Author: Hannah Kern

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10 Things I’ve Learnt as a Brand New Cycle Tourist

So it’s been a little while now in since I put my life on a bike and started cycle touring and wow, I’ve learnt a lot! 

Firstly, the Vietnamese were NOT expecting to see me! Whether it’s because I’m Western in extremely remote areas, female, a solo cyclist or all of the above, they looked at me as though I was riding a bear, not a bike!

And besides the obvious like how to diagnose and fix things on my bike, I’ve also found out a number of things, some of which have completely reshaped my style of travel. 

Check out my list below; if you’re thinking about getting on your bike for a long trip, it could help you with what to expect when making that first step! If biking isn’t for you, feel free to chuckle at my expense! 

1. Cycling in Asia is not for those with road rage

It’s no secret that driving in Vietnam is (slightly) less regulated than it is in the western world and every driver’s best friend is their horn. Beeping (or ringing your bell) can save your life on these roads and drivers here take pride in their (ridiculously) loud and customised horns – expect a giant truck type of sounding horn on a tiny hatchback and a sunny-sounding 3 second melody on a huge petrol lorry – weird. Plus, they love to honk right next to you (most of the time when it’s entirely unnecessary) just to shock your heart back into beating just in case it had stopped – thoughtful! 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 And don’t forget that you can’t get annoyed for anything on the road here, because the only rule in Vietnam is: if you don’t hit anyone, it’s okay.

2. My bum doesn’t hurt anywhere as much as I thought it would! EDIT – YES IT BLOODY DOES!

(Lol I had to put this one in – it started as a note I’d jotted down in week 1, I’d edited it in week 3 when my bum chafing was so bad I felt like I was sitting on sandpaper, not on a double padded saddle through padded cycle shorts!) – invest well in padded gear…it makes a huge difference!

Me, crying over bum chafing…

3. I thought I hated warm water until I was actually thirsty.

When your mouth is as dry as Ghandi’s flip flop, even the sweat from your top lip starts to taste good 😂

4. Want to eat as much as you want and never get fat? Become a cycle tourist!

And trust me when I say that biking is not just about your legs! I have muscles in my lower back that apparently, I’ve never used. (24 or 84 I started to ask myself!) Your core controls your balance, your back – your posture, your hands and arms – the distribution of your weight on the bike and your legs pedal…not forgetting the mental training keeping yourself motivated when you’re all alone on a 20% incline. Plus, being vegan, I’ve been advised to try and put on weight whilst I’m in places that I can access food more easily (as there will be times that it will become extremely difficult for me to eat) and it really is an actual chore to eat so much! If food is your god and you like being in shape, get on your bike and you can eat what you like! 

Vegan Mi Quang – one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in Vietnam (genuinely tasted exactly like chicken soup and it cost £0.50!) – this was my second meal in the same sitting! Sorry not sorry…

5. The position of your seat will change your whole riding experience

It took me 5 weeks of pretty consistent cycling and countless adjustments to find a seat position that was actually comfortable for my knees, my back and my bum and allowed me to pedal efficiently. Getting professionally fitted for your bike will help massively towards preventing injury. Something like having your knees too straight or too bent can cause long term damage to your joints, ligaments and muscles so listen to your body and make as many changes as necessary! Sometimes the smallest alteration can make the biggest difference. 

6. The cycle community is amazing and bigger than you think! (And the world is super small!)

It’s proof that you attract the energies you’re putting out – you might think it would be so unlikely to see other individuals cycling across the world, but I’ve crossed paths with 4 in just over 2 months and waved to others on the road. There’s even an international WhatsApp group that’s a lovely support network for all cyclists – experienced or new. It’s always full so if you’re trying to join, you have to click the link just as someone leaves. It’s the place to be for support and advice! Thank you Akmaral (who I met in Mai Chau) for sending me the link! If you’re a cycle tourist and want in, get in touch and I can forward it on for you ☺️ (plus of course, I’d always love to chat to another cycle tourist!).

Together with Akmaral and Claire, two other super inspiring, female cyclists that I met in Mai Chau, Vietnam

7. Hard and fast is not what’s best (despite what some might think! 😉)

In the beginning I was so focused on what I ‘should’ be achieving that it took away from what I was doing. Now that I have all my camping equipment, I couldn’t be more free and I’ve learnt that the experience really is in the journey. Time and statistics are things we’ve created to compare and compete, but when you’re cycle touring you become more interested in measuring your experience, not your miles.

8. The higher the mountain, the faster you get to fly

There is literally no better feeling than speeding far too fast down a mountain you’ve just conquered. Elevation gain was something that didn’t mean anything to me at the beginning except ‘that’s gonna hurt tomorrow’ and now it excites and terrifies me at the same time. Every bit of pain is totally worth it. 

