Dudley Jesser

I have been having the time of my life since the year 2002 when I wound up my business interests in North Queensland Australia. I began cycling and my enjoyment has increased ten fold since discovering and joining the TDA family. I completed the Silk Road 2012 which spiked my appetite for adventure with my fellow cyclists. It was such a surreal experience I wish to keep it going until my legs no longer go around in circles.I am so fortunate to have made some wonderful friendships and hope to make many more on my quest to complete the 7 Epics. Looking forward to meeting you on our next adventure which for me will be Trans Europa 2014 Best wishes from Dudley Jesser

Antoinette Kok-Oosthuizen

I am born and bred in South Africa. I have been wanting to do a cycle tour since ... forever. Thus this year will be the year for serious training as I also plan to to the Sani to Sea in 2015. I love travelling, reading, cycling, exploring, gardening, and just being outside, and did I say travelling. Looking forward to spending some time in Europe. Looking forward in meeting everybody!

Bill Wilson

This will be my 8th trip with TDA, as I've previously ridden the Trans Europa, the Orient Express, the Hippie Trail, the Bamboo Road, Magical Madagascar, the Tour d'Afrique and the Trans Oceania. I retired four 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 traveling. I am looking forward to getting together with some old friends and making some new ones.

Ching-chuan Chen

Hi,I am Ching-Chuan Chen, you can just call me Chen. I retired in 2010 and started enjoying in bicycle riding, after finish my first book about the experience of a 40 days riding tour in Middle Asia, now I look forward to this adventure and started to plan my second book.

Peter Hodges

Kiwi who enjoys getting out Mountain biking, and exploring.

Michael Neuser

Over the past years I've done multiple bike tours in the USA. I like discovering the countryside on these bike trips and it is an ideal counter part to office job. I am looking forward to exploring some areas of Europe that I've not visited yet.

Michael Hobin

I'm retired and in the 60+ category. I enjoy cycling, golf and hiking. Currently I spend my winters in Arizona and will start spending my summers in Camlachie, Ontario. I've done a few long distance rides including the TDA in 2016. Looking forward to seeing western Canada on bike.

Alex Klopfer

I live in Vancouver, I'm 73 ... will turn 74 on the trip. Looking forward to meeting everybody. Alex Klopfer

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 :-)

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.

Tomas Gold

Luiz Viana

:) :) :) :) :)

Powell "Gil" Gillenwater

I love adventure and I love to travel. My brother Troy (who will be on this ride) and I discovered Tibet’s fabled "Lost Falls of the Brahmaputra” in 1997. I have been on 6 expeditions into the Himalayas of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and Ladakh. I am a weekend warrior when it comes to riding bikes having coordinated multi-day, fundraising bike rides in Sonora, Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. I am the founder and president of the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, Inc. and I am really looking forward to this ride. A good friend, Mike Hobin, will be riding the entire Africa tour. He convinced my brother Troy and friend Kevin Johansen (a college football buddy - we are now both 61 years old) to join him on the final leg. We road across Poland and Slovakia with Mike on a Tour d'Afrique adventure last year and had a fantastic time.

Miriam Gold

chris hectors

biking to see the world is my favourite way of traveling i live in ghent, an old medieval and beautiful city in the northern flemish part of belgium look forward to meet the team and to bike through latin america

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

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

Trond Michelsen

Hi. I'm a 45 year old programmer from Oslo, Norway. This is my fifth 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). Looking forward to a great summer of cycling

Barendina Hunt-Davis

Love exploring countries on my bicycle

Tom Catanese

WOW, ANOTHER TDA TOUR SO FORTUNATE AND PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP. CHOICES DETERMINE OUTCOMES.. MY CHOICE IS TO STAY AS ACTIVE IN LIFE AS POSSIBLE. SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS. ENERGIZING MY GOALS AS I SEE THIS AMAZING WORLD ON TWO WHEELS. PAPA

