UPDATED August 11, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Road to Valhalla no comments The Progressive Gradient to ValhallaArjuna Boucher-Pertuisot is the Content Creator on the 2026 Road to Valhalla Cycling Tour.Theres something the riders have been saying more and more as we make our way north: this trip just keeps getting better. Someone described the Road to Valhalla as a progressive gradient, and after nearly five weeks of riding through Scandinavia, it feels like the perfect way to put it. The Road to Valhalla takes us from Helsinki to Trondheim, crossing Finland, Sweden and Norway. But the progression between those two cities has felt like much more than kilometres on a map.We started in Helsinki under grey skies, with rain and chilly temperatures welcoming us to Scandinavia. Then came summer. Long sunny days through Sweden and southern Norway, quiet bike paths, forests reflected in lakes, farmland, coastal roads and evenings that seemed to stretch forever. And then, gradually, the North started turning up the volume. The roads began to climb. The coastline became more dramatic. Mountains appeared on the horizon, then suddenly surrounded us. Fjords cut deeper into the landscape, waterfalls seemed to pour from everywhere, and the weather became colder, wetter and less predictable. A little wilder. A little more Viking. A little closer to Valhalla. But perhaps the most interesting gradient has been happening within the group itself.The Quiet Side of ScandinaviaA bicycle is a good way to notice a place. You move slowly enough to see the details, but fast enough to watch the landscape and culture change around you. Steve Johnson, a rider from Wisconsin, has been particularly struck by something harder to photograph: the cleanliness, organization and quiet respect that seem woven into everyday life here. Theres no confetti, as Steve puts it. Its a simple way of describing something weve increasingly noticed. Nothing seems desperate for attention. The bike paths simply work. Public spaces are cared for. Nature feels accessible rather than separate from everyday life. Old Scandinavian buildings sit comfortably beside modern architecture.Then there are the rituals: fika, saunas, cold plunges, time outdoors regardless of the weather. Theres a coziness to life here, but also a closeness to nature. Perhaps its no coincidence that happiness comes up so often when talking about Scandinavia. At first, these are just details you notice. After weeks of riding through them, they start to feel connected. Maybe cycling is simply a good speed for understanding that.So, What Is Valhalla?In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the great hall of Odin, where warriors gather after death. Thankfully, our version involves significantly more bicycles, coffee and cake. And after almost five weeks together, Valhalla seems to mean something different to everyone. For some, its the freedom of waking up each morning knowing the day ahead is wonderfully simple: get on your bike and see what comes next. For others, its a moment. The top of a long climb. A cold plunge after a sauna. An extended fika stop. Laughing around the dinner table after spending the day riding through rain. For some, its the challenge. As the gradient rises, so does the reward.And inevitably, it becomes about the people. Ride, eat, struggle, laugh and discover enough together, and somewhere along the road a group of strangers becomes a small travelling family. Now, with only five days separating us from Trondheim, were resting in Geiranger, surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery of the entire journey. And the funny thing is, nobody seems ready for the gradient to stop. The mountains have grown higher. The weather wilder. But the excitement, appreciation and simple happiness of being here seem to have climbed right alongside them. Were still riding toward Trondheim. But perhaps Valhalla was never something waiting for us at the end. Maybe weve been riding into it all along.RELATEDTOURRoad to Valhalla Valhalla, also known as the Hall of Heroes, was the goal for all real Vikings. Ruled by the Norse God, Odin, only the bravest and fiercest of warriors... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Progressive Gradient to Valhalla" Cancel reply

UPDATED August 5, 2026 BY Guest Author IN South American Epic no comments Learning To Breathe Again: Tackling Changing Altitudes On The South American EpicCamille Kirby is the Content Creator on the 2026 South American Epic Cycling Expedition.When you sign up to cycle a continent, you know youll face vast and diverse landscapes. Some will feel like a breeze; others will test your endurance and mental resolve. Some challenges will be outright difficult, while others will creep up on you over weeks, just as the kilometres of climbing do to ones thigh muscles in the Colombian Andes.The South American Epic takes cyclists to nearly every crack and crevice of the continents terrain, but it is in the mountains, high above sea level, where a specific hidden challenge tests riders in a unique way: altitude.Reduced oxygen levels and lower atmospheric pressure combine to test a human beings relationship with their breathingwith the lungs that keep them alive. Put that human being on a bike and have them cycle toward the sky, and that relationship becomes even more of a battle. And yet, our 2026 cyclists have pushed their bodies to the limit without having to have a difficult conversation with their lungs. From volcano to volcano, heres how the 2026 South American Epic has tackled the high elevations of Colombia and Ecuador.Anne Brooks reacts to arriving for lunch at 3,900 metres at the Nevado del Ruiz VolcanoOur first taste of thin air came after a slow but lengthy climb from the agricultural centre of Manizales up the slopes of Nevado del Ruiz. We ascended from 2,153 metres to 3,900 metres. The night before, Jessie Morgan, our medic, led a talk on what to look out for when climbing into the thinning atmosphere: dizziness, sudden and rapid fatigue, and a throbbing headache. She urged the cyclists to drink more water, snack often, and make sure theyre getting a full nights sleep.Lunch was almost freezing. With mist rolling in and out, you could barely make out Nevado del Ruiz, the towering volcano hidden among the clouds. Nancy Stueve, from the U.S., was the first cyclist to arrive. She said she felt fine until about 15 