9. Vanity is not a trait you can possess if you are a female cyclist in Asia

(I mean, I was hardly an active hair washer anyway, but there really is no point when you’re guaranteed to be a sweaty mess the next day…). Saying that…Even when you’re sweating from every pore in your body, you’ve got the most unflattering padded cycling shorts imaginable on (making you look like you have a swollen cameltoe) and are bright red whilst panting frantically like an overweight middle aged man that’s just walked up 8 flights of stairs, there really are still some guys that will STILL fancy you, ask for your number, want photos with you and even be inappropriate.

(Potential trigger warning: sexual harassment) Read here about a recent experience I had whilst cycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam. This was my first experience of seriously inappropriate sexual harassment whilst on my bike.

Note: it’s important to remember that stories like this are generally isolated and this one does not in any way reflect the manner of Vietnamese men in general, but instead the actions of one pervert that unfortunately crossed my path. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20,000km away from home or at the end of your road, psychos are dotted around and it’s important to raise awareness about how to deal with unexpected situations in order to improve confidence in solo female travel and also travel safety tips in general. 

10. Biking is the best medicine for self-care

Not only are you getting fitter every day anyway, but maintaining your 2 most valuable items become your top priority: yourself and your bike. Everything else is disposable and replaceable. When your body is the engine of your vehicle, not only do you learn how to thoroughly look after it, but you want to. Cycling all day also becomes my meditation – it’s so healthy to really have time alone to process your thoughts. So by cycling so far you inevitably improve both your mental AND physical health. Win, win! If you’re feeling like you’re not ready, don’t hesitate, just get up and go. With a decent enough level of fitness, you’ll be in perfect shape for most terrain within a few weeks👌🏼

Basically, life on a bike is tough, testing and bloody amazing! I could never have expected that I would be doing this so you can, too. The only person stopping you is YOU! 

For now, onwards and upwards! (Literally!) 🙃

I’d be interested to see what other cyclists have felt/experienced when they first started touring – I’d love to hear from you! And also if you’re thinking about cycle touring yourself and have some questions, get in touch! Send me a message or drop it in the comments!👇🏼

Peace and love ✌🏼♥️

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My first serious experience of sexual harassment as a solo female cycle tourist

Life on the road may be full of beautiful views and many wonderful people, but it’s important to be aware of what can sometimes become challenging factors as well.

As a female, I have experienced varying degrees of sexual harassment my whole life, and despite being an extremely patient person that is pretty tolerant and understanding, (particularly when it comes to understanding that things can sometimes be miscommunicated between nationalities,) I am NEVER afraid to express when someone crosses the line and I encourage other women to do so, too. 

We have to speak up to be heard! 

Never be uncomfortable to say that you’re uncomfortable. 

This account was from my time cycling along the Ho Chi Minh Trail along a pretty remote sector in the mountains. There was no one around except for a man I saw urinating at the side of the road (which is quite normal to see due to the long distances between service stations/towns in this area). 

As I approached him, he noticed me and began touching himself inappropriately. I was so shocked at the time, plus I was travelling at a pretty decent speed on a downhill, that I didn’t have time to say anything but just continued on and cycled off as quickly as possible, disgusted. 

I then noticed the man drive slowly past me on his motorbike and if looks could kill, he would have dropped down dead because my eyes told him exactly what I thought of his behaviour. Seeing as he was on a motorbike, I didn’t have much time to respond, but another kilometre or so down the road, he had parked and hidden along the bushes with his trousers down waiting for me to cycle past again. 

I went mental! 

I was shouting and screaming every curse under the sun at the top of my lungs so that he could feel every bit of fury I had in response to his despicable behaviour. This was all whilst I was in motion and flashed past me very quickly. 

He definitely didn’t have a clue what words I said, but he knew exactly what I was communicating with him and that I was NOT okay with what he had done. 

It may be the case that he does the same thing again to another woman, it may not, but I can only hope that my response made him reconsider his actions because it was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever experienced. 

I am certain that this will not be the last incident of sexual harassment that I will experience on my journey, but I also know that I will NOT feel intimidated and I WILL stand up for myself. Always. 

If any other women would like to share their stories or are looking for support or advice on with dealing with sexual harassment cases, whether that’s in relation to an isolated incident or an ongoing relationship, please get in touch, I’d love to support you. 

Never feel alone. We, as females, are one; let’s stand together to fight sexual harassment. 

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My little bro turns 18! Here’s 18 pieces of poetic advice

Watching the sun set on today, 12th of May, makes me emotional as it is days like this that I really feel how far I am from home. 

My baby brother is turning 18 today. 

Teddy came into my life when he was just 2 years old and to see him grow up into the wonderful young man that he’s become is something truly special. 