Chris Wille

After an intense 30 Year career, and 4 Ironman Triathlons, whats a guy to do? While searching long distance bike tours way back in the early 2000's, the TDA site came up. Cycle across Africa- 12,000kms, 4.5 months- What? Thats nuts! However, the more i thought about it, the more intrigued i was. Wow- people- 'ordinary people-doing extraordinary things' actually participated in those rides, and lived to tell about it! They didn't get killed by lions or headhunters or...Fast forward to 2008 TDA and there we were,at the Pyramids, 60 strangers from 14 different countries about to have the ride/total experience of our lives. It was incredible, just like cycling through the pages of the National Geographic, every day for 4.5 months- i was hooked! The Tda was/is like a drug- the more trips you go on, the more you want to do. In Africa i met Michael Linke and the BEN (Bicycle empowerment network), inspired by the great things they were doing, started a chapter of Bicycles for Humanity here in Victoria as a way of giving back. To date we (B4H Victoria) have collected and shipped 11 container loads of bikes to 3 African countries- Two container loads each to Namibia & Uganda and 7 to Malawi ( 5000 bikes + spare parts to date and counting!) So fortunate and blessed to be able to give back... Since TDA 2008, I have been super lucky to have cycled the Orient Express, Silk Route, Trans Oceania, South American Epic, Trans Europa and (most of)- Bamboo road rides with TDA. Completed Trans Europa 2018. In 2015 my goal of cycling around the world was completed, albiet not all on TDA trips. I am extremely lucky, fortunate & grateful. The North American Epic ride marks the 7th of the TDA 7 Epics for me.Working hard to be the first client to complete all 7 Epics- It's been a fun ride so far... There is no greater way to see the world than from the seat of a bike, under human power. How blessed am I to be able to share the experience with so many incredible fellow riders, TDA staff, and all the amazing people you meet along the way!

John Hemmen

I have been an avid cyclist all my life and have done many tours on both road and mountain bikes. Cycling is simply the best way to travel through country, for it lends itself to a relaxed and visceral connection to the land and its people. I am a retired Emergency Physician and spend my time off the bike painting, reading, and traveling. I have done the Trans Europa, Odyssey, and Pub Ride tours previously and look forward to sharing the NAE with old riding buddies from previous tours.

Kevin Hall

Wayne Carty

I enjoy cycling and the challenges it brings. Last 'tour' was with my wife in 1994, around Tasmania. Recently I have completed a number of 200km+ rides and with more time on my hands I began to organise a European trip. I soon found TDA and was very interested in a number of rides (esp South America). The Trans-Europa was the only ride in 2016 that fit in with work and family commitments. I hope it is the first of many TDA challenges I am to be involved in.

Yvonne Goldsmith

I am looking forward to my third TDA adventure and hoping to set a new PR for lightest and smallest daily bag.

Scott Goldsmith

I'm a semi-retired professor of economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage. When not working I love to ski in the winter and bike the rest of the year. Did Kashgar to Istanbul on the Silk Road tour in 2014, Trans-Europa in 2016, and had to come back for more.

Peter McCartney

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

Cindy Smith

I am a runner/cyclist. I have been a long distance road/trail runner for years and I took up cycling a few years ago. These days, if I am not out running, I can usually be found on my on my bike. I ride with several local cycling clubs. I enjoy traveling and have ridden both the Trans Europa and Bamboo Road tours with TDA.

Peter Millikan

I am 70, a retired emergency physician, married since 1973, three children and five grand children, living north of Seattle on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Travel highlights: half year backpacking and tent camping in East Africa and South America, four weeks trekking in Nepal, half year living in Andalusia, Camino de Santiago on mountain bike, road bike trips from Seattle to Bath, Maine, Natchez Trace, Seattle to San Francisco via Oregon Coast, TDA Transeuropa, TDA Odyssey, mountain bike trips in Northern Rockies, around Moab, and various rides around California and Washington with friends, bike clubs or solo. I've summited the volcanic peaks in the Cascades as well as Mt Whitney. Besides hiking and biking I like windsurfing and skiing. I can say a few things in Spanish or Russian.

Catrina Millikan

64 year old wife, mother, grandmother. I have had two previous bike tours (Camino de Santiago, 2001)., and TDA Cannes to Barcelona 2016. I have an adventurous spirit and am excited for the group experience. I look forward to meeting new people and also enjoying the beautiful scenery!

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, South American Epic, the Silk Route, and part of Africa. I’ve previously ridden through some of the areas that The North American Epic will cover it is was some of the best riding of my life. I’m looking forward to sharing this adventure with old friends and meeting new people.

Tim Sole

Married to Judy. Both rode LEJOG in 2014, TDA Bamboo Road in 2015, the first third of TDA Trans-Europa in 2016, the TDA Odyssey in 2017 and the TDA Pub Ride in 2018. I think of myself as a a travel cyclist rather than as a 'real cyclist'. I am slow uphills, but excellent at finding coffee stops. I am an actuary and still work part-time. My main hobbies are recreational maths and writing, with my tenth book to be published in July 2009 ('The Strange and Infinite World of Numbers'). We live near Wellington, New Zealand.

Judy Sole

Married to Tim Sole, who is also on the tour. This will be my fifth TDA trip having previously done the Bamboo Road, part of the Transeuropa, the Odyssey and the Pub Ride. Greatly enjoyed cycling LEJOG (Lands End to John O' Groats) and the South Island of New Zealand.

