Helsinki to Singapore

My wife and I are cycling from Helsinki to Singapore for charity and, honestly, since we started this amazing adventure we haven’t once wondered why or have had any regrets but everytime someone asked the “why” the first answer has always been “why not?!”.

We get different reactions to our project, mostly depending on age and gender, but the most common is by far “you’re crazy!”. Of course we mostly disagree with this statement!

Just to set the record straight, once upon a time we were “normal” travellers. We booked tickets online, hired cars and even did some sightseeing. I have always felt close to nature and cycling so mountain biking was a obvious choice as a sport and I loved it. Slowly my wife got interested and that’s how we started going on small bike trip at weekends when the weather was nice. Sunday rides turned into small bike packing trips. They became week long holidays. The rest of the year we would work to save to do those things.

Then one day we saw that documentary and something clicked. On our way back home (cycling of course) we talked about it; how romantic it sounds to go across a continent on two wheels, and those conversations never stopped. So our dreamy chats became plans. In order to save up for such a long endeavour we stopped buying stuff, we moved into a cheaper flat and the next thing you know you’re assembling your bikes in the middle of Helsinki airport with a massive migraine caused by the stress of the previous 48 hours, trying to remember how to put the front carrier back on.

In reality it was much longer and much more complicated than that but as always, the bad memories get thrown overboard and now it all seems like a million miles away and not so important.

A question that we have often asked ourselves is “why not earlier?” and the answer is always simple; we just weren’t ready.

This bring us to the first real realization about everything in life; things always work out better when they are following some kind of natural order. We are always amazed to meet incredibly young cyclists as we cannot imagine ourselves having done this years ago. We firmly believe that if you follow your instincts you can never go wrong.

Let’s go back to the beginning though; not a single regret about having left behind almost everything (we do have a fair amount in our panniers), having sold most of our valuable belongings (every penny saved is a penny spent somewhere wow and why would anyone have two toasters anyway?) and only seeing

family and friends when the WiFi is decent. We have since learned that it’s impossible to see everything and go everywhere, so no point in double guessing our way, similarly to the word “plan” which has become a synonym of “intention” rather than “arrangement”.

One of the best feeling you can have while touring is the realisation that you don’t have to, in fact, do anything; the world still goes round and all you can do is pedal… or not; doesn’t make a difference to it either way. To have and take the time to see, observe, learn, teach a little too and let your body and soul take you to the next place is simply mind-blowing and we think that this is probably why more and more people are falling for it.

Lately the world feels faster and less personal and bikes of all sorts slow it down and bring it back closer to you. So close that you see it, feel it and sense it every minute of every day. When you travel by car, for example, it’s easy to forget about the importance of the tarmac and it never seems that dangerous. On your bike, when you look down, you are constantly reminded of its presence, importance (oh when you hit that gravel or muddy path…) and also of its lethality by being only a few centimetres away at all times.

As cyclists, we strive for that feeling of self-worth which can only be obtained with sweat and pain. Continuously we challenge ourselves subconsciously and only become aware of this once the summit is reached or the border crossed. The feeling of pedalling into triple digits kilometres and then into four digits is undescribable. Shall I try to put into words crossing the 10.000 kilometres “line”?

As for the tourism side of it, well, when you travel this way you often feel privileged by getting to see lots of “behind the scenes” places and stumbling upon local spots that you would otherwise miss or oversee. My wife and I have the habit of overusing the expression “better than a 5 stars hotel” any time we found a tremendous spot for our tent (especially if it’s near a picnic table or better still, toilets!) or are being hosted by a fabulous stranger in an unselfish act of humanitarianism.

Speaking to non-cyclists we often receive tips about such and such spot and, whenever possible, we try to follow them. However, over time, we have learned that these recommendations are seldom what we are really looking for and have since become aware of what they might lead to; mass tourism and huge disappointments. Similarly to seeking owe in personal achievements, we often feel privileged by seeing beauty on the roadside or finding a particular stretch of road beautiful. Hence the need to have the camera inside the handlebar bag; the view will never be the same again and it’s important to take the picture just after that road sign and not a second before. Another advantage of cycling; it’s so easy to stop just for a sec!

But by far the best aspect of dropping it all and just travel is having the time. The second great realization is that, in fact, that’s all we have in life, time, and when you don’t have to be back anywhere in a week or a fortnight and you know that you have no alarms and no hurry then even people watching becomes the greatest thing ever!

As we move through villages and towns we are seen and observed and we are aware of that. Perhaps this is why we subconsciously try to show the better side of ourselves. We are two-wheeled ambassadors of our countries and each and every time someone asks us where we are from we answer with pride and a smile as wide as the road itself.

For ages now bicycles have amazed people all over the world. It’s not the easiest way to travel but millions swear by it and it’s undeniably a fantastic way to see our planet and its inhabitants without filters; cyclists feel, see and smell first hand their surroundings and wish for nothing more than a good wind and another day to wake up and do it all again.

So let me ask you again, why not?

Aurelie and Marco are cycling from Helsinki to Singapore and fundraising for two bycicle related associations.

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