minutes earlier, when all of a sudden breathing became a conscious effort rather than a subconscious one. Riders arrived at lunch telling similar stories, but the descent into camp calmed the nerves and returned their lungs to a normal status quo. And just like that, we survived our first test!Riders adjust their layers and drink water as they head up to 3,200 metres outside of Pasto, ColombiaAfter a two-day bus trip due to civil unrest and safety concerns along our route, we arrived in the small city of Pasto, surrounded by Volcn Galeras and dozens of rolling green hills. Cycling out of the city, we felt the rise of elevation almost immediately. We cycled through the city which lies at 2,500 meters, but by way of steep gravel climb we reached 3,200 meters rapidly. The last two riders walked their bikes up a steep hill, only for us to round the next corner and find six more doing the samenot a single pedal stroke in sight.I didnt think wed get to 3,200 metres today, says Karin Lind Hansen from Denmark, checking her Garmin. The hill is hard, but the thin air makes it almost impossible. Riders found it difficult to keep drinking water, with the frigid early morning temperatures making hydration feel far more like an afterthought.At lunch, everyone agreed it must have been the three days off the bike that made the climb feel so punishing but it became clear that the rapid gain in altitude has caught up with us. We began to realize that our gradual ascent to Nevado del Ruiz may have been the key to maintaining steady breathing. Going from 2,500 to 3,200 metres on a 9% gravel climb is even harsher than it sounds. Even I, simply walking back and forth to photograph cyclists climbing the hill, felt my lungs demanding extra breaths.Rob Fisher sets up his tent under the watchful eye of CotopaxiThe day has come. Today well reach the highest elevation of the expedition. Two days earlier, Jess encouraged riders interested in taking altitude medication to begin their doses that evening. About half the group choose to take it.When cyclingor doing any activity at altitudeyou give yourself about 20 to 30 minutes to negotiate with your body about why you feel the way you do. Maybe you didnt sleep enough. Maybe you havent had enough water. Maybe your muscles are simply sore. But after those 30 minutes, you realize the thinning air really is the culprit.At lunch, at 3,300 metres, Jessie taped a sign to the drinking water jug: Drink more. Eat more. Sleep more. Feel better at 3,900 metres.The sign proved more effective than you might expect. Riders returned to refill a second water bottle, then a third. Michaela Pye, our Tour Leader, made sure the staff are acutely aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and encouraged the lunch crew to check in frequently with riders about how theyre feeling. We also encouraged riders to eat more than usual and stay on top of their water and protein intake. When assessing altitude sickness, you want to rule out every other factor first before concluding that the thin air is causing the problem.The ride into camp that evening was defined by rough gravel and relentless winds, all beneath the towering presence of Cotopaxi. Its was a tough day. Riders were pushed toward the opposite side of the road by powerful gusts, forcing them to constantly adjust while navigating the rocky terrain.Room with a viewAnd yet, every cyclist rolled into campstill under the watchful eye of the volcanowith a smile on their face and little mention of struggling lungs or pounding headaches. Maddy Holmes, from Australia, sumed it up perfectly: To arrive at a camp with this view, you had to have had a tough day.Altitude can often feel like anxiety. Your breathing becomes shallow, your heart rate climbs, and your body feels as though its vibrating. Theres something to be said for this groups commitment to drinking more water, eating more frequently, and getting enough sleep. Those habits have helped us listen to our bodies instead of getting caught up in the anxiety-inducing nature of cycling at altitude. Riders stop often, check in with themselves and each other, and know when its time to call it a day.RELATEDTOURSouth American Epic This challenging expedition offers you the best opportunity to explore the vastness and diversity of South America by bike. In keeping with the TDA... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Learning To Breathe Again: Tackling Changing Altitudes On The South American Epic" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 31, 2026 BY Henry Gold IN Road to Valhalla no comments A Rest Day In Oslo On The Road To Valhalla Cycling TourNothing is impossible that one desires with an indomitable will. Henrik IbsenThe inaugural Road to Valhalla Cycling Tour from Helsinki to Trondheim has reached Oslo, the midpoint of the tour. Wonderful, compact, and almost traffic free, Oslo is ideal for my regular rest day walkabout. And as in Helsinki and Stockholm, there is much to see and explore. It was a windy, rainy day and so with some wonderful companions, I chose to take a ferry to see two museums knowing very little about them.It turned out that much like my blogs on Helsinki and Stockholm, this piece is essentially about two remarkable Norwegians who are the central figures in each of the museums. The Fram (meaning forward) Museum houses the 39 meter schooner which was designed and built specifically to prove that you could make a ship that northern ice will not destroy. More importantly, it would also prove the natural eastwest current of the Arctic Ocean. It was an audacious idea, with many sceptics and nay sayers but, as the Wikipedia page notes,In the face of much discouragement from other polar explorers, Nansen took his ship Fram to the New Siberian Island in the eastern Arctic Ocean, froze her into the pack of ice, and waited for the drift to carry her towards the pole.The man behind building the ship and the leader of the expedition was a remarkable man of action, Fridtjof Nansen, who was an explorer extraordinaire, a polymath, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and, eventually, a Nobel Prize winner. I had never heard of him or any of his many exploits and activities and I was most fascinated to learn about him and the multiple stories connected to the expeditions of the ship and its crew. And, of course, walking on the actual ship was an experience in itself. Frankly, I could have spend several more hours in the museum.Right across the Fram museum is the Kon -Tiki Museum which houses the balsa raft that the Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyderhal, and his remarkable crew used to cross from Peru to Polynesia to prove that an ancient civilization had the knowledge to cross the Pacific Ocean. It also houses the totora-reef boat built for the subsequent voyage to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The museum tells the story behind the construction of the boats, the hypothesis for the raison detre of the expeditions, the crew, and Thor Heyderhals story and his determination to implement his projects.I started this blog with a quote from perhaps the most famous Norwegian author, often referred as the father of modern drama. If you have read any of his books or seen his plays, you will likely agree that he had an excellent understanding of human nature. There are no better examples of indomitable will than Fridtjof Nansen and Thor Heyderhal. Walking around the museums, learning about these two individuals, also reminded me of the indomitable will of many of the participants on our tours.What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day in Oslo.RELATEDTOURRoad to Valhalla Valhalla, also known as the Hall of Heroes, was the goal for all real Vikings. Ruled by the Norse God, Odin, only the bravest and fiercest of warriors... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "A Rest Day In Oslo On The Road To Valhalla Cycling Tour" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 29, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Plum Ride no comments Thessaloniki: The Plum Ride Finish Line, But Not Quite the EndFun fact about me: in all three tours Ive joined since starting at TDA, Ive always been there at the beginning. I arrive with things from the office, meet the crew and riders, and share those first exciting days when the whole adventure is still ahead. But Ive never experienced the other end of it.What does it feel like to reach the finish after weeks on the road together? To share that enormous sense of accomplishment and camaraderie mixed with the bittersweet realization that you did it, but will soon have to say goodbye to the people who became your little travelling world? Finishing a full tour with the riders and crew is one of my biggest dreams. And if I ever get to choose where it happens, I would love to cross that finish line in Thessaloniki on next years Plum Ride Cycling Tour.The White TowerStay A Little LongerBut then comes another question: what do you actually do when the tour is over? Do you pack your bike, grab your bags and head straight to the airport? Or do you give yourself more than one day to recover, celebrate and enjoy one of Greeces most underrated cities? I know what I would choose. I might even unpack the bike although, after almost 3,500 kilometres, we would have to see how convincing I find that idea in real life. Thessaloniki isnt a cycling capital, and its bike infrastructure is limited, so this isnt the place to casually explore every neighbourhood on two wheels. The flat waterfront, however, is the exception: a roughly five-kilometre stretch connecting the port, White Tower and Concert Hall, passing the famous Umbrellas by the famous sculptor Giorgios Zoggolopoulos along the way. It sounds like the perfect easy ride for legs that have already done quite enough.Pedalling past the UmbrellasMore adventurous riders could look beyond the city towards the forested hills of Seyh Su or Mount Chortiatis but those are proper mountain-biking outings that would require some local route research, not spontaneous post-tour wandering.Bike or no bike, I would stay for the food alone. This is Greece, after all. I would give myself a couple of gloriously unproductive days dedicated to tavernas, pastries, seafood and discovering exactly how many different things can be improved with feta and olive oil. I would simply wander around the Ladadika district and slip into a couple of tavernas without even checking Google reviews, just choosing whatever catches my eye.Then I would switch on my history nerd mode. Thessaloniki offers several directions to take it! I could explore ancient Macedonia at the Archaeological Museum, dive into the citys Byzantine past at the Museum of Byzantine Culture, or visit the Jewish Museum to understand Thessalonikis once-thriving Jewish community and what happened to it during the Holocaust. Different chapters of the same remarkably layered city and knowing me, choosing just one might be the real challenge.And if a couple of days somehow became a few more, Thessaloniki would also make a great base for exploring the region: ancient Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great, or Litochoro and Mount Olympus. Climbing Olympus is not exactly a casual day trip it deserves proper planning and, depending on the route, more than one day but after cycling across Europe, perhaps one more mountain wouldnt sound completely unreasonable.Perhaps that is what I would want from Thessaloniki: not another achievement to add immediately after cycling through nine countries, but a little time to understand that the adventure is actually over. To sit by the sea, eat something ridiculously good, replay the past 45 days and slowly get used to the strange idea that tomorrow you wont be getting back on the bike with the same people.I still dont know what finishing a tour feels like. But I imagine it is a confusing mixture of exhaustion, pride, relief and not being quite ready to let go. And Thessaloniki with its waterfront, layers of history and very persuasive amounts of feta seems like a pretty good place to stay with that feeling for a little longer.Hopefully, one day Ill find out for myself.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 "Thessaloniki: The Plum Ride Finish Line, But Not Quite the End" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 27, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Company no comments To Cycle Or Not To Cycle. A Tale Of Vehicle Transfers On TDA ToursOver the past 20 odd years TDA Global Cycling has earned its spurs by cycling across countries and continents. Cycling the entire route has always been a primary element of our tours, but from the very first Tour dAfrique in 2003, which included a ferry transfer across Lake Nasser between Egypt and Sudan, TDA Global Cycling has found interesting ways to transfer our cyclists by means other than bicycle when necessary.