As cycling holidays surge in popularity, one woman has shared the emotional journey that led her to take on three solo cycling adventures across Asia – a decision that she says has completely transformed her life.
Caitlin Limmer, 53, from Twickenham, gave up her career in 2021 to care full-time for her husband, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and began showing signs of cognitive decline.
The mental toll of caregiving eventually left the mother-of-two feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained, and in search for a way to cope – and a way to reconnect with herself – she found herself booking a trip with Explore Worldwide.
The travel operator, which hosts group tours, solo traveller holidays, walking expeditions and cycling trips across 100 countries, has seen a growing trend in two-wheeled adventures in recent years.
In February alone, views for cycling holidays jumped by 50 per cent, and passenger numbers for 2025 are already expected to rise by another 25 per cent compared to last year.
And for people like Caitlin, these trips offer more than just physical activity – they offer freedom, healing, and a sense of community.
What started as a spontaneous decision quickly turned into a new passion, as well as something far more powerful: a way to reconnect with herself and rediscover her sense of identity.
Caitlin has now completed three cycling tours with Explore: Sri Lanka in 2021, Vietnam in 2022, and most recently, a two-week ride through southern India in 2024.
Caitlin Limmer, 53, from Twickenham, gave up her career in 2021 to care full-time for her husband, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and began showing signs of cognitive decline
Each trip brought new challenges – from intense heat to rugged terrain – but also offered a sense of peace, purpose, and connection that she had lost in her daily life.
Caitlin embarked on her first Explore trip to Sri Lanka after taking a friend’s recommendation in 2021.
She said: ‘All I knew is I wanted a totally new experience in my life. When life is chaotic at home, you just have to book it and that’s it. It’s opened up everything to me, it opened up the world and opened up my life.
‘The trip was brilliant, fantastic and perfect for me. After my solo Sri Lanka trip, I wanted to try something more active, so signed up on the cycling Vietnam package.’
In Vietnam, Caitlin’s days were filled with long hours of cycling – but with plenty of breaks, water stops, and cultural activities along the way.
Her most recent adventure took her through southern India, where she cycled from the coast through mountains and remote villages, stopping at waterfalls, enjoying local food, and staying in a mix of riverside camps, hotels, and guesthouses.
Each tour brought her into close-knit groups of ten to twelve people. She describes them as ‘fantastic,’ and says she’s made lifelong friends through the experience.
She explained: ‘Being able to holiday on my own and share those experiences with likeminded people, when I can’t share those things with my husband, is priceless.
For people like Caitlin, cycling trips with Explore offered more than just physical activity – they offer freedom, healing, and a sense of community
Her most recent adventure took her through southern India, where she cycled from the coast through mountains and remote villages, stopping at waterfalls and enjoying local food
‘Sharing and bonding over those experiences is incredible. l always think when you cycle together you get to know each other quickly, you’re going through so much together and it bonds you.’
Caitlin hasn’t always been a cyclist, and she insisted first-time adventurers do not necessarily need to be super-fit to embark on a cycling trip.
She said: ‘I spin a lot, and I exercise most days, but I’m not an outdoor cyclist. I probably cycle about six times a year.
‘You don’t need to be cycle-fit – there were people of all ages and fitness levels. You can do an e-bike option or you can jump on a minibus that follows the group.’
Caitlin admits she chose destinations like Vietnam and Sri Lanka in part because her husband was afraid of flying, which meant long-haul travel had never been possible before.
Now, drawn by the rich cultures of East and South Asia, she’s making up for lost time.
She said: ‘I chose these [locations] because I was miles away, where I couldn’t be contacted, where I couldn’t help, where the time was seven hours ahead or behind and I can’t be the person I am at home – I can be the person I remember I was.’
Caitlin’s cycling adventures have been more than a break from daily life – they’ve been essential for her mental health and sense of self following her husband’s diagnosis.
Each tour brought her into close-knit groups of ten to twelve people. Caitlin describes them as ‘fantastic,’ and says she’s made lifelong friends through the experience
Caitlin hasn’t always been a cyclist, and she insisted first-time adventurers do not necessarily need to be super-fit to embark on a cycling trip
She said: ‘These journeys have allowed me to see what I’ve missed and what I wanted more of in my life.
‘If I hadn’t done these trips, would I be who I am now? I’m not saying they’ve totally changed my life, but they’ve been part of the recipe that has helped me move forward.’
‘Whether you’re a carer or a single female or male, these trips allow you to go and have wonderful experiences and share them – but also have your own private moments.’
Alison Butler, Explore Worldwide Product Manager, said: ‘Explore group cycling holidays are the perfect combination of physical challenge and mental escape.
‘It gives you a real sense of freedom and achievement as you explore new landscapes under your own steam, often in sunnier, warmer climes than back home.
‘The fresh air, time outdoors and break from your normal routine works wonders for mental wellbeing, while the physical exertion of cycling leaves you pleasantly tired and ready for a great night’s sleep.
‘It’s a guilt-free way to enjoy the food and drink of a region — knowing you’ve earned it through your efforts on the bike — and the shared experience of the ride often leads to new friendships and plenty of laughs along the way.’
For first-time solo travellers or those looking to take on an exciting two-wheeled adventure, Caitlin advises to ‘just do it, you won’t regret it.’
For first-time solo travellers or those looking to take on an exciting new two-wheeled adventure, Caitlin advises to ‘just do it, you won’t regret it’
She added: ‘You experience things so differently when travelling by bike. You smell the country, talk to the people as you cycle through their villages. You’re not just seeing the sights, you’re going through the palm trees, over rivers – breathing and experiencing everything.’
As cycling tourism continues to grow, stories like Caitlin’s show that it’s not just about the miles you clock up – sometimes, it’s about the journey back to yourself.
It comes after another female traveller revealed to MailOnline Travel how solo travel has changed her life – for the better.
Gerda Lejasmeiere, 32, who’s based in Leeds, explained that she hitch-hiked around Europe before moving to the UK, where hiking trips ‘turned out to be life-changing’.
Gerda grew up in Latvia and, while studying at college, explored her country by hitch-hiking to save money.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .