Episode 156: Claire Wyatt (Part 2)

Cycling From Mongolia to the UK. What Finishing a Dream Adventure Feels Like

In this second half of my conversation with long distance cyclist Claire Wyatt, we pick up from where we left off andfollow her journey all the way back to the United Kingdom. Claire reflects on riding across winter roads in Central Asia, the shock of getting seriously ill mid ride, and the emotional work of returning home after the biggest cycling adventure of her life.

Claire shares candidly what it feels like to finish a 57,000 kilometre world ride, how she stayed motivated during the hardest moments, and why settling down does not mean adventure has to end. If you missed Part 1, make sure to listen to that first – here.

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Returning to Where it All Began

Mongolia was the landscape this particular adventure started in, but Cambodia is where Claire first learned how to bike tour. As we talk through her reflections, it’s pretty clear how life informing it was for her, to move there at the age of 21 and how that early time living abroad taught her confidence, route finding and resilience.

That early chapter is also why she chose to fundraise and raise awareness for the Mine Advisory Group, speaking to people around the world about landmines and the lasting impact they have on communities. It kept Cambodia close to her heart throughout the entire journey and it’s also very clear that it’s a country Claire feels a deep affinity with.

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Wolves in the Night and Winter Roads

Claire rode through Kyrgyzstan as winter took hold. Temperatures dropped and everywhere she went locals kept warning her about the risks posed by wolves. At one stage she did buy a knife to help guard against them, but then realised how ridiculous that was. She did end up having one encounter with a worlf, but it left her well alone. Claire also recalls hearing wolves outside her tent at night and the way that sharpened her awareness of being alone in such a vast place.

Cold weather continued right throughout Central Asia and into Georgia and Turkey. At times the riding was brutally hard. Yet Claire kept moving through it, relying on experience built up from the previous tours she’d taken. Her kit choices also helped her manage the cold with a sleeping bag built for temperatures down to minus 20C. Claire also shares her tips for anyone planning to ride through winter including her surprising love for gardening gloves, which beat many expensive cycling gloves for warmth and durability!

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Illness, Recovery and the Choice to Continue

After months on the road Claire decided to return home for Christmas, expecting a short break with family. Instead she became seriously ill and spent weeks in hospital. During this time Claire understandably went through moments of deep uncertainty about whether she would be able to finish the journey at all.

What followed was a difficult physical and emotional recovery, made harder by the pull of the road and the strong desire to complete what she had started. Eventually she chose to return to her bike in Georgia, slowly rebuilding strength before riding on to the United Kingdom. Claire is honest about how hard this period was and why finishing mattered so deeply to her wellbeing. She also quite frankly shares that she ended up returning to Georgia before winter had left the country, and so she was straight back into snow riding and cold weather.

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Dogs, Kindness and the Emotional Weight of the Road

Throughout her travels Claire had many encounters with dogs. In Mongolia she discovered a very loyal companion in a stray, who diligently stuck to her side across multiple days and river crossings. In Albania Claire ended up rescuing abandoned puppies in Albania. These moments brought her both joy and heartbreak. They also highlight how emotional long distance riding can be. Sometimes the challenge in in making connections be it with people or animals. In the case of finding the puppies in this state of distress it also came with the unexpected responsibilities and a reckoning with the things you come across which you cannot change.

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Learning From Every Ride

With more than 57,000 kilometres travelled over the years, Claire has developed strong instincts about gear, planning and mindset. During our discussion I had her shares practical advice and tips for new riders including:

• Investing in the best quality you can afford but also seek out secondhand or rental options first
• Heavy kit is not always better
• A water filter solves many problems
• Bike computers help but a paper map can be just as valuable
• Warm layers matter more than you think
• Start with what you have and learn along the way

Claire spoke about how each tour adds invisible experience to your panniers that shapes the next one. The longer you ride, the more you learn what you truly need.

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Settling Down Without Losing Adventure

Claire has returned back to the UK and chosen to build a life in the Lake District where hills, trails and open spaces keep her connected to the outdoors. She now shares her life with her dog Gobi, named after the Mongolian stray dog who befriended her in the desert and became a huge part of her story. Speaking wiht Claire there is a realisation that while huge journeys may not be in her plans, she does have every intention of continuing to scheme up smaller adventures. Just because they are smaller, doesn’t mean they won’t be as fulfilling.

For Claire the journey taught her that you can be based in one place without losing your curiosity or your identity as a traveller. Adventures do not always need to mean months away. They can happen in weekends, holidays and even short rides from your front door.

Be sure to follow Claire’s future adventures via her instagram account – @exploringbybicycle

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