When thinking about what I could gift him from so far away, I thought about what I could have found useful when I was turning 18 and so I’ve written this, from my heart to his. 

I thought I would share it on here because maybe some others could use hearing it, too. Below are 18 reminders about tackling life as a young adult; things to think about and notes to remember, especially when you might be finding things hard. 

As we are all on our own journeys of self discovery, it’s taken me some time to reach my level of understanding about how life can present challenges…I hope this can provide some guidance for those who may need it. 

Feel free to share ♥️

It breaks my heart that I am not there to celebrate with you, Bear, to give you a cuddle and show you support in entering this next big chapter, but I am there in spirit and I am thinking of you. 

May this year bring you all the health, love, peace and happiness that you truly deserve. 

I love you and happy birthday ♥️

*****

There are some things we are born with and some things that we gain;

One of the best things I’ve been blessed with is you, my brother, Teddy James. 

Today is a marker and your first step into adult life,

So get ready for the real ups and downs, the best bits and the strife. 

It has been simply amazing to watch you grow up so fast 

You’ve grown into a real gentleman and an all-round superstar!

I am so proud of you as you’re such a kind, handsome and intelligent young man

And whatever you want to achieve, make sure you never doubt you can!

Because the only person that will ever stop you is you

Make sure you remember that even during the times you feel most blue.

So now that you’re a man, I wanted to give you some loving advice…

(Even though you’re already a total delight!)

Because life is a journey and it’s important to get help sometimes

So here are 18 things for you to remember or to refer to time to time…

  1. Life is about doing what makes YOU happy…doing what other people tell you you ‘should do’ will only make you crappy and SNAPPY!! So make sure you use these years to discover what you truly adore… try everything out, don’t be afraid to give anything a go, otherwise in the long term you’ll be really bored! 
  2. You are special and unique so never compare yourself… and don’t forget that you’re allowed to make mistakes, just like everyone else
  3. Although it’s important to learn from mistakes and take criticism on the chin…actively working on yourself should be constant, and make sure you do it with a grin!
  4. No one should love you more than you do so invest the majority of your time in YOU! So, make sure you look after your mind, body and soul – believe me, Bear, your peace and happiness are both in YOUR control.
  5. When other people hurt, upset or even reject you, it tends to be a reflection on them so don’t ever let others’ poor behaviour create doubt in you. 
  6. Make sure you travel, see the world and learn from other cultures, don’t feel pressured to get sucked into a job full of corporate vultures! You have plenty of time to grow up and get serious later, for now, work should be fun and help you live a life you want – maybe take a bar job, or like I did, be a waiter.
  7. Always show respect for anyone you meet – you never know how you could affect someone’s day or even their week. Mental health problems or depression are on the rise and can sometimes be silenced and stigmatised, so it’s important that you know it’s okay to not feel happy 100% of the time. Treat everyone with love and always be kind. And trust me, Bear, that always applies, whether you have known them for just 5 minutes or an entire lifetime. 
  8. We have so much to learn from each other; converse, engage and ask as many questions as you can…the more you manage to interact with, the more you will become a well-rounded man.
  9. Embrace your failures because they’re the things we learn from most…if everything is easy, you’ll never grow, only coast. 
  10. Know your own value and don’t sell yourself short! People can only take advantage if you allow them to, give that some thought.
  11. Inspire, be inspired and keep yourself challenged…by doing this you will realise that peoples’ fears of embarrassment are invalid. Instead, you’ll learn to have fun in different ways and develop greater interests; as a result you’ll attract the right energies and develop the best new relationships.
  12. Only look back to see how far you’ve come – look forward to your future, don’t dwell on what you have or haven’t done.
  13. Communicate your feelings clearly for ultimate peace of mind, do this whilst always being honest and always being kind.
  14. Listen to your gut because it’s usually right, sometimes your emotions will make you lose sight. So take a step back, take some time and breathe, peel back your layers of feelings and listen carefully to what’s hiding underneath.
  15. Always stand by your morals, those you should never compromise…people with the strongest values are most respected and wise. This will mean you will feel pressured sometimes but know in your heart it’s important to stand up and be proud of what you know is right. 
  16. Be forgiving because staying angry only holds hate in your heart; letting go of painful feelings really is an art. But you will see how freeing it is when it becomes something you master, as once you dilute anger, your heart can heal faster. 
  17. Allow yourself to show vulnerability to those you regard as most important, the most valuable and strongest relationships will form when you are transparent. Don’t get me wrong, this may sometimes result in heartbreak or pain, but when you trust and take the risk, you have so much more to gain. 
  18. Lastly, we are always learning and that’s something important to remember, it’s okay to not know everything, think of yourself as as a young ember; you are now growing into a beautiful and powerful flame, but your life will consist of constant work, so keep your fire burning, tend to your needs and take pride in your name.