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The Great Ride Along full

The Great Ride Along

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| ADVMoto | Photos by Mitchel de Jager and Only.Bikelife (Instagram) | Riders

Leaving everything behind to pursue their dream, Nadia and Mitchel are currently preparing for a world journey on two adventure bikes. They want to prove it’s possible to follow any dream no matter the circumstances.

TheGreatRideAlong 1Mitchel and Nadia with the first of their two Yamaha Ténéré 700s.

For years Nadia and Mitchel talked about emigrating from the Netherlands to Central or South America. Yet it was during a lockdown, when those plans seemed less likely to happen, that they went for it―and they decided to do it on a pair of motorcycles. You might think that was an odd choice, especially as Mitchel only had 5,000 kilometers of riding under his belt and Nadia only had a single lesson. They made this decision simply because it seemed like the best way to do it. They’re calling it “The Great Ride Along” and want others along for the ride to experience every aspect—the good, the bad, and the ugly. And, they hope to inspire others to follow their dreams, regardless of whatever situation they may be in.

TheGreatRideAlong 2A behind the scenes view of scenes with their Ténéré.

Without a passive income or much cash saved, they faced a major challenge immediately: How to finance their trip? To pay the bills, Mitchel and Nadia are going the full digital nomad route. About six months ago they started with Instagram, added a website, and are now working on their first YouTube video. Their business model is straightforward, consisting of partnerships, crowdfunding for their charity work, and income from advertisements on Instagram and YouTube.

 TheGreatRideAlong 3Taking a motorcycle off-road with no experience is quite challenging.

Currently, they are preparing to embark on their adventure on the first of June. Their highest priority is in building partnerships, with MijnBedrijf.Online and KLIM already committed to supporting their journey. Mitchel estimates they’ll need at least eight more partners. Their current focus is on acquiring the second adventure bike, camping and survival gear, along with video and photo equipment.

TheGreatRideAlong 4First time “camping” with the bike during daylight.

They’re already astonished by the community support, and Nadia and Mitchel are committed to the riding off on June 1, no matter what!