>>Related Post: Paradise Lost The Good Ship S.S. SagalnaamMost often a transfer by boat, train, bus or plane is incorporated into the tour route long in advance, as part of the original planning of the tour. This can be done to avoid areas with political unrest or closed borders, to avoid dangerous traffic, or simply to cross an area where roads or bicycle paths do not exist.Colombia boat transfer on the 2024 South American Epic(San Marcos to Ayapel)It also is done at times to add to the overall enjoyment and experience of the tour, such as the boat journey along the Bosporus into Istanbul at the end of the Istanbul Express, an overnight ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Mongolia during the Silk Route, or an amazing journey by small watercraft through Colombian wetlands on the South American Epic.Some transfers weve organized over the years were not planned pre-tour, but created out of necessity along the route, to avoid potentially unsafe situations. These transfers can be temporary additions to tours, due to reasons such as sudden protests, political unrest, weather events related to climate change, and other causes. In all cases, we make these decisions based on rider safety and enjoyment.Lets take a look at some of the reasons for, and history of transfers on TDA tours.GeopoliticalSome are temporary and unexpected. For example, in August 2008, the Silk Route (which at that time ran west to east, Istanbul to Beijing) was just about to cross the border from Turkey into Georgia when Russian forces invaded that country. Instead, the riders retreated to the Turkish town of Kars and were bused to Ankara. From there, they flew to Baku, Azerbaijan where the tour restarted.Earlier that same year, election violence in Kenya meant that the riders on the Tour dAfrique had to skip the entire country. The riders cycled all the way to the Ethiopia/Kenya border and then the group bussed back to Addis Ababa to fly to Tanzania while the support vehicles drove through Kenya. After a 2 week break, the group met up in Arusha and the tour restarted from there.On the Silk Route in 2012, an unexpected clash between the government and local militant groups in Khorog, Tajikistan meant that some of the the riders had to be transferred by Tajik army helicopter to the countrys capital, Dushanbe in order to restart the tour while others arrived in vehicles arranged by the Aga Khan organization.Some are hard to predict like the December 2025 border closure between Cambodia & Thailand, which remains to this day. As a result our 2026 Bamboo Road cyclists will fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok. On the positive side, this closure allowed us to create an exciting new route from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap that includes both a bus and boat transfer!The continuing horrific situation in Sudan and the ongoing civil unrest in Ethiopia has meant that for the past few years, and likely long into the future, the Tour dAfrique includes a flight transfer from Aswan, Egypt to Nairobi, Kenya to avoid those conflicts.EnvironmentalUnexpected rain in Namibia on the 2026 Tour dAfriqueWe have had to occasionally transfer groups before due to extreme rainfall and flooding, such as a camp on the South American Epic in Argentina in the foothills of the Andes, but have generally avoided any longer transfers due to climactic events. However, climate change is accelerating. Extreme summer heat in Europe. Typhoons in Asia. Drought and forest fires in North America. In response, we need to be prepared, flexible and quick to adjust.DevelopmentalThe Great Eastern Road in 2006As countries around the world, especially those of whom in the past have had poor road infrastructure, see an increase in their wealth, the first thing that happens is more cars and trucks appear on the road. In 2006, when I cycled the Tour dAfrique, the Great Eastern Road through Zambia was, to me, a wonderful ride. There were virtually no vehicles on the road at anytime and the cycling was divine. Fast forward 20 years and we now have rerouted the riders into Zimbabwe to avoid the traffic. This change meant taking a ferry across Lake Kariba which, happily, turned out to be a favourite memory for many cyclists on the tour!It is not just in Africa, this situation is occurring everywhere and requires us to seek out even more remote and quiet roads for riders to pedal on.EnhancementLeaving a ferry on the 2025 Island Hopping Japan tourSome transfers, such as mentioned in the introductory paragraphs here, are not done out of necessity, or unsafe situations, but are done purely to enhance the overall tour experience. Long and arduous bicycle tours at times can benefit from a day or two of a different mode of transport, whether that be Island Hopping by ferry in Japan, a mountain train journey in Sri Lanka, or a bus / game drive across Kruger National Park in South Africa. Though this isnt something we choose to do lightly, a group transfer can allow TDA to maximize the experience on tour.It is a credit to our staff, past and present, both in the field and back in the office, that we have been able to successfully deal with a wide variety of these situations, especially the unexpected ones and still create incredibly unique and memorable travel experiences that only TDA Global Cycling knows how to pull off.Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "To Cycle Or Not To Cycle. A Tale Of Vehicle Transfers On TDA Tours" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 25, 2026 BY Michael Coo IN Africa: Ocean to Ocean no comments Cycling BotswanaOur newest cycling expedition, Africa: Ocean to Ocean, takes riders through seven fascinating Southern African countries. In this post, we take a look at what cyclists can expect on their journey through country number 3, Botswana.Okavango DeltaImpala splashing through the Okavango DeltaOne of the natural highlights of Africa is the extraordinary Okavango Delta. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, its waters support a vast array of wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, African wild dogs, elephants, buffalo, hippos and impalas. It is best viewed either from above on a sightseeing flight or at ground level in a traditional dugout canoe and the tour stops in the nearby town of Maun for 2 rest days in order to give the cyclists ample opportunity to experience this unique place.ElephantsDid you know that Botswana is home to over 130,000 elephants? That is about 1/3 of all the African elephants on the planet! For about 180 kms, the Africa: Ocean to Ocean route follows the path of our legendary Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition and its appropriately named section, the very popular Elephant Highway. Cyclists will have the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures from a unique perspective, the seat of their bicycle.Makgadikgadi Pans National ParkAfter leaving the Elephant Highway, the route takes the riders along the edges of the vast (12,000 sq. kms) Makgadikgadi Pans, some of the worlds largest salt flats. This uninhabited National Park features a harsh beauty, with lone baobab trees standing out against a vast emptiness. Wikipedia mentions that one of them (baobabs), named after James Chapman, served as an unofficial post office for 19th-century explorers. it also is home to herds of antelopes, zebras and wildebeest along with a number of lions.FrancistownAbandoned gold mining equipmentJust before the riders cross into Zimbabwe, they will stop in Francistown which was founded by an English gold prospector, Daniel Francis, and is the only town in the country with an English name. It was the centre of Southern Africas first gold rush in the 1860s with adventurer coming from all over the world looking to make their fortune. Riders can visit the Supa Ngwao Museum which has exhibits on both the gold rush and cultural displays on the local Kalanga peoples.Recommended Reading:Peter Allison Whatever You Do, Dont Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari GuideMark & Delia Owens Cry of the KalahariBessie Head When Rain Clouds GatherWill Randall Botswana TimeEleanor Morse White Dog Fell from the SkyRecommending Viewing:Elephant Refugees (2020): A documentary about how the Elephant Sands Bush Camp sheltered hundreds of elephants during a severe drought.A United Kingdom (2016): The true story of Prince Seretse Khama of the Bangwato tribe and his marriage to Ruth Williams, a white woman from London.The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980): A classic comedy about the results of a San bushman in the Kalahari Desert finding a Coca-Cola bottle in the desert.Recommended Listening:Beautiful Botswana (Apple)Elephant Conservation in Botswana (BBC)Botswana: Living with Elephants (BBC)RELATEDTOURAfrica: Ocean to Ocean The original way to cross Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean was the maritime Cape Route past the continents southern tip, a perilous... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Cycling Botswana" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 22, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Road to Valhalla no comments The Road To Happiness? What Scandinavia Is Teaching UsArjuna Boucher-Pertuisot is the Content Creator on the 2026 Road to Valhalla Cycling Tour.I have always wanted to visit the Scandinavian countries. For years, I have wondered what they do differently to consistently rank among the happiest places in the world and whether some of their habits could be brought into my own life. Is it their connection to nature? Their strong communities? The balance between work and personal time? The saunas, cold plunges and endless coffee breaks?Now, cycling 3,000 kilometres through Finland, Sweden and Norway on the Road to Valhalla, I finally have the chance to experience this way of life from much closer. At first, however, happiness was a little difficult to see through rain-covered glasses. We left Helsinki beneath a grey sky, cycling through steady rain with soaked gloves and water finding its way into places we had hoped would remain dry. It might not sound like the beginning of a story about happiness. Yet Finland, Sweden and Norway all sit near the very top of the global happiness rankings. Three of the worlds happiest countries, connected by one long bicycle journey.The World Happiness Report is not simply counting smiles. It asks people to evaluate the overall quality of their lives, taking into consideration factors such as social support, health, freedom and trust. Those ideas can feel abstract when viewed on a chart. But after cycling through Finland and into Sweden, slowly, and quite literally kilometre by kilometre, I am beginning to understand what some of them might look like in everyday life.Nature Is Part of LifeHere, nature does not feel like somewhere you escape to on the weekend. It is built into daily life. Forests begin at the edges of towns. Lakes sit beside homes, parks and bicycle paths. Islands are connected by small ferries, while docks and swimming platforms appear almost everywhere there is water. Even the cities make room for it. Helsinki opens onto the Baltic Sea, Turku gathers around the Aura River and Stockholm spreads across islands with parks and water woven throughout. People are not necessarily doing anything extraordinary outside. They are walking, cycling, swimming, sitting beside the water or sharing coffee. Nature does not need to become an expedition before it can be enjoyed.Finlands Everymans Rights and Swedens Right of Public Access also give people the freedom to walk, cycle and spend time across much of the countryside, as long as they respect the land, wildlife and those living there. The idea is wonderfully simple: nature should be part of everyones life, but that freedom comes with responsibility. Our rainy departure revealed something else. People here do not seem to wait for perfect conditions before going outside. The rain arrives, jackets come out and life continues. Plans are adjusted rather than abandoned. I am fairly certain no happiness survey asks whether you enjoy putting wet socks back on in the morning, but the weather is not treated as an obstacle standing between you and life. It is simply part of life.Time for FikaOnce we reached Sweden, another part of Nordic culture began appearing in cafs and village bakeries: fika. At its simplest, fika is a break for coffee, usually accompanied by something sweet. But calling it a coffee break does not quite capture the idea. Fika is also about deliberately making time for other people.On a cycling tour, this makes immediate sense. Helmets and gloves collect on the table. Coffee arrives. Someone orders a simple pastry or a slice of cake to go with it. Stories from the