Rod Oram

I'm a New Zealander, tho originally from the UK,. My wonderful wife of 42 years to date, and I have a terrific daughter. I'm a business journalist for Newsroom.co.nz, I'm an Edmund Hillary Fellow https://www.ehf.org/ and am involved in all sorts of other things. And I cycle a a fair amount...always have...never stopped...since I was a small kid. Some highlights to date include all five Tours of New Zealand so far, a one day ride in 2009 across the South Island of NZ from the Tasman Sea , over our Alps to the Pacific Ocean, for a total of 260km, a north-south end-to end of NZ in 2010...riding 2,200km in 13 out of 14 days, and this February another NZ end-to-end, Tour Aotearoa, 3,000km, much of it off tarmac, in 28 days. And years ago, my wife and I spent a leisurely three weeks riding from John O'Groats to Lands End in the UK, taking a slightly roundabout 1,150 mile route. I was born in Birmingham in the UK...and I first visited Beijing as a young business journalist and have been back numerous times since. So riding from Birmingham to Beijing is a long-standing ambition...so, heck, I might as well start with Beijing to Istanbul in 2021...then carry on from Istanbul to Birmingham in 2022!

Eero Oura

I'm retired physician, 72. After starting trekking at the age of 50, I have spent some 2 months every year on skis, pulling sledge, carrying rucksack or kayaking. My greatest affections are polar expeditions and long/ultralong treks both alone or in a group. Have been several times trekking in Central Asia. Cycling is my latest discovery, but experience is still modest, incl. only Himalayas Lhasa-Kathmandu, Pamirs Dushanbe - Osh and Vietnam Hanoi - Saigon, Trans-Europe, round Finland, round the Baltic Sea . Cycling through the Ancient Silk Route fascinates.

Thomas Powers

Kevin McAleer

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’ve become a TDA junkie and am signed up for lots more trips!

Paul Paridaen

I am 65 yrs old. My spouse Bonnie and I did the last half of the TDA in 2008 and my son Matthew and I did the first half of the TDA in 2011. I love exploring our beautiful world from the seat of a bicycle. I was hoping to do the Silk Road this year, and I am very excited about the Trans- Caucasus this August.

Leonie Katekar

I am a fit an healthy 56 year old lady from Australia. I have been a keen cyclist for most of my life using cycling for commuting as well as recreation. Recently I undertook a bike packing adventure solo from Guatemala to Ushuaia - over 12,000km. I did this unsupported and raised $19,000 for the Fight Cancer Foundation. Since returning I have quit full time work so I am officially 'retired' and I am writing abook about my adventure. When I am not working I have been a medical officer managing hospitals and primary health care services. I have four grown children in their early 20s. I am a dog lover.

Michael Netzsch

I have already done a few Tours with TDA and I am looking forward to meeting you all in Madagaskar.

Terry Scheikowski

I am a retired lecturer in Food Science living in Melbourne and have been cycling as an adult for 40+years. I completed Cairo to Cape Town with TdA in 2019 albeit in stages having started back in 2013. I have previously cycled across Canada with Tour du Canada. some years back I rode with two friends from the north to the south of the UK (John O'Groats to Lands End) taking a wandering route and enjoying English and Scottish B&Bs and the odd pub.

Mike Crum

Fifty Eight years old. Kiwifruit Orchardist from NZ Looking for adventure Have had some long distance biking experiences in Africa and New Zealand Very excited to be doing this !!!