Georges Kübler

Not much to tell about me. I worked as a teacher in a professional school till 08.2014 and I'am working till 05.2016 as a project manager at the administration for educational affairs. Up to June 2016 I'am free enough for a byicle tour and that's what I am going to do with TDA Global Cycling.

Eric Wolinsky

Did the Trans-Europa (St. Pete to Venice) last year and caught the TDA bug. I love bicycle touring, all parts of it and I'm really looking forward to this trip.

Peter Ellis

Orient,Europa,Odyssey and now a Pub Ride. All good and looking forward to the fun and comradrie.

Ruth Grathwohl

Looking forward to participating in my 4th TDA ride

Jim Skeel

My wife and I like to take bicycle trips when we go on a vacations. Ten years ago we went on a two week bicycle trip in Burma. We have been on other bicycle trips since then. We did the Orient Express with TDA in 2015. The most difficult part of this trip will be leaving my two dogs at home.

Barbara Smit

I love biking & travel. Can't wait to travel through such beautiful country

Debbie Jenner

As a (by then) former Geography teacher, this will be an amazing way to celebrate retirement! I have loved my previous TDA trips and am looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones. Not sure why photo is upside down?!

edward sokol

retired, single worked 44 years in retail business, owned it for 30 years like cycling, hiking

Alex Klopfer

I live in Vancouver, I'm 73 ... will turn 74 on the trip. Looking forward to meeting everybody. Alex Klopfer

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 :-)

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.

Aaron Goldenberg

I'm Aaron. I'm 63, and live in Southern Florida. I rode the Trans-Europa tour last year from Budapest to Lisbon. I'm looking forward to riding in Southeast Asia.

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

Monique Laflamme

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.

Trond Michelsen

Hi. I'm a 45 year old programmer from Oslo, Norway. This is my fifth 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). Looking forward to a great summer of cycling

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!

Balazs Perjesy

Barendina Hunt-Davis

Love exploring countries on my bicycle

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, and the South American Epic) and we're looking forward to another interesting and challenging experience this year in Africa. Looking forward to meeting all the riders and seeing old friends.

David Gary Ford

PADI scuba diver (510 dives since 1991), self-supported treks to Everest Base Camp (2001) and Annapurna Circuit (2003) in Nepal, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (2007). Began solo tour cycling in 2002 with three trips across western Canada, then solo tours from Amsterdam-Budapest (2006), Amsterdam-Casablanca (2008), an Italy circuit (2009), and England/Ireland/Wales circuit (2011). Gave away my paniers and joined TdA for the Indian Adventure (2012) and the Bamboo Road (2013). Summer activities involve road rides around Brandon and ACC mountaineering camps in the Rockies; winter activities are indoor `spin sessions`, downhill skiing, and Master`s curling.

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 six other TDA tours (Amber Route 2010, Bamboo 2013, and South American 2015, TransEuropa 1016, Tour d'Afrique 2017) and Silk Route 2018 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.

Shirley Frye

Have enjoyed many TDA trips and hope to do many many more.

Stirling Lee

I probably like cycling more than cycling likes me. That means I will probably be at the rear of the group but I have completed every trip I have been on. I enjoy eating enormous amounts of food, cycling means I do not gain weight while eating. I also speak a little of any language in any part of the world we are likely to travel in.

Brad Davis

Australian 25-year-old journalism graduate whose only priority is getting out and seeing as much of the world as possible! I'm passionate about travelling, socialising, and writing (usually about travelling and socialising).

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

Shaik Baba

Baba is a maestro in the art of cycle maintenance. He has close to 20 years of experience in the industry along with 10 years of travelling the length and breath of the country on cycle trips and camps. India is a highly diversified country with many languages. With five spoken languages under his belt, Baba is an asset to have on the team. Baba is a very friendly team person and ever willing to help & contribute in all aspects.

Chris Wille

After an intense 30 Year career, and 4 Ironman Triathlons, whats a guy to do? While searching long distance bike tours way back in the early 2000's, the TDA site came up. Cycle across Africa- 12,000kms, 4.5 months- What? Thats nuts! However, the more i thought about it, the more intrigued i was. Wow- people- 'ordinary people-doing extraordinary things' actually participated in those rides, and lived to tell about it! They didn't get killed by lions or headhunters or...Fast forward to 2008 TDA and there we were,at the Pyramids, 60 strangers from 14 different countries about to have the ride/total experience of our lives. It was incredible, just like cycling through the pages of the National Geographic, every day for 4.5 months- i was hooked! The Tda was/is like a drug- the more trips you go on, the more you want to do. In Africa i met Michael Linke and the BEN (Bicycle empowerment network), inspired by the great things they were doing, started a chapter of Bicycles for Humanity here in Victoria as a way of giving back. To date we (B4H Victoria) have collected and shipped 11 container loads of bikes to 3 African countries- Two container loads each to Namibia & Uganda and 7 to Malawi ( 5000 bikes + spare parts to date and counting!) So fortunate and blessed to be able to give back... Since TDA 2008, I have been super lucky to have cycled the Orient Express, Silk Route, Trans Oceania, South American Epic, Trans Europa and (most of)- Bamboo road rides with TDA. Completed Trans Europa 2018. In 2015 my goal of cycling around the world was completed, albiet not all on TDA trips. I am extremely lucky, fortunate & grateful. The North American Epic ride marks the 7th of the TDA 7 Epics for me.Working hard to be the first client to complete all 7 Epics- It's been a fun ride so far... There is no greater way to see the world than from the seat of a bike, under human power. How blessed am I to be able to share the experience with so many incredible fellow riders, TDA staff, and all the amazing people you meet along the way!