morning are exchanged and the group reconnects before returning to the road. Connection does not always require a major event or an elaborate celebration. Sometimes it is built through an ordinary ritual repeated often: coffee, something sweet and enough time to be present with the people around you.Heat, Cold and the Finnish SaunaAnd then there is the sauna. In Finland, sauna is not simply a spa treatment or something reserved for a holiday. It is part of ordinary life, found in homes, apartment buildings, lakeside cottages, hotels and public spaces. After a long cycling day, its appeal is easy to understand. You sit. You breathe. Tired legs begin to relax. Nobody needs to be productive, and there is nowhere else to go.Then, for those willing, comes the cold lake or sea. The first contact with the water removes every thought from your mind except one: this is extremely cold. A few moments later, however, you feel intensely awake. You return to the heat and begin again. There is something distinctly Nordic about finding pleasure not by escaping the cold, but by moving between cold and warmth.Maybe We Already Know the RecipeOf course, it would be too simple to say that forests, fika and saunas explain why these countries rank so highly. Happiness is also influenced by economic security, health, freedom, trust and strong social systems. But after spending time here, the everyday recipe does not seem quite as mysterious as I expected. Perhaps it is not so far from what many of us already know. Good company. Good food. Time and space to be quiet. Staying close to nature. Moving your body. Going outside even when the weather is far from perfect. Sitting together around a table. Sweating in a sauna before jumping into water cold enough to make you question every decision that brought you there. It all sounds remarkably simple.And the more I think about it, the more I realize that TDA might have already understood at least part of the recipe. Every day, we go outside and move, whatever the conditions. We share meals, coffee stops, difficult climbs and long stretches of road. There is time to talk, but also plenty of time to be quiet. Time to think while riding alone, followed by evenings spent laughing around a table with people who may have been strangers only a few weeks earlier. Maybe this helps explain why so many riders return for a second, third or even thirteenth tour. They may come back for the countries, the roads and the next big adventure. But perhaps they are also returning to this particular rhythm of life: moving every day, sharing simple moments and becoming part of a small community travelling together.A cycling tour is certainly not a perfect model for happiness. There are sore legs, mechanical problems, headwinds and moments when the next destination feels impossibly far away. But even those difficulties create connection. Someone waits at the top of a climb. A rider helps another with a flat tyre. Coffee tastes better after hours in the rain, and dinner feels more meaningful when everyone has worked hard to reach the same table. Perhaps happiness is not only about comfort. Maybe it also comes from challenge, purpose and the feeling that you are moving forward with other people beside you.For now, I am still beginning to make these connections while riding every day through Scandinavia. Maybe it is only the honeymoon phase, the long summer evenings or some kind of Nordic placebo effect. But I do feel very happy here, happy enough that six weeks is beginning to feel a little short, and part of me is already wondering what it would be like to stay longer. We will see whether I still feel the same way by the time we reach Trondheim.RELATEDTOURRoad to Valhalla Valhalla, also known as the Hall of Heroes, was the goal for all real Vikings. Ruled by the Norse God, Odin, only the bravest and fiercest of warriors... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Road To Happiness? What Scandinavia Is Teaching Us" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 20, 2026 BY Miles MacDonald IN South American Epic no comments Vuelta A ColombiaTo a young person into adventure movies, Romancing the Stone was a big hit in the mid 1980s with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and the country of Colombia in starring roles. For a 10-year-old, with too much faith in Hollywood film productions, it was a first impression of Colombia, as a kind of lush jungle wilderness, with a mix of rich criminal underworld characters, with fancy 44 trucks, and rural peasants with mules and horses.As one gets older, they may discover that Hollywood is a cultural propaganda machine that has never let accuracy or truth get in the way of making money. Of the many inaccuracies in such a movie, one was not seeing any Colombians on bicycles. With the rugged and rural mountain terrain, and challenging roads and paths in remote areas, the bicycle has been a key component of rural transportation since the mid 20th century, with it only slowly being replaced by motorcycles and cars the last decades.This necessity of cycling for transportation and the large number of bicycle riders in the country helped lead to the Vuelta a Colombia bicycle race, whose origins date back to 1951. The race turned Colombias strongest cyclists into household names and inspired other Colombians to emulate their success. The race, a multi week stage race, was legendary for its endless climbing, the altitudes reached, and the overall adversity faced. Colombian fans would follow along each day with the race being broadcast across the country by radio. These early heroes of Colombian cycling were, like the early days of the Tour de France, people who persevered through challenging living circumstances, with few economic resources, to rise to an elite level, such as Efrain El Zippo Forero, the first winner of the Vuelta a Colombia.South American Epic riders cycling with the localsLater generations of Colombian cyclists succeeded on the world stage, including the Caf de Colombia cycling team, with its star Luis Lucho Herrera in the 1980s. They became the first Colombian team in the Tour de France and their team branding helped spread the word on the amazing coffee culture of Colombia. Boyaca, Colombia native Nairo Quintana, won the Giro dItalia in 2014, after getting his start as a child cycling 16km through the mountains to school and to sell vegetables for his familys income. Later Egan