patricia moore

I started biking about 15 years ago when I met my husband, Helmut Kiffmann. While I don't ride as much as he does, I have been training pretty hard these last couple of months, riding with his bike group, taking spin classes and doing my grocery shopping by bicycle. We rode the first leg of the Orient Express two years ago, and had a great time, and are ready for more! We look forward to meeting you all in Vienna, and even more, to arriving in Istanbul. See you soon!

Patrick McManus

Living in Perth, Western Australia. Working in the Mining Industry. Looking forward to meeting everyone and a month of new sights, experiences and some hard rides.

Chet Basher

Looking forward to this adventure-----Have previously done ride across USA and 2 other TDA trips in Europe--- Stay well to all have fun

Stephen Frost

Turning 60 soon so thought I better do it now.

Lisa Norcross

Hello Everyone, I am relatively new to bike touring - having done my first tour in 2009 along the Camino de Santiago from France through Northern Spain and back to France. I absolutely loved it and have since done a few other shorter tours, most recently crossing Switzerland from Lake Geneva to Bodensee. I am taking advantage of changing jobs to take the time for another long tour and I am thoroughly looking forward to it. See you all in Paris in a few weeks! Lisa.

Bonny Fairweather

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Don Colpitts

The vendors setting up their market stalls in the early morning light, the children joining friends for the walk to school, scooters carrying entire families through busy intersections: the start of another day, in this town, right now, right here, where I am in the midst of the intimate fleeting dance called life. Some make references to "real-life" back at home, call this journey "once-in-a-lifetime", speak of a destination as a finish line. I reject all such attempts to constrain these experiences of exploring the world's peoples, cultures, geographies, religions, customs, daily rhythms of life, as merely attempts to stay sheltered in what is familiar, to be put it in a box to be forgotten. Instead, these journeys are life-changing: challenging what we think we know, can do, can feel, and need.

Evan Colpitts

25, living in Montreal. Going on this tour with my dad (Don Colpitts). This is my first bike tour!

Vilma Plesníková

Hello everybody, my name is Vilma. I like going to the nature by bike or just for a walk whenever it is possible. Bottle of water, some snack, camera and good weather - what could be better :-) See you soon

Peter Plesník

Hi, my name is Peter Plesník and I work as a shop assistent and bicycle mechanic. I'll be your mechanic on this tour and I am looking forward to meeting you all :-)

Brian Cox

I love taking bicycle vacations. I think I took my first bicycle vacation in 1992 or so. All my trips have been on road bikes using commercial touring companies and some tours with friends as well. Click on my blog to see some of my trips. Happy Biking, Brian Cox

Brigitta Varadinek

My first and only experience with a longer cycling tour was two years ago when we went from Belgrad to the Black Sea. The photo shows how it ended up ... we brought three little dogs. I loved Romania, the people, the landscape, the bars in Bukarest, so I am looking forward to come back again. Otherwise I am more a runner than a cyclist but I will start training as soon as the sun will show up. At the moment we still have snow in Berlin. So I hope I will make it! I love traveling, Africa, South America, lived in Paris for some years, but now I work too much so I am looking forward to head away for a while. See you all in Wien.

Daniel Frye

Hello, I'm a retired oceanographer and I've taken up cycle touring as a replacement for running and backpacking, which I'm no longer able to do. My wife and I have done several previous trips with TDA (Orient Express, TransOceania 2014, the South American Epic, and Tour d'Afrique, among others) and we're looking forward to another interesting and challenging experience this year in Australia and New Zealand. Looking forward to meeting all the riders and seeing old friends.

David Hamilton

So where in the world next? A love of travel and adventure since I was a kid has seen me scuba-diving in a shark tank, kayaking on the Zambesi River and sky diving over the desert in Swakopmund, abseiling down waterfalls and caving, trekking to Everest Base Camp and climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro, and travelling by overland truck down the west coast of Africa. As well as the heart-pumping action of occasionally cycling to work in the traffic in Sydney, I have also enjoyed more leisurely rides alongside some of the canals in the Netherlands, ridden over the high passes in Kashmir, cycled the length of the Birdsville track in the Australian Outback and the Old Telegraph Track to the tip of Cape York, and struggled up and rolled down Alpe D’Huez. So now it is on what will hopefully be an enjoyable yet challenging ride across Europe.

Helmut Kiffmann

My wife, Patricia Moore, and I live in Encinitas, CA and we took these pictures in our front yard. I am a semi-retired Real Estate developer and investor who has enjoyed bicycling for the last 20 years. I ride once or twice a week locally and have done a number of 1-2 week tours, mostly in the Western US, but also in portions of Europe including France, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Hungary. I am looking forward to the tour from Paris to Vienna, and wish I could stay with you to Istanbul, and hope to complete that portion in 2015. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.

James Panzl

Love traveling (39 countries), having my paradigms altered and/or expanded, meeting demanding goals and biking in general. This tour should address all of the above.

Jim Murton

I seem to be at that stage of life where I'm not sure if I'm unemployed or retired. Consequently, cycling is occupying more of my time. Currently, I'm "researching" and preparing a guide for some bike routes around our cottage. In the recent (and not so recent) past I completed the Tour du Canada in 2006 (hello Lloyd Strong; I was in the other group...). I've also done some mountain and road biking in France (including a climb up the infamous Mont Ventoux) and Thailand, and have taken many other "more local" trips in Ontario and Quebec. Touring by bicycle is the best way to see new places and meet new people. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.

