Updated by Jeff Taylor October 30, 2024.
With our 8-year anniversary just a few days away and as you may have seen on our last eNewsletter, RIDE Adventures just announced that we’re starting operations in Asia, our 5th continent!
I snuck out a few blog posts back in April during the research trip in Thailand and Laos, as a few of our Customers and friends joined me for what was truly a trip full of surprises. (See the 1st post here, the 2nd one here, and the 3rdhere. What lies below is a summary of those trip updates.)
Surprises? To me, the guy that has spent most of the last 10 years riding adventure bikes through 25 countries on 4 other continents? Through places like the Skeleton Coast, the Namib Desert, the Alps, Andes, Rockies and Dolomites? Yes, Thailand and Laos still surprised me.
This past month of riding and exploring Thailand and Laos has felt like a gigantic riding experience, and none of us seem to believe that it only lasted month. Felt like a lifetime, with all the amazing discoveries we've made together.
As eluded to in the past couple of blog posts, I was somewhat skeptical about how good the riding could be in southeast Asia could be. Having been riding the Andes, Alps, Dolomites, and other pristine riding destinations for the last decade, and hearing the feedback of our Customers who have gone on to enjoy such jaw-dropping experiences made me wonder a bit just how much “incredible” was left out there. While I'm not going to tell you the scenery in Thailand or Laos is as dramatic as those other regions, the quality of riding ... the fun variety of mixed terrain we found here, is going to be tough to beat. With perhaps the fewest kilometers I've ever spent going straight on a bike, the Thai-Laos riding demanded an intense focus by each Rider, as it will yours if you come over for one of the riding packages we're going to be announcing soon. (That’s right, we’re going to do this!)
With sore cheeks sometimes from smiling so much within my helmet here in Thailand and Laos, oh what a trip this has been.
The last 10 years of covering the best routes in southern Africa, South America, and Europe admittedly had me a bit doubtful about what Asia might possibly have to offer. Yet here I am once again blown away by the fun that can be had on a motorcycle, in foreign lands where so many friendly people are part of making our Guided Group adventure ride feel so welcome. (Dermot and I with some Asian Water Buffalos in the background.)
“Twisties Galore” would be one way to describe what we did the first 5-6 riding days in Thailand, but as previously mentioned in my last post, there were some fun dashes through extremely remote dirt tracks as well. Through jungle-like foliage and the tiniest roadside villages, and back on to the pavement before climbing more challenging dirt backroads, the extreme variety factor in these routes cannot be understated.
On the heels of our recently announcement of these great new service offerings for riding motorcycles in Colombia, it's time to share some of "why" we would bother to offer trips here in the first place.
What wasn't explained in that eNewsletter was that, indeed, RIDE Adventures did have Colombian operations in place back in the first few years of business from 2010-13. Sadly, but as can happen in any situation, our working relationships with the people previously involved came to an end, so it's only now about 4 years later that we've been able to reestablish a team worthy of taking care of our Customers in Colombia. This means great things for adventure riders from around the world who might have never thought they would ride in a country like this.
So here we go, 5 Top Reasons:
1) BECAUSE "YES," IT’S SAFE TO RIDE IN COLOMBIA!!!
It's full-blown peak season in Patagonia and southern Africa touring season right now, such that I thought it was time to remind everyone about another great service we added last year: 4x4 Adventure Packages
The impetus for this blog post comes on the heels of tough news that yes, a few Adventure Riders have had crashes throughout parts of Namibia and the Andes Mountains down in Chile & Argentina this season. Fortunately nobody has been seriously injured in a life threatening manner, but this is the type of news we hope to avoid in the first place.
Gotta get this out there, cause it's too good not to share these thoughts (even if they sound a little too "mushy" for a bunch of adventure riders.)
It's particularly this time of year, "peak season" for our operations in southern Africa and stunning Patagonia, that I'm reminded about what I love so much about this business.
I've been talking or typing with so many of you for months now, discussing your riding wishes and advising with my best judgment about which of our options will best satisfy your riding desires. In doing so, I get to know you a bit. I've learned things like which motorcycles you ride, in some cases, which was your first bike ever, and reasons for finally taking your "dream trip." All of this brings back fond memories of my own riding past, and therefore a smile. Congratulations to so many of you for retiring, turning 50, or celebrating by going for a international ride somewhere to mark a special time in your life. (Not to mention those of you who are just due for a vacation.)
Riders, it's Baldy here with another reminder: Motorcycle adventures for peak season need to be booked as far in advance as possible!
Pardon the urgency, but we've gotten to this point each season for 8 years in a row now. Riders from around the world have been inquiring about trips all year long, and yes, many of you have confirmed reservations and are excited to start your trips. But so many Riders who have waited to commit are now being told that the dates they wanted for their Self-Guided motorcycle tours are sold out, and it's as frustrating to us as it may be to them! In this example, I'm referring to the peak riding months in Patagonia and the routes we've designed in southern Africa. It's right now that springtime arrives in October, and the riding temperatures and conditions remain their best through April or so.
Motorcycle riding has long been an obvious pastime for guys—time for the boys to get together, sometimes even with us women on the back of the bike. But, more and more often, women are getting into biking and today it's now said that we make up 1 out of every 8 riders. That's quite some progress, given the rarity it still may be to meet a free-spirited gal that rides motorcycles : )
A term that never popped into my head until just now, "adventure style" could be an easy way of explaining how RIDE Adventures has evolved over the years.
As an international travel service provider, we've constantly tried to stay-tuned to exactly what our Customers are interested in doing with their vacation time, and how to make the best use of the resources, effort, and risk that you all put into each travel endeavor. In other words, we've always strived to understand what your adventure style is.
RIDE Adventures started by offering Guided Group Motorcycle Tours back in 2010. I was living in Chile and finishing my work with another motorcycle touring company that was shutting down when this small business was born. Back then, it seemed that the only service aspect that other moto-related travel companies were focused on was being your Guide, physically there on tour with you. My own passion for motorcycle travel and getting to know fun people made guiding a natural fit for me; and since 2010, I've gone on to lead some of the most fantastically fun groups of people through some of the most incredible motorcycle routes in Europe, Africa, and South America.