Bernal would become the first Colombian to win the Tour de France in 2019.All this goes to say that the TDA cyclists here on the South American Epic, in the first weeks of the tour as weve crossed from Cartagena to Bogota, have not been alone on the roads, with many local cyclists of all stripes cycling along our route, from professional cyclists to families.SAE riders and their friends from SiCLas CollectiveIn Medellin, our TDA cyclists met the SICLAS Collective, a group of Medellin cyclists who promote active transportation, at the edge of the city. As a convoy our cyclists and the SICLAS Collective cyclists rode together towards our rest day hotel, including using roads that had been closed by the Medellin government as part of the famous Ciclovia, a family friendly event on Sundays where many roads are shut to vehicles and thousands, or in Bogota which also has the Ciclovia, even millions of bicycle riders and pedestrians fill the roads. On the way out of the city the TDA cyclists were also guided by convoy from Medellin, and enjoyed the safety and support of the SICLAS Collective, who would cheer for other cyclists on the road, while singing songs, both about biking, as well as on their socialist values.As the first section of the South American Epic concludes in Bogota, the riders deserve to be incredibly proud of their efforts. There is no casual pedalling in Colombia, as they have cycled through intense Caribbean heat, up 50km plus climbs, gone above 4100m elevation, and cycled 3000m+ climbing days. All can know that they have now proudly earned their place in Colombian cycling culture.RELATEDTOURSouth American Epic This challenging expedition offers you the best opportunity to explore the vastness and diversity of South America by bike. In keeping with the TDA... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Vuelta A Colombia" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 18, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Company, Tour d'Afrique no comments This Is Not A Bike Tour, This Is A Life Experience. 2026 Tour dAfrique Rider ReviewsThe cyclists who rode the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition from Cairo to Cape Town have had a few months to digest their time in Africa and reflect on their experiences . Lets see what they had to say!The Tour dAfrique was one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences of my life. There were beautiful landscapes, amazing people and so many moments that will stay with me forever. I loved the adventure of it all, the simplicity of life on the road, the camaraderie, wildlife, and seeing Africa change country-by-country on two wheels. I genuinely wish I could go back and live the whole experience again! Nicky Fox (UK)An amazing journey through places I would never experience otherwise. When you choose this trip you choose hard, but you also choose fun, fulfillment and a shared experience with staff and rider group who exponentially add to the experience. When you pack for this trip, leave your ego at the door, and bring your determination, kindness and good humour. Youll want them all. Paul Kelley (USA)Oh boy, its so hard to describe what we have experienced. Can say this: I will never forget it and we made very special friendships. Its both a physical and mental challenge and it will give you moments of reflection and a rollercoaster of emotions all day every day. You will have good days and there will be bad days but thats the beauty of it. Loes Zijlmans (Netherlands)It was everything I had hoped it would be. It was really tough for me, and I was frequently at the edge of my capabilities. But the impeccable organization, the friendliness and support of the leaders and crew and the incredible camaraderie of the riders helped carry me through it. And because of that I got to see and experience, smell, feel and taste so many wonderful things. Tony Free (UK)Unbelievable on so many levels. This is not a bike tour, this is a life experience. Michael Marek (Austria)The tour was so incredibly good that it is hard to grasp, let alone to describe with words. It was far more than merely cycling, it felt like a true expedition. Valuable (self) insights have formed during the tour. A normal holiday or work related course would not be able to come nowhere near this experience. Some of the other riders have become friends and we will certainly meet again in the future. Also, the TDA staff we had was great. The downside of this all is that, now the tour is over, I miss every aspect of it, even the head wind and rainy days Gijs Blok (Netherlands)The Tour dAfrique was a life-changing experiencethe journey of a lifetime. I enjoyed every minute and every mile: even those in the pouring rain and the slippery mud. Eric Hirst (USA)Hit the ground running in this circus treadmill that has its own pace. If you cant keep up, it flips you over and puts you back on again. Its intense. Nothing is autopilot and theres overstimulation. And then, you start to realise youve adapted. Simple tasks that required a lot of thought before just another simple task to your daily routine. And then, you start to realise you arent falling forwards but youre keeping pace with the circus. And then, you realize you really enjoy the circus treadmill and you can have more fun and flare with your days. You dont want it to end. Fiona Sandrock (Australia)Every day was a new adventure. Sensory overload in just about every way. This is exactly how I wanted to explore Africa. Yes there were constant challenges, but this is type 2 fun in its truest form. Daniel Chemtov (Canada)Super challenging and exhilarating tour filled with memories of a lifetime! TDA staff and support were first rate ensuring we had the best conditions to maximize our experience. Rob Knowles (Canada)The tour met and exceeded my expectations from the perspective of experiencing a little of the lives of the local inhabitants as seen from a bicycle saddle, the staff skill level and teamwork, the fascinating riders with varied home countries, languages and experiences, all combined with an amazing landscape with a bio-diversity new to me as a first time visitor to the countries on the route. Clyde Scollan (Canada)Although challenging at times and not as comfortable as what Im used to, the experience of biking and participating in the Tour dAfrique has been very rewarding and life changing. Ive been home for over a month now and I still long to be back in Africa riding my bike. The other night I woke up longing to be in my tent. I miss the other riders. I miss the staff. I miss everything about this expedition. I am so thrilled and happy that I had the opportunity to participate. Quintin Clark (USA)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 "This Is Not A Bike Tour, This Is A Life Experience. 2026 Tour dAfrique Rider Reviews" Cancel reply