Lil Martin

I reside in Manitoba Canada and we are experiencing a very cold winter. I enjoy the slower pace of cycling and love to explore different countries. Cycled Nashville TN to Winnipeg MB, across Canada, Vancouver BC to Inuvik NWT, Orient Express tour, state of Iowa, and shorter Canadian trips. Staying active has always been a part of my life and I enjoy biking and trekking in the Himalaya's. I've been fortunate and proud to be a part of this group tour, sharing unique cycling experiences with like minded people from all parts of the world. I want to live my dreams instead of dreaming my life! This tour will be another great adventure and look forward to meeting everyone and enjoying some great company. Cheers,

Liz Bicknell

Hi. My profile photo is of myself with my sons taken at a recent wedding in Vancouver. I am Irish by birth but have lived in Canada as a proud Canadian since 1984. Before that I lived in East Africa where I worked with the United Nations. I have 3 sons and two granddaughters. I love to hike and bike and am counting the days to the start of our cycling trip. I work full time with the BC government. For those of you interested in politics the government has just won another 4 years in office in an historic election victory on May 14. I love to travel and enjoy rambling all over the world. After this trip I will know whether or not I will be biking all over the world! My birthday is August 25 and I look forward to celebrating it with my biking buddies in Istanbul and sharing some champagne which I have been able to purchase along the way. Happy training everyone and I look forward to meeting you all. My blog address is bicknell2013bikeride.wordpress.com See you in Paris. Cheers, Liz.

Lloyd Strong

HI, I'm looking forward to this adventure and meeting everyone. And renewing some old friendships as well. Never been to the Northwest territories and can't wait to experience all it's charms.

Lori Evans

I'm a mother/grandmother/speech pathologist/avid runner/cyclist from San Antonio, Texas. Had a wonderful experience on The Orient Express in 2013. Looking so forward to getting to know everyone and sharing a great adventure!!

Louise Sims

I'm not a fast rider by any stretch, but I love to travel this way!

Maureen Wotherspoon

Hi everyone, I live in Banff, Alberta, so the Rockies have been my playground for the past 18 years. I work at our small but busy hospital in Health Information Management(formally known as Health Records) In the winter you will find me skiing, mostly cross country with the occasional down hill excursion. In the summer we are hiking & biking around here or in BC. I love adventure travel, so try and get away for a couple of months every 2 to 3 years with smaller trips in between. This trip I was lucky to get 5 months off. My plans are to leave here in May to bike down the Oregon Coast to San Francisco, meet with you all to ride the Orient express, then make my way over to China to do the first part of the Bamboo route in Sept. I have never done this much biking before so I hope I'm up for the challenge! See you soon!

Mick McManus

Hello everyone, I am a retired teacher from London UK and have recently enjoyed many long cycle trips. I would describe myself as a traveller who cycles and appreciates the extra opportunities for eating and drinking afforded by need for extra calories!! Looking forward to the trip and meeting new cycling friends.

Richard Russek

I enjoy the slower pace of cycling that allows one to explore a country. And the opportunity to try new food. And the history. But not the sore bum.

Rick Abbott

Jean & I are both ER Docs, retired. Our typical vacation for the past 40 years has been some sort of adventure travel, often cycling (Canada - BC, Alberta, Newfoundland; USA - transcontinental as well as less ambitious all over the US; UK end-to-end; Morocco; Vietnam - Saigon to Hanoi; Tasmania - working and cycling). We've done a bit of hiking and trekking - Kilimanjaro, Nepal. Sea Kayaking: BC - Vancouver Island, Nefoundland, Baja California Sur, Wales. And, some skiing in the backcountry both close to home in the western US, as well as in the Canadian Selkirks. I think once or twice we might have gone somewhere to just hang out on a beach, and I visited a city once a long time ago, but it's hard to remember.

Robert Shapiro

I have enjoyed biking from childhood. I retired in 2007 after a very rewarding career in general & bariatric surgery. My wife & I live in northern MN for the summer & in coastal NC for the rest of the year. We have two grown sons. Since retiring I now have time to pursue my love of bicycle touring. In addition to day and week tours(e.g. CANDISC, C&O canal), I have traveled by bike through Normandy,the Netherlands & in 2008 between Amsterdam & Florence. In 2011 I cycled across the Northern Tier of the US with a group. I currently ride an S&S coupled touring bike to avoid the outrageous airline charges for sending bikes as luggage. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone & cycling the Orient Express.

Shanny Hill

Look forward to meeting everyone in Alaska. I have worked for TDA for over 10 years now and every trip is a new and challenging experience. I have been fortunate to have traveled all over the place, but North America ironically I have not explored much. It should be great fun (except maybe for the mosquitoes). Happy pedals...

Shirley Frye

Have enjoyed many TDA trips and hope to do many many more. After health issues and Covid, back on the road again. Slower for sure but so looking forward to a part of the world I've never been but hear so many great things about.

Steven Pade

I live in the United States on the West coast in Burlingame, California just south of San Francisco. I'm a retired software engineer that specialized in medical applications. I love to travel. I will go anywhere anytime. This is my third TDA tour. I cycled the Orient Express in 2013 and Magical Madagascar in 2017. Cycling is my passion. I am proud of the fact that I bicycle more miles per year then I ride or idrive a car. I love the freedom of traveling on a bicycle. Traveling by bicycle your only concern is your health, your bicycle, and experiencing the immediate world around you. Im looking forward to meeting you in India and experiencing the wonder of the Himalaya Mountains with you.

Peter McCartney

My name is Peter McCartney and this is my 4th TDA trip.

John Brady

Male, 64 years old, canadian

Marian Brady

I Retired 6 years ago from Sheridan College where I was a sales rep for training and development to business and industry. We have two adult children, Meredith who is a chiropractor here in Port Dalhousie and Ryan a carpenter in Rossland B.C. One grandson two and a bit and little brother on the way in November. Grandchildren are wonderful. I can enjoy them but get lots of bike riding in too which was impossible when our kids were young. John and I ski out west at Red Mountain in the winter also do a lot of snow shoeing and cross country skiing. As well as sing with friends with guitars and ukelales. We stay out there all winter to make sure we catch the pow when it comes. Also book club and bridge. Off ski season is biking, yoga Pilates and playing with our grandson Finnley, in Port. This summer we did an awesome bike trip in Holland, Belgium and France. Bike and barge from Bruge to Paris. We rode everyday for month. It was wonderful. Looking forward to summer 2015 with Tour d'Afrique.

Graham Geddes

My name is Graham and I am from the South Island of New Zealand. I am greatly looking forward to this my first big bike ride outside New Zealand. Over the last eight months I have completed some big rides locally with a veteran of TDA Jim Pearce. It is Jim who has inspired me to take on this adventure and who has been high in praise of the way these tours are organised. It is my intention to be at Paris for the start and at Istanbul for the finish hopefully completing EFI.

Bill Wilson

This will be my 12th trip with TDA, as I've previously ridden all or part of the Trans Europa, the Orient Express, the Hippie Trail, the Bamboo Road, Magical Madagascar, the Tour d'Afrique, the Trans Oceania, the Odyssey, the North American Epic, the South American Epic and the Great American Roadtrip . I retired eight years ago, after more than 35 years prosecuting criminal cases for the Ontario government, and spend the bulk of my time cycling, golfing, reading and travelling. I am looking forward to getting together with some old friends and making some new ones.

kathy herson

I'm 65 years old and look it. I love to bike, meet new people, and see the sights. I like the TDA format a great deal as you get enough support, but lots of opportunities to mingle with the locals. I am looking forward to this ride and meeting everyone.

Gillian Davies

Hi I'm Gill. I am 55 years old, married with 2 children. I love road biking and mountain biking but have never previously done a trip of longer than 6 days (yikes!). I am leaving my job in Marketing towards a future with a better work life balance and this adventure is the kick start. I am doing the trip with my dear friend Debbie and we are looking forward to the journey and adventure.

Wei Ruan

Hi my name is Wei. I love travel and seeing different parts of the world. I like bicycle touring. In my opinion, bicycle touring is the best way to interact with environment and people. I have done bicycle tour from Paris to Istanbul with TDA in 2015 and some short and medium tours in the past ( cycled around Qin Hai lake in China, rode to Niagara fall from Toronto with my son. )

Bennett Herson-Roeser

I am a 19 year old from Wisconsin. I have been doing different cycling tours throughout the United States for nearly 6 years now. Outside of biking, I enjoy music and dance, puppies, and playing tennis.

Richard Walsh

Retired teacher but not inactive. In previous years I crossed USA and Australia and indeed Europe (from the West coast of Ireland to Istanbul) and in 2016 from Beijing to Osh, and the Pamir Highway in 2018..... always on my trusty cyclo-cross. I live in Tipperary.....so, no matter where I am, IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO home.

Jane Bloodworth

I live in Melbourne. I love cycling long distances with the assistance of TDA.

Michael Morgan

A Kiwi who moved to Victoria, BC for a few years and is now permanently living in Melbourne, Australia. Still working part time after a corporate career across several different companies in plastics. Married to Jane (who is also on this tour) and have four children. We both took up cycling 7 years ago and have been to Vietnam, Cambodia and NZ on shorter cycling tours. Jane and I are currently building our kilometres to hopefully enable us to enjoy rather than endure the Orient Express ride. Other interests include yacht racing and 4x4 touring in outback Australia.

Denise Silk

Hi All, I am Denise. I am currently taking a sabbatical and enjoying some travelling and cycling.

Callum Davidson

22 years old, enjoys outdoor activities. I am Half Dutch and Half Scottish. Recently Graduated from University studying Environmental Science. Hopefully will be accepted into a Masters degree for a course relating to Renewable Energy starting in September 2015.

Tone I. Lundsaunet

Biking vacations since 2006. TDA´s: the Orient Express 2015 and Cannes-Barcelona in 2016. Looking forward to meet you all again!

Elizabeth Rooke

Liz Rooke Love cycling and love travelling and caught the TDA bug a few years ago. Did Venice to Barcelona leg in 2014 and it was so good that in 2015 I completed the Orient Express and the Bamboo Road before realising I had to get a job again! Sadly this year I can only do one segment but with lots of old friends (no reference to ageism) I couldn't resist returning - looking forward to joining you in Banff

Ruth Grathwohl

Looking forward to participating in my 6th TDA ride with my husband Peter Ellis

Jim Skeel

Barb and I have done several TDA rides. The most difficult part of this trip will be leaving my one old dog at home. Consequently, I am only signing up for the first section.

