Andreas Pakenham

If doing this trip once has others questioning your sanity, doing it twice must confirm its missing. As this is my second time leading this wild, beautiful, and challenging trip, you could say I've fallen hard for the old trade route. My goals this time around, are getting fewer people lost, and finally discovering the fabled peanut butter merchants of Central Asia ;)

Peter McCartney

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

will carter

I live in Bedford uk.,im 69 and enjoy reading , cycling ,traveling and meeting people of different cultures.

Killian McCartney

Hi all, I will be joining for the leg between Budapest and Venice, just after the end of the school term and before I go on a totally different trip to Iceland. I'm cycling with Peter McCartney and Judith Clark, respectively an entire distance rider and a section rider like me. We have done cycle trips before in Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Botswana, Jordan and Cumbria.

Els van Gulik

I am Els and 62 years. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren with the fourth coming soon! I am still working as a supervisor on pension funds. After the Silk Route I am retiring. The Silk Route will be my second long distance bike ride. I did the Across America North Ride last year and I loved it. I live in the Netherlands, a very flat and small country. So the Silk Route will be a great challenge!!

Amy Jurries

I'm a freelance outdoor and adventure travel writer based in San Francisco. I absolutely love exploring new places on a bike -- there is no better way to travel!

Richard Walsh

Retired teacher but not inactive. Looking forward to this second stage of my trek across Asia and the final section of my cycle around the globe. 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, always on my trusty cyclo-cross. I live in Tipperary.....so, no matter where I am, IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO home.

Lars Wilson

I am a retired psychologist. I live in Washington and Montana in the U.S. I love to ride and look forward to returning to Central Asia where I studied and traveled years ago.

Simon Prince

Hey all, I'm super excited about doing the center section of this tour. The longest trip I've done so far was from Toronto to Newfoundland which was a pretty easy 2500km. This should be quite a challenge. I've just come back from Kazakhstan and it was a cool country. Can't wait to go again. I'm pretty easy going and will aim to be a fun cycling companion!

Anke Goldschmidt

My name is Anke, I am married with 3 children and live in Perth, Australia. This will be my first TDA tour, I am only doing section 1 though. So far, I have done cycle trips in central and Western Australia as well as trips in Europe. I am slow but sure and am looking forward to it!

Richard Kingsley-Smith

A Brit doing a bit of cycling

Phil Dixon

I really love long distance cycling ...usually solo ...looking forward to a supported trip with other lovers of cycling . My name is Phil...I am 62 and from Canada. I like cycling and I like adversity ...this trip sounds perfect ! This picture is from a trip thru southern India February 2017...crazy traffic !

Theo de Klein

Theo de Klein from the Netherlands, 52 years young. I've decided to join the TDA again , After great Africa and South America Section Cycling experiences ( 2013 & 2015) It's time to prepare for a new challenge. Looking forward to this trip and to meet you all !

Victor Beijen

I'm 55 and I feel lucky to ride the Silk Route. Ok, it is just one stage but I'm looking forward very much.

Bruce Campbell

Late 60's. 4 years retired - from computer work. Cycling for three decades. I ride a lot and I'm pretty fit, but this will be a big deal for me - certainly a challenge.

Joan Thompson

Hello fellow adventurers! I am a retired teacher who has read too many Bettina Selby and Dervla Murphy books ('early' long-distance cyclists) to pass up this opportunity! Glad we'll have the support of driver and cook, however, and the company of many other bike and travel enthusiasts. Given this is my first long bike trip in many years, here's hoping I don't hold you up! See you in July.

