Welcome to the
WOW (Women On Wheels) Wall
WOW (Women On Wheels) Wall
I am convinced despite having only met 3 so far that solo women venturing off alone by bicycle are growing in numbers, after all some of the best bicycle touring books have been written by women on wheels, Dervla Murphy, Josie Dew and the late, great remarkable Anne Mustoe to name just a few. Therefore, I am putting a shout out to all the ladies who have ventured off alone by bicycle to connect and share your experiences for cycling solo as women is a unique celebration in it’s self. Have you cycled a day ride solo? Has your partner stayed home and you ventured off alone? Entered a cycling race perhaps? Or undertaken a bicycle tour near home or overseas? Please send photos, blogs, suggestions to skalatitude@gmail.com.
LATEST NEWS: ....from WOW (Women On Wheels)
"Being a notoriously unlucky flyer - hijacked, volcanic ash victim, aborted landings, cancellations, not booked on flights, wheels falling off planes, struck by lightening - and also a non-driver I thought it would be a good idea to head off East on my bicycle." (Central Asia home to the UK) http://sherlocktales.blogspot.com/
After living and working in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Abi Wingate decided to cycle home to Scotland. Abi raised nearly 14,000 pounds for The Scottish Association for Mental Health after she lost 3 close friends to suicide. Cycle Instead.org
Eleanor Moseman has already completed 10,000 miles through China (including Taiwan and Tibet), the majority solo. Eleanor next adventure? A solo winter tour of the Stans. Catch her updates from central Asia at www.2Wheels4girls.com. Here's the article that appeared here when Eleanor was planning her winter bicycle tour.
Meet WOW wall member, Marija Kozin. Marija left her home in Slovenia and pedaled to Beijing, she then turned around and pedaled home. Friedel Grant from Travelling Two interviews Majira about her 30 month journey.
Click here to hear about Marija's journey
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Emily Jefferson arrived home on Oct 16th after pedaling from New Zealand to the UK. Emily reports that seeing England from the ferry brought tears to her eyes. Congrats to Emily for her amazing accomplishment. Bike NZ 2 UK
Naomi Grogan-Hurlich touring for a year through North and South America
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I am so excited that you are putting this together and know how many women will be STOKED to know it is there. And how happy it will make cyclists' families knowing that their daughter is not alone in her determination to cycle solo. Hallelujah! Naomi Grogan-Hurlich
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After her partner injured his knee, Erzsébet Prokopp went solo through the Austrian mountains. I met Erzsébet bicycle touring the Indian Himalaya.
Snezana Radojicic, is going to be the first woman from Serbia to cycle around the world. She is presently touring in Turkey and Greece.
"Finding Sachi is an adventure bike tour, that started on March 10, 2011 to experience the wonderful food eaten in Japan. Join me, your tour guide Sachi, as I cycle from Okinawa to Hokkaido (south to north) to find delicious food and beautiful scenery throughout Japan".Finding Sachi
"Being a notoriously unlucky flyer - hijacked, volcanic ash victim, aborted landings, cancellations, not booked on flights, wheels falling off planes, struck by lightening - and also a non-driver I thought it would be a good idea to head off East on my bicycle." (Central Asia home to the UK) http://sherlocktales.blogspot.com/
Melanie Mezanec pedaled the Pacific Coast Highway, USA, Spain, Netherlands mostly with her trumpet . Up next? Melanie will be spending the summer pedaling across the USA and raising money for Cancer in memory of her cousin who reminded everyone to get busy living.
"My partner was still in school, and I love the freedom and adventure of travelling alone, so I went on a tour from the Oregon coast to the Florida coast of America, pedalling over 5,000 miles in 3 and half months... and falling in love with it." -Olivia Round
Human power from London to London via the world. Sarah Outen is making a complete loop of our planet using only a rowing boat, a bike and a kayak.
Jenn Tough near her home in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta while touring solo in Northern Canada, 2010. I met Jenn with her new riding partner Jeff in Cyprus recently, and together they are taking a spinaroundtheworld.
The Universe With Me Hyojin Jong
Wow (woman on wheels) participant Susan Minnich retuned from her second bicycle tour in France recently. Here is what Susan had to say about cycling in France.
Click here to hear about Marija's journey
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"...spent the last 3 years teaching English in Thailand and decided the best way to leave was on my bike. I set off six months ago and have past through Laos, China, Mongolia (cycled with Emily jefferson some there) Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark. Germany Holand, Belguim and France remain before finishing in London. Its been nothing short of amazing but a bit sad that I only have one month remaining..." Jenna Thompson
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Emily Jefferson arrived home on Oct 16th after pedaling from New Zealand to the UK. Emily reports that seeing England from the ferry brought tears to her eyes. Congrats to Emily for her amazing accomplishment. Bike NZ 2 UK
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Emily Jefferson as she arrives home |
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Jenny Towill pedaling solo in Laos |
The other day, I met a woman travelling solo by bicycle. Jenny Towill on holiday from Wales left the rock climbing region of Wales and her supportive mountain guide boyfriend temporarily behind to holiday solo by bicycle in Wales. Rory Shaw of www.snowdoniamountaineering.com lent Jenny his panniers so she could venture solo for 3 weeks through Laos.
In 1968 Dervla Murphy left Ireland in the winter and pedaled to India. Over 40 years later, Dervla is still travelling by mules, bicycles or boats and writing super funny books about her adventures.
North From Marrakech
At age 42, Rachel Hugens spend a year on the road enjoying New Zealand and Australia while pedaling. Rachel met her husband and together they pedaled from Capetown, Africa to Holland, South America and Indonesia, South East Asia and from the Arctic Circle to Idaho, USA. Check out Rachel's photos
Kate Crinion is a new born Irish cyclist. She started cycling in Tibet and has pedaled in Nepal, India, Thailand, Burma, Laos and Vietnam. Here's more about Kate's Cycling Curiosity
In 2009, after receiving Anne Mustoes book called “A Bike Ride” Ann Wilson retired early at age 58, training on route, Ann began “an open ended world tour in an easterly direction”. After more than 16720 km (10,389miles) and covering 24 countries, Anne completed the world tour in Sept 2010. Ann’s recent bicycle tours include 3 months of pedaling in Spain, France and Morocco. Thanks Ann for encouraging us all to pedal out the door. Read about Ann’s adventures here!
Through Europe And Beyond North From Marrakech
Ann Wilson, world cyclist
Silke Mokel on the road solo since 2010. Silke started pedaling in Western Europe then set her sights on Canada to the tip of South America. Presently Silke is in Ecuador heading south for Peru. Silke is taking the road less cycled and is staying off the well cycled Trans-American route and sticking to the smaller roads. Follow Silke on her German website or on FB in English and Spanish.
Elizabeth Walsh pedaling in the Peruvian Andes
"I have cycled alone in Canada, the United States, England, and most recently, a one week trip in the Peruvian Andes. I was suffering from pre-departure nerves and the discouragement of friends and family before setting off to Peru. I got a lot of courage from the WOW website; it was inspiring to discover so many other lady cyclists." Elizabeth Walsh
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| Jasmin Meier pedaling solo in SE Asia, follow Jasmin's adventure on wheels   Hanna Jackobson "A couple of years ago I replaced my usual backpack with bicycle panniers as I decided to cycle home from Paris. As I eventually hit the brakes in the Swedish city of Gothenburg a new bicycle plan had emerged, trans-american journey. As a journalist some of theses journeys have been published as articles regarding the situation of Beijing, radio reports from the townships in South Africa and photographs from the top of Kilimanjaro." www.hannamijackobson.com  "A nut without a shell, really. Or maybe a nut looking to break out of her shell. A mediocre athlete turned adventure luster on a budget" Meet Katie Tibbets presently teaching English and bicycle touring solo in South Korea breakawaykatie.com |
Ceri Smith, tours in her home country of Scotland
Kate Leeming in her book GRACE The Great Australian Cycling Expedition chronicles the story of her 25,000km cycling expedition of Australia.
