Top 10 Blogs From 2024

‘Tis the season… Time to take a look back at the top 10 most popular blogs published on our website in 2024.

1. Thinking About Joining A TDA Tour But Not Quite Ready Yet?

Many cyclists take a look at the long distance tours listed on our website and immediately have many questions. Can I do it? Do I have to ride the whole day? What kind of bike should I bring? We decided to answer those concerns and many others in this informative piece that was, by far, the most popular TDA blog in 2024.

“While a tour is often long and full of challenges, we provide excellent support to help you achieve more than you thought possible. The key is to come with the right attitude and some determination. Of course it is also important to prepare yourself physically and to take advantage of all the support TDA provides you before the tour begins too.” (Read more)

2. The Morocco Earthquake’s Lasting Legacy

Only 8 months after a deadly earthquake hit the country of Morocco, our Morocco: Kingdom of the West tour passed through some areas that had been impacted by the disaster. TDA Medic Bethany Butcher took a personal look at the effects the quake had on the nation’s people and infrastructure.

“We were all moved by what we’ve seen. The extent of the devastation is enormous. We are also immeasurably impressed by the resilience of these communities. Our hosts have been kind and gracious and have shared what little they have with us openheartedly. We will share what we’ve seen and we wish them a prosperous and safer future.” (Read more)

3. How To Choose A Bike For The Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition

The Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition is one intense mental and physical challenge so you want to make sure that you bring a bicycle that is suitable for your needs. The 2024 Content Creator, Benjamin Levin, asked some of the riders on that tour for their thoughts on the bikes that they decided to bring, both positive and negative.

“Henry and Linda, one of our husband and wife couples on this year’s Tour d’Afrique, are both riding the same bike, Fuji Touring bikes. ‘They are about as basic a bike as you can get,”Linda exclaims. ‘We have caliper brakes and bar end shifters which are virtually unbreakable!’” (Read more)

4. It Was Wild: 10 Years Of The Trans-Oceania Cycling Tour

Over the years we have reworked the route of the Trans-Oceania Cycling Tour, starting in Indonesia, then starting in Darwin, then Perth, then Adelaide, adding New Zealand…well, you get the idea. Long time TDA field staffer Doug Percival took a gonzo look at the various incarnations, real and imagined.

“The idea was to Traverse along a road called the Savannah Highway. With 500-600kms between drinkable water sources, roads that required serious 4×4 vehicles, bull dust pits, corrugations shin deep, deadly snakes and ‘comfortable’ camping sites non existing….. Sadly the route had to be shelved due to rather obvious logistic impossibilities.” (Read more)

5. The Trans-Europa Cycling Tour: A ‘Crazy European Diagonal’

TDA Marketing Manager, Shanny Hill, interviewed a 2023 Trans-Europa rider, Stéphane, to get his opinion of the tour and also included some advice from European Project Manager Gergo Szanyi who has led many of our rides on the continent.

“When I asked Stéphane to describe what his experience cycling the Trans-Europa was like, he created a new term I’d never before heard – the Crazy European Diagonal. Crazy – yes, in the sense that it’s crazy long, crazy ambitious and perhaps just a bit crazy to consider participating in.” (Read more)

>>Related Post: Staff Picks: Best Blogs of 2024

6. Through Deserts, Jungles & Gender Barriers

The 2024 Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition marked a rather remarkable milestone. For the first time since the tour was run in 2003, the number of full tour riders was evenly divided between men and women. Content Creator Benjamin Levin asked some of the female riders for their thoughts on this even split.

“On a trip like this you do not quantify people by things like gender and age; you qualify them by their adventurous spirit, by their willingness to be brave, and by their wherewithal to struggle and struggle and struggle until they succeed.” (Read more)

7. Crossing The Equator – One Time Too Many?

In the past, when the Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition was on its traditional route through Sudan and Ethiopia, one of the much anticipated photo ops was crossing the Equator in Nanyuki, Kenya. After being forced to change the route to avoid those 2 countries, the new route meant the riders crossed the equator a number of times…perhaps one time too many?

“The equator is one of those classic things that travellers like to tick off their list. Yes, it may be important to cartographers, and especially to navigators in days past (before Ride With GPS, haha), but really, what is the imaginary line that separates the earth into the north and south to us, everyday people, who like to bike, other than a photo op?” (Read more)

8. South Korea: The Land Of The Morning Calm

Customer Service Manager, Michael Coo, escaped the office long enough to take part in the Korean section of the 2024 Journey to the East Tour. It was his first visit to the country in over 40 years and he was amazed at the incredible changes that had taken place over the intervening years.

“The Koreans do live up to the ‘calm’ in the tour section name. They aren’t looking to impress you, to insist on your attention, to point out how wonderful their country is (sound like anyone you know?). They just get on with their lives and the result is, frankly, amazing. Our mechanic, Jordy from Scotland, on his first trip overseas was overwhelmed. He wondered if, perhaps, the Koreans could come to his country to show them how to go about building a wonderful nation.” (Read more)

9. Retirement & Cycling Continents

Founder Henry Gold, inspired by an article in the New York Times – What does retirement really mean? – examined the number of riders in their 60’s and older who have taken part in TDA tours and marvelled at their abilities and achievements in such challenging circumstances.

“We at TDA over the last 20 years have seen that just about any reasonably healthy individual of any age can, with some training, a sense of adventure and, most important, a desire to cycle, are able to cover the distances and enjoy themselves immensely.” (Read more)

10. The Tea Route: Cycling Southern India & Sri Lanka

For many years we have had our eye on the tropical island of Sri Lanka, hoping to include it in our calendar of tours. The opportunity finally arose to include it with the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and so we created the Tea Route Cycling Tour, a cycling exploration of tea culture in Southern India & Sri Lanka.

“This adventure will take you from the lush rainforests of Kerala’s coast and up through vast tea plantations before descending to the plains of Tamil Nadu, home to some of the world’s most stunning religious temples. A quick flight brings you to Sri Lanka where you will cycle past ancient ruins and remote temples; pedal through the country’s sprawling hill country, home to its famous tea fields; and spin along the southern coast’s famous sandy beaches.” (Read more)