Gergo Szanyi

Hi, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary. Graduated in Visual Communications (photography and graphic design) 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 few seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite few years of just sitting in an office, in 2005 I've read a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique, it made me wonder if it is even doable? Next January I found myself in Cairo at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA, and completed the full tour successfully. Since then, I did a couple of Orient Express tours, Amber Route, Trans Europa, Odyssey and PubRide. In 2007 I also crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding from Lhasa to Kathmandu including a ride to Mount Everest North face base camp where this photograph was taken.

Balazs Perjesy

Stephanie Thornton

Hello good people, my name is Stephanie, and I will be your Assistant Tour Leader. I am from Canada, currently living in Victoria, BC. I have lived, worked, and travelled throughout Africa for the greater part of the last 10 years. Looking forward to getting back on the road.

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 haven't been very active since I had a hip replacement last year and am challenging myself to get back into shape with this Orient Express ride as my reward. On, on!

Elizabeth Feit

Currently based in Florida USA, and enjoying the road biking here . Winds are our hills...Am always up for a distance riding, and the "Orient Express" with TDA looks like the perfect challenge...

Bob Kieckhefer

Geophysicist, cyclist, swimmer. I currently live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where there are plenty of hills to climb.

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 look forward to the sights and experiences that the Orient Express will offer next summer. While I enjoy single bike riding as well, I prefer to tour on the tandem as Mike can only get so far ahead of me on the road!

Michael Perlette

Please call me Mike. Like many Canadian kids I rode a bike around my neighborhood from sunrise to sundown. Eventually the rides got a bit longer, we packed a small lunch and we left the neighborhood. When I got my drivers licence at the age of 16 I pretty much abandoned my bike as I discovered cars, girls and employment. The occasional time that I did get back on a bike it felt foreign and a bit uncomfortable. I was 25 and hitch hiking in New Zealand when I became acquainted with 2 very independent cyclists who were using 2 wheels instead of their thumb to see the country. A light went on and the next summer I rode across Canada with my tent, sleeping bag and what I could fit in my panniers. Since then cycling has been a constant in my life. Sometimes a little sometimes a lot. I am fortunate in that my wife shares my love of 2 wheels and we have done a lot of rides together especially in the past half dozen years. We bought a tandem a couple of years ago and we will be bringing it on the Orient Express ride. It is a way to see other parts of the planet while staying in the slow lane, smelling, hearing, tasting and feeling the places that you pass through. Cheers...

Maria Victoria Cardini

I m taking a sabatic years since last month. I may work in the future. Hobbies: movies and technology

Stephen Slotnick

I'm a 62-year-old resident of Juneau, Alaska. Mostly retired from state service last year. If I'm not traveling, I like to cross-country ski in winter, and bicycle or hike in summer, with my wife, Kate. We have three daughters and five grandchildren. This ride is way ambitious for me. Yet perfect.

Katherine Slotnick

I am a retired public health nurse living in Juneau, Alaska.

Wayne Grover

Early 60s, bike touring enthusiast, Recently retired, (Prof. Emeritus (ECE), UofA). TDA Alumni of NAE 2015, French Connection 2016, Oh Canada 2017. Took 2018 off from any long tours and looking forward to the Orient Express this summer.

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 69 and enjoy reading , cycling ,traveling and meeting people of different cultures.

John Karwoski

Sixty six years old, retired. Enjoy road bicycling, camping, and hiking. This will be my first bicycle excursion longer than two days!

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 and, having thoroughly enjoyed the 2018 Pub Ride, now look forward to the 2019 Orient Express tour. Let's ride - 'eat, drink and be merry' - all the way to Istanbul!

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

I'm really excited to get behind the iron curtain and experience the roads of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. This is my first adventure with TdA, and I'll be relying on the experience of my well travelled wife, Trina Prior, to get me through! We'll be raising money for Cycle 4 Sam, an Australian charity supporting paediatric palliative care projects.

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

Lawyer and educator who ended up in Ghana managing a furniture manufacturing and retail company. www.furnart-gh.com.

Kathleen Dempsey

Recently retired nurse practitioner. Have done quite a bit of long-distance cycling in past: TDA 2008 alum. Have not cycled in 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

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.

Joseph Lee

I love to travel, and bicycle touring is my preferred way to see the world. This will be my first tour as a 'sectional rider'. I’ve enjoyed 4 full TDA tours: Indian Adventure, Ruta Maya, Pub Ride, West Africa en Vélo. I am looking forward to re-visiting Budapest and experiencing Romania, Bulgaria and Istanbul for the first time. 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.

Thomas Eldner

german/swiss Citizen Living in Lucerne

FINN TRYGVE NYBAKKE

My name is Finn and I have lived in Norway all my life since I was born i 1952. I am a father of two Girls who have given me four grandchildren. I live together with my biking companion Asrun who has 4 children an 3 grandchildren. Most important is that all our grandchildren live near by us in Oslo. Five years ago we joined TDA on the last stage on The Silk Road to Istanbul. This time we also are heading for Istanbul but from the opposite direction; and we are biking full Tour (but no camping)! See you soon in Paris! :-)

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!

Doug Pearson

Hi: I am 60 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. Haven't done much travel in 1st world countries so 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 2012 with TDA. I will be raising money for Cycle 4 Sam which supports Paediatric 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.