mountain background

adventurer, WRITER AND Cyclist

After years as a financial editor and juggling cycling-related roles such as bike mechanic and tour guide, I’ve now turned my focus to what I’m truly passionate about: cycling and travel.

My journey into cycle touring began in 2017 with an ambitious 8,000km adventure through South America on a hefty steel hybrid bike. That first trip ignited a lifelong love for exploring on two wheels — so much so that I’m not sure I remember how to travel without a bike.

Since then, I’ve been bikepacking across Europe, embracing the joy of rediscovering nearby countries without flying. From one-week escapes to six-month odysseys, I have found ways to fit these adventures around my work commitments.

In 2023 and 2024, I ventured into the world of ultra-endurance racing, adding another dimension to my cycling repertoire. My experiences span the full spectrum of cycle travel:

  • A penniless tourer hauling 25kg of gear and pocketing rubber bands found on the ground ‘just in case’;

  • A credit-card tourer gliding from hotel to hotel on a sleek carbon road bike;

  • A bikepacker camping every night simply for the thrill of it;

  • An ultra-light endurance racer carrying only the essentials to survive a few days of discomfort.

Whatever the style, I’ve done it—and it’s this diversity of experience that fuels my passion for helping others discover their own cycling adventures.

Scenic photo of a tree on top of an inactive volcano
bikepacking road bike on the side of a road in France
  • Long adventures where I unplug: just me, my mates and my bike. Bivvying is a key part of the adventure

    Cycling 8,000km from Ushuaia (Argentina) to Lima (Peru) over six months as part of a team of three women

    Cycling 9,500km around the UK, Ireland, France (Normandy, Loire and Rhône) and Spain (Mediterranean coast, Andalucía, Extremadura) over six months

  • When I am not on the bike, I make up other alternatives to traditional transport methods

    Swim-touring the coast of Normandy, towing all my belongings in a safety tow float

    Crossing Lake Como unassisted: a 1.5km swim over one of the deepest lakes in Europe

    Running to Christmas: a yearly pilgrimage from London to Surrey, but running

  • Discovering Europe, always on a bike, always camping

    Tour of the Asturias (Spain)

    Tour of the Massif Central (France)

    Aix-en-Provence (France) to Tuscany (Italy) for a wedding

    Belfort (France) - Lake Constance (Germany) - Switzerland - Como Lake (Italy)

    Tour of Catalonia and the Valencian region (Spain)

    Paris - Prague by bike (1,300km)

    Paris - London in 36 hours on a vintage road bike

  • Long and restless events carrying minimalist kit:

    200km, 300km and 400km Audax events

    Poco Loco Aix-Milan (700km)

    The Wild Wild Country (800km)

Emma Karslake in a wetsuit with a towfloat with the Mont Saint Michel as a backdrop
Emma Karslake riding a fully-loaded touring bike on a main road in Chile. Background: clouds and desert