Barbara Smit

Love cycling and travel. Look forward to seeing old friends

Judy Murphy

I'm retired after many years as an auditor for the State of Alaska. I been on 47 bicycle tours mostly in the United States, all in North America. They've varied from overnights to 8 week cross-country (USA) trips. Early trips were self-supported, but recent ones have almost all been supported. I look forward meeting new people, seeing new places, seeing some great new scenery, and to the challenge. "I'm not slow—I just enjoy the ride a lot longer than you." http://yehudamoon.com/20120328/

Özgür Karataş

“Working outdoors is phenomenal.”

When TDA need local support for translations in Turkey in 2014, I entered the picture. Before TDA, I lived year-round there, in Izmir. Now I live on the road eight months of the year; the rest of the time I’m in Turkey, either applying for visas or rock-climbing.

Sometimes on a tour our failures are as incredible as our successes. Being defeated as my tour attempted to climb a new route on Koca Sarp, a rocky mountain in central Anatolia, is an experience I’ll always remember.

I’ve seen so much of the world with TDA. My favourite place I’ve been so far is Meteora, Greece. Probably the greatest pleasure of cycle-touring for me is never spending more than two days in a row in the same spot.

Gergo Szanyi

Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary.  Graduated in Visual Communications, since then dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I read a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique.  It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle?  Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA!  I successfully completed the full tour. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I also crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu.  On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba – self-supported, with the help of an old paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then younger than 1 and 6) with tents, tandem and trailers.

Peter Plesník

Hi, my name is Peter Plesník and I work as a shop assistent and bicycle mechanic. I'll be your mechanic on this tour and I am looking forward to meeting you all :-)

Vilma Plesníková

Hello everybody, my name is Vilma. I like going to the nature by bike or just for a walk whenever it is possible. Bottle of water, some snack, camera and good weather - what could be better :-) See you soon

josine meurs

Trond Michelsen

Hi. I'm a 49 year old programmer from Oslo, Norway. This will be my sixth trip with TDA. Previously I've done a section on Bamboo Road (2013), three sections on Trans-Europa (2014 and 2016) and the complete Orient Express (2015) and Pub Ride (2018) Looking forward to a great summer of cycling

Matt Wilson

28-year-old technical/creative writer from Ontario. I've done a few short bicycle trips (northern Iceland, Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, Canada), but this will be the longest by a fair margin. Looking forward to the challenge!

Gabriella Ginsberg-Fletcher

I am and Israeli born multinational young adult. I grew up in Jerusalem but spent a few years in Switzerland as well. Upon completing my army service I went traveling through Latin America finally landing in New York City. I am currently a student at Columbia University where I am studying Political Science and Sustainable Development. I hope to somehow make positive change in our world.

patricia moore

I started biking about 15 years ago when I met my husband, Helmut Kiffmann. While I don't ride as much as he does, I have been training pretty hard these last couple of months, riding with his bike group, taking spin classes and doing my grocery shopping by bicycle. We rode the first leg of the Orient Express two years ago, and had a great time, and are ready for more! We look forward to meeting you all in Vienna, and even more, to arriving in Istanbul. See you soon!

Barendina Hunt-Davis

Love exploring countries on my bicycle

Helmut Kiffmann

My wife, Patricia Moore, and I live in Encinitas, CA and we took these pictures in our front yard. I am a semi-retired Real Estate developer and investor who has enjoyed bicycling for the last 20 years. I ride once or twice a week locally and have done a number of 1-2 week tours, mostly in the Western US, but also in portions of Europe including France, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Hungary. I am looking forward to the tour from Paris to Vienna, and wish I could stay with you to Istanbul, and hope to complete that portion in 2015. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.

Robin Hunt-Davis

Have previously ridden the Silk Route, Doomsday and part of the Bamboo Route.

Stephen Williams

Hi all committed and prospective fellow Orient Express participants, I hail from Canberra, Australia - though the family "home town" is Darwin, NT. I've participated in a number of "Big Bike Rides" in Australia - But they are small stuff (in terms of duration) compared to the Orient Express. Aside from recreational road riding I also play at mountain biking (for fitness). I work for an international development non-government organisation - 23 years plus now. Motivation for ride is mainly to be able to say I've ridden from Paris to Istanbul! NB. Despite career/professional expertise I'm linguistically (outside of English) and directionally challenged

Randall Shier

Randy is happily married to his best friend and wife Sandy of 37 years. He has three adult children, two of them married and two young grandsons. Randy resides in Kelowna, British Columbia and enjoys his real estate development career as President of Mission Group. When he is not working, he loves travel, cycling, snow skiing and oil painting. Born in Vancouver, he has been a lifelong British Columbian, except for six years in Los Angeles, earning a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California. His favourite team sports to watch are hockey and football. Randy is an avid Canadian Olympic hockey team fan, a USC Trojan college football fan, as well as a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. He and Sandy have experienced long distance cycling twice before in 2015 in 2017. Their first trip they rode 1,800 km, unsupported from Canterbury, England to Rome, Italy. their second trip was the Orient Express with TDA Global from Paris to Varna, Bulgaria. Randy is grateful to be married to an adventurous wife as she has been the catalyst for our long distance cycling adventures.

Sandy Shier

I love life . Family, friends, wakeboarding , cycling and snow skiing, combined with creating culinary delights paired with good wines sums up me.

Mark Brumbaugh

Love to see the world from a cycle saddle and connect with people, though I haven't toured through days of bad weather yet. My wife and I retired from our New Jersey careers. I was a technologist for Prudential Financial. Domestically, we've cycle-toured in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom into the Eastern Townships of Quebec, around the Finger Lakes Region in New York, in the Okanagan Region of BC, and in Orange and San Diego counties. The winter we're going out with our local Morris Area Freewheelers for the first taste of cold weather cycling. Lots of European touring also. Majorca cycling is awesome. Our most recent tour was a great 3 week cycle tour of Croatia with Sitnica. Also the full 2017 TDA Orient Express. In 2018 we cycled Seattle to Boston with BAC. Last year, Yunan in February and Southwest Ireland in September with CCCTS. I look forward to planning for and experiencing the Slavic cultures from St. Petersburg to Budapest. I'd enjoy sharing any recommendations for reading preparation for what we are about to encounter. Ride on, Mark

gaye swanson

I like to travel by bike; it gives me the opportunity to peek into people's backyards and absorb the essence of a community. My husband, Mark, and I have had many bicycling adventures throughout Europe and North America but we do most of our riding near our home in the the hills of Northwest New Jersey. I am looking forward to the challenge and the new experiences of the Orient Express.

Balazs Perjesy

Bob Briggs

My name is Bob Briggs, 71 year old State of Florida retiree. Since my retirement in 2001. I have completed bike tours in India, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, TDA Africa, Silk Route to Xi'an before crashing and SAE to Lima. Have not done a tour in over a year. I am presently suffering from TDA Global Cycling withdrawal. I've also done numerous less formal long distance tours prior to hooking up with TDA. Went to college in Salzburg, Austria in 1966 but have never done any cycling in Europe. Really looking forward to it!!!!

Robert Kazmerchek

I need to travel somewhere on my bicycle and I’ve never been to Korea or Japan. I have a hunch that this trip is gonna fly. It can’t come soon enough!

Gergo Szanyi

Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary.  Graduated in Visual Communications, since then dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I read a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique.  It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle?  Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA!  I successfully completed the full tour. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I also crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu.  On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba – self-supported, with the help of an old paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then younger than 1 and 6) with tents, tandem and trailers.

Ming-Jiing Hsieh

Ming-Jiing Hsieh from Taiwan(Formosa) . I may be the first Asian cyclist to participate in TDA for past years and forthcoming 2023 for this route TRANS-EUROPA 2023. I will be excited to do this trip together with many other cyclists from all over the world. It enables me to make new friends and have a lot of fun through these countries and experience different cultures, people and natures and eventually make a great discovery Europe. Should I succeed in accomplishing this journey with my bike all the way, it would make my dream come true after these years and generate it into a lifelong unforgettable memory. I look forward to fulfilling my dream this time after my retirement. See everyone in Tallinn!

Özgür Karataş

“Working outdoors is phenomenal.”

When TDA need local support for translations in Turkey in 2014, I entered the picture. Before TDA, I lived year-round there, in Izmir. Now I live on the road eight months of the year; the rest of the time I’m in Turkey, either applying for visas or rock-climbing.

Sometimes on a tour our failures are as incredible as our successes. Being defeated as my tour attempted to climb a new route on Koca Sarp, a rocky mountain in central Anatolia, is an experience I’ll always remember.

I’ve seen so much of the world with TDA. My favourite place I’ve been so far is Meteora, Greece. Probably the greatest pleasure of cycle-touring for me is never spending more than two days in a row in the same spot.

Catalin Pricoiu

Daniel Kurka

I'm 57 YO, have been retired for 3 years from the hospitality industry. I live in Warburton Vic, a small country town in the mountains 75 km from Melbourne. I have a wife, son, dog, 5 chooks and a hive of bees. I ride 10 - 15,000 km a year, mainly on hilly roads with some gravel rides & MTB. O/S I've cycled in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India (Himalayas) GB, & Italy. Though the Orient Express will be my longest cycling trip (so far). Looking forward to riding new roads in different countries, especially the mountains.

Shaun Busuttil

My name's Shaun and I'm an Aussie, originally from Melbourne. For the last four years I've been travelling around the world, living in different countries and working online as a travel writer and journalist. This will be my first ever multi-day cycling trip and I'm really excited about the challenge!

Gergo Szanyi

Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary.  Graduated in Visual Communications, since then dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I read a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique.  It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle?  Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA!  I successfully completed the full tour. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I also crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu.  On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba – self-supported, with the help of an old paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then younger than 1 and 6) with tents, tandem and trailers.

Balazs Perjesy

Cove Fylpaa

Hello! My name is Cove and I'm going to be the Tour Mechanic and Support Aide for the 2019 Orient Express. Since graduating from Macalester College, I've been exploring the bicycle industry from every angle that I can. I have a broad range of mechanic experience spanning from community bike co-ops to racing focused boutiques. Lately, I've been most excited about linking single track to spend all day on my mountain bike, racing the regional enduro series with my friends, and getting into bicycle frame building. I've done a bit of self-supported touring in Central America and a handful of overnight trips in the United States, but this will be my first time visiting Europe, let alone exploring the continent by bike! I cant wait to sample all the beautiful breads, stinky cheeses, and cured meats throughout our trip. I'm looking forward to connecting with each of you over the next few months as we all prepare for our travels together later this summer.

Stephanie Thornton

Hey Everyone, I am looking forward to traveling & supporting you on your tour across Italy. This will be my 5th TDA tour. In between tours, I do all sorts of other work spanning from Fighting forest fires to working with Doctors Without Borders. Can't wait to ride bikes with all of you and eat gelato when we aren't!

Melissa Morse

I have settled in Houston, Texas after living overseas for most of my adult life. Originally from suburban New Jersey, I headed to the Rocky Mountains for college and stayed a while to enjoy all the healthy living. I enjoy traveling on a bicycle; it provides more opportunity to interact with people, to smell the aromas and feel the elements, and it's a great way to burn enough calories to enjoy the flavors along the way. I have been on some long rides across the USA, Europe, and Asia, but have been less active during the past two years of COVID restrictions, so I am challenging myself to get back into shape with this Journey to the East ride as my reward. On, on!

Bob Kieckhefer

Geophysicist, cyclist, swimmer. I currently live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where there are plenty of hills to climb. I rode Cairo to Babati plus Vic Falls to Cape Town in 2018/19/20 and look forward to completing the Babati-to-Vic-Falls portion.

Jay Ozturk

Looking forward to challenges ahead.I am Realtor in Toronto and love adventure. This tour fits my style perfectly.

Cathy Mead

I'm a retired academic, and a board member of Council on the Ageing, Australia. I love cycling and hiking, and doting on 4 grandchildren. I live in Melbourne, Australia. This will be my 3rd epic cycling trip and I've completed a lot of shorter trips in all states of Australia, in New Zealand, Europe, Vietnam and China.

Margaret Perlette

I'm Marg. I really enjoy travelling by bike and I look forward to the sights and experiences that the TransEuropa will offer in 2023.

Michael Perlette

Please call me Mike. I am married to my lovely wife of 30 years who shares my love for exploring on two wheels. We have two grown children who have completed university and are working in their chosen fields. I have been retired from a career in engineering and finance for about 4 years. In 2019 Marg and I rode our tandem on the Orient Express and it worked out pretty well. The Trans Europa seems like a great itinerary to bring out our big, blue beast again and tour through a bunch of new countries. I'm looking forward to meeting fellow riders and, perhaps, hoisting the odd pint at the end of a satisfying day. Cheers...

Maria Victoria Cardini

Retired. Hobbies: travels, movies and technology

Stephen (Neil) Slotnick

Looking forward to slowly making my way across Europe (2023) and Korea and Japan (2024) with a fabulous group of people.

Katherine Slotnick

I am a retired public health nurse and live in Juneau, Alaska. I rode the Orient Express tour in 2019, the Great American Road Trip in 2021 and the Trans-Caucuses tour in 2022 with my husband Neil.

Wayne Grover

Wayne Grover is a retired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, his professional life encompassed time with the military, with Bell North Research as a Research Engineer, then as founding VP Research for TRLabs, and as a full Professor (ECE) at the University of Alberta. He has over 150 peer-reviewed published articles, one book, and 38 patented inventions. Among other awards and recognitions he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Commonwealth Scholar to the UK, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Life Fellow of the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers, Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and Professor Emeritus University of Alberta. As a cyclist, he is a past Hawaii Ironman and an Alumni of five other TDA rides before Trans Europa. From July to December last year he rode 14,500 km from Fairbanks, Alaska to the Panama Canal, accompanying fellow TDA Alumnus Bob Fletcher as he set the Guinness World Record for the longest e-bike ride to date. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with his wife Jutta. Their son, Ted lives and works in Vancouver, B.C.

Michel Bee

Geophysicist, cyclist, hiker. I am retired in Bend, Oregon, where there are many opportunities for outdoor activities.

Carolyn Pearson

I'm excited to cycle from Paris to Budapest with my husband, Doug Pearson and all of you! I started cycling in April 2011. Four short years later my husband asked me to participate in the last month of the 2015 Tour d'Afrique. After much consideration, I said yes. I enjoyed one of the most challenging, scenic & cultural experiences of my life! This time the trip was my idea : ) I am looking forward to experiencing a variety of European cultures, food, history & sites along the way. See you in July!

will carter

I live in Bedford uk.,im 72 and enjoy the challenges of life

John Karwoski

I enjoy bicycling, camping, and hiking. Looking forward to sharing adventures on this tour with new and old friends.

Robert Stavros

I am a retired engineer who likes to ride on long trips. I have made the Cross Country trip from Oregon to New Hampshire with America By Bike (ABB) and I have gone from Oregon to San Francisco also with ABB. I have done several week long trips with Lizard Head Tours in Utah and New Mexico,

Steve Rogers

I'm an active cyclist, always seeking new adventures. I lived/worked in SE Asia for 15 years and can't wait to finally cycle this special part of the world with TDA Global Cycling. Having thoroughly enjoyed the 2018 Pub Ride and 2019 Orient Express tour, I now look forward to the 2023 Golden Buddha Trip. Let's ride - 'eat, drink and be merry' - all the way!

Donna Queen

I love to bike but have never attempted a ride like this one before. Last year I rode in the California Coast Classic--8 consecutive days of 80 miles per day. It was a great ride, but a tough one! I'm looking forward to this--the riding and the sightseeing--and meeting some great people!

Peter Roberts

Riding the Dempster Hwy is a fascination for me, and I’m excited to make that a reality in July 2025! I’ll be raising funds for Cycle4Sam, a charity supporting the families of kids in palliative care.

