I’m a trailblazer in adventure cycling, driven by curiosity, resilience, and a passion for exploration. Over the past 10 years, I’ve pedaled across six continents and explored more than 21 countries by bikepacking tens of thousands of miles. My journey has also taken me from racing 200 miles of Unbound Gravel in Kansas (twice) to tackling the 2,700-mile dirt road epic of the Tour Divide, completing some of the most grueling and rewarding cycling challenges imaginable.

In 2015, my partner and I made history as the first cyclists to ride the Trans-America Trail (TAT)—a 5,000-mile dual-sport motorcycle route crossing the U.S. from east to west. That transformative experience reshaped how I approach cycling, inspiring me to embrace fun, improvisation, and sustainability in my adventures.

Today, I wear many hats as a representative for the sport: community and event organizer, content creator, writer, route developer, advocate, and consultant. I’ve been a sponsored, non-competitive adventure cyclist for the past decade, using my platform to promote inclusivity, connection, and environmental awareness. I founded Ruta del Jefe, an event that reimagines traditional cycling events by blending adventure with cultural and environmental stewardship. I’m also the founder and developer of the Sky Islands Odyssey Bikepacking Route Project and a co-founder of Radical Adventure Riders. My current brand partners include Fjällräven, Otso Cycles, Ride with GPS, Ombraz, and SRAM/Zipp.

For me, the bicycle is far more than a mode of transportation—it’s a tool for well-being, community connection, and deepening my relationship with the natural landscapes I travel through. Adventure cycling is an eye-opening and transformative experience that pulls me away while bringing me closer to myself and the world around me. Every journey offers new perspectives on life, reveals the depths of my physical and mental capabilities, and fills me with gratitude and humility. For me, adventure isn’t about escape—it’s about embracing reality and gaining a deeper appreciation for life and the world.

Before becoming a professional cyclist, I spent over a decade working in the bike industry, managing bike shops and eventually owning and operating Swallow Bicycle Works in Loveland, Ohio, for five years. These formative experiences shaped my understanding of cycling culture and strengthened my commitment to creating inclusive, community-centered spaces within the sport.

Through solo expeditions and collaborative projects, I continue to push boundaries, develop meaningful routes, and share the stories and lessons I gather along the way. Whether mapping new journeys, organizing impactful events, or advocating for equity and sustainability in cycling, my work aims to inspire others to connect with the world—and themselves—through the power of the bicycle.

When I’m not out riding, I love being in or on the water, spending time with my partner, Adam, and lounging with our two cats, Rio and Cholla, at home in Tucson, Arizona, or Durango, Colorado.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to partner, commission a story or a route, collaborate, ask questions, or simply get inspired.

Follow my latest adventures and projects on Instagram

Five days riding coast to coast and back in central Baja Sur.

With the road closed in and out of our base camp and provisions at a minimum, we pedaled from camp with the intent to resupply by biking the long, scenic, and bumpy way via the Pacific Co

A little glimpse of life in Baja over the past couple of weeks:

Not pictured are the daily 1.5-mile swims (with accompanying jellyfish stings), night snorkeling missions, deep connections with a small multigenerational community bonded by their love

It’s about time y’all officially meet Rio and Cholla!

Adam and I adopted these two nearly a year ago, and the joy they bring us every day is too good not to share. They’re littermates and best friends for life. 😻

Adam recently b

Last night, I had the opportunity to speak with the young men and women of the @0s3movement in Nogales, Arizona. I’m truly inspired by their work in building sustainable, binational community-centered health through a grassroots approach that r

Bikepacking trips and events can require months of training, preparation, financial investment, and time off work and away from loved ones. So, what leads us to quit things we have put so much emotional, physical, and financial energy into completing

Today, in collaboration with @ridewithgps, I’m excited to launch a comprehensive route guide update for the Baja Peninsula’s iconic Baja Divide Bikepacking Route. Building on Nicholas Carman and Lael Wilcox’s original 2017 guide, wi

A short trip through the Sawatch Range in Colorado wrapped up our summer of bike touring.

I’ve been back in Tucson for a couple of weeks now, reflecting on some of the lasting lessons I’ve gained from the gift of spending so much time on

Check out some of the podcast interviews below to learn more about my journey and projects

I first met Sarah a little over a year back after I had been commissioned to make a film about her event the Ruta Del Jefe. Named after the famous jaguar that inhabited the area the event takes place in, namely the Sky Islands of the southern Arizona borderlands. It is one of the most biodiverse regions in the USA, and it is facing numerous environmental and humanitarian issues, from the threat of mineral extraction to the unnecessary deaths of migrants crossing the border. The goal of the event is to raise awareness for the region, and in the lead up to the inaugural event I spent several days interviewing a series of experts from a range of different organisations, each working to protect an element in the region. With a route that can only be described as breathtaking the event highlighted for me the ability of sport to showcase a region under threat, as well as bring together all of those with an interest in protecting the area under one roof to further educate and inform the racing participants. It was that event that really helped focused the mission of thereabouts as that of using sport to help people understand the world. This is only one bow in the plethora of Sarah Swallow and so we sat down with her to better understand how she came to view the bike in the way that she does and how she plans to use it to keep fighting for the issues she cares about. You Can watch the Ruta Del Jefe film here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJHFxFjMrc Watch our other films, read our stories and much more over at www.thereabouts.co Music is from Outskirts written and produced by Builders Tea @builders_tea_ Instagram: @hereorthereabouts