Jim Sarver

63 years old

Roderik Otten

I'm 64 years and a retired ENT-surgeon in the Netherlands. In 2005 I cycled part of the "Tour d'Afrique" (3500km from Nairobi to Vic Falls). In 2012 I cycled the "Andes Trail" (11.000km from Quito to Ushuaia). In 2013 I cycled in New Zealand and Australia (8000km with my tent and panniers). In 2014 Himalaya (from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal 1200km). In 2015 I cycled the "100 Cols Tour" in France in 6 weeks 4200km with 78.000 altitude meters. In 2017 I cycled "Going Northcape" (from Oslo to the Northcape 3000km). In 2017 part of the TDA "Bamboo Road" (from Hanoi to Penang, 3800km)

Edmund Huang

I am a retired chemical engineering executive living in Washington State of the Pacific Northwest in the United States. I enjoy travel and am an avid hiker/biker. The Silk Road Tour will be the most ambitious bike trip I have attempted. Look forward to meeting my fellow travel companions!

Mark Heim

I was fortunate to retire early a few years ago and I now enjoy my free time staying fit and active. I've done a few other long distance bike tours including a ride across the US then up to Alaska, TDA's Transeuropa, and I recently completed TDA's South American epic. The Silk Route tour has been on my radar for a few years and I’m really looking forward to the challenges it will bring as well as forging great relationships with the other riders.

Brenda Trenholme

I live in the Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia, Canada and have a passion for most outdoor sports, summer and winter, especially endurance sports. I enjoy seeing the world on my bicycle and learning about other cultures in their native settings.

Raymond Quan

I have a bucket list started upon retirement after 35 years as a chemical / nuclear engineer. I have completed thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, 150 miles of the John Muir Trail and done several of the great walks in New Zealand. Also biked semi-solo, self contained Trans-Canada, then last year the Southern Tier with Adventure Cycling from San Diego to St Augustine. So the Silk Road will be my longgest bike trip, an item on my Bucket List.

Virginia Stewart

Not too sure what I was going to do for my third act, I set out on a solo loaded bike ride around Lake Erie. A 1000 km loop ride from my home in St. Catharines, ON, CDN. My longest unplanned tour. That was 2015, since then, I celebrated turning 65, being 65 and getting older cycling across Canada then Europe solo. Cycling the Silk Road will have wrapped me around the world. Traveling solo, wild camping, and spending time with locals inspire my next adventures. In some ways, I’m intimidated by the thought of five months of a structured routine, but then again it will be like travelling with a family of like-minded people looking out for one another, which isn’t so bad. If a regular regiment is making me a bit anxious, the thought of bone shaking off-road riding makes me more so. I like the wind at my back and smooth asphalt. I look forward to meeting everyone. Roads were made for journeys not destinations. Confucius.

Kees Kouwenhoven

My name is Kees Kouwenhoven, age 58 I quit my job for this experience. I am only working a lot, not having time to live my dreams. So now it is about time for a change I am working as an adviser in horticulture greenhouses, in crop protection. Married without children

Will Rafferty

I am from Tasmania, Australia and completed the Tour d'Afrique in 2015 as a rider. I enjoyed the experience so much that it compelled me to seek work with TDA Global Cycling. I have since worked on the Trans-Oceania & Oh Canada Tours and am looking forward to what i expect to be the best trip yet! I look forward to getting to know you all :)

Jasper Koolstra

zwerft wat over de wereld. Met de fiets als favoriet vervoermiddel. (Andestrail, Great Divide)

EVAN KENLEY

I have the wanderlust. What better way to do it than by bike? I have traveled extensively and recently did the SAE. What a fun and challenging trip. I am hitting that sweet spot in age where the time, energy and desire are there to challenge myself to new adventures. I look forward to sharing this challenging experience with my fellow adventurers.

Helen Gertig

Marjan Winkler

I always wanted to visit Mongolia by train. Last year I did the Bamboo road by bicycle and this experience did me decide to do the Mongolian part of the Silk route by bicycle instaed of train. It will be a much more tough journey than the Bamboo road and travelling by train, but I look forward to it especially to do this part together with my partner Paul Otten who will go on to Oezbekistan. I will leave at Gorno Altaysk.

