My name is Gary, I’m an ER Physician and I’m turning 60 on the TDA. Sometimes I think that I’ve signed up for something a whole lot bigger than me.Unfortunately I’ve told so many people that I can’t possibly back out and save face. I ride a lot but never long distances. I like camping but have never been out for more than a week. I’ve never been away from home for more than 3 weeks!!!! So, for me this is going to be one heck of a cycling and camping trip. A real animal experience, blood, sweat, tears and probably some diarrhea, voraciously hungry,
exhausted, sleeping like a log, exhilarated and at times so dirty.

I can’t think of a better way to turn 60 !!!.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all and sharing with you this fantastic trip. See you all in Cairo-your uture friend and personal physician

Hi, I’m Len DeMoss, age 62 (at the moment) and will probably be the “old guy” on the 2011 TDA. I longer work, having retired from Ford Motor Co as an engineering manager in 2002, until they pulled me back to live/work in Asia for 3 years in 2004-2006. During that time I traveled extensively throughout China, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, South Africa and Vietnam. In 2007 I was asked by the Company to return to live/work in China for 2 years which ended up as an 18 month stint.

I have been a long time runner, having done over a hundred marathons, and numerous ultrarunning events of 50K on up to 100 miles. I’ve run multi day runs through the Andes in Peru (including twice running the ancient Inca trail to Machu Pichu) as well as runs through Patagonia in Chile, Argentina and competed in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa 3 times and the Two Oceans Marathon in Capetown. I took up cycling in 1991 as cross training for running and cycling has developed into an intense passion.

The past 5 years I’ve done self supported bike tour rides with a UK friend (met him on a ride in Vietnam) through Asia. We meet in Bangkok in early Jan, and then just take off riding for 3-4 months. Our last trip was Jan – March, 2010 through northern Thailand, northern Laos into northern Vietnam, then down the length of Vietnam and back across Cambodia. I extended the ride by riding around the island of Bali in Indonesia.

In Cambodia several years ago, I met a couple who were cycling around the world who told me of their ride through Africa on the TDA. I looked up the website and put it in the back of my mind as possibly a someday. In Jan, 2010, my son who was living in Capetown, mentioned that he wanted to ride TDA in 2011 and enticed me into doing the ride with him. He signing up to race it; I’m undecided. I figure unless they give awards for an old age division, I’ll go Expedition.

I have had many opportunities in my life to travel around the world and see new cultures. I’m especially intrigued with seeing how other people live out their daily lives without the luxury of having the comforts we in the West have available and think we need to survive. I am really excited about doing the 2011 TDA and looking forward to doing this trip with my son. I’ve been to Victoria Falls, Namibia and other countries we’ll be riding through and can’t wait to do it on my bike.

I have always tried to live my life on a philosophy of the only regrets in life are the risks you were afraid to take. I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity of riding TDA once in my life.

I am undecided at the moment regarding riding for a charity. My heart is with cancer victims and children with cancer so possibly I can find a worthy charity along those areas that meet my goals. It’s always been difficult for me to ask people for money for charity events I’m doing and typically I find myself donating the majority of the gift to the charity!

See everyone in Cairo!

Hi everybody

I’m Hardy and 47 years on planet earth obviously haven’t made me any wiser. Or how can you explain the desire of going to Africa and spend four month on a bike crossing the whole continent?

It must be the hunger for life burning deep inside me and urging me to do things other people consider as “crazy”.

I love travelling, I love cycling, I love getting to know the world and I love Africa. Working as a freelance journalist in the football business (that’s soccer for you guys over there) I’ve been to Africa a couple of times and I’ve always been fascinated by it. Africa is so full of laughing, of dancing, of humanity. Yes I know, there is a dark side of Africa as well.When I covered the African Cup of Nation 2008 in Ghana I sometimes felt like going through all emotions in just a quarter of an hour. Joy and anger, optimism and despair, laughing and crying. That’s exactly what I expect during the Tour d’Afrique. I’ll love it, and I’ll hate it. That’s Africa, as they say in Ghana.

