In this episode of the Seek Travel Ride podcast I chat with adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete, Nikki Ray. It's fair to say the humble bicycle has shaped Nikki's life in a multitude of ways. From teaching adult refugees how to ride a bike for the first time, to crossing countries on a 10 000km solo cycle tour through West Africa, through to competing in challenging ultra - distance cycling raes. Nikki has done this and so much more.
She is a cycling instructor, human rights advocate, hill climb racer and ultra-cyclist. She is a true adventurer in every sense of the word and I really enjoyed listening to Nikki share her experiences from the bike.
She recounts her time spent on a tour through West Africa - a place where many from western cultures are often told not to travel. Discovering the diverse landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert to deciding to take the more adventurous and less travelled routes on the bicycle tour she nicknamed Ready, Steady, Slow. The overwhelming theme that came through during this journey was the kindness and hospitality received by the strangers she encountered during her travels.
Nikki also reveals how in an effort to help boost women's participation in cycling events she got involved in Hill Climbing races in the UK. All of a sudden going from long distance slow cycle tours, to an intense race of a matter of minutes up short and steep climbs.
Her latest challenge was starkly different once again - that of an ultra-distance cycling race. Nikki signed up for the 2020 Trans Pyrenees Race and despite navigating through the disappointment of two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, she turned up to the start line in September 2022 for a race which traverses the Pyrenees Mountain range from West to East and back again.
I really enjoyed chatting with Nikki and the insights she shared from her experiences and hope it will also equally inspire others to plan and participate in their own adventure.
You can read more about Nikki's Ready Steady Slow tour on her personal website.
Also keep up to date with Nikki's latest adventures by following her on instagram -
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