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

    The Best Countries for a Bike Adventure (According to You)

    What's the best country to take a bike adventure? I put that question to the Seek Travel Ride Instagram community, and the answers poured in, from expected favourites to a few genuine curveballs. This episode is dedicated to running through every single one. It comes on the back of a scorching European summer and a roadside afternoon spectating the Tour de France, which got me reflecting on how the race first brought me to France  and ultimately to the Pyrenees back in 2013, where I now live. Countries featured in this episode: Most votes: France, Turkey, SpainMountain destinations: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Bolivia, NorwayOff the beaten path: Tunisia, New Caledonia, El Salvador, Saudi ArabiaClassic bike-adventure countries: New Zealand, Thailand, Japan, China, Peru, IranThe philosophical answer: "Wherever you haven't been yet" (and "any country" will do)Got a country to add to the list? Get in touch and let me know your pick for the best country to take a bike adventure. Mentioned in this episode Slauka' Macurak's Norway episode (recently re-released) Leonie Katekar's episode on cycling solo from Antigua to Ushuaia My YouTube series on crossing the Pyrenees coast to coast Support the show Buy me a coffee! I’m an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including: 👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!) 👉 Zorali  👉 Helinox  👉 Ombraz  Follow us on Social Media! Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride Newsletter Leave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

  2. Jul 14

    Bikepacking Mongolia: Rob MacLennan on Ultra-Cycling to the Silk Road Mountain Race

    Rob MacLennan is back on the pod, this time mid-adventure sharing updates as he bikepacks from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to the start line of the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan.  We learn about how Rob has transitioned from long-distance touring (London to Cape Town) to getting into the world of ultra-cycling and how he ended up signing up to one of the hardest off road ultras out there in the SRMR! He also tells us why he is now out there combining both disciplines on this trip, and what it's actually been like riding through Mongolia's empty grasslands, staying in gers with hospitable nomadic families. He also shares a crazy story of ending up driving a minivan full of people after his bottom bracket failed after teh water exposure from 30 river crossings in the Orkhon Valley. You can listen to the original episodes featuring Rob's adventure from London to Cape Town here - Part 1 and Part 2. Be sure to also give Rob a follow via his instagram @Robbo_On_The_Road 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: 👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!) 👉 Zorali  👉 Helinox  👉 Ombraz  Follow us on Social Media! Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride Newsletter Leave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

  3. Jul 11

    Cycling to Everest Base Camp in 1986 with James Baile (Re-visited)

    Back in 1986, two Englishmen in their early twenties flew to Delhi with brand new mountain bikes and a paper map, and set off to ride through the Himalaya. James Baile takes us back nearly 40 years to a trip that saw him carrying his bike over three high mountain passes, reaching Kalapattar at 5,545 metres as one of the first cyclists ever to do it, and crossing into India solo after his riding partner's frame gave out. Highlights from the episode: Two 20 year olds, no maps of their own making, no local language, and a bike that had barely existed as a category three years earlierTwo weeks of carrying rather than riding, before the terrain eased into Namche BazaarReaching Kalapattar at 5,545 metres, among the earliest cyclists to have done itThe transition from cycling with a friend to riding solo across northern IndiaThe hospitality of strangers shown throughout the journeyFive days in McLeodganj giving Tibetan kids bike rides outside the Green HotelFollow along with James' future adventures via his instagram - @JamesB.Adventures This episode originally first aired on Feb 01 2025.  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: 👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!) 👉 Zorali  👉 Helinox  👉 Ombraz  Follow us on Social Media! Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride Newsletter Leave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

  4. Jul 4

    Solo bikepacking 9000km Across South America | Marta Ballús (re-visited)

    Ever wanted to go bikepacking in South America? This episode is for you. After being laid off from her job in Barcelona, guest Marta Ballús decided to take back control of her life by loading up her bike and taking an adventure in South America. I spoke to her while she was nine months and over 9,000 kilometres into her solo South American journey. A trip taken to help her reclaim her confidence and learn to trust herself.  Marta's mantra on this trip is 'Do what scares you until it doesn't'.  Highlights have included: Southern Chile/La Carretera Austral: Her emote and rugged starting point heading south Argentina desert: So boring she ditched the bike, hitchhiked instead and learnt to paraglide Peru: Demanding bikepacking routes  Bolivia (Salar de Uyuni): Cycling across the salt flats and seeing the sunset and stars in the night sky was like a dream. Colombia: Brought with it a tropical climate and an explosion of exotic fruits. Ecuador: Where she witnessed the incredible strength of Indigenous women doing hard physical labour Galapagos Islands: Unique wildlife experience most bikepacking journeys never get to see Follow Marta's future adventures via her instagram @MartasWay 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: 👉  CycPlus– ePumps (enter code STR for 5% off!) 👉 Zorali  👉 Helinox  👉 Ombraz  Follow us on Social Media! Instagram - @SeekTravelRideFacebook - Seek Travel RideYouTube - @SeekTravelRideSeek Travel Ride Newsletter Leave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music

4.8
out of 5
31 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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