I only discovered the beauty of riding a bike four years ago. Until then a bike was something to go with from place A to place B while trying to avoid every possible hill (I couldn’t think of cycling a mountain then). Since I bought myself a racing bike I can’t get off the road and have to tackle every mountain that happens to cross my way. I’ve been to France a couple of times following the Tour-de-France-routes and cycled up some of the “holy” cols.

But I never went on a bike four months straight and I certainly never cycled in condition we’ll be likely to meet in Africa. So everything will be a big adventure and arriving in Cape Town I guess I will have changed. I’m already curious.

What I like about the Tour d’Afrique is the idea of being part of a group and be in a competive situation at the same time. It’s just much more than a sightseeing-tour and not being over-ambitious I certainly have one goal: achieving the ELF-status. But then… this is Africa…

I especially look forward going to Tanzania. In 1989 I spend six weeks in a small village in the Usambara region and when I visited the Kilimanjaro I was told, that whoever sees the top of the mountain without clouds will come back one day. I was lucky and since then I always dreamed about coming back. But then I never thought of going by bike...

I’ll take the Tour d’Afrique as a sabbat period for myself. After more than 15 years freelancing as a journalist and author I feel a bit rusty and have become curious what else is on offer in the world. In that way, Tour d’Afrique will be a journey into the unknown.

Looking forward to see you all in Cairo!

I live in Livermore, California.  I just retired from teaching last  
June and thought a tour of Africa would be a nice way to celebrate.

 
I'll be 63 when we begin the tour so I'm guessing that I will be  
slightly older than the average age of the other riders.  I've done several long distance tours in the U.S. and Europe, and a little in Australia. I usually try to ride 60-90 miles/day when on multi-week tours, even when loaded down with camping and cooking gear.  I expect that the mileage and conditions will be challenging, but then again, TDA does supply room and board. 

I'm very excited about this trip and look forward to day 1 in Cairo, day 120 in Capetown, and everything in between.

Hello, hello!

I’m Megan O’Brien, 22, and a recent graduate of the University of Florida.  I live in fear of getting a real job so I’ve stuck to “resume builders” that accept me for what I am: mildly inappropriate jokes and significant wanderlust.  For the past few summers, I’ve led cross-USA cycling trips for an NPO called Bike & Build (shameless plug: www.bikeandbuild.org), which requires much longer bios than TdA does, so I’ll just keep going.

I love the pain, gratification, and tan lines that result from bike tours, and always seem to sign up for new ones when I’m supposed to be studying for exams.  Thankfully the studying business is over, so perhaps my parents will finally rest easy after Africa is done.  Probably not.  I have absolutely no idea what to do in life, so I’ll be keen for suggestions, and I am deeply looking forward to hearing your stories when we’re on a bike.  In Africa.  For four months.  Nuts, eh?  Yes, you know it.

I try to downplay my experiences so that I seem like a mysterious person, but always let it slip that I’ll be traveling through Africa next Spring (and then when they ask where, I say oh, you know, Cairo to Cape Town.  On a bicycle) and am so excited for it to begin.

It’ll be tough and I can only imagine how many times I will think “what is wrong with me” as we jostle our way through gravel and headwind and as I watch the racers pass at twice my speed, but whenever I look at a map I know, as you know, that it will be worth it.

No pain, no gain.  See you in Cairo!

I currently work and reside in the Cayman Islands (in the Caribbean region) and work as a senior manager for KPMG on the island (so yes, I’m a “bean counter”… but don’t judge me just yet). After living here for almost 5 great years, I decided to move back home to South Africa, and soon followed the (way too logical) decision to do some traveling for 8 months in between jobs. A friend introduced me to this website (thanks Terry!), and being a keen traveler and sportsman, and having a big heart for Africa and its people, I knew immediately how I wanted to spend at least 4 out of the 8 months. Here’s the twist though… I have very little previous cycling experience and nothing even comes close to anything of this magnitude, which leaves me with quite a bit of work to do before heading off to Cairo! But I believe with a never say die attitude, anything is possible. I am currently in this “live more” frame of mind and I just want to go out and enjoy the great things life has to offer (although I am not sure saddle sores and rashes count!). I am really looking forward to this trip, meeting interesting (and dare I say crazy??) people from all walks of life, and seeing great places along the way. You will probably see me at the back of the group interacting with fellow riders (asking for motivation most likely) or just soaking in the moment (and texting my girlfriend).

As one of my good friends always says, “bringit”, which means “bring it’ but only in an Afrikaans accent ;) See ya in Cairo!

I am currently living in Liguria, Italy and embracing la bella vita of Alpine excursions and Mediterranean kayaks.  My college roommate, Kari, proposed doing this ride two years ago and I said, "Oh, sure... Someday".  Well someday turned out to be 2011 for us!

Growing up, I spent more time upside down tumbling or under water swimming then I did walking right side up on two feet!  Eventually, I found my footing in organized sports and then after college participated in road races, bike tours, and triathlons.  The TdA and discovery of Africa is just the next adventure.  I have butterflies in my stomach of excitement for the sites, smells, sounds, and sensations that we will experience.  I am excited to share, through our blog, these new experiences with those who may never travel to Africa and more importantly, to focus attention on a basic human need, fresh water, to which so many do not have access.  All of this would not be possible without the unwavering and loving support of family and friends; this will be another life experience to share together.  HERE WE GO!

Hi I'm Francis from London,United Kingdom.I've been enjoying running and cycling for quite a few years.I have some friends who live in Venezuela(South America) and have visited there 7 times,cycling in some breathtaking scenery in the Andes arround Merida.The highest road in Venezuela winds up to above 4000m over sea level.I especially love climbing on a bike,so I,m looking forward to Ethiopia and Kenya.

I discovered' Tour de Africa' on the internet and thought I'd like to enter and have managed to take a 4 month career break. I'm really excited about seeing Africa for the first time.Also I'm going to be raising money for WaterAid on the following site http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/

The world is a wonderful place!

I am reminded how lucky I am to be able to experience it whenever  I take a long swim, a ramble in pristine countryside, or make a long cycle ride.  The endeavours of humankind serve to enhance my appreciation; the great ancient civilisations, great art and the great music. (On a particularly gruelling ascent over the  Atlas mountains not so long ago, I  blocked out the  pain by mentally planning out the music I’d like played at my funeral (death seemed a not-unlikely outcome to my protesting lungs and legs!)).

Having drastically cut back on work commitments (I have a long career in medical research behind me),  I  now have the opportunity to savour it all. And to enjoy people and  friendships.

I’ve lived in Brisbane  Australia and hold dual Australian/British citizenship

I’m looking forward so much to meeting you all.

I am finally doing it!

After school, I worked in a Lab on a steel plant for 9 years... and a four month break was simply not possible. Since then I have moved to Ghana with my husband, where he is completing a three year work contract. So far the expat life is great. We have a break for R&R every two months and have enjoyed our travels. This year I am finishing my accounting degree and further I enjoy cycling around here. We live in a small village camp in the Brong Ahafo district, which is about 400 km North West from the capital, Accra. Although there is not much here, it is simply beautiful. Green forests and friendly faces make the stay very enjoyable. It has also forced me to relax more – things simply just happen at a different pace. It can either give you an ulcer or you can simply just go with it.

I started cycling about 4 years ago for fun and have never done something as huge as this epic tour, but believe that I can do it.  Through my blog, www.mareliev.blogspot.com ,I will try to obtain 120 new ALLSTARS members for the JAG foundation (www.jagfoundation.org.za)

This is going to be great! I cannot wait to meet everyone ;)