UPDATED April 13, 2026 BY Henry Gold IN Plum Ride no comments The Plum Ride Bicycle Tour Whats In A Name?He who does not have slivovitz has no luck.Slivovitz is the best medicine. Slovak ProverbsWhats in a name, you may ask? Or how do we choose a name for a new tour? Our company is known for creating exhilarating cycling adventures in all corners of the world but it is in Europe where we have the largest number of our tours. Each one has its own path, a theme that we would like to explore. Yet, even with our tours crisscrossing the continent, one area that was largely missing was Central Europe.I was born in that region, Czechoslovakia to be exact. One day when I was alone in the office, staring at a large map of the world, I heard a little whisper coming from the wall. I stopped what I was doing and listenedHenry, how come none of TDA tours visit Berlin, Prague or Belgrade? Why have TDA not explored more of Central Europe? After all, that is where your roots are?And so it began. Everyone on the team contributed and our efforts resulted in a tour that starts on the shores of the Baltic Sea in Gdansk, Poland, the birthplace of Solidarity, the movement that initiated the fall of Soviet Empire. It ends on the shores of Aegean Sea in Thessaloniki, Greece, the countrys second largest city, well known for its rich Byzantine history.White Tower in ThessalonikiNow that we had the route, what do we name it? After all, when you travel in a country or through a region, there are many aspects to explore. There is nature, there is art, there is architecture, history, food and, of course, there is culture. When looking at the entirety of the route, there seemed to be one aspect that kept popping up.My father, who lived to be 87, had one memorable habit. Each morning, after spending an inordinate time in the bathroom cleaning himself top to bottom, would head for his liquor cabinet, pour himself a shot, preferably slivovitz, and thus start his day. Lest you think my dad was an alcoholic, in my whole life I never saw him drunk, not at home, not at weddings and not at any religious celebrations. One or two shots a day and that was enough. And, as far as I can tell, he wasnt alone in this habit.I mention the vignette about my father simply to point out that, in Central Europe, a big part of the culture is the consumption of plum brandy, sometimes known locally as Palinka or Rakia. As I hinted above, drinking slivovitz at weddings, funerals, births and other life events, is so ingrained that it has been recognized by UNESCO as part of Serbias intangible cultural heritage, reflecting its deep-rooted social practices and customs. Plum brandy or Slivovitz is present in proverbs, songs, media, movies, television shows and literature, reflecting local customs and social practices.And according to AI, and really what better source is there, Plum brandy, like other types of brandy, can offer several health benefits when consumed in moderation. It contains antioxidants that may help lower bad cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system, making it beneficial for heart health and respiratory issues.Whats in a name you ask? Well, plum brandy is often associated with themes of friendship, longing, and the joys of life. Isnt that what TDA tours are all about?View this post on InstagramA post shared by TDA Global Cycling | Bike Tours in over 80 countries (@tdacycling)Join me, TDA Founder Henry Gold, for a Slivvitz or Two! I plan to cycle this inaugural tour in 2027. For those alumni who I have never met, I invite you to come along. If you have never done a TDA tour, come ride with me and I will share with you a little bit more about the region I once called home.RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Plum Ride Bicycle Tour Whats In A Name?" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 10, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique 1 comment The Sheltering DesertMasoud Riyazati is the Content Creator on the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.How does it feel to wake up and have about an inch of sand in your tent, on your skin, and even some in your teeth? Dont get me wrong. This is not a complaint. You sleep under millions of stars. You wake up to the most glorious sunrise. And then you have to shake the sand off your body and your tent. This is the Namib Desert..We have had an unbelievable experience since entering Namibia. Unpredictable weather with extreme rainfall and strong winds. Flooded roads that are usually supposed to be dry. This kind of weather is very unusual here. For example, the day we wanted to see Deadvlei, a place known for its ancient dead trees surrounded by bright orange sand dunes, the road was flooded in a way that made it impossible to reach. Our rest day in Sesriem was its own adventure. The whole night, sleeping in our tents, it felt like they might fly into the sky at any moment because of the extreme wind. When we woke up, the sand had covered everything.And when you think, well, Im going to clean this and go ahead with my day, the rain starts. But not just any kind of rain. The wild African rain, where the sand turns into mud, getting into everything. You see everyone running in a frenzy, trying to save their equipment. When its all over, you stand there, look around, and ask yourself: Why am I here?I think whatever we had experienced so far on this Tour dAfrique was a kind of training, preparing us for this, for Namibia and its otherworldly desert.Riding through the Namib Desert, I couldnt help but think of The Sheltering Desert, a 1957 memoir by the German geologist Henno Martin, who hid in the desert to avoid internment during World War II. There is a connection between his story and ours. Survival, adaptation, endurance. But there is also a contrast. He was here to escape something.But why are we here?I look around and see people in sweat-soaked jerseys, sunburned skin, and red marks from mosquito bites. People who most likely had comfortable lives back home, far from this kind of discomfort. That curiosity led me to ask riders a simple question: