Presenters

Presenters for the Overland Event 2020 to be announced soon.

Presenters at the 2019 event included:

(click each image for more information)

Spencer Conway doesn’t like to do things by halves. From his home in Kent, his first big motorcycle adventure was a 55,000 km circumnavigation of Africa through 32 countries on his Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré. He was actually born and raised in Africa and has worked internationally as a cliff rescuer, lifeguard, gym instructor and even a teacher, so doesn’t scare easily.

Then in 2016 he took the same bike to South America, this time riding two-up with his partner Cathy through another 13 countries on a journey that was full of unexpected challenges. And he has just completed a circumnavigation of Central America, which wasn’t without incident!

TV programmes of both are to follow, but teh great news is that he will also be launching his book about the Africa trip (The Japanese Speaking Curtain Maker) at the Overland Event.

Meet Spencer and Cathy at this year’s Overland Event where you can hear the full story of recent shenanigans and get a signed copy of the book. In the meantime, here’s a taster…

Austin Vince

Film-maker, global overlander, raconteur and fashionista Austin Vince probably needs no introduction, but…
With partner Lois Pryce he’s the co-founder and curator of the Adventure Travel Film Festival but sprang to fame within overlanding circles following his first RTW rides back in the 1990s and the subsequent films he produced; Mondo Enduro and later Terra Circa. Advocate of smaller capacity machinery and of budget travel he will be our main presenter on the Thursday night this year. It’ll be an Adventure and Maths Quiz with REAL CASH PRIZES!!!
There’s no doubt it will be an educaional, inspiring, entertaining and probably very unpredictable evening!

Glynn Roberts

At the age of 21 Glynn broke down on his first trip abroad in Italy. No return ticket, next to no money (not even for a prized sticker for the bike), he rode the 1,500 miles back in four days at 30mph to save fuel money, living on 30 pears and a homemade loaf of bread!

The experience didn’t deter him, but rather it gave him the confidence to take on more adventurous challenges and trips, culminating in a 3 year round the world ride 6 years later.

In 2018 he made an impromptu trip to visit his niece in Mongolia on his 37 year-old BMW R80 G/S.
He’s continued the breakdown theme over the years, breaking down on every continent, narrowly making the trip home from Mongolia last year.

Glynn’s presentation is not an A to Z on how to do anything. But he does have some photos and a bunch of slightly bonkers stories from his trip to Mongolia and back.

Lisa and Simon Thomas

Since 2003 when they first left the UK on a BMW R1150GSA and an F650GS, Simon and Lisa Thomas have ridden something like half a million miles through 78 countries, breaking records and more than a few bones along the way.
In 2016 their original bikes were upgraded to a BMW R1200GSA LC for Simon and an F800GS for Lisa, which they’ve been riding around Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and the USA. But now they’re briefly back in the UK to see their families before continuing their quest to ride through 122 countries and on all seven continents.

We’re thrilled that Lisa and Simon are taking the time out from their other commitments to be part of the Overland Event this year. They’ll be giving a presentation about some as-yet undecided part of their mammoth 2RideTheWorld journey.

Mark Holmes

Mark Holmes is a former businessman, but after heartbreak and financial ruin he set off from London on 1st. April 2017 to ride the world’s largest production motorcycle – his 2,300cc Triumph Rocket X – around the world. This 5-continent, 500-day ride led him to a new life and his aptly named first book ‘REBIRTH’. He deals honestly with loss, grief and love, as well as the daily difficulties of achieving his goal. Not to mention illegally entering the United States.
You might be familiar with his writing style if you’ve been reading Overland for a while.
It’s a great story that shows how no amount of planning can account for serendipity; he now lives in Lyon and is married to Dalila… Read the book!

Louisa Swaden

Three years ago Louisa hadn’t ridden anything bigger than a 125. She wasn’t confident going faster than 50mph and didn’t like corners. Now she’s ridden the US, sailed from the Caribbean to New York, ridden across Europe and in north Africa, organised the Italian leg of WRWR, has begun guiding tours in eastern Europe and perhaps her greatest feat; has become a regular columnist in Overland Magazine. Achieving all those things meant overcoming one huge obstacle: fear.

But when she speaks at The Overland Event this year she will have just returned from Utah and an attempt at the 1000cc partially-streamlined World Land Speed Record. Yes really. It’s the only LPG-powered land speed record racer in the world. With more than 240mph in her sights that’s quite a leap in 3 years.
If you are worried about doing that trip you always traced on a map, you need to come and hear Louisa speak. I mean, we’re sure she’ll come back from Bonneville…

Luke Gelmi

Luke has written for Overland about his slightly chaotic ride down Africa on an Enfield classic 500 Bullet. By accident he seemed to stay barely a day ahead of the spread of Ebola as he rode down through west of the continent, managing to get across borders as they closed – which was lucky – and ending up in war zones and bandit country, which wasn’t so lucky… There is a book about his trip coming out imminently though sadly not in time for The Event this August.
Luke is coming over from France where he now lives to present.

