Cycling from Mongolia to the UK: Claire Wyatt on Fear, Freedom, and Finishing a Dream (Part 1)

Claire Wyatt shares what it was like to be Cycling solo from Mongolia all the way back home to the UK

We also candidly discuss the reality of life on the road beyond the highlight reels. Riding through torrential rain for days. Camping in flooded fields. Battling extreme cold in Mongolia and brutal heat across Europe. Facing fear, self doubt, and the weight of other people’s worries. And learning to enjoy the hard moments just as much as the good ones.

We cover:

• What it felt like to leave Mongolia and ride into remote wilderness
• The reality of bad days on long bike journeys
• Riding through extreme weather and harsh conditions
• Managing fear and other people’s concerns as a solo woman
• Acts of kindness that kept Claire moving forward
• Route decisions from Central Asia through Europe
• A last minute decision to cycle across the Pamirs
• The mental shift that happens once you finish a long-held dream
• Post-adventure blues and the power of micro adventures
• Why nature and solitude matter so much after coming home

Check Claire out on Instagram via : @exploringbybicycle

Previous episodes with Claire;

Cycling Across Australia Part 1

Cycling Across Australia Part 2

Cycling Across SE Asia 

Other guests mentioned in this episode:

Terri Jockerst

Laura Bastioli

Em Hulbert

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Chapters

• 3:46 Mongolia to the UK: Epic Adventure Begins
• 8:53 Facing Fears and Embracing Freedom
• 12:43 The Privilege and Guilt of Long-Term Travel
• 17:08 Surviving the Extremes: Cold Weather and Equipment Failures
• 27:29 Navigating Routes and Unexpected Challenges
• 36:58 The Final Stretch: From France to the UK
• 46:26 Reflecting on the Australia and Mongolia to London Trips
• 49:53 Dealing with Menstrual Cycles During Long-Term Touring
• 53:04 Navigating Harsh Weather and Border Crossings
• 54:32 Experiences with Local Hospitality and Cultural Differences
• 58:37 Encounters with Local Women and Cultural Insights
• 1:17:15 The Kindness of Strangers and Paying It Forward
• 1:24:28 Future Travel Plans and Reflections on Past Journeys