Why are you here?Usually, they pause. They look into the distance before answering. For many, it is about experiencing this continent firsthand. Learning something about Africa. Discovering new places, new perspectives. But for some, the answer goes deeper.Gijs and LoesGijs gave me an answer I did not expect. I share it with his permission. He told me that he and his wife always wanted children, but that it would not happen for them. So they asked themselves a different question: What else can life be?They came here to fill that emptiness. Not by escaping it, but by transforming it.Through cycling.Through people.Through challenge.His answer made it clear that some of us are here to confront our limits, and what better place than a desert for that?The desert is an unforgiving landscape. It strips you down to your bare essentials and teaches you the meaning of resilience. The temperature fluctuates drastically. The terrain is harsh, and each surface has its own character. Endless gravel roads burn your eyes after hours of riding. Corrugations test your patience, and each mile leaves a visible trace on your body. Some days the road resists you, forcing your legs to push harder and your body to endure more. Other days, with a tailwind, it feels as if the desert itself is guiding you forward. Here, adaptation becomes your language. By now, we have learned to camp wild, ration water, shower cold with a small bucket, and accept mosquitoes as part of daily life.But at the same time, the desert offers something rare:space, silence, and clarity.Out here, you do not just ride through the desert. You become part of it. Cycling allows you to feel the history of the land beneath you.The Namib Desert is one step before we reach our final point. The end of Tour dAfrique in Cape Town, where we can look at each other and say: we did it. But not yet. For now, we stay focused on the road.There are still a couple of weeks ahead, and the final stretch of any TDA tour is always the most emotional. Every morning and every night, you feel it. We are getting closer to the end. And that is a strange feeling.You think about home. Your family, your garden, your coffee, your food, your favorite places, the simple things you miss. But at the same time, you know that going back means this will end. To understand what that truly feels like, we have to wait a little longer.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Sheltering Desert" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 29, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Tea Route no comments Tea Route Rider Reviews: I Would Go Back In A Heartbeat And Do It All Over Again.The inaugural Tea Route Cycling Tour, taking riders over 2600 km from Kochi, India to Colombo, Sri Lanka, crossed the finish line just over a month ago. Now that the cyclists who took part in this sold out adventure have returned home, lets see what they had to say about their experienceThis was my first tour with TDA and it will not be my last! The route was well scouted, the trip leaders were supportive and generous with their knowledge and the other participants were just awesome.the landscapes, the historical buildings, and most of all, the local people were absolutely amazing. I have traveled in many places in the world and have found very a few places with people as friendly as southern India and Sri Lanka. I would go back in a heartbeat and do it all over again challenges and all. Thank you TDA for creating and executing such a rich experience. Bob Bathrick (USA)The Tea Route ride was great!I enjoyed the places we visited, the cities and villages and meeting Indians and Sri Lankans. I really enjoyed seeing art and temples on the trip. The Indian and Sri Lankan food was delicious! I loved seeing the nature and animals/birds in India and Sri Lanka. Fiona Efron (Australia)This tour was an adventure. Sri Lanka exceed expectations in almost every way and should be considered a world class cycling destination. Justin Ripley (USA)It was an epic adventure in which so much happened each day that thinking back over the prior week or so was almost overwhelming. There is just so much to see, do and experience. Michael Talbert (USA)From our 1st day on the Tea Route in Kochi, India, and from the moment we rode out our of the hotel door on a daily basis, India was full of humanity, cultural diversity, colour, craziness, surprise and stimulation around every corner. Sri Lanka is more relaxed, being a scenically beautiful country with interesting villages, towns, landscapes, coastlines, rice paddies, coconut trees, full of wildlife, with a long history, culturally fascinating, where the people are friendly and welcoming, and also much to see around every corner. Maurice Efron (Australia)I loved the Tour. It was even better than what I expected. The group was great and the staff very helpful. Well done everyone. Marie-Jose Vasseur (Canada)A fascinating immersion in local cultures and the activities of daily life, which you can only get by riding through small communities at all times of day (early morning, when people are going to school/work, midday, afternoon). Max Davis (USA)The Tea Route takes you through a variety of tropical regions where you see bananas, cardamom, rice, coconuts, cinnamon, and tea. The tea plantations are amazing to see in both India and Sri Lanka. The people are very friendly and helpfulThe scenery is spectacular. There are a variety of religions in the region: Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Moslem, and Jewish. The fresh fruit is amazing: pomegranates, bananas, pineapple, mango, papaya, guava, etc. The hotels were 5 star. There is a lot of very good food every day. Michael Dreiling (USA)I love a deep dive into other cultures. I am very grateful for the opportunity that TDA gave me. Kathy Herson (USA)Registration for the 2028 Tea Route Cycling Adventure is now open.RELATEDTOURTea Route Tea. It wasnt until the British arrived that this wild plant was turned into a commercial crop both in India and in Sri Lanka, creating those... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Tea Route Rider Reviews: I Would Go Back In A Heartbeat And Do It All Over Again." Cancel reply

