Ksolo DaRyder is a well known, highly respected and decorated cross country biker who has accomplished nearly every feat a cross country biker can accomplish. From I-10 End to End to the Hoka Hey Challenge champion to the Iron Elite and many, many more accolades. This man has done it all. I started following him some time ago because I quickly began to notice every time he posted a picture or a video on social media he was in a vastly different part of the United States, Canada, Mexico and even Nova Scotia.
When he decided to tap me on the shoulder to be featured in his new podcast: “Riding With Ksolo DaRyder The Podcast” I was beyond humbled. Ksolo’s purpose in starting a podcast is to discuss the many aspects of the biker diaspora. A “60-Minutes” for bikers if you will.
The topic of the episode was to recognize independent bikers. Little did I know that he had already been watching me on my own solo adventures motorcycle camping, and cross country riding on my Honda Shadow Phantom 750. It was a purposeful choice I made because I wanted to make a statement to the biker community.
Not only does one not need a big touring cruiser to ride cross country, with the right planning you can carry just as much if not more gear on a small bike than you can a big touring bike. This mainly is so because of the tried and true sissy bar and rack. A tour pack and saddlebags can only carry so much. You’re also limited lengthwise with what you can carry on a big touring cruiser but the right size duffle bag can carry every possible item you need for a long term motorcycle camping adventure.
In my eyes there are nothing but advantages to being an independent, solo biker. You can go anywhere, stay anywhere and leave on your schedule. Riding alone is also a great opportunity to really sharpen your skills at surviving on the road. As you cover the countryside you find the best campgrounds to camp, the best bars, restaurants and routes to popular roads and interstates to ride and destinations to travel to.
You would be surprised at the sheer numbers of people who are fascinated with cross country riding but they are afraid to get out there for any number of reasons. The fear of being stranded and alone on the side of the road, encountering dangerous people or getting lost in the middle of nowhere but these are reasons why it’s called an adventure not a commute.
Wherever you are in life whether you’re wealthy or poor, young or old, educated or uneducated you can gain a wealth of experiences that can forever change your outlook on life, gain a better appreciation of your fellow man, and establish a purpose for being alive. Live to ride, ride to live.
The solo cross country biker lifestyle cultivates mindfulness, as every moment on the bike demands presence, allowing riders to savor the beauty of nature and the exhilaration of adventure while forging lasting memories and a sense of belonging in the vast tapestry of the biking community.
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