5 Questions with an International Cyclist
This April, Rye native Audrey Love set off on a nearly 4-month bike ride across Europe to raise money through the nonprofit Climate Ride. Her beneficiaries were 350.org, World Bicycle Relief, and Friends of Rye Nature Center. Her trip raised over $8,000, more than double her goal of $4,000. Read more below about Audrey’s adventure in her own words.
What did your trip look like overall?
A quick overview of my bike tour: 93 days, 3,442 miles, 15 countries, ~350 hours of riding.
Why did you decide to take this trip?
On a bit of whim, I tried my hand at bike touring in the summer of 2021. I biked the popular "TransAm route" across the USA and had a life-changing experience. I fell in love with bike touring -- I found it to be an incredible way to meet new people and understand how they live, see new parts of the world, and travel sustainably. As soon as I returned from my TransAm trip, I began planning my next adventure. I was drawn to Europe's bike friendly cities and national/intercontinental networks of long-distance cycle routes, so I pieced together a route that covered many of the most popular European cycling routes. I was excited to use this adventure as an opportunity to fundraise through Climate Ride, with a goal of raising $1 for every mile I rode. I chose beneficiaries whose missions prioritized fighting climate change through bike advocacy, sustainable energy solutions, and climate education.
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What were the best parts of the trip?
Experiencing the incredible generosity and community of Warmshowers hosts across Europe. (Warmshowers is a worldwide hospitality exchange for cycling tourists). The brilliant cycling infrastructure in Germany! Traveling along the Camino del Norte in northern Spain, and joining the community of Camino travelers during our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
What were the most challenging parts?
The somewhat unglamorous lifestyle of being a cycling nomad. Many many hours of planning logistics to find places to eat/sleep. Unfortunately, no room for a washer/dryer in my bike bags!
Why did you choose Rye Nature Center as one of your beneficiaries?
Growing up with the Rye Nature Center in my backyard, I have many fond RNC memories. From wandering the woods in the summer, to sledding along the trails after big snow storms, spending time in RNC fostered a sense of curiosity and intrigue with the natural world. I chose RNC as one of my beneficiaries to support its mission of climate education and inspiring kids to become curious and excited about nature, as it had done for me. Over the past several months exploring Europe by bike, I experienced moments of profound appreciation for nature's beauty, paired with clear and sobering reminders of the climate crisis we face. It was thanks to a network of generous donors that I was able to raise over $8,000 for Climate Ride, and support the mission of incredible organizations like RNC.
On Sunday, October 15, FRNC will be holding our own Climate Ride event. Find how to join or support here.