UPDATED March 26, 2026 BY Miles MacDonald IN Hippie Trail no comments A 20 Year Journey To The Hippie TrailSomehow, after working on and helping organize TDA Global Cycling tours for the past 20 years, the stars never aligned for me to travel to India, nor participate on TDAs Hippie Trail tour.At long last, 2027 will be the year I get to join the tour! Ill be there to help our staff team as needed, meet the cyclists participating on the trip, and experience the sights, sounds and culture of India.There are many aspects of the Hippie Trail that Im looking forward to, and I thought Id share a few of them here.Getting to meet up with staff persons Baba (left) and Ezhil (right), who are the backbone of our India tours. Theyre a pleasure to work with and their care and concern for our participants is well known by all whove been fortunate enough to cycle on a tour theyve worked on. Perhaps even a quick visit to their home city of Bangalore before the trip will occur!Chef Miles at work on the 2006 Tour dAfriqueIndian Cuisine. Having worked in restaurant kitchens and as a Chef on TDA tours, food has been an integral part of my professional life for decades. The opportunity to delve into the diverse regional cuisines of India is something Ive wanted to do forever! Theres no better way to learn about a culture than through its food. As a lover of spice and heat in my food, as well as mutton, the Rajasthani Laal Maas curry is a particular dish Ill be on the lookout for.The historical and architectural journey. There are few nations on earth with a more rich and diverse civilization. The ebb and flow of empires across its land have left distinct ways of being as well as a dazzling variety of distinctive architecture, from the Taj Mahal to the Victorian Gothic design at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (above). My university survey course on the History of India is somewhere in the recesses of my brain and Im keen to get those neurons working again.The cycling. This is certainly a given for most who are joining the Hippie Trial, but for myself I rarely cycle on our tours while Im working on them. Though being a long-ago competitive cyclist myself, most of my cycling these days is confined to the city limits where I live, with the occasional longer rides. I can think of no better country to delve into cycling on our trips than India, with its hectic and beautiful nature, bountiful colours, and curious and hospitable locals upon our routes. The Hippie Trail is a full-on embrace of the nomadic cycling lifestyle and a deep cultural immersion unique in this world. Cant wait!RELATEDTOURHippie Trail "Turn on, tune in, Drop out" It was 1967 - the Summer of Love - and Timothy Leary had this advice for his young followers at the Human Be-In taking... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "A 20 Year Journey To The Hippie Trail" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 23, 2026 BY Miles MacDonald IN Company no comments A Blast From The Past: Miles And His Racing BikeWe all have a back story, a past before we hooked up with Henry Golds crazy concept of crossing continents on a bicycle. Part of our Operations Manager, Miles MacDonalds pre-TDA history includes a touch of competitive cycling.The Junior (18 and under) Canadian National Cycling team (above) departed Ottawa airport in early September 1993, flying to a Canadian military airbase near Lahr, Germany on a Canadian Defense Force flight. The base, a cold war relic, would be shut, at least for Canadian troops a few years later. For the team, including myself, the base was our first destination in Europe and despite the oddity of seeing vehicles driving around with Canadian license plates, we had arrived.If you are not a hockey player in Canada, or maybe a figure skater, then your national sports organization has a tight budget. We had gotten onto this flight for I would assume nothing, the drawback being the scheduling was a bit tight. Descending the stairs from the plane down to the tarmac, our bicycles, in cardboard boxes, awaited us. At that point it was a race to open the boxes, put our bicycles together, get changed into cycling gear, and ride towards the start line of our first race, the Pepsi Lite Challenge, a Junior World Cup 6-day stage race in the Black Forest region of Germany.Miles, the YoungerThe first stage of the race was an evening criterium in the center of the town of Lahr. After cycling to the start line, with our team support vehicle following behind, our impatient coach honking the horn most of the way, we waited nervously with anticipation for the start of the race. First though there was the word passing through the local crowd, as well as the riders, that the world cycling championships happening on the same day in Norway, had finished, with a young Lance Armstrong claiming the title.The sun lowered in the sky, and the organizers positioned cars with headlights turned towards the corners of the course for extra light, the start gun went off and away we went. Criteriums are short and fast, at least short by road race standards, usually not more than an hour long. In America they remain one of the most popular forms of bike racing due to the ease of watching for spectators. In Europe they are enjoyed by the locals as well for this reason, but they are treated more as show than serious cycling, and the epic road races of the continent are what every cyclist dreams of winning. That doesnt make criteriums any easier though.Our team was 6 riders and none of us had experience racing in Europe. We had performed well during the year in North America to make the Canadian team, with national champions and World Cup stage race winners in the group. For all that though, everything about being in Europe felt fresh, exciting and foreign. Maybe due to the adrenaline of our recent arrival, all of us were towards the front of the race, with many attacks flying up the road, my teammate Guillaume from Quebec jumped into a