aboutus
We are Ben and Linda and we discover the world to pass it on in a green and more social way. That’s why we travel around the world as green as can be, give direct help to people living in poverty and support nature conservation projects. You can help us by donating to our foundation XPLORid.
Green
Our mode of transport is a bicycle. When needed we look for a sailboat to cross an ocean. We do not get on any airplane during our 7-year world tour. By doing so we make the statement: you cán discover the world by bicycle.
Aid projects
We collect € 1 for every kilometer we cycle. That's € 100,000. Would you like to support us in this goal with a donation?
With your donation we support nature conservation projects and help people who are living in poverty. We buy, for example, a goat, sheep or cow. Or we take care of the repair of a broken refrigerator or bicycle. Visiting the dentist or the doctor. Medicines, clothes, shoes, a new roof. Helping start a small business etc. etc.
Our journey of discovery
We cycle all over the world. 100,000 km through 80 countries.
We expect to be on the road for seven years. On Monday June 15 2020 we started our world tour from the Vrijthof in Maastricht (the Netherlands). Do you want to know where we are now?
From Maastricht we cycle to the east, crossing Turkey, Iran, China and Mongolia. Then to the south, visiting India, Indonesia and Australia. After that, we will head towards Japan, Canada and the US. Through Central America, we will cycle all the way to Patagonia. Finally, we will ride through Africa and back to Europe.
Curious about which countries we have already visited? The route we cycled so far is also on Strava and Komoot.
The meaning of XPLORid
We named our world bicycle tour XPLORid.
The letters of this name have a special meaning to us:
Xplore: discovering the world
People & planet: social and green journey of discovery
Low budget: cycling and camping
Outdoor: being outdoors 24/7
Round trip: cycling around the whole world
idworx: the brand of our indestructible bicycles
Xid
In addition, the word “exit” is hidden in this name. This refers to saying goodbye to our comfortable life. Cycling is our new way of life. We will often have to go to the toilet in nature and after a day of cycling there won’t be a shower and a real bed. We slip back to three basic needs: eating, drinking and sleeping. But we get a lot in return:
-
the experience and pleasure of a lot of freedom. Everything is allowed and nothing is obligatory.
-
our new routine is more synchronized with nature: active during the day and rest during the night.
We are really looking forward to:
-
the people we meet;
-
the help we give;
-
the nature we discover;
-
the animals we see;
-
the elements we feel.
Linda
I love living a meaningfull life, freedom, sports and traveling.
I am not materialistic and I am selling almost all of my stuff. I prefer nature in stead of crowds. I'd rather go to a concert of one good artist (Coldplay) than to a festival.
The TV is always turned off, except for good movies (Avatar, Millenium and The Hunger Games Trilogy) or series (Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Homeland, Casa de papel, Lost and Friends). I like to read books like Millenium and The Hunger games.
I am adventurous and enjoy discovering new things. For example, I like to take Ben to new sauna locations or to explore a new cycle route.
I like to sing (in the shower). I know a lot of lyrics by heart.
I love the sun, the beach and the sea. I snorkel for hours in the water to find beautiful sea urchin shells. I like to be the first on the beach in the morning to pick up shells.
I like to watch the (falling) stars and the full moon. I keep track of the lunar cycle and look for reflection in it.
I am what they call a hard worker and I love the motto "a deal's a deal". After having worked in sales for 12 years, I started the process of (self) awareness throughout my whole life.
I no longer have a car and live as CO2 neutral as possible. I eat meat twice a week and fish once a week. I make purchases as sustainably as possible.
At home I "brew" kefir and kombucha and I look for healthy and tasty dishes.
I go to the gym 3 times a week and like to spend the rest of the week actively working at Bever and the Gezondheidswinkel (Health Shop) in Maastricht. My study Health Therapy is on hold during our world bicycle tour. Giving massages is my specialty. I really enjoy getting massages as well.
Because of the world trip, I prepare myself by taking Spanish lessons on Duolingo. With my sales skills and organizational talent, I focus on sponsor requests, the press and the packing list.
Ben
I am calm, self-conscious, (un)patient, sweet, passionate, sporty, witty, adventurous, quirky, enthusiastic, honest, reliable, persistent, tireless, forgetful, slow, naive and not very structured.
I have an allergy for the words "you must". I choose my own way, and I'm authentic and independent.
I love freedom, sports (swimming and cycling), traveling, backpacking, salsa dancing, exciting stories, John Irving, Quintin Tarantino and massages (give and receive). But most of all I love Linda (and my beautiful Ducati Scrambler).
I like white cool sheets and black coffee (from freshly ground beans). I prefer being in nature and not in a crowded city. I love café De Pieter, swimming pool Jekerdal and my three beautiful daughters.
I love challenges, single malt Scottish peat whiskey, dark chocolate, good food, cooking (melanzane from Italy, Indonesian dishes and gratin dauphinois from France), cherry pie from Hermans bakery, raw herring with onions, fries with mayonnaise and of course my mother's apple pie and chicken soup.
I don't watch TV but I watch good movies (Quintin Tarantino) or series (Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Homeland and Casa de papel). Learn Spanish at Duolingo for the world trip.