Alice Baddeley – Bike Touring Britain: Coastlines, Straight Lines and 1,000+ Mile Challenges

Alice is a long-distance bike tourer, drone pilot, and freelance creative who designs her adventures around self-imposed rules and unconventional challenges. Based in a van and working with Komoot, she uses cycling as both a mode of transport and a way to deeply explore the landscapes of Britain.

Her journeys are anything but ordinary. In 2021, Alice cycled through every town and village in Sussex, covering over 1,000 miles without leaving the county. The following year, she completed a full cycle of the British coastline. 

In 2023, she attempted an even more ambitious challenge—travelling from Shoreham to Oldshoremore in as straight a line across Britain as possible.

In this episode, Alice shares how she first discovered bike touring, what inspired her to take on increasingly creative endurance challenges, and why she is drawn to journeys that combine geography, problem-solving, and adventure. She talks about life on the road in a van, the logistics behind her rides, and the realities of planning multi-week cycling expeditions using everything from paper maps to GPS apps.

We explore the highs and lows of long-distance cycling, from wild camping and weather challenges to moments of complete freedom on remote coastal routes. Alice also reflects on what she has learned from designing her own rules for adventure, and why letting go of perfection has opened the door to more meaningful experiences.

Listen to this episode to hear how cycling can become a creative practice, why the UK is full of endless adventure opportunities, and how setting your own rules might just be the best way to explore the world.

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Show notes

• Being based in a van 
• Originally from South West London
• Self employed as a drone pilot and freelancing for Komoot 
• Her love for cycling and using if for her main mode of transport
• Getting interested in bike touring 
• Finding out about cycling from Lands End to John O' Groats (LEJOG)
• Finding out you don't need to be an athlete to cycle these massive distances 
• Magical moments from her LEJOG Trip
• Doing it with paper maps pre smart phones
• Making a lifestyle decision to become self employed 
• Enjoying the freedom it gave her
• Cycling during covid - staying local in Sussex 
• The Sussex 1000 challenge 
• Wanting to cycle the coast line of Great Britain 
• The reason for the name yellow vello
• Lov