breakaway, and when another rider attacked to try and bridge up to the lead group I jumped on his wheel and followed him up to the leaders.As the local crowd cheered us on, and the sky grew completely dark, with the roads illuminated only by the street lamps and car headlights, our breakaway raced on towards the last lap, and it became apparent we would succeed in staying away from the main peloton. Unfortunately for myself and Guillaume, neither of us could sprint very well, and so as we rounded the last bend and headed for the finish line, I pretty much went backwards and finished 4th, while Guillaume managed 2nd.All in all, after being on a plane across the Atlantic Ocean only hours earlier and now taking 2 out of the top 4 spots in the first stage of the race, we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. Our coach wasnt quite as impressed. Meet Yury Kashirin. Russian, Olympic gold medalist as a cyclist with the Soviet Union team time trial squad in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was also the winner of the U.K.s prestigious Milk Race in 1979 and 1982 and later coached the gold medal winning Soviet team time trial squad in the 1988 Barcelona Olympics, the last Olympics to fly the CCCP flag.Yury was distinctly underwhelmed, with 2 out of 4 riders in the breakaway we still hadnt managed to win, and that wasnt something to celebrate. Regardless, the main goal of our European racing excursion was preparation for the upcoming world championships in Australia, and Yury felt pressure to get results, and to whip us into Soviet style shape for the world stage. So, he did what he would have done with his Soviet era teams, and told us to cycle the 40 km in the dark to our hotel, in the direction of Freiburg. The crisp dark air enveloped us as we cycled, with only the team cars headlights to illuminate our way.Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "A Blast From The Past: Miles And His Racing Bike" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 12, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Plum Ride no comments Gdask A Cycling Capital In The Heart Of PolandWhen I first heard that Michael was working on designing the Plum Ride Cycling Tour, I literally screamed with joy. Yes actual squealing. If you know me, even a little, you probably know that I have a special affinity for Poland. The fact that the sections of the tour are named Slivovitz, Plinka, and Rakia already makes me smile but thats a story for another time.What truly made me happy, though, was learning that the tour will start in Gdask. Ive been there once before. I remember taking a cozy train from Warsaw just three hours and suddenly you arrive somewhere completely different. The air smells of the sea, the light feels softer, and before you know it, youre standing on the shores of the Baltic. Its one of those places that instantly feels both grand and welcoming at the same time. But did you know that Gdask is actually part of something bigger?The TricityGdask belongs to what locals call the Tricity a unique urban area made up of Gdask, Gdynia, and Sopot. Though each city has its own personality and history, together they form one continuous coastal region along the Baltic Sea. Gdask is the oldest and most historically rich of the three, with centuries of maritime trade and cultural influence. Gdynia is the youngest a modern port city that rose rapidly in the 20th century when Poland needed a new gateway to the sea.And Sopot, nestled between them, became the regions beloved seaside resort, famous for its beaches, elegant villas, and lively summer atmosphere. Today the three cities are seamlessly connected by trains, bike paths, and coastal promenades. You can move between them effortlessly which makes exploring the area by bicycle truly delightful. And if youre arriving for a cycling tour well, youre already doing it right.Gdask: History On The Baltic CoastGdask is one of those cities where history is everywhere you look. For centuries it was one of the most important trading ports on the Baltic Sea and a powerful member of the Hanseatic League, the medieval network of merchant cities that connected northern Europe. Walking through the historic centre today, you can still feel that maritime legacy. Tall merchant houses line the streets in a colourful parade of architecture, church towers rise above the skyline, and along the Motawa River stands the famous medieval crane that once loaded cargo from ships arriving from across Europe. Gdask is also a city that played a pivotal role in modern history. In the 1980s, the Solidarity movement began here at the Gdask Shipyard a workers movement that would eventually help bring about the fall of communist rule across Eastern Europe.A Cycling Capital Of PolandFor cyclists, Gdask has another pleasant surprise: its one of the most bike-friendly cities in Poland. Poland in general is wonderfully welcoming to cyclists, with well-maintained bike lanes, thoughtful infrastructure and scenic routes that connect cities, parks, and coastlines. Gdask is a perfect example of this culture. Exploring the city by bike feels natural, and honestly the best way to do so. You can ride along the Motawa River, glide through green parks, and reach the Baltic shoreline within minutes. The bike paths are smooth, safe, and often incredibly scenic. If youre arriving a day or two before the Plum Ride begins and I highly recommend that you do it will give you time to explore. Gdask is the kind of city where wandering around is half the joy, but here are a few places worth putting on your list:Long Market The heart of the historic centre and one of the most beautiful streets in Poland. Colourful merchants houses, the iconic Neptune Fountain and the elegant Artus Court make this area feel like a postcard.St. Marys Basilica One of the largest brick churches in the world. If youre up for a little climb, the tower offers incredible views over the citys rooftops and the Baltic beyond.urawThe Gdask Crane (uraw) A medieval port crane that once loaded cargo from trading ships. Its one of the most recognizable symbols of the city and a reminder of Gdasks maritime past.European Solidarity Centre A modern museum dedicated to the Solidarity movement that began here in the 1980s and helped change the political landscape of Eastern Europe. Even if youre not a big museum person, the story is powerful and the architecture is striking.The Motawa River Walk A perfect place for an evening stroll. Restaurants, cafs, and old harbor buildings line the waterfront, and the atmosphere becomes especially magical at sunset.A Small Detour To TakeNow heres my personal confession: if I join this tour and I really hope I will I plan to arrive a little early. Why? Because I want to ride my bike to Sopot. Sopot sits just between Gdask and Gdynia, and although the Plum Ride doesnt pass through it, it absolutely deserves your attention. I once spent three or four days there and remember thinking that I should have stayed longer.Sopots story is quite different from Gdasks. In the 19th century, when seaside resorts became fashionable across Europe, Sopot blossomed into a spa town where visitors came for fresh sea air, mineral waters, and relaxation by the sea. Elegant villas were built among pine forests, promenades filled with summer visitors, and the town slowly grew into Polands most beloved coastal getaway.SopotThe symbol of the city is its famous wooden pier, stretching far into the Baltic Sea one of the longest wooden piers in Europe. Standing there, looking out over the water, its easy to understand why generations of travellers have fallen in love with this place. Even though the Baltic Sea isnt known for tropical temperatures (not my favourite sea at all), in late August its usually warm enough to enjoy the beach and the atmosphere is simply wonderful.But for cyclists, the real highlight is the coastal bike path that runs between Gdask and Sopot. I rode it once and still remember how beautiful it felt. Start in central Gdask and follow the bike paths north toward the coast. Soon youll join the coastal cycling route that runs through parks and along sandy beaches. The ride is smooth and scenic, with long stretches where you can see the Baltic Sea just beyond the dunes. After about an hour of easy riding, youll arrive in Sopot.Park your bike and walk along the famous Sopot Pier, grab a coffee on the promenade, or simply sit by the beach and watch the waves roll in. When youre ready, ride back the same way sunset along the coast is often spectacular. Its the perfect warm-up ride before the real adventure begins.See You At The Start Line?The Plum Ride will run for the first time in 2027 and it promises to be a journey through incredible landscapes, cultures, stories (and my favourite spirits, of course). But if you ask me, the adventure begins even before the first official pedal stroke. It begins in Gdask a city where cycling feels natural, and where every journey seems to start with a little bit of magic in the air. And if you happen to see someone riding toward Sopot a day or two before the tour begins well, theres a good chance it might be me.RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Gdask A Cycling Capital In The Heart Of Poland" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 16, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Company 1 comment You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us.Each year, we ask our community to tell us what were doing well, where we can improve, and where you want to ride next. This year, 379 newsletter subscribers and 274 past participants took the time to share their thoughts. Thats hundreds of voices impacting the future of TDA Global Cycling.First Thank you! We read every comment and were also randomly drawing the name of one lucky respondent who will receive a US$250 gift card to their local bike shop as a small thank you for being part of the conversation.Now, heres what we learned.Who You AreOur community remains wonderfully consistent. More than 80% of both newsletter subscribers and past riders are 56+. Around two-thirds are based in North America, with a growing European contingent as well.What Your Ideal Tour Looks LikeWhile our epic multi-month camping expeditions continue to attract many riders, the surveys revealed a common preference for a slightly different style of tour as well.Across both surveys, a very clear picture emerged.The dominant preference:46 weeksModerate difficulty (challenging but not brutal)80100 km per dayA mix of camping and hotelsMostly paved roads, with some gravelScenic routes with real cultural depthOf course, this doesnt capture everyones preferences many riders are looking for hotel only based tours, while others are happiest on long distance expedition routes.Still, it was interesting to note how often this type of balanced tour appeared in responses.Where You Want To GoYuanyang Rice Terraces on The Road To Shangri-LaAfrica remains the most aspirational region, followed closely by South America, the Silk Route, Japan, and parts of Mediterranean Europe.What stood out most was that destinations themselves remain the biggest driver of interest. Riders consistently told us that the specific countries and landscapes on a route matter more than almost anything else.As one rider put it: Location, location, location.Whats Holding People BackTDA staff preparing a delicious lunch on the Viva Italia TourFor newsletter subscribers who havent yet joined us, the biggest barriers are clear:CostTimeTravel logistics, including flying with a bikeConcerns about fitness or keeping upWorries about illness or unexpected challenges during a long tripFor past participants, cost appears less dominant, but scheduling, logistics, and life timing still play a role in deciding whether to join another tour.These are all things well continue working to address through clearer information, preparation resources, and open conversations with riders. A recent blog post has already started exploring some of these topics in more detail.Loyalty & MomentumTDA alumni on the Island Hopping Japan TourThe Participant Survey rated TDA very highly again this year