Mark Brandjord

Hi, I'm Mark. I live near Seattle Washington, and I'm retired. I worked as a software developer for over 30 years, and I've been retired since 2013. I am looking forward to this ride because every day I'll get to ride down a road I've never been on before, and I'll get to experience so many new sights, sounds and tastes. And the frosting on the cake will be getting to share the day with so many other people who enjoy cycling as much as I do.

William Olmstead

Retired lawyer and educator who ended up in Ghana managing a furniture manufacturing and retail company. Now living in Sacramento.

Kathleen Dempsey

Retired nurse practitioner. Have done quite a bit of long-distance cycling in past: TDA 2008 alum. Rode Orient Express in 2019 and decided to see/enjoy more of Europe. Looking forward to seeing new parts of the world to me and having a great time.

Stella Afesumeh

I like an adventure I like to see different cultures I am sure I'm taking a gigantic bite... we shall see

sylvain rondeau

i am so happy to be on this tour

Joseph Lee

I love to travel, and bicycle touring is my preferred way to see the world. This will be my first tour since Covid cancelled many plans. I’ve enjoyed 4 full TDA tours: Indian Adventure, Ruta Maya, Pub Ride, West Africa en Vélo. I’m excited to see Korea and more of Japan than Tokyo. I have travelled lots, but my list of places to visit never gets any shorter. I became a teacher, mainly because of the holidays, and I am now semi-retired, doing occasional teaching in between travels. Looking forward to renewing old friendships and making new ones. Now I need to get cycling again!

Finn Trygve Nybakke

My name is Finn and I have bene living in Norway all my life since I was born i 1952. I am a father and grandfather, and I did have a cat! In 2014 we joined TDA on the last stage on The Silk Road to Istanbul. After that we joined the Orient Express 2019, and last year, Viva Italia 2022. All 3 tours together with my beloved Asrun, but this time through Europe I go alone (but we are still partners). See you soon in Tallinn :-)

ASRUN AALVIK

I am born in 1951 in Hardanger in the western part of Norway With narrow fjords between steep Mountains. I love hiking and biking, but most of all I love to be grand mother of two girls and one boy! I participated on 2019 Orient Express Full Tour. This year I only bike the first stage.

Doug Pearson

Hi All! I am 63 years old and live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA with my wife, Carolyn. I have two grown children, one living in Houston, Texas and the other living in Seattle, Washington. I completed the Tour d'Afrique in 2015 and the Garden of Eden Section of the Silk Route in 2016 and the Orient Express route from Paris to Budapest in 2019. Looking forward to hotels every night; Great new friendships; A fun relaxing time; Exploring with my wife and being with all of you!! Cheers!! Doug

Trina Prior

I live in Vancouver, British Columbia. I love to see the world from the view of my bike and have done several multi-day cycling trips including Kenya to Tanzania in 2007 and Alaska to Whitehorse in 2013 with TDA. I will be raising money for Cycle 4 Sam which supports Pediatric Palliative Care Service at the Adelaide Children's Hospital http://www.cycle4sam.com/ This will be my second long distance bike trip with my husband Peter Roberts Looking forward to Cycling with Vlad and the rest of the TDA riders.

Ryan Rice

Is there a more challenging, charming, or humbling way to travel the World and discover it’s people and treasures? If there is, I haven’t come across it yet, and perhaps I wish not to. I have been a bicycle mechanic for over ten years and it has led me towards new adventures and friendships. Here’s to clean and lubed chains, straight wheels, and a comfy saddle! See you on the next adventure!

Samuel Roy

I see bike touring as an opportunity to slow down and bring yourself back to the essential things in life. Food, water, shelter, love, connection, space in your heart, space in your mind, movement, exploration. I believe that travelling by bike is the best way to discover our beautiful planet because of the pace of travel. It's fast enough to cover ground and cross continents, as we do with TDA, but it's slow enough to be able to truly soak in the destination you're in and everything that comes with it. The vulnerability of being alone on a bike, dressed up in bright lycra in the middle of nowhere makes you approachable and sparks curiousness and interest in the locals you meet on the road. As a tour leader with TDA, I am grateful to have the opportunity to facilitate these experiences, moments and connections.

I'm originally from Montreal in Canada where I studied business and tourism, but I have recently moved to Barcelona where cycling is unreal, even over the winter months. For the past few years, my career has been a collection of different projects and opportunities such as working as a TV host back home in Quebec, guiding with TDA and other outdoors companies as well as running my own vanlife conversion business. I've always loved getting around on two wheels, for some years, my focus was to go as fast as I could while I raced Ironman triathlons as a semi-pro. Nowadays, I still enjoy riding my bike, but a little slower, and looking around much more.

My best memory on tour is without a doubt when both my parents joined the 2019 Tour d'Afrique as riders to cycle the last two sections of the tour, from Vic Falls to Cape Town. It was such a precious privilege to be on sweep duty and get to ride with both of them through the namibian dunes.

As a tip for future participants, I think the best mindset to come onto a tour with is one of gratitude. We are all so privileged, both staff and riders, to be on these trips that being grateful for this life we get to live is an attitude we must cultivate.

See you on the road!

Gergo Szanyi

Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary.  Graduated in Visual Communications, since then dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I read a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique.  It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle?  Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA!  I successfully completed the full tour. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I also crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu.  On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba – self-supported, with the help of an old paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then younger than 1 and 6) with tents, tandem and trailers.

Balazs Perjesy

Frank Wichlo

I have done 4 TDA trips and I plan to keep doing them as long as I am able, or the money runs out.

