Laura Killingbeck

I was working one summer in a crappy titty bar for a dude we called Big Louie. One Saturday night when I got home I realized I did not want to go back. So I went online and searched for cheap tickets to anywhere. Iceland popped up, and I bought the ticket for the following Friday. It was a month-long round-trip ticket, so it crossed my mind to ride around the island on my bike. I had once ridden about twenty miles on a bike path, but other than that had never really used the bike much.

Over the next week, I learned how to box it and change a flat, cobbled some camping gear together, and the following Friday instead of going back to the club, I was on a plane to Iceland for my first ever solo bike tour. I got into the airport at two in the morning, built the bike in the baggage claim area, and literally just biked out of the airport in the dark.

Over the next month I made it all the way around the island, camping each night wherever I landed. I was twenty years old. It was spectacular.
A couple years later I was living on a sailboat in the San Francisco bay, going through a big life change, and I decided to go for another ride. I bought a one-way ticket to Anchorage with the idea that I would “just head south” until I figured things out. About 3500 miles later I had made it back down to San Francisco, and had indeed lined up a new trajectory for myself. I did nearly all the trip solo, except for the last couple weeks when I traveled with a little pack of folks heading down the coast. One of them was Jenn Hopkins, an incredibly bad-ass woman who I will never forget. She had just raced the Continental Divide Trail on a single speed, and was cycling down the coast of the US as “a cool down”. She was still on her single speed, and none of us could keep up with her, even though by that time we were all in fantastic shape.


A few years down the line found me living in Bogota, Colombia, loving it but unable to renew my tourist visa. I hatched a plan to bike north to Venezuela to renew my visa at the border. I bought a used bike for $50, found a wonderful French mathematician who had never biked before, and the two of us went on a great adventure across the country. But when we got to the border, they did not renew my
visa! So I had to leave Colombia. My partner Scott flew in from Colorado, we got him another cheap bike, and the two of us biked south from Bogota to Quito. This was a special ride because he had just recovered from cancer and it was his first ever bike tour—over the Andes on a bike with a duffel bag for panniers!


The last ride I did was around Costa Rica with Scott and our good friend Simon. We had all been working at a sustainability education center there where Scott and I are now co directors. We biked around the country visiting farms, education centers, and agricultural research stations to learn more about plants and agricultural systems in Costa Rica. Biking was a great way to do that because we really saw and felt how changing landscapes affected plant morphology and agricultural techniques.



Earlier this year I injured my leg, tearing my ACL, menisuses, and tendon. Its a long recovery process and I am very overdue for a bike ride! I am hoping to head down to South America to bike the Peruvian highlands later this year as part of my rehabilitation.
 For me biking has always been about health—physical and mental. As you bike you get stronger in every way. You move yourself forward, and change in the process. Across gnarly deserts, windswept peaks, or winding roads, you have to keep moving and as you do, you change with the landscape. Any bad feelings you have get sweated out eventually. And you meet the kindest people in unexpected places. I am so happy to find other women cyclists who go for it, support each other, and continue to break down the barriers about what women can and can’t do!

– Laura Killingbeck


Jenn Tough

Jenn Tough

I met Jenn Tough in Cyprus… and a couple of Canadians enjoyed sharing stories late into the evening. Here’s some more information about author, adventurer Jenn Tough from her website. Jenny Tough is an endurance athlete who’s best known for running and cycling in some of world’s most challenging events – achieving accolades that are an inspiration to outdoor adventurers everywhere.

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Whether it be a race or a solo adventure, Jenn Tough’s desire to push her limits has led her to numerous corners of the world. In 2021 she completed a global challenge to run, solo and unsupported, across a mountain range on every continent, including three world-first traverses.

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Joanna Kaszewiak

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My name is Joanna Kaszewiak and I’m from Poland. In July 2016 I started a bike trip from Poland to Asia. My final desination is South-East Asia. I’m cycling on my own but was joined by a friend (a girl) for some time in the summer. Currently I’m in Turkey. I got inspired to cycle by another girl cycling solo, then I found WOW Wall and discovered there are so many great women out there. I am honoured to be pinned to your Wall 🙂  You can find more about my trip on my blog: www.onbyways.com or the facebook page: www.facebook.com/onbyways

Minka Hsieh

 

Min Hsieh (1280x960)

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

Vida Juliet Vivie

Ghana

“We have come a long way to help the growth of female cycling in my country, Ghana. The purpose of celebrating of the anniversary of my bicycle tour of Ghana in 1990 is to prove evidence that female riding bicycles will not be harmful. Parents in Ghana never allowed their female child to ride a bicycle. There is a saying if you want to have a baby don’t ride a bicycle. There are  a lot of discouraging messages. Female cycling is not recognized. I believe our yearly celebration will break that gap. Each year we celebrate by teaching girls riding skills, repair, maintenance and safety” Juliet  Vida Julie

Special note: Please get in touch if you happen to be touring in Ghana and would like to participate in the yearly celebration that happens in April. Juliet mentioned to me that they love it when bicycle tourist stop by to speak to the community about their bicycle travels.

Fien Hiel

Fien Hiel

I just wanted to express my admiration for your website. I am a 25 year old Belgian girl and cycled from Miami to Vancouver, solo, this summer. It was an amazing experience and I hope to venture into more similar trips in the future.  Women can travel by themselves just fine. We need to spread the word and have information and inspiration available for those who want to but think it’s not possible. I’d like to ad my blog to the already incredible collection of strong women you have on the community website.

Frances Friesen

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My name is Fran, I’m 69 years old and did my first solo tour last year! I’ve done several tours from as short as 4 days too the longest one of 72 days across Canada. I’m planning another solo tour for the summer of 2015 – ACA Washington Parks routes. I’m always surprised at how few solo women I meet while on a bike trip and it’s always so much fun when I do. What I really want to do in the next few years after I retire for good is to get on my bike and ride south, from my home in Surrey BC Canada to as far as I can go.

HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK?

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Jan Eadie

Jan Eadie (1280x796)

Hi there,
I have cycled in Cuba by myself 4 times and had only good times. However, I am looking for someone to tavel with me there. I need to learn more Spanish so as not to feel so lonely. I go for one or two weeks at a time so far and I am a fit woman of 71 who commutes by bike in Toronto year round.  I have also been around the Great Lakes, the Gaspe and the Cabot Trail with buddies.

Side Note: When I mentioned to Jan that she looked great, she replied ” I am only trying to keep up with my mom who just turned 100″

Tatiana Querote

Hi my name is Tatiana and I am traveling with my dog Rodrigez. We are now in Corsica. I love it here , it’s so beautiful and I feel safe wild camping and cycling around. Before Corsica,  I cycled Italy which didn’t feel as safe as Corsica. After Corsica, I will probably go to Sardegna and then who knows. My dog motivates me when I am tired and when I think I have no energy  Rodrigez  is always ready to go.  I am happy I have him with me because he has made me laugh so many times. On this trip, I discovered new parts of my character. I feel I’ve gotten stronger and I’ve improved my knowledge of Italian and French.This is a special experience that makes my independence grow. I highly recommend solo bicycle touring.

            HAVE YOU READ THE BIG WOW BOOK?

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