and alumni had many positive things to say about their experiences. Nearly 40% of past riders said they are planning another group cycling tour within the next 12 months, which is encouraging to see.Among newsletter subscribers:56% say they plan to ride with TDA in the future35% are undecidedOnly 3% say no (which is half less than last year)To those undecided amongst you, we will continue to try and provide information to address some of the things holding you back.What You Want to Read And What You Want to SeeMt Kilimanjaro on the Tour dAfriqueOne thing is very clear: you want to feel what the ride is like.In the newsletter, rider stories remain the most popular content. Nearly a third of respondents told us that personal accounts from the road are their favourites the real experiences, the long days, the unexpected moments, and the quiet pride at the finish.Tour information and itineraries follow closely behind. You want clarity about where the tours go and what the experience actually looks like.Visual content photos and short videos also ranks high, reinforcing something we already know: its much easier to imagine yourself somewhere when you can see it.When we asked what youd like to see more of, many of you asked for more preparation guidance training advice, packing tips, gear recommendations, and a clearer sense of what a typical day on tour really feels like. That suggests many readers arent just dreaming about these trips youre seriously considering them and trying to understand what it would take to join.On social media, the message was even simpler: show us the ride.More real footage, daily updates, more terrain, more camps. Less polish, more struggle and challenge. You want to see what its really like out there not just the highlights. And honestly, we love that. Because thats where the real story is anyway.About 30% of our newsletter community follows us on social platforms. Among past riders, that number jumps to nearly two-thirds. Facebook remains the strongest platform with participants, while Instagram continues to grow. YouTube trails behind but still has a loyal audience.Just as interesting: many of you openly said youre simply not into social media at all. Thats completely fine. We know some of you prefer a long read over a scroll, and were not here to drag anyone into algorithms. But if you ever do feel like seeing more from the road the daily ride clips, the camps, the behind-the-scenes moments you know exactly where to find us.What Happens NextAt the finish line. 2025 North American EpicNow we sit with it.We read it all again: praise, tough feedback, thoughtful suggestions, one-line jokes and the long, heartfelt paragraphs. Henry will ask a few questions he always does. The kind that start with But what does this really mean? And then well talk, and well make a plan. Not just to adjust a tour here or tweak a newsletter there, but to keep inspiring you. Because this feeling goes both ways. You inspire us to be better, to think bigger, to create smarter routes, to refine the details, and sometimes, yes, to be a little crazier in what we attempt next. At the end of the day, this is what TDA has always been about: human connection, shared effort, shared stories, and shared roads. And what we have with all of you we value that immensely.Thank you for riding with us. In every way that you do.Related Posts: 1 Comment for "You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us." Great presentation of the feedback interesting and reassuring.Reply Leave a Comment for "You Spoke. We Listened. Heres What 653 Riders Told Us." Cancel reply

UPDATED March 20, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments Suspended In Time: A Ferry Ride On Lake KaribaMasoud Riyazati is the Content Creator on the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.For days, the road has dictated everything: when to wake, when to eat, when to push forward. The rhythm becomes so familiar that you stop questioning it. But every journey, no matter how relentless, contains moments where it pauses, not as a break, but as a shift.Today, the road dissolved into water.For twenty-four hours we drift between two shores, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Suspended between two countries, we are removed from the logic of the road. The bicycles, those faithful instruments of movement, lie somewhere below the deck, suddenly irrelevant.And for the first time in days, no one measures anything.Not time.Not distance.Not effort.As a Content Creator, moments like this create a strange question for me: what exactly should I write? Should I describe the journey from my own point of view, or simply observe what others feel and record their stories? Sometimes I think too much about it. But perhaps writing, like cycling, works best when you stop forcing direction and simply follow what is already there.So instead of searching for a story, I look around.Its an old ferry called Sea Lion. The captain looks like someone taken straight out of an old film, steady in a way that suggests long years at sea. The kind of face you trust, even without knowing why.There are two decks. The lower deck is larger, with tables and chairs, though not quite enough for everyone. Some riders have placed mattresses and pillows on the floor, turning the space into something softer, more intimate. It feels less like transport and more like a temporary home.The upper deck is smaller, quieter, closer to the control room. Fewer people gather there. Less conversation, more distance. Even here, without words, you begin to notice how personalities arrange themselves in space.On the main floor, there is a room with a small kitchen, chairs, and free coffee and tea. Some prefer to stay there. Others remain outside, carried by the wind.I sit on the lower deck.Allen is in front of me, reading his e-book with a gentle smile. Every now and then he nods slightly, as if agreeing with the page. Maybe its something profound. Maybe something simple. Or maybe he is just content.Next to him, Alex is curled up on a mattress, deeply asleep. Beside him, Lea is also