Lea Rieck: sense of freedom and the buddhist principle of Mudital
29/02/2024
Lisa Di Blas
We had the pleasure of interviewing Lea Rieck, a German adventurer and bestselling author, acclaimed for her solo motorbike journey across five continents in search of the essence of exploration and personal growth through travel.
Hi Lea! What ignited the spark for your solo motorcycle journeys around the world, and what drove you to choose the adventurous path of two wheels over more conventional means of travel? What was the catalyst that propelled you into this thrilling lifestyle?
The dream about traveling around the world overland was definitely born out of curiosity. I always wanted to know how landscapes, culture and envirmoents change when you are experiencing it by just crossing counties overland and not flying to some far away destinations. I always wondered what borders really mean and what changes. I only did my motorcycle license one year before I went on my trip around the world, so I was not an experienced rider whatsoever. But I found it very interesting to travel on a motorcycle because you are exposed to your environment, you feel the heat and the cold, you smell everything and you are not locked away in a car. You are also much easier approachable to locals on a motorcycle and at the same time more exposed – a motorcycle is a vehicle that is just much more communicative than a car. And you have to narrow down your luggage because you can’t take so many things. All of this made being on a motorcycle very attractive to me.
When it came to selecting your motorbike for your journeys, what were the key factors that influenced your decision? Which bike are you riding now?
On my worldtrip I rode a Triumph Tiger 800 XCA that I call Cleo. I always wanted to have a two cylinder bike because the bike that I started riding with only had one and my hands always went numb from the vibration. And back in 2016 only the bigger Adv-bikes had two cylinders. Looking back this was probably not the best decision for me. The bike was way too heavy for my riding skills. But it actually did an awesome job otherwise and nearly had no issues, even though I maintained it not very good. Meanwhile I am riding a Tenere 700 for traveling further and BMW 1200GS for European roads – even though I am currently considering an even more lightweight bike.
Amidst your global travels, what’s been the most heartwarming or eye-opening encounter you’ve had with local residents?
In Nepal I had a very funny and embarrassing accident. I just wanted to do a little short ride to the next village and therefore didn’t wear my motorcycle gear – the long dress that I was wearing got into my chain and back wheel and ripped off completely. So I was standing in the middle of the jungle basically naked. Two guys that were cutting the grass and trees on the side of the road with their machete helped me to get the dress out of the wheel and brought me to a woman who lived in a little shack without electricity. She sewed the dress together for me and while she did so it turned out that she spoke a little English that she had self-taught herself. She wanted to know everything about my trip and told me that she had always dreamt about traveling the world too. That was of course one of the moments where I again strongly realized what a privilege it is to be born in a country like I was, and to be able to travel, but the most beautiful things was that she told me that in Buddhism there is the principle of Mudita. It means that you are happy for other people, and get pleasure out of other peoples well being. And I could feel how truly happy she was for me, even though I was able to do something that she had always dreamt of. That was definitely one of the most heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking encounters for me.
Which destination has defied your expectations the most, and how did it challenge or enrich your perspective on travel and culture?
It is truly impossible to just name one – I guess the whole experience of traveling long term without having a home and time limit has. One of my favorite parts of the world is the „Stans“, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and so on. Mostly because I love high mountains so much and there are a lot of very high and rough mountains. Also there is still a big Nomadic heritage and I find it super interesting, how Nomads in these modern days live and it was such a great experience to live with them and get to know their structures and values.
What do you find most exhilarating about living life on the road, and what aspects do you find most challenging to navigate?
Most exhilarating is definitely the sense of freedom. There is no place where you need to be tomorrow, if you like a destination you can stay a few days longer, there is nobody who tells you what to do or how to spend your time. Most challenging are actually some of the everyday tasks. To me all the bigger challenges that come with traveling like complicated border crossings or gnarly terrain are part of the fun of traveling also – but packing everyday and doing laundry is one of the things I would outsource immediately if I could.
Throughout your journeys, what technical challenges or mechanical issues have you encountered with your motorcycle, and how did you handle them while on the road?
I am 100 percent the wrong person to ask about maintenance. I don’t even oil my chain regularly – but weirdly it always lasted longer than for many other people (there is a theory that oiling your chain riding on dirt is not so good anyways because then the dirt sticks on it and makes it wear down even more).
But there is one learning I have taken with me: There is always a solution, especially in countries that don’t even have the brand that your motorcycle is from. I had flat tires several times, burnt clutches and the usual things. Everything that is mechanical can be fixed, people are super inventive. The only thing that can bring you into trouble is if the electronics of your bike have an issue – that’s why I would always prefer more simple bikes than a new BMW1300 GS. But saying that: In my opinion each newer bike should not have any issues before 50.000 kilometers (I never experienced any before) – So you basically should be able to ride nearly halfway around the world with any new bike.
I guess my only tip would be: Carry spare clutch discs if you go on a journey that is 20.000 km+. They don’t take up much space, you will need them anyways at one point and your clutch might burn and wear down faster than you think if you get in some terrible terrain.
As someone who’s experienced a variety of climates and terrains, what essential gear or equipment do you always make sure to have with you on your motorcycle adventures?
Invest in good gear like helmet, suit and boots. I have two different suit-systems for different climates, on my worldtrip I had a Mesh-suit because I knew I would be mostly in warm temperatures that had an extra Goretex Outer Layer to pull over if it rains or if it gets cold. For journeys that are in more cold climates like my trip to North Cape I have a vented Goretex Suit so I don’t need to take on and off raingear if it rains or snows. So I do change my gear depending on where I am going, because in my opinion there is nothing yet that works in all conditions.
With your diverse experiences and insights gained from your travels, what advice would you offer to aspiring adventurers looking to carve their own path?
Just ride. Many people think you need be super equipped or experienced to go on a long trip. But that’s not true. The most important thing is to just go. Most things can be learned while on the road. And also: The best bike is always the one that you own, that you can afford and that leaves you enough budget to still travel. If you spend all your money on a fancy new adventure bike and can’t afford traveling no more, that’s not a good choice.
As a new mother and seasoned traveler, how has the addition of your little one reshaped your approach to exploration, and what lessons have you learned along the way?
With a child we will have to change our setup a bit. We a currently customizing a Van that will be able to carry a motorcycle and that we can also live and sleep in. But to me it is important that our son will be part of our travels and that non of us has to give up what we love the most – traveling and riding motorcycles. Of course we travel a bit slower now than usually, but luckily our child is very curious and so far an amazing travel companion. To me this is a new adventure and I can’t wait to show him places that I already visited and love, and explore new destinations with him also. It is already enriching to us to see the world from a child’s perspective.
Looking ahead, what destinations or dreams are on your radar for future adventures, and how do you envision your journey evolving in the years to come?
I still have so man places I want to see – and so many places I want to go back to. One journey that I have always dreamt of but that I didn’t want to do on a motorcycle is driving to North Cape in winter – That’s definitely on our list as soon as we will get our van.
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