Helen Dainty – First Woman to Cycle Across Libya & 9 Years Living on £50 a Week by Bike

In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we catch up with Helen Dainty — solo female cyclist, self-described "full-time global hobo," and one of the most committed long-distance bike travellers you'll ever meet.

For the past decade, Helen has spent nine years on the road, travelling exclusively by bicycle and living on around £50 a week. She's cycled across Australia, ridden from London to Nordkapp and back, travelled extensively through the Middle East and North Africa — and in 2025 became the first woman to cycle across Libya.

When war in Sudan forced her to abandon an overland route into East Africa, Helen adapted and rerouted — because that's what life on the road demands: flexibility, resilience, and the ability to trust the process.

In this episode, we dive into what's happened since we last spoke in January 2022. From navigating complex visa systems (including Algeria and Libya), to travelling with police security details, being detained in Libya, and accepting incredible hospitality through the Warm Showers community — Helen shares the raw, practical realities of long-term cycle touring.

We also talk about:

• The logistics of visas with a British passport
• Working with visa agents and last-minute plan changes
• Cycling in Algeria and Libya
• Budget travel (sticking to AUD $100 per week)
• Her bike setup — switching from chain to belt drive
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and long-distance reliability
• Not collecting souvenirs and living with less
• Documenting her journey on YouTube (and the time spent editing!)
• Saying yes to unexpected opportunities

Helen also opens up about going through perimenopause and menopause while cycling through deserts — dealing with extreme sadness, brain fog, hot sweats in the middle of the night, and coming out the other side feeling stronger and more balanced. At 47, she believes she has another strong decade of adventure ahead — and she's not slowing down.

Looking forward, Helen plans to spend the next two years cycling down the west coast of Africa in an attempt to circle the continent, before eventually heading back towards Australia through Asia.

Her advice for women wanting to do something different?

Say yes to the opportunity — you can work out the details on the way. Accept without hesitation.

Raw, honest, practical and deeply inspiring — this is a powerful catch-up with a woman who has built her entire life around two wheels.

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Show notes