asleep in his chair. I think Ive seen Lea sleeping more often than riding. The first time we met, he told me with confidence, Im the funniest person in this group. At the time, I wasnt sure. But now I believe him.A little further away, Danny and Nicky lean against the railing, speaking quietly while watching the water pass.Most people are reading. After long days on the bike, it has become a shared ritual. But today it feels different. There is no fatigue behind it. No urgency. Just stillness.Megan sits nearby with her eyes closed, listening to music. It looks less like listening and more like resting inside herself.I look outward.On my right lies Zambia. On my left, Zimbabwe. The skies above them are not the same. Zambia is covered in grey clouds. Zimbabwe is open and bright, with distant mountains. We remain on the sunny side, on Lake Kariba, the largest artificial lake in the world.Clyde sits in the wind, eyes closed, face lifted slightly toward the sun. There is something about his expression, a quiet kind of joy that does not ask for anything more.Anna, the youngest in the group, sits across the deck, drawing portraits as she often does. I dont know who she is drawing, but I know she is paying attention in a way most of us forget to.Earlier today, before this quiet settled in, I asked some riders a question: What moment from this journey will stay with you?No one could answer immediately. Its never one moment. But after some thought, they tried.For Adam, it is the children by the roadside. A group runs toward you, laughing, shouting, asking questions. But there is always one child, slightly apart, shy, watching quietly. When he notices that one and waves directly, something changes. The shy face opens. A small hand lifts. A smile appears. For Adam, that is enough.Ian spoke about humility. A local cyclist appears beside you, a rusty bike, flip-flops, no visible effort. They ride with you, then pass you, even on the climb. Before disappearing, they look back and smile. That moment stays with him.For Eric, it is a realization that happiness might not require as much as we think, and that what we chase at home may not be necessary at all.Quintin remembers a night at Lomagundi campsite. Hippos were moving in the darkness, close enough to hear, close enough to feel. Later that night, Richard sent a photo to our group chat: a massive hippo standing just meters from a tent. It was Quintins tent. For him, being inside that tent, listening to that sound, is something he wont forget.Later, I spoke with Clyde. Tomorrow will be his last riding day, and he will leave us, so I spent more time talking with him.He told me about a day riding toward Mbeya. Heavy rain was falling, the kind that turns everything into mist and mud. On the climb, he felt exhausted and needed a break. He saw a small shelter where locals had gathered, with a fire barbecuing corn. He stopped and joined them. They welcomed him and offered warmth and corn.When the rain slowed down, he continued. Hours later, he arrived at camp, soaked and exhausted. It was a rest day, so he wanted a room instead of staying in a tent, but he found out that there were no rooms available. He began looking elsewhere.Then, without him knowing, Brittany heard about a room becoming available. She asked the reception to keep the room for Clyde and told him to take it.He told me this quietly. At one point, his voice softened. His eyes filled slightly.For him, that is the meaning of this journey.Not the distance.Not the mountains.Not even the wildlife.But the small, unspoken gestures between people who were strangers not long ago.Listening to him, something became clear to me.Yes, we are riding across a continent. But that is only the visible part. Beneath it, something else moves, a search for connection, for meaning, for moments that remind us of what we are capable of.Oh, the ferry horn sounds. Soon we will stop for a swim break.For now, we remain here, suspended in this brief pause where nothing is required of us.On the Tour dAfrique, we call this a social day.But it feels like something more.A moment where the journey stops moving, so that something else can begin.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Suspended In Time: A Ferry Ride On Lake Kariba" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 9, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments The Wind Will Carry UsMasoud Riyazati is the Content Creator on the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.For cycling in Africa you need three hands: two to hold the handlebars and one to wave at people. Kids, elders, men, women everyone waves.One of the most fascinating aspects of cycling here is the interaction with locals. It feels different from anywhere else. People want to know who you are, especially the children. The conversation almost always begins with the same question: Whats my name? their way of asking your name. The next question is usually about our destination and when I say Cape Town, their eyes widen.Sometimes I catch a small spark in them, something innocent and precious. It makes me wonder: what if that brief interaction plants a seed of possibility? Perhaps one day one of those children will remember this moment and think, I want to travel the world just like those strangers. Often the interaction is even simpler than that, just a cheerful good morning, even if its already afternoon or evening.Most of the time we ride on the same main road that everyone else uses. There are no dedicated bike trails like in Europe or North America. That luxury does not exist here. At first it might sound like a disadvantage, but in reality it becomes a privilege. You share the road with everyone: trucks, motorcycles, rusty bikes, children walking to school, women carrying large baskets of goods on their heads. Sometimes you see a man standing by the road holding a big machete while casually eating bananas. When he notices you, he lifts the same hand holding the machete and waves with a big smile. It gives you goosebumps.Then there are the three-wheel taxis one of the most common forms