About

About SJ

In 2017, I set off with a bicycle and no real intention of stopping. What began as a journey across Europe gradually became a round-the-world tour and, eventually, the life behind FTtouring.

Since then, I’ve cycled more than 50,000 kilometres across five continents, crossed the Himalayas unsupported, travelled through the deserts of Australia and the jungles of Cambodia, and spent more than 1,300 nights in my tent, wild camping along the way.

Some days have been unforgettable. Most have been memorable in one way or another. Others have been cold, wet, frustrating and difficult. I wouldn’t change any of them.

Why I Ride

For me, bikepacking has never been about riding the furthest or collecting countries. It’s about freedom.

A bicycle moves at just the right pace: fast enough to cross continents, but slow enough to notice the things most people pass by. Conversations in small villages. Wildlife at dawn. Forgotten tracks on old maps. Places that rarely make it into guidebooks.

The further I travel, the more I’m drawn away from the obvious routes and towards quieter roads, gravel tracks and remote landscapes. I’m always looking for the next challenge and testing what’s possible by bike.

That’s where I think the best adventures usually begin.

What Is FTtouring?

FTtouring is where I share that journey. It’s a place for honest stories, practical destination and route guides, and real-world advice gathered from years spent travelling by bicycle.

You’ll find journals from the road, detailed guides to places and routes I’ve actually ridden, and articles built around the lessons, mistakes and experience that come with life on a bike.

The aim isn’t to tell you how to travel. It’s to give you the information and inspiration to find your own way.

Experience

So far, I’ve cycled more than 50,000 kilometres across more than 40 countries over five continents. Every day brings a different experience, but some of the highlights so far have been:

• Cycling through the Darién Gap
• Crossing over the Himalayas to 5,400m unsupported
• Experiencing the seemingly endless rainforests of the Amazon
• Crossing the Nullarbor desert in Australia
• Cycling the Bolivian salt flats

Those experiences have taught me far more than simply how to ride a bicycle. They’ve taught me patience, resilience and curiosity — and that some of the best days begin when the original plan falls apart.

My Philosophy

I don’t believe adventure has to be expensive. I don’t believe you need the newest equipment and I don’t think extraordinary journeys belong only to extraordinary people.

Most adventures begin with a decision to leave home. Much of the rest is learned along the way.

Why This Website Exists

When I first started travelling, I relied heavily on the knowledge and generosity of people who had gone before me.

FTtouring is my way of passing some of that on.

If something here helps someone take their first overnight trip, plan a longer journey, avoid one of my mistakes or simply choose the quieter road instead of the obvious one, then the website is doing exactly what I want it to do.

The Journey Continues

I’m still riding. Still learning. Still getting things wrong. And still searching for the road less travelled.

If you’d like to follow the journey, you’re very welcome to come along.