba, India and Australia in the near future. I tour solo because it puts me back in touch with myself and with the world around me. It’s a challenge and I love the feeling of adventure. I also do it for the environment and for women all over the world, to show everyone that we can kick ass too. But mostly, I do it because I love it, and it’s a great feeling to love what you do.
HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK YET?
WOW WALL Pop Quiz!!!
What Bike Do You Ride?
‘Its called Minerva Link, its not a trekking bike per se, but it’s doing a great job’.-Gabrielle Fenton from Belgium
‘TREK 520!’ Coty Hogue from America
‘I bought my bike in Belgium and took it with me to the States. It’s a Granville Terra 3, woman trekking-bike. Granville is a Belgium cycle brand. As I said, no problems whatsoever. It has around 16.000 miles on it now and I still love him to pieces’ Fien Hill from Beligium
’80s model Specialized Stump jumper’ Lori Bell from America
‘Pelago Stavanger’ Sissy from Finland
‘Koga Miyata Traveler’ Martien Deijsselberg From The Netherlands
‘Trek 7.3 Hybrid bike and now I use a Thorn Raven Sport Tour plus rohloff’ Alison Davies from England
‘Surley long haul trucker, it has been such a champ. I bought it off a bike shop for a great deal, it was an older model that had been sitting around. Before my tour I had a fixie that was light as a feather. Sometimes I can’t believe how much me and this bike have been through together..ha!’-Leah Manning
‘I ride a first generation Salsa Fargo. She’s a tank. In fact, Tank is her name after the film “Tank Girl”. It’s a heavy steel frame’-Robin Brodsky
‘Surly Long Haul Trucker; Mr. Hank the green turtle’ Shirine Taylor from Canada
“I ride a first generation Salsa Fargo. She’s a tank. In fact, Tank is her name after the film “Tank Girl”. It’s a heavy steel frame” Robin Brodsky
“2013 Kona Sutra” Angela Zheng
Thanks all for supporting solo female cyclist. Thanks for remembering to use the resource page in planning your bicycle tour. It’s how we keep our community rolling!
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