May 27, 2026 — Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul gifted me one last unplanned day, and it turned out to be anything but ordinary. With Rosinante not due to arrive until seven in the evening, I had the whole morning to myself. First order of business: chores. Turkey is currently deep in Kurban Bayramı — the Feast … Continue reading Day 1: Bayram, fellow cyclist, and Rosinante making an entrance →

At 5:30 in the morning, my wife Carolin drove me to the airport. We shared our goodbye kiss — the kind that always lasts a little longer when you know you won’t see each other again for six weeks. We had only just spent 48 hours together at home after my last return from Uganda, … Continue reading Day 0: Arrival in Istanbul →

Bags packed. Bike boxed. Alarm set for an ungodly hour. Tomorrow morning at 05:30 CEST, Carolin will drive me ot Frankfurt Airport and the next chapter begins. By noon I'll be landing in Istanbul — one of the great cities of the world, straddling two continents and a thousand years of history. But first things … Continue reading Day -1: Getting Ready →

Two days before wheels hit Istanbul tarmac. One Ebola outbreak in the rearview mirror. One cooperative in Kamuli launched. One very impatient bike in the garage. Some trips go to plan. This one didn't — and I wouldn't have it any other way. When the Ebola alert came through while I was in Kamuli, Uganda, … Continue reading Day -2: Back from Uganda →

Every year, I have a ritual to prove to myself that I’m in good enough shape for my next tour. The ritual is simple: a fully loaded ride and crossing the 100-kilometer mark — more a mental barrier than a physical one. Today was that day. At the same time, it was also the first … Continue reading Day -16: We are ready for the tour →