Angèle Paty, cycling adventurer

**To all those who think bike travel is only for the ultra-sporty and the trail-savvy. Here's something to prove you wrong: Angèle Paty, 21, started cycling... in 2020, on a whim. Three years later, her Instagram feed is overrun with cycling photos, and she's even an ambassador for several outdoor brands. **

**Hello Angèle! Could you tell us a little about yourself, for a start? **

I'm 21, a student at Sciences Po Paris and passionate about adventure and cycling.

**Have you always been? **

Not at all! Only since 2020. I started after the first lockdown. I had a summer job in Montpellier, with my parents, and I felt the need to escape. I bought my first bike and started riding on my own. It allowed me to rediscover my region, the pretty little villages, the beautiful country roads. At first, I'd set off for 2 hours, just for 30 km. And little by little, I extended my distances, until, at the end of the summer, I managed to do my first 100 km!

What's different about traveling by bike?

It's a bit like the geography of the senses. All the senses are stimulated, not just sight: smells, sounds. When you're out and about by bike, you experience a moment of connection with nature.

"On a bike, all the senses are stimulated, it' s the geography of the sensitive

What are your earliest cycling memories?

I remember going for rides around our house, in poppy fields that have been replaced by housing estates. When I was 13, I went on exchange to Germany. Over there, we did everything by bike, there were even bike safety checks and young people were very aware of the issue. It made a big impression on me.

**Where does your love of adventure come from? **

I developed it with cycling, little by little. It really gave me wings: freedom, confidence. And that's how I got the courage to make my first trip alone, by bike, in 2021, when I was 19. I set off alone for two months, from Montpellier to Scotland: 2,500 km! At the time, I was athletic, but I'd never bivouacked. I had a huge motivation: Covid had prevented me from going to Scotland for my studies. It was tough. I was far from my friends, all the courses were online... I wanted to overcome my fears and doubts. So off I went, in "rookie" mode, without GPS, without knowing how to fix my bike properly, because that's what adventure's all about!

How did you feel about this initiation?

I said to myself: you can do it, you just have to learn, let go, because there will always be uncertainties. I had an agreement with my mother, who was to find me places to sleep so that I could limit my bivouacking, because it's a big mental burden. I didn't put myself in extreme situations. I like to sleep in the morning, and I've even taken off at 11am! When I was in a city, I took the time to discover the atmosphere of the place, I strolled in the markets. I let myself be guided. You have to stop trying to travel like everyone else. If, for your first trip, you want to stay in a B&B or hotel every night, why not?

"We have to stop modelling our trips on others

Did you have any difficulties as a young woman?

It's funny, that's always the first question I'm asked. No, never. I have the impression that going off on your own like that commands a lot of respect. People want to help you and congratulate you.

Have there been any difficult moments?

When I was in Ireland, during the Covid, there were a few days of quarantine. I was staying with friends and I was stopped in my tracks on my way to Scotland, because the ferry was closed. I wondered what I was doing there, I didn't know how to continue with my plan, when I only had 1000 km left to reach my destination. I had a huge down. My whole project was in tatters, it was super hard, but I picked myself up, changed my route and kept going. That's what traveling by bike is all about. Sometimes you're tired, you feel far from home, you haven't had a hot meal and a shower in a while, so you're on edge. But I think that's also what creates memories.

"My bike trip was redemptive

Why did you go off on your own?

It really was a choice. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. And it was redemptive. Because of the confinement, I couldn't go to Scotland for my studies as I was supposed to. I was at home with my parents, completely isolated, all the courses were online, and it was really complicated to meet people, because my friends were all over Europe. I felt very alone. But as soon as I got the idea of cycling to Scotland to do a photo report on island life, I felt better. It was my revenge on Covid.

Did you suffer from loneliness during those two months?

Not at all. There's this strange feeling, which the English distinguish perfectly. "Being alone but not feeling lonely". I was alone, but I didn't feel lonely. I met a lot of people. When I arrived in a village, people were curious, and some came right up to me.

"I wasn't born into cycling, I made my way on my own. That means other women can do it

Would you like to turn outdoor influence into a profession?

No, it's really a hobby. I just shared my adventures with my friends, and the algorithm meant that a lot of people followed them. It's true that it opened up a lot of opportunities for me: internships in sport, but also participation in the Étape du Tour and Paris Roubaix Challenge, which are generally very male-dominated events. At first, I didn't see my place. But on reflection, I realized that this could inspire other women who don't dare to take the plunge. I wasn't born into the world of cycling; I've made my own way. If other girls want to do it, they can. So in a soft and indirect way, with my Instagram, if I can show them that it's possible, so much the better. I've received a lot of messages from young people telling me that my adventures inspire them.

Is there an ecological commitment in your approach?

At the very beginning, no. I was just enjoying myself on my bike, that's all. But then I realized that this simplicity was rich in lessons. Today, I'm convinced that showing that you can enjoy a bicycle trip around your home as much as, or even more than, taking a plane to the Seychelles can raise awareness and change mentalities about the environment. These positive messages are complementary to the alarmist ones. We need radical messages that highlight the state of things, but also show that a way forward is possible and that it's just as pleasant.

**Do you think that influence could one day become positive? **

It plays a role, but it's a long way off. When influence is linked to brands, it's always about profitability. Personally, I'd like to work with territories and promote meaning rather than material objects. In the outdoor and cycling sectors too, we can encourage over-consumption and make people believe that you need a lot of equipment to set off on an adventure. But that's not true. You can set off with what you have at home, you don't need the latest tent to bivouac.

"Cycling has helped me to detach myself from my image and change my relationship with my body

**Cycling used to be an empowering tool for women... Do you think it can be again today? **

Yes, 100%! Cycling gave me self-confidence. It allowed me to detach myself from my image and change my relationship with my body. All of a sudden, you see your legs for what they enable you to do: ride for miles and miles to get from Paris to London. It's a very powerful switch. You no longer feel confined to your body. During those two months on my bike, I didn't look at myself in the mirror and I detached myself from what people might think of me. In the end, I didn't mind making a video with my hair in a mess!

What will tourism look like in 50 years' time?

We'll finally realize that it's not distance that makes a trip exotic and incredible. We'll stop saying "I've been to Madrid" or "I've been to London", as if we had to tick boxes at all costs. For my last trip without a bike, I went to Morocco with my boyfriend. In Marrakech, we visited the Majorelle Garden, the must-see stopover, and I had fun observing the behavior of tourists. It was mind-boggling: people were taking selfies for the sole purpose of posting on Instagram. That alone makes me want to get back on my bike.

What advice would you give about traveling by bike?

Make do with what you've got, without putting pressure on yourself. If you don't have the financial means to leave, use lots of little subterfuges, like collaborating with an outdoor blog. And last but not least, do your homework before you leave: watch the Chilowé and Others videos for inspiration. A lot of brands and companies have positioned themselves on the micro-adventure market, and it's very easy to map out itineraries.

Angèle Paty, bicycle adventurer: Raising awareness through cycling

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