Pieter van der Korst

I am 56 years old, married, two children (16 and 17), lawyer taking a sabbatical after 31 years of practicing law. when I was young (16 -21), I competed as a cyclist, by now I enjoy trips on the bike at a lower pace. I look forward to cycling in Asia!

Mitchell Kadelbach

I am a British born Canadian chef of humble beginnings. My hobbies and interests including reading classic piece of literature ie) dickens, jack Kerouac and Hemingway. I'm also very active and sporty. Some of my close friends would describe me as some what if a mystic. I believe I possess an aptitude for feeling all forms of art but I wouldn't call myself an intellectual. In recent years I have trade the comfort of a house and home for a more transient lifestyle - Of traveling working and traveling some. I'm keen to see the world and meet all sorts of people and learn all kinds of things.

Elaina O' Brien

I'm an english teacher from Ireland, with a love for health and fitness, and the great outdoors. I'm always up for a new challenge, the more adventurous the better! I have a blog and youtube channel dedicated to adventure travel, and love created digital content showing off this beautiful world we get to explore. I think bike touring is a gateway to seeing the world through heightened senses. It gives you a unique opportunity to learn from the places and people you meet along the way, as well as getting to know yourself in all sorts of conditions. I'm excited to be part of this expedition and ready to meet everyone and get going!

Mike Gurnham

Gerald Mueller

I am 61 years old and have been an avid cyclist for 39 years, when I first started commuting to work. With my first MTB bike purchased in 1992, that meant I could commute 12 months of the year. I did my first big solo bike tour through Germany and into neighbouring countries in 1982. That trip was three weeks long, and I managed two more tours in Canada, and then came marriage. I gave up touring, but not cycling. In the mid 90's I really got into MTB racing, so I then managed to get away for fun time on long weekend MTB trips. Since my wife is Swiss born, we travel quite frequently to visit her family. I used to love to bring my MTB, but sometimes I just rent a bike. Switzerland is such a great country to cycle, and it doesn't matter if you ride road or MTB. Ten years ago, I had my current touring bike custom made by Hugh Black who owns and operates True North Cycles. Since then, my bike has made it over to Europe on five separate tours, with the last three trips being in former Eastern Bloc countries.

Dave Bell

I am an avid cyclist living in London Ontario Canada. My main cycling interests now are road riding and touring, although I mountain bike occasionally. I have completed 5 cycling tours in Europe in the last 9 years - all self planned and supported, riding with 2-3 friends. I was educated as a mechanical engineer, but worked mainly in operations and supply management in the automotive industry. I retired in 2009 and now work part time to keep busy. My wife Mary and I have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

LINO MONGE

Jim Arthur

Partly retired and trying to spend more time on my bike.

michael howard

I have been cycling on and off since I joined a North London UK cycling club when I was 15. Since then I have 2 children one of whom convinced me to try Tour De Afrique. Due to business reasons I could only cycle from Khartoum to Addis Ababa. I was hooked, tow years later and here we are again. I am training whenever I can

Juergen Willrodt

I am 68 years old and have already participated in 7 TDA tours as a sectional rider. I am married and happy father of three girls (38, 23 and 21) and grandfather of three grandchildren. I am partly retired working now 50% so I have enough time to travel. I have studied physics and have a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics. I have also been active in Karate and participated in World Championships and European Championships and have been European Champion in 1977. You can find more information on my website.

Nelson Lacharity

I am from Vancouver, BC, retired June of 2012. I discovered bicycling when I was 42 and long distance cycling when I was 59, so I had to retire to make time for the touring. I have been on five other TDA tours (Amber Route 2010, Bamboo 2013, and South American 2015, TransEuropa 1016 and Tour d'Afrique 2017) as well as several other long distance rides. For me cycling is mostly about the bike, but the chance to see new places and new cultures is right up there, along with one of the biggest pleasures, which is the people - meeting new ones and meeting up with ones from previous rides.