Pedal Power
A Two-Wheeled Global Adventure

The moment of glory...the bikes on the ice!

Article by: Ben Wylson & Jamie Mackenzie, March 2007

In April 2005 we set off on our bikes, aiming over the next three years to visit every continent using only land and sea-based transport. As recent graduates, we were itching to travel and experience all the world had to offer. We'd cut our teeth on small cycling adventures in Scotland and Ireland, but we'd never planned an expedition on this grand scale.

It had all begun in an English pub where, one evening, we found ourselves dreaming up plans for an around-the-world cycling expedition. It seemed simple, and in one evening we'd planned our route and set our goals. In the cold light of day, our 'simple' adventure suddenly looked more complex. To make things worse, we'd bragged to everyone in the pub that we'd complete our challenge. It felt a bit like Phileas Fogg making his bet at the Reform Club.

Crossing the Yellow River, China

Our first step toward making our plans a reality was to name our expedition. 'Back to the West', 'Tastes Like Chicken' and 'Wheel Freedom' came to mind, but, in the end, we settled on a more conventional title: 'Free Wheels East'.

Turning a room in our house into HQ, we began to prepare for the journey ahead. We decided on a departure date, giving ourselves six months from whoa to go. Having a deadline gave our preparation the urgency it required. We had until spring to get organised.

Next, we drew up an equipment checklist and went about acquiring heaps of stuff for every eventuality. Experience has since taught us that there isn't much that can't be fixed with gaffer tape. In retrospect, we know we could've got by with just the basics:

Bikes and vital spares (ask at a good bike shop; keep spares minimal)
4 x waterproof panniers
Compact and versatile camping gear
Clothing (try to limit clothes to one rear pannier) We didn't skimp on quality when choosing our kit; after all, the equipment had to last for at least three years.

We wrote a letter to relevant companies asking for sponsorship, and included a glossy pamphlet detailing our expedition. Several follow-up calls later, we managed to secure much of our equipment at a discount or for free. It wasn't easy - getting sponsorship is tough.

Unfit and not used to cycling on tank-sized bikes, we took things easy, knowing full well we'd gain fitness as we went.

Eventually our departure day arrived and a minibus loaded with our families came to wave us goodbye. We were off! Two entirely portable lives on wheels.

Unfit and not used to cycling on tank-sized bikes, we took things easy, knowing full well we'd gain fitness as we went. Our ride was never about pace. It turns out that 60kms a day will get you almost 11,000kms in six months. Once you get up to speed on a touring bike you can cruise with surprisingly little effort.

Ben's bike

The cost of a bike adventure is minimal. Before departing England, we had both worked for a year in the social sector and managed to save - after equipment expenses - about £4000. A year and three months later, we arrived in Australia with funds running low. To avoid flying home we improvised a solution: we would write about our adventure and sell it to Australian publications to try and raise the required funds. Now, once again, we follow the sunrise.

You can find out more about Ben and Jamie's epic journey at Free Wheels East. And if you want to talk up your own surefire packing list for bike expeditions, join in the debate on the Thorntree.