Hi, thank you for visiting our website! “We” – that would be El and Liam – created this blog mainly to document our upcoming trip down the length of South America. However, it may continue or evolve beyond that. We shall see!
Read on below for a bit more information on each of us.
Liam
I got into mountain biking in my late teens thanks to my Dad, who dragged me kicking and screaming away from the computer screen and out to the local hill. I was instantly hooked. Back in those days, cycling was all about exploration for me – I would head out solo for most of the day and come back completely bonked out of my mind (my first experience of hallucinations). That ethos of outward discovery took somewhat of a back seat at University as I focussed on racing (perhaps one could call this inward discovery?), gradually making my way up the categories in XC before eventually transition to road racing. That in turn led me to Belgium, hallowed ground for any cyclist, where I was lucky enough to spend a year racing full-time thanks to the support of the Dave Rayner Fund. Dreams of a pro contract weren’t to be, however, as my season ended early in the back of an ambulance with a broken femur.
In a round about way, this experience led me back to where I had started – riding for the shear fun of it, for the places it could take me, and, admittedly not so easy to say for an introvert such as myself, for the people I meet. Without cycling, I would never have met El (we were both training for the Transcontinental Race) and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
These days, I’m mainly motivated by the thought of long days in the hills, the anticipation of what those dotted lines on the map will look like in reality, and the unmatched satisfaction that comes when, after a hard days riding, the sun puts on its evening show. I make myself sound very zen, but the truth is that there is always a part of me that is egging me on to push myself harder. It’s this part that makes me sign up to races like the Highland Trail 550, going back multiple times because I know that I haven’t quite got everything out of myself (N.B. as I’m sitting here writing this 18 months after winning the 2021 edition and still not fully recovered, maybe I did actually find my limit). This trip down the Andes will be a big challenge to that part of myself, a chance to savour every moment as it comes and not be thinking about where I could be in some arbitrary time period. Luckily for me, I’ll have El by my side.
El
I grew up in the Welsh hills, riding a bike as a way of independently going from A to B to play with friends after school or later as cheap student transport. I was not a sporty child, perhaps the opposite. I loved being outdoors and moving through the countryside but I was reliably picked last for sports teams at school and would be the last one over the finish line at any running distance. I remember that changed when I got the chance to do some multi day hikes navigating and camping for our Duke of Edinburgh awards. I’m not quite sure but somehow I was a good all rounder and able lead for a change.
Leaving the Welsh hills for the dreaming spires of Oxford I fell in love with the river. It was on the edge of the city with meadows around the boathouse. Rowing became my sport and rowers were my people (please don’t judge!). I found my strength and fitness and loved the camaraderie of teamwork. This evolved into playing rugby (you can take the girl out of Wales) and then after a skiing accident and a repaired ACL I found cycling. I got into road cycling for sport and recreation towards the end of my PhD in need of escapism and procrastination. Not one for half measures I became obsessed with the Transcontinental race and threw my hat in the ring for the 2017 edition of the race… which is where I crossed paths with Liam.
The Transcontinental race did not go well for me. I’d experienced a mental health crisis a few months before the race and in hindsight was not resilient enough and put a lot of pressure on myself. I learned a few lessons in self compassion but it was important for me to try and give it my best. After scratching I plunged into a pretty deep depression. Liam tried his best to introduce me to mountain biking but it took a few years for me to find enjoyment in it. Among other things he deserves the Nobel price in Patience.
Despite my flirtations with competitive sport finding off road riding and bikepacking helped me find the same inner peace and joy that I had as a free range child. Moving through landscapes, camping in remote spots with breathtaking views, climbing into the tent feeling exhausted and appreciating a pair of dry, clean socks. I’m motivated by experience, I’m not as masochistic as Liam. While he’s egging himself on to push harder I’m trying to persuade him that we should pause for a snack stop/swim/bakery/view….
The biggest challenge for me with this trip will not be riding related pain or suffering. For the last 3 years I’ve been experiencing chronic night time back pain. As well as disturbing my sleep and rest it also grinds me down. Of course, camping is not renowned for promising a consistently comfortable good night’s sleep and in the past it has been a trigger to make the pain worse. I’m hoping that with some self knowledge and a toolkit of stretches and pilates exercises I will be able to manage it on the road.