Mark Peterson

I'm a 62 year old family physician from Juneau, Alaska. I'm married with 3 adult children. I currently do locum tenens work (temp work for doctors) all over the world. This has provided some great adventures on all our globes continents over the past few years. I completed the TDA Africa tour in 2015 and never thought I would want to do another expedition ride, but the rides "get under your skin" so I'm back looking to cross my third continent on a bicycle.

Kim Payne

Self Employed Travel Agent which makes things slightly easier by being able to have a mobile office. Can we ensure the WIFI is great on this leg please? I've managed to do sections of Ruta Maya 15, TDA 17, and now this. I have also signed up for West Africa. Ticking sections off slowly Now to get a new bike. I'm sick of the mountain bike! Cyclo cross is where it's at.

Scott Fleck

Hi everyone been riding bikes all my life got into road biking 5 years ago and love it! Have done some events the last few years loved them and this is the next step! Looking forward to my first TDA trip this summer the Trans Europa!

Maria Victoria Cardini

Retired. Hobbies: travels, movies and technology

Linda Wille

Rick Harwood

I'm a 65 year old mostly retired high school teacher and principal. I can show the scars and tell the stories, most of which I am proud of, from my 35 years of working with several thousand amazing and challenging high school kids. Cycling has been a big part of keeping me fit and sane and happy throughout the years, as has my family of 3 grown children and 2 young grandkids. One of my proudest accomplishments related to cycling is helping to start and maintain the Major Taylor Project, a cycling program for teenagers from low income families who would never have had the opportunity to ride good road bikes on long rides in and out of their neighborhoods.

Jeanne Turner

Riding Athens to Trieste with the love of my life, Mark Turner. I'm passionate about cycling, skiing and travel. Had a wonderful experience with TDA last summer riding 3 sections of the Trans Europa. Looking forward to meeting all of you.

Mark Turner

Jeanne and I have been on a fantastic adventure since December 7th 1993. We've filled our life with skiing, cycling, traveling and lots of escapades with friends and family. Looking forward to this....

Jeffrey Richards

I go for a rideabout every summer. This year lets try dublin to lisbon.

Jo Taylor

Ha, TDA, you thought you'd got rid of me and now I'm back. I completed the Trans-Europa tour in September – what a blast – and now that the Trans-Oceania is in my own country it seems crazy not to join it and explore the one part of New Zealand that I haven't seen (Greymouth to Wanaka). I'll be writing about the tour as we go, for the news media and also on my social media page, so be warned that if you say or do anything funny it might end up in a story! Look forward to meeting you all... oh, and if you're unscathed at the end, Queenstown is a mountain biking mecca for those who are keen to let rip on the hills! :)

Esen Küçüktütüncü

Hey everyone, I'm Esen from Istanbul. I'm a documentary filmmaker who loves traveling and cycling, so TDA is a dream come true. So far I've done Trans Europa 2018 (Barcelona-Lisbon) and West Africa 2018. They both were unique experiences, having the chance to see places not only by main roads and attractions but through pathways across villages is I think the sole way to catch those unique moments. Being able to remember the old lady sitting in a panadería, carefully reading her newspaper as I stopped to grab some snacks in Tarragona (Spain) is a delight, as well as the little Senegalese children asking me if I wanted to join their game. There are many moments that we wish to remember, of course in tours like this there are tons. I hope the videos we make will help you remember them even after the tour ends. I'll you see you Asia!

jean christophe GLEIZES

Je m'appelle JEAN CHRISTOPHE , je suis français et je viens d'avoir 50 ans . Passionné par tous les sports je suis inscris pour la première fois à une épreuve TDA GLOBAL CYCLING J'adore voyager ,découvrir de nouveaux paysages, rencontrer d'autres personnes qui ont les mêmes passions que moi. Malheureusement , je ne parle pas du tout anglais mais j'espere pouvoir quand meme communiquer avec les autres participants :):):)

Paul Forster