of transportation here. Our tour assistant Will once described them perfectly: they move like headless chickens. No coordination, no awareness of what is happening around them. Here, very quickly you learn to adapt.Out here you witness life directly not through a screen or a staged scene. Cinema has trained us to see Africa as montage: dramatic landscapes, quick cuts, sweeping music. But Africa reveals itself differently, through daily labor and endurance. On Tour dAfrique you experience this continent with your own eyes. No one is performing. No one is acting. Everything feels like a spontaneous gesture.To be honest, it reminds me of the films of Abbas Kiarostami, the great Iranian filmmaker who rarely relied on staged or scripted scenes. His films are not performances; they are quiet portrayals of life as it unfolds. In one of his movies The Wind Will Carry Us, nature is the main protagonist, and the human characters shape themselves around it. The landscape carries the meaning. The hills do not explain themselves. The wind does not symbolize anything. It simply moves, and people move within it.Out here the road feels the same. With every kilometre something shifts inside you. Slowly you begin to understand that you are not the centre of the frame. The landscape reminds you constantly that you are only passing through. Nature has been here long before you arrived, and it will remain long after you leave. In many parts of the world we believe we are the force of nature. We shape nature. Here that idea quickly fades. Nature does not negotiate. It simply decides.One day, while we were cycling from Babati to Singida, we were caught in a massive rainstorm. Within minutes the road flooded and everything turned into water and mud. A few days later, on the first day we entered Malawi, we witnessed the force of nature again. The night before we arrived, heavy rain had fallen. As far as the eye could see, the land had turned into a lake. Houses were half underwater. People were sitting along the roadside, their farms drowned beneath the water.And yet, in the middle of that flooded landscape, children were swimming in the muddy water laughing, playing, waving at us, even inviting us to join them. You need to come here with an open mind and heart and leave your judgement behind in order to understand this life.We are now in the fourth country of the Tour dAfrique, and the journey still stretches far ahead. By now the riders and the team have begun to grow closer. Personal stories and struggles are shared more openly. Small riding groups have formed. Coke stops have become our rituals along the road. Conversations last deeper into the evening. And by now, I believe everyone finally knows everyone elses name.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Wind Will Carry Us" Cancel reply

UPDATED March 6, 2026 BY Shanny Hill IN Places to Ride, The Road to Shangri-La no comments Scouting China & Laos On The Road to Shangri-LaAfter leading the Golden Buddha Ride participants from Hanoi to Bangkok this past fall and scouting new routes for us in Laos and China, Tour Leader Andreas Pakenham sat down with us to talk about what people can expect when cycling in China and Southeast Asia on our newest tour The Road to Shangri-La.How many times/how many countries have you visited now in Southeast Asia?For TDA, Ive traveled to SE Asia 7 times, and visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.Can you describe the scouting/research you have done as we prepare for the first Road to Shangri-La tour?Beginning in 2023, I revisited some of the planned routes which were shared with the Golden Buddha Ride, rechecking them by motorcycle and making some small changes in Vietnam and Laos. (In 2027, The Road to Shangri-La is replacing the Golden Buddha Ride on our tour calendar)In 2025, we made further changes in Vietnam and significant changes in Laos, including an amazing stage which splits the day into two spectacular rides, separated by a boat ride of 7 km through a rugged limestone cave (See video below). I also had a chance to check the section of the tour through Yunnan, China. A lot has changed since the original scout in 2019. (The tour was first announced in August 2019)What have been the biggest challenges to overcome in terms of route planning? The biggest challenge in South East Asia is the pace of development. Car ownership is increasing and there are new factories, ports and gated communities. Largely, its made scouting a quiet route much more difficult, but at the same time its allowed me to discover truly special routes.What are the roads like especially in China. Is there a lot of traffic, a lot of scooters? Is it very urban or mostly rural? The roads in China are fairly quiet for the most part. Were lucky to be visiting one of the slowest parts of the country from an economic perspective, so despite there being a few big factories along the way, were mostly able to skirt around businesses and industry.What are 1 or 2 unexpected highlights riders can look forward to that you discovered during the tour? The cave boat ride day in Laos I mentioned earlier is a highlight, not just for this tour. Its a TDA scouting highlight for me (See Andreas video highlights from his scouting below). Theres always a special feeling to piece together an amazing ride in place of a monotonous one, but this one feels like putting the riders in a nature documentary half way through the stage.Another highlight will be Northeastern Vietnam. Inadvertently, on the way to start scouting from the Laos border, we discovered some amazing roads through coffee plantations and dense jungle that ended up being more scenic and interesting than the planned route. After we realized this, we made our way back, and figured out how to roll that into the tour.RELATEDTOURThe Road to Shangri-La Shangri-La, an earthly paradise cut off from the world in a hidden Himalayan valley, a place where there is no war or suffering and where people live... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Scouting China & Laos On The Road to Shangri-La" Cancel reply