UPDATED July 16, 2026 BY Guest Author IN South American Epic no comments Demystifying the Seemingly Crazy; The Cyclists Who Have Chosen to Take On All of South America By BikeCamille Kirby is the Content Creator on the 2026 South American Epic Cycling Expedition.The TDA bus is parked in the dead centre of the bustling Colombian town of Santa Rosa de Osos, tucked into the heart of the countrys dairy country. Men in cowboy hats and knee-high rubber boots the unofficial uniform of Colombian dairy farmers -wander the colourful streets, stopping to chat outside bakeries and cafs.Our vehicle sticks out immediately. Brazilian license plates. A pair of bikes strapped to the back. Its an odd sight in a town where nearly everyone seems to know everyone else. It doesnt take long before were surrounded by three young boys. One straddles a tiny bicycle while the others circle the bus, each wearing the same curious expression. They want to know where were from, certainty we dont seem like weve come from Brazil. In my broken Spanish, I try to explain Trabamomos para una gira di ciclistas we work for a cycling tour. I lift one hand high into the air from Cartagena then lower the other to Ushuaia, Argentina. Toda Sudamrica en bicicleta all of South America by bike. The boys stare back, completely dumbfounded. Maybe they didnt understand me. Then one repeats what I said, squinting with a mischievous smile. Another slowly shakes his head. No es posible. I laugh. S, vero!Mike Cote and Richard Hughes cycle through the foothills of the Andes on Stage 5 of the South American EpicIts moments like these that remind you just how unbelievable this journey really is. When youve been living on the road, day after day, it becomes strangely normal to wake up, ride across mountain ranges, and end the afternoon in another town. It takes the disbelief of someone else to put our journey into perspective. Eight riders on this years South American Epic will pedal the entire length of the continent, from the Caribbean coast of Colombia to the southern tip of Argentina. Countless others will ride individual sections, stitching together the route over several years. Different journeys, united by the same extraordinary road. This is the South American Epic, after all.For some riders, if theyre going to see a place, theyre going to see all of it. For American Mike Cote, South America had long been on his list I wanted to experience South America. Biking is unique in the way that you get to see and smell, and participate in the local roads and climate and people. Youre in the elements for the most part. Those elements have already kept us on our toes. We began among the sweltering humidity of Cartagena and, within a single week, climbed into the foothills of the Andes, where temperatures can change dramatically from one kilometre to the next. For Maddy Holmes, from Australia, this ride has been a decade in the making I was supposed to cycle the length of South America ten years ago. Life had other plans. Now shes finally here, choosing the support of a TDA expedition over tackling the continent alone.Richard Hughes, also from Australia, had never set foot in South America before signing up for the full journey. I ask him, why commit to riding an entire continent youve never even visited?, I guess I thought why not? That simple philosophy seems to capture something essential about TDA expedition riders. If cycling offers the most immersive way to experience a place, then why not experience an entire continent that way?Caroline Powell ponders on the cargo boat taking us from San Marcos to Ayapel on Stage 4 of the South American Epic.Not everyone is choosing the long-term epic. Some sectional riders are continuing journeys theyve already begun, others are taking their very first step, knowing theyll spend years coming back to finish what they started. For Caroline Powell, from the United Kingdom, this section is the continuation of a dream years in the making. I cycled Lima to Santiago in 2019, and Ive always wanted to complete the rest of South America. Ive been looking forward to this section for about six years, and now Im finally here. I think Ive wanted to be on a bike all my life, and South America just fascinates me as a continent. Her previous journey, shared with her husband, was entirely self-supported. On the first day of this tour, she couldnt believe she didnt have to carry her own bags. The freedom!For Maz Crotty, originally from the United Kingdom but now living in the United States, this is only the beginning. She plans to tackle South America chunk by chunk over the next decade, returning until every kilometre is complete. Then theres Canadian Remi Despres-Smyth, who had never cycled outside his home country before joining us in Cartagena. Hes here to experience TDA life before committing to the North American Epic in 2029. The only place in the Global South Ive been to is India, and I didnt cycle when I was there. Colombia has been quite an introduction. Few places embrace bicycles the way this country does, and the respect shown to cyclists has left an impression on nearly everyone in the group.Two curious boys join us for lunch on Stage 5 of the South American Epic.I keep thinking about those three boys in Santa Rosa de Osos. Maybe they believed me. Maybe they didnt. Perhaps, to them, we were just a group of slightly crazy gringos passing through town with strange bikes and an even stranger story. But I hope they keep wondering they went home thinking about the possibility of riding the entire continent on two, non-motorized wheels. Because impossible journeys always sound impossible right up until someone does them.RELATEDTOURSouth American Epic This challenging expedition offers you the best opportunity to explore the vastness and diversity of South America by bike. In keeping with the TDA... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Demystifying the Seemingly Crazy; The Cyclists Who Have Chosen to Take On All of South America By Bike" Cancel reply