Rachel Vanderzwet

Coming from Victoria, BC I have been fortunate to join TDA on a number of tours over the last 5 years. I'm looking forward to joining the upcoming Golden Buddha Ride and to continue to explore the world by bicycle!

Andreas Pakenham

As a tour leader, I love the daily challenges, and ever changing worlds we are all so lucky to travel through. Getting a diverse group of cyclists, with different backgrounds, and goals across a continent is a rare thrill that makes life at home feel a bit pedestrian! The best feeling on tour is making a tough day go smoothly, and to surprise the riders with something unexpected or memorable along the way.

I live on the west coast of Canada, in Victoria, a quiet town which can seem like an extreme contrast to many of the places I tour with TDA. In the past I have done a number of solo cycling trips, as well as exploring by motorcycles when time was more limited. Over the years of travelling though, I've realized how much I enjoy the camaraderie of travelling with a group to share experiences and make memories with. My future goals for personal travel at the moment are a bit different, and are based around the sea. In the next couple years I want to go by boat to the extreme north of Canada, in the hopes of exploring places impossible to reach in any other manner.

It's hard to nail down a single memorable experience from all my trips with TDA, but I most often think back to the experiences of Central Asia, and discovering the beauty of the Pamir Mountains for the first time. At one particular high altitude camp in Tajikistan, I remember taking a hike with a group of riders up a steep 5000m peak adjacent to the camp. As we neared the top, we found ourselves unable to safely make it past 5000m due to a loose rock scramble for the last 20 meters. Disappointed, we turned around and witnessed a flock of Marco Polo Sheep running along the ridge just below us, making time before the sun set.

If I were to make a single suggestion to a future TDA rider, it would be to slow down, and keep a camera close. The best stories at the end of the trip are not normally those of the speediest cyclist.

Max Cochran

Having been a mechanic for many years and on TDA tours the last four years, I have noted a few common mechanical issues that riders encountered. Namely, cables, bearings and tires. Please check that your brake and shift cables are working smoothly, not frayed or rusty. Heck, just replace your cables before you leave, they are not expensive. Hubs and bottom brackets often need special parts and tools that are beyond the scope of my toolkit. I'll do what I can, but it is best if they are running well before you start off. Make sure your tires are good quality, in good condition and that the rim tapes are covering the spoke holes properly to avoid having to fix flats. I once again look forward to the sights, the food, the culture, the riding, but most of all, to getting out of the basement workshop and solving people's bike problems with a minimum of tools in the fresh air and sunshine (and occasional rain). Speaking of rain, fenders go a long way in keeping you and your bike running well in wet weather.

Geoffrey Kehr

I retired 2 years ago and reside in Bahrain with my partner. I have 2 grown up sons living in Belgium & the U.K. International travel is firmly in my blood and I have an insatiable wanderlust; always seeking new locations, cultures & experiences for adventure. My former sporting passion was marathon running and I completed all 6 marathon majors. My running CV also includes the South Pole marathon and a half marathon in North Korea. My newly developing sport activity is long distance cycling and this took a large leap forward having recently completed 2 TDA tour segments; The Golden Buddha and the Bamboo Road ride. I am now well and truly enjoying my new pursuit! Silk Road here we go!

Ken Nickerson

After about 25 year hiatus, I got back into cycling in 2014 and have been ridden over 70,000 miles since. My longest trip was in 2019 riding from Santa Barbara CA to Myrtle Beach SC totaling 3400 miles and 7 weeks. In 2023, I bicycled 1350 miles from Madison WI to Portland ME. In 2025, I cycled 1100 miles from Savanah GA to New Orleans LA self-supported. I have also done about twenty 1 or 2 week trips with 5 of them outside the USA. The Orient Express will be my first long trip abroad. I love the rhythm and simplicity of long bike trips: eat, bike, sleep, repeat. I'm looking forward to cycling across Europe and making new friends.

Maureen Lanuke

Hi. My name is Maureen, and I am passionate about bicycle touring and anything to do with bicycles. I had to abort on the Hippie Trail in 2025, but I successfully completed the amazing new Tea Route tour in 2026. and am excited to be exploring more of the middle east and part of China. I have cycled the Orient Express, Canada 150, Madagascar, part of the Hippie Trail, and the Tea Route trips with TDA, and have participated in, or led many bike tours through Canada, the States, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Australia - both supported and self-support, and am hoping to be able to do many more rides on my bucket list while the mind and the body are still willing and able! I'm looking forward to meeting my fellow adventurers on this unique adventure!

David Miles

I enjoy the opportunity TDA gives me to ride in different countries and unique locations.

Bob Kieckhefer

Geophysicist, cyclist, swimmer. I currently live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where there are plenty of hills to climb. I rode Cairo to Cape Town in 2018/19/20/23/25 and several other TdA tours. I look forward to riding around across Europe, completing the Orient Express that I started in 2019.

Barry Chase

I love cycle touring and think it’s the absolute best type of travel. I have independently cycle toured about 20 times in Europe and 10 times in the US and have done randonnneur cycling for 25 years. I’m now shifting my riding to TDA type trips, having completed Cape to Kili two years ago and the Central Asia portion of the Silk Road last year, and, by the time the Shanghai-La trip begins, will have also done the Viva Italia trip. Looking forward to exploring a new region of the world on my bike and meeting all of you.

Soren Schriver

Danish native, born 1956. Maried to Nina, who is riding Island too. 30 years mainly MTB riding. This will be my second TDA trip , first one was SILKROUTE 2023.We have biked many places in the world, the picture is taken in Georgia, Kaukasus mountains. Looking forward to ride with you all. I am still working, mainly as Chairman of a number of Danish companies and active investor. We have two children living close by, and four grandchildren. Søren

Nina Schriver

Gary Hoffman

A retired guy from Washington DC who really enjoys biking and meeting new people on these TDA trips.