Seek Travel Ride

Bella Molloy

Want more adventure in your life? Hear real adventure travel stories and practical insights from people who explore the world in bold and meaningful ways by bike, on foot, and close to home. Seek Travel Ride is an adventure travel podcast for anyone curious about travel and looking to bring more adventure into their everyday. Host Bella Molloy chats with adventurers and everyday people about bicycle touring, cycle touring, bikepacking, long-distance cycling, and other human-powered adventures. You’ll also hear slow travel, cultural discovery and micro-adventure stories that show adventure can happen anywhere. Expect travel stories, helpful advice and practical tips you can use to shape your own adventures, whether you’re dreaming of world travel, planning your first bike travel journey, or starting small with something close to home. Remember it doesn't need to be epic to be an Adventure!

  1. 5D AGO

    Bikepacking From China to Belgium | Xiao

    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 travelsWhat it is really like to cross China by bike, region by regionRiding through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and camping high in the mountainsCold nights, mechanical problems, and figuring things out as you goHis time riding through Afghanistan and how that experience shifted his perspectiveWhy bikepacking often works best without a rigid planThis 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 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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

    1h 37m
  2. FEB 10

    Cycling A Thousand Places to See Before You Die | Brian Sampson

    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.  EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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.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

    32 min
  3. FEB 7

    Building Inclusive Bike Adventure Communities and the Bristol Rally | Claire Sharpe

    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 doingHow community can be a gateway into bike adventureClaire’s journey into mountain bike instruction and coaching with empathyWhy lived experience matters when helping others build confidenceThe Bristol Rally and how it’s designed to feel welcoming and accessibleBreaking down barriers through inclusive event designRoute planning, rights of way, and riding with confidence in the UKMisadventures, muddy trails, hike-a-bike moments, and why they become the best storiesWhy you don’t need to be “fit enough” before startingAll 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 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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

    1h 34m
  4. FEB 3

    Three Years of Seek Travel Ride. Bike Adventures and the Best Places to Travel by Bike

    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 gearHow experience comes after you start, not beforeWhy you don’t need to identify as a cyclist to travel by bikeChoosing your own adventure and letting go of comparisonRiding as transport and sustainabilityThe bike as a connector to people and culturesThe Seek Travel Ride community and the power of shared storiesI 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! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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

    26 min
  5. JAN 31

    Mark Beaumont on Wanderlust, Bike Travel and the Places In Between

    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. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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

    1h 31m
  6. JAN 24

    Cycling Across Europe for Four Months | Anna Ruddiman

    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. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/STR Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee  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

    1h 40m
5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Want more adventure in your life? Hear real adventure travel stories and practical insights from people who explore the world in bold and meaningful ways by bike, on foot, and close to home. Seek Travel Ride is an adventure travel podcast for anyone curious about travel and looking to bring more adventure into their everyday. Host Bella Molloy chats with adventurers and everyday people about bicycle touring, cycle touring, bikepacking, long-distance cycling, and other human-powered adventures. You’ll also hear slow travel, cultural discovery and micro-adventure stories that show adventure can happen anywhere. Expect travel stories, helpful advice and practical tips you can use to shape your own adventures, whether you’re dreaming of world travel, planning your first bike travel journey, or starting small with something close to home. Remember it doesn't need to be epic to be an Adventure!

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