Cycling into Retirement

When you think of retirement, do you wonder how you will fill your days? Do you think retirement may be boring? It doesn't have to be according to today's guest. Meet Anne Breedlove, a seasoned cyclist and soon-to-be author. 

In 2008, Anne and her husband retired at 54 and 61 to travel the world by loaded bicycles. Before grandchildren, they spent eight years cycling approximately 30,000 miles through 21 countries. Cycling into Retirement recounts Anne’s experiences on the road, the fantastic people she has met along the way, and how cycling is really about bonding with others.

Are you interested in how Anne and Jim got started in cycling? Then, stay tuned because Anne is working on publishing a book about their early adventures. Watch for Part-time Nomads: Learning how to Travel the World on Bicycles (while raising two kids and holding down day jobs) coming to a bookshelf near you soon.

Anne’s Reflections:

• The richest part of her and Jim's travels was their time with Warmshowers hosts. They learned and benefited so much from the kindness of strangers.
• In 1971, she posted an ad in her high school newspaper looking for someone to cycle across the USA with. She finally achieved this goal with Jim in 2008.
• The most momentous stretch in their travels was the 14 days it took them to cross Australia's Nullarbor.
• A 38-hour storm in Mongolia damaged their tent's zippers beyond repair.
• Their second favorite way to spend a night is free camping in the middle of nowhere, sitting with a cup of hot tea and journals after a day of vigorous cycling.  Being alone in nature is the pièce de résistance.

Learn more about Anne Breedlove and follow her adventures on her new website, Anne Breedlove, and on Instagram at @speedyab6.

Join our community at Warmshowers.org, follow us on Instagram @Warmshowers_org and visit us on Facebook. Contact Tahverlee directly at Tahverlee@Warmshowers.org.

Theme Music by Les Konley | Produced by Les Konley

Happy riding and hosting!