In 1972, fifteen‑year‑old Cyndy Schlaepfer‑Youker had barely bicycled beyond her hometown of Ithaca, New York. In 2020, fifty‑six‑year‑old Teri M. Brown hadn’t bicycled in four decades. Neither woman fit the profile of someone poised to pedal across the United States. Yet both did, tracing remarkably similar routes nearly fifty years apart. Cyndy joined her father and three brothers on an adventure supported by a VW bus that carried the rest of their family of eight. Teri rode a tandem with her husband Bruce, towing a trailer packed with camping gear. Their experiences differed in era, equipment, and circumstance, but each discovered the same truth: crossing a continent by bicycle reshapes one’s sense of possibility. For Cyndy, the journey revealed a strength and capability she had never imagined. For Teri, it offered a way to rebuild confidence and launch a new career after a difficult period in her life. Along the way, both discovered the power of pushing beyond perceived limits, ultimately finding renewed clarity about the direction of their lives.

Cyndy's account of her journey can be found here.

Teri's blog of her journey can be found here.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite episodes from this past year and give feedback on The Accidental Bicycle Tourist Podcast 2026 Survey.

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist

Alexander Leonard reflects on a life shaped by bicycles, from his long student commutes across Montreal to his two-wheeled explorations through Berlin in search of forgotten corners like an abandoned swimming‑pool complex. In 2013, 18-year-old Alex traveled to Cambodia, where his volunteer work at an orphanage reshaped his sense of the world. He pedaled through Phnom Penh’s swirling scooter traffic, met curious locals, and taught students almost his age geography and astronomy. His journeys eventually led to Sri Lanka, where he studied human–elephant conflict and community‑driven solutions such as citrus buffer zones. Alex finds meaning in motion and wonder in short bicycle excursions close to home. Across these experiences, Alex champions journaling, mindful travel, and a minimalist approach to moving through the world. His stories simultaneously remind us that adventure isn’t confined to far-flung destinations and invite us to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the wonder of the everyday ride.

You can find Alex Leonard Media on Instagram.

You can watch Alex’s film (Humans and Elephants) and his TED Talk on YouTube.

Alex offers a Green Video Essentials: Production Course and Roadmaps (use the code"creativesforclimate" for 50% off all products)

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite episodes from this past year and give feedback on The Accidental Bicycle Tourist Podcast 2026 Survey.

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist

In this inspiring episode, adventurer Renata Chlumska recounts her time supporting Göran Kropp’s historic, self-powered ascent of Mount Everest in 1996 and how witnessing both tragedy (the disaster Jon Krakauer chronicles in Into Thin Air) and triumph (Göran’s successful Everest summit) shaped her lifelong dreams and philosophy. In 2006, Renata followed the perimeter of the 48 contiguous United States by bicycle and kayak. In 2014, she conquered the Seven Summits, the highest mountain peaks on each of the continents. Renata reflects on the values that guided her expeditions, including the power of preparation, resilience, and living without shortcuts. This conversation celebrates courage, love, and the drive to transform passion into purpose. As Renata says, adventure isn’t about avoiding risk; it’s about embracing life fully and discovering what you’re truly capable of.

Photo credit: Kaj Bune @kaj_bune_photography

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist