The View From My Bicycle...

In April this year I decided to leave everything behind and start a new adventure. I quit my job, gave away all my things and closed all my accounts. My plan you ask? Well, I intend to cycle around South Africa for two years and write about my adventures and experiences.

- Kyran Richardson

I started the journey in the dark, literally and figuratively. It was a dark, cold morning in may as I set off into the sunrise toward Bronkhorstspruit. my parents and I shared coffee and final farewells on the R25 outside Pretoria as the sun started peaking above the horizon. I did final checks on my amateur knot-tying skills to make sure none of my gear would fall off and then bravely kicked off on my trusty steed, Penny and cycled into the unknown.

I had no idea what to expect from people I met along the way. I read travel blogs, and gear guides and tried my best to train as often as possible before leaving however I was completely in the dark about bikepacking. That is the best part of an adventure, though – delving into the unknown and experiencing things for the first time.

My girl Penny

A brief description of my girl Penny - Penny is a full suspension bike with a home-made bracket attached to the handle bar to hold my luggage and a tent. Penny was cheap as I only had a small budget for gear and no sponsors. I found the cheapest bike I could and spent the rest of my money on a few spares and a patch kit. Two months into my adventure, I love my cheap ride. I would not trade my ill equipped, heavy, squeaky girl for any other bike.