I came across Helen Dainty’s biking journey from the UK through a friend of mine. She had just arrived in Libya a few months ago. I was excited to see a cyclist passing through Libya in their journey and thought perhaps I could highlight their journey on the blog. Helen has been a full-time traveller by bike for approximately eight years now, and it has become her full-time job. She has cycled across different regions, and every year, there is a new cycling route to take.

Her objective this year, she initially thought, was to go to Algeria, although obtaining a visa was considered rather challenging. Ultimately, after obtaining the visa, she had the opportunity to spend a brief period in Algeria. However, Libya was suggested by a friend when she was still in the UK before embarking on this journey. She has traveled to many countries across Europe, but has always enjoyed visiting less well-traveled destinations.

Helen’s Unique Cycling Experience

During her visit to Libya, she was aware that her freedoms would be limited compared to those in Europe due to safety concerns. Nonetheless, she connected with a group of cyclists, thanks to a Libyan cyclist in Jordan who introduced her to local cyclists in Tripoli. The Libyan Cycling Center fully supported her arrival, handling the paperwork and meeting her at the border. Initially, the cycling trip was to travel from the UK to Algeria, but plans eventually expanded to include Libya. Upon obtaining her visa in Algeria, she headed to Tunisia as her entry point to Libya after getting her visa to Libya, as it was the easiest and quickest option.

During our conversation, Helen mentioned an Algerian friend who mentioned a quote from the Quran that resonated with her from Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 216: ”But it may be that you hate something while it is good for you, and it may be that you love something while it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.” For her, it worked out well because being short on time in Algeria gave her much more time to enjoy Libya, so it all worked out great. Helen ended up staying in Tripoli alone for three weeks.

She highlighted that, at times, she was unsure of what was happening in Libya; things were being processed behind the scenes, a common theme in the country. However, Helen also highlighted that people in Libya have her best interests at heart. She ended up living with one host family after another while waiting for paperwork to be processed. As the process took longer than expected for her to leave Tripoli, she considered returning to Tunisia. At that point, finally, something happened, and she managed to leave Tripoli. Her friends in Libya informed her that she can head east, at last!


Challenges & Opportunities Ahead – Libya

Helen noted that, depending on each country’s procedures and safety measures, there were occasions when she was escorted by security while cycling. For instance, in Saudi Arabia, she had a security escort. Similarly, in Libya, a police car accompanied her to various locations throughout the country. Specifically, as she departed from Tripoli, she had an escort to guide her onward.

One of the limitations in Libya is the lack of an online guidebook designed explicitly for solo cyclists, which provides support to those traveling alone. However, in Libya, the guide lacks information on the country. So she had to find different solutions there. Nonetheless, while heading east in Libya, there were many famous tourist sites, so she planned her cycling route to pass through them. The amount of time spent at each stop point varied from one area to another. For instance, she would spend a day or two in one city while spending a few hours in another. She basically followed the locals’ advice, which was very helpful.

Although she wasn’t able to cycle through the Nafousa Mountains or visit Ghadames in the south, she has spent approximately 2 to 3 months in Libya, which is quite impressive. During our conversation, one aspect that excited Helen was the hospitality of the Libyan people. She mentioned that she has traveled to many countries, including Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, and has interacted with diverse communities. However, she believes that the hospitality of the Libyan community is on an entirely different level.

Meeting the Local Community in Libya

While cycling in Libya, she experienced incredible kindness from strangers who offered her food, water, and even waved at her as they passed by. Many people approached her to take pictures together. During a public meeting, numerous individuals welcomed her to Libya and offered their help in any way possible.

She had the Libyan cycling group handle all the paperwork in the west. Whereas a cyclist in Benghazi managed the paperwork for her in the east. During her trip through Libya, she had the opportunity to conduct several interviews with local media and radio outlets. In eastern Libya, many interviews were scheduled, all of which were awaiting her arrival.

What’s Next After Libya?

After her trip to Libya, she plans to cycle through the Balkans and then return home for Christmas, hopefully. Once she gets back to the UK, she must stay there for at least three months. Before starting on her next adventure, which will involve cycling through Africa. Through cycling for eight years, she has learned the importance of slowing down, especially since the pandemic in 2020. When unexpected challenges arise, she has learned to adapt and manage new situations that she hadn’t planned for.

It can restore your faith in humanity when you feel like the world is a terrible place. Individual acts of kindness from strangers can completely change your outlook. My purpose for traveling is primarily for my own enjoyment; it’s a rather personal mission. However, if a side effect of my travels is that I can share the message, “Look, the world isn’t that scary; these people are really friendly,” then that’s a bonus. Often, individuals from certain cultures or backgrounds are portrayed negatively by the media, which creates a distorted view of the norm. Experiencing different cultures firsthand helps to challenge these misconceptions.

To Anyone Who Likes Cycling

When I asked Helen if she plans to settle down after years of cycling, she replied that she has no intention of settling down. This lifestyle is what she desires, as long as she remains fit and healthy. Helen acknowledges the privilege she has. They allow her to cycle in places that others may not have the opportunity to experience. Helen encourages everyone, whenever possible, to ride their bikes and join organizations like the Libyan Cycling Center in Tripoli.

She would love to see more women cycling and wants to be supportive of this goal. At the same time, she recognizes that cultural factors can deter some individuals from biking. Nevertheless, she is open to anyone who would like to reach out to her for support.

A Message to Her Fellow Libyans

”I would really like to thank everybody I met in Libya. In Libya, I was truly blown away by the kindness of everyone I met, and I appreciate the effort everyone made to make me feel welcome. I feel incredibly fortunate to have visited Libya, and everyone made it an incredible experience. It was a big team effort. I relied on many people, and they all contributed to my success. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to my success.”

You can follow Helen’s journey on bike via her Instagram account, where she shares updates: Hels. on. wheels/Instagram