Overland from the UK To Thailand, one small pedal for one big reason,
talk HIV and Aids
Emily Jefferson
Emily Jefferson arrived home Oct. 16th after pedaling from New Zealand to the UK. Emily reports that seeing England from the ferry brought tears to her eyes. Congrats to Emily for her amazing accomplishments.Bike NZ To UK
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"I have been cycling for 35 years. During holidays of course. In 2001 I made a trip for 10 months, SE Asia and China. In 2007 another big one for 2 years in Asia again. I like traveling slow and I like Asia. Just came back from 4,5 months cycling in Nepal, Bangladesh and NE India, amazing again. I write cycling guidebooks in Dutch the first one about Laos and the 2nd about Cambodia. Working on a 3rd one... I only travel solo, best way to travel, freedom y'know..."
Bernadette
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Escape Travels
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Bernadette
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| Bernadette Speet, guide book author (Cambodia and Laos) and world cyclist |
"Thanks for setting up the WOW page! I came across it yesterday after I spoke to my dad on the phone and he told me how worried he is about me cycling all alone in a country that is so far from home (Switzerland is my home) and without even having an itinerary... Confused I was googling something like "women cycling alone" and I found you crazy people and didn't feel THAT crazy anymore. Because of the links on this page I had the chance to read some inspiring blogs. So thank you for that!" Jasmin Meier
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In 1895, the first woman cycled around the world. She was a suffragist and mother of 3, her name was Annie Londonderry. The Annie Londonderry website is full of fun info. Around The World On Two Wheels is the book about of her extraordinary journey written by her great grand nephew and author Peter Zeutlin. A Flash From The Way Past is the story that appeared here when Peter contacted me to let me know that Annie would be proud of us women on wheels.
Jill Lundberg, a 72 year old New Zealander has cycled solo through Vietnam, Cambodia, Morocco, Eastern Europe, Scotland and Iceland. Presently she is pedaling in India. Jill and her bicycle Pegasus adventures can be found here.
Delphine Torrekens, a year in Asia
Delphine Torrekens spent a year cycling in Asia. When I met Delphine she was pedaling in China. Happy to be avoiding winter back home in Paris, France, Delphine was on your way to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey.
In celebration of International Women’s Day together let’s make a photo gallery of solo female bicycle tourists. Thank you for participating, please send photos, links and/or stories to skalatitude@gmail.com, and the WOW (women on wheels) photo gallery will appear here in celebration of International Women’s Day. If you have links to business’, blogs or projects they obviously can be included in the photo gallery. I thoroughly enjoy building a community of like minded people and connecting with the women and men who write me and ask questions about whether camping solo is scary, bicycle chasing psycho dogs, visas or where to find food and water in remote regions such as the Gobi Desert or the Australian outback.
Mirjam The Cycling Dutch Girl Going Slowly Around The World
Mirjam The Cycling Dutch Girl Going Slowly Around The World
Helen Lloyd
Helen took on Africa and pedaled solo from her home in Britain to Capetown, South Africa. In her blog, she counts beers, miles and marriage proposals along the way. Take On Africa. Presently Helen is pedaling through Canada and heading south through America into Mexico.
Gathering our resources is sure to make women on wheels increase in popularity as we venture into the forth coming year. The WOW (women on wheels) photo gallery can be found here, thanking you in advance for sending your photos and/or links to skalatitude@gmail.com. Please join in the celebration and send your photos, links and /or stories to skalatitude@gmail.com. We can also stay connected through Twitter and Facebook.
Grace Johnson met her photographer husband Paul Jeurissen while pedaling the trans-america solo in 1981. They have been pedaling together ever since. Their current project is called "Bicycling Around The World In Search Of Inspiring Cycle Images". Their remarkable photos can be found here In Search Of Inspiring Cycling Images
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"Bicycles are wheels. You can do all kinds of things with them. My preference is to use them to travel. When I can't travel, I ride near home." A wonderful quote from the blog Suze Cycling about cycling through French, Cevennes
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Susan Minich, Suze Cycling Just got back from another cycling adventure in France. This time from the med to the Atlantic. From her great blog about why cycle in France?
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"France....the best place on the planet to combine cycling, eating, mountains, beaches, art, architecture, history and culture." Susan Minich
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Kiki Holl decided to spend her summer cycling across America and raising money for multiple sclerosis.