Lori McCarney

I just finished the TDA Orient Express and had a great time with great people. I liked it so much, I'm signing up another TDA tour!

David. ODonnell.

53yrs old, from Manchester UK. TDA tour no 5. Looking forward to S E Asia. C U all soon. Cheers. David.

Michele Kline

My Husband Anthony (Tony) and I, are from Hobart in Tasmania...we went on our first TDA tour in 2014 from Lima to Cuzco part of the South American Epic our second one was NZ from Auckland to Queenstown 2015. We have completed 2 full tours the Pub Ride 2017 and Viva Italia 2020. It really would be rude not to do this one!

Anthony kline

54yrs old small business owner building concreting landscaping. Enjoy adventure activities, have walked everest base camp and kilimanjaro successfully. Been a keen cyclist for several years, in 2015 Michele and did our first TDA trip from Lima to Cusco. Last year we completed Auckland to Queenstown and now looking forward to the Pub ride.

GLORIA FU

I signed up for the entire Bamboo Road 2019 on a whim with zero training, no bike, and having mostly ridden a peloton stationary bike. From there I caught the bug. 2020& 2021 were two years of a lot more miles and collecting more bikes. . I got persuaded by a couple friends from Bamboo Road to sign up for the Orient Express, and I convinced my partner to do his first TDA tour. Excited to reunite with friends from Bamboo Road and to meet new friends. We will be doing a section but will be there in spirit for the whole tour!

Britton Morrell

I've been bike touring here and there as time permitted. I've done the Katy Trail, parts of the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota, The TransAmerica in 2017 with the ACA, Pacific Coast Northern Tier, Death Valley, two Ride the Rockies, and two Pedal the Plains. This year will be my first trip with TDA.,

Grant Duncan

Retirement gives the opportunity to explore new boundaries / challenges. Enjoyed greatly the TDA Odyssey trip so returning for another 'cut' of Europe and sharing experiences with fellow travelers.

Barbara Tate

After decades of working full-time I am enjoying early-retirement in south Wales and the opportunity for exploring, whether on foot or on the bike. Having enjoyed The Odyssey (TDA) cycle ride in 2019 I was looking forward to the TransEuropa in 2020 when the Covid pandemic put a spanner in the works. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Orient Express for 2022!

Nancy Stueve

Avid road cyclist who loves seeing new places from a bike seat.

David Ross

I am 70 and semi-retired. Had a great trip with TDA Taiwan to Singapore before covid, Part of OrientExpress in 2022 and just finished Journey to the East

Wayne McDaniel

My wife, Jude, and I are both riding this trip. We have done a number of long distance rides in the US. I have done one international trip in Nicaragua. We have two grown kids, two grandkids and a dog.

Jude McDaniel

Married, old lady, financial advisor

Jim FOWLER

I'm a nomad based in the Florida Keys. I did the 2020 Tour d'Afrique from Cairo to Arusha (where it was canceled due to Covid-19), and the 2022 Tour D’Afrique from Livingstone, Zambia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I also did the 2022 Orient Express. I’ve become a TDA junkie and am signed up for lots more trips. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones on the next tour!

Coni Dean

Biking and exploring.

Valerie Ohanian

I am a long time cycling enthusiast--a road rider who has guided multi-week trips abroad, commuted starting in the 1980's, and rides at home, just for fun! Home is in Minneapolis, but winters are mostly spent in Santa Barbara, CA now, since working remotely is possible. I am a teacher and practitioner of classical homeopathy, have worked full time for 40 years, and now am reducing my schedule to make room for some other things. This trip has been a dream in my mind, only. I finally have time to make it a reality!

Evelyn Holland

Starting to lose track of how many TDA trips we've done! I think this will be #8. Really looking forward to riding in the British Isles as we have wanted to go there for awhile now.

Greg Forst

Have been a cyclist since '92 doing a variety of things including commuting to work, week long rides, after work group rides and more recently longer duration rides including one across the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon of Canada. I enjoyed the challenges and scenery of the Outback and the terrain of New Zealand on the 2016 Trans Oceania tour. Rode the Bamboo trail and enjoyed it immensely. Had an overall good time on the Hippie Trail. The food was great and the whole experience was incredible.

Justin Ripley

... to be continued.

Wendy McDonald

Alex Smith

I’m excited to cycle for the first time outside the US. In 2021, I cycled the Blue Ridge Parkway, and have spent many summers climbing mountains in Utah.

Michael Kahn

My interest in bicycle touring began in 2000, riding with a group on a one year international tour. Since then I’ve done numerous one month rides in Europe and more "exotic" locations, usually solo and self supported. I’m looking forward to this tour.

G. Michael Keltos

Aloha, Greetings from O'ahu. I am a retired educator/consultant who has truly enjoyed riding around these beautiful islands over the last 32 years. I currently ride with the Hawai'i Bicycling League and the Tradewinds Cycling Team to stay active and to socialize with fellow riders. Although I have traveled to several of the cities we'll be riding in, I look forward to seeing them from a whole new perspective on a bike while making new friends, seeing some fellow cyclists from last year's TDA Orient Express trip (Paris - Istanbul) and experiencing the local cultures along the way. Last year's ride was my first with TDA and was great, so I am back for more adventure with them. Mahalo Nui Loa,

Mike Busby

A serial cycle tourist always keen to escape winter in the UK and keen to stay active!