Margus Sootla

Margus Sootla is well-known to Overland readers for his phenomenal images and stories from all over the world. With his partner Kariina they travelled the world for years 2-up on a GS1150 before Kariina got her licence and they set off again.

For someone who works at the cutting edge of technology it’s interesting that he eschews digital and instead celebrates the depth and majesty of analogue photography, even developing his own images too.
We are delighted that he is flying in from Estonia to join us. As well as presenting about a recent trip to Iceland, where you’ll get to witness some remarkable pictures, we are pleased to say that he will be running some interactive photography workshops following the over-subscription of his photography talk at last year’s Event. Make sure you bring a few quid so that you can grab one of his simply beautiful hardback books!

Helen Lloyd

Helen spends most of her time travelling. Even when she’s working to save up for the next trip, she maintains the freedom of an itinerant lifestyle by residing in her van.

For her first big overland journey, she cycled from the UK to Cape Town. Since then she’s pedalled down North and Central America and across Asia, packrafted in Nicaragua, bought and ridden a horse in Kyrgyzstan, and paddled a pirogue down the Niger River in Guinea.

After a winter cycling in Siberia(!), she finally upgraded to a motorbike and hasn’t looked back. She has since returned to Africa on her XT225 Serow, ridden it across Europe twice and spent last summer exploring Iceland’s remote highland trails, which is what she’ll be talking about at The Event.

After some 85,000 kilometres of abuse in Helen’s hands, the little bike is in a sorry state although she’s hopeful it can be resuscitated for one last adventure, otherwise it’ll be donating its parts to a replacement Serow.

She has written for Overland, has published two books – Desert Snow and A Siberian Winter’s Tale – about her cycling adventures and the book about her ride around Iceland is due out soon.

Andreas Hulsmann

Andreas has spent years travelling the globe by motorcycle and taken phenomenal pictures wherever he’s been. We’re delighted to say that he’s had many of them published in Overland Magazine and thankfully there are more to come from his most recent Arctic assault. His work is published around the world and as well as being Touratech’s official photographer he is currently the editor of Motorrad Abenteuer in Germany.
Andreas is coming to The Event to deliver another of his popular photography workshops. This one will be entitled ‘Encounters on the road’ and focus on taking portrait shots and what you need to consider if you want to get them published.

John Manning and Katy Haynes

Katy and John had only known each other a year before they set off on an 18,000 mile ride from Europe to Japan, roughing it through Russia and off-roading over Central Asia and Mongolia.
It all began with a post on Horizons Unlimited when John was looking for a travel partner. A young woman called Katy replied and when they first met they knew that they were about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Their adventure included several mechanical breakdowns but it was these motorcycle repairs and unexpected situations which lead Katy and John to the most ingenious, resourceful and hospitable people who kept their wheels rolling east .
They have now documented their journey through a 30 minute film showing this year at the Adventure Travel Film Festival. John will be presenting their adventure and trailering the film at the Overland Event showcasing how Katy and John’s relationship grew between them and the world they were exploring.

Daniel Palazzolo

Daniel was born and raised in the USA but was never one to shy away from a challenge… He left the USA behind to settle in southern Chile and together with his wife Paula founded Moto Patagonia, a motorcycle Tour and Rental Business. Establishing routes and travelling Patagonia extensively he now operates Moto Patagonia full time and lives in Patagonia year-round. Fascinated with South America and Patagonia, Daniel rides a lot, always trying to link up the best Overland Routes. He’s going to be answering questions during a South America special panel at The Overland Event this year, that includes Spencer Conway, Suzie Bostock and Kelvin Prevett.

Suzie and Kelvin

Hot off the plane from South America, Suzie Bostock and Kelvin Prevett will be talking all about the trepidation of first setting off all that time ago on their DR650 Suzukis. Where did they go and what happened?
They’ll also be part of our roundtable group with Spencer Conway and Daniel Palazzolo, discussing what’s what in South America right now. If you are thinking of going you need to bring those questions along with you and get the most uptodate info there is.
Suzie and Kelvin love the road less travelled, and therefore seek out the back roads, dirt roads and small villages, which always adds to the adventure. They have a huge thirst for life (and beer!), culture, nature and beautiful scenery, and South America has all of this in abundance. Although they plan to go around the world, continent at a time, they’ve spent the last two years meandering in just South America.
Kelvin is an engineer so has the responsibility of keeping the Suzukis from falling apart, Suzie is a physiotherapist but has recently started a website and Facebook page called Overlander Health to try and get people to share and talk about travel health topics and build a list of recommendations for health centres, dentists, doctors and vets around the world, all for free. It’s very new and a work in progress, but a labour of love.
After those first two years on the road, Kelvin proposed when they were wild camping at the end of the world in one of the most beautiful places they’ve been. Thankfully she said yes and they are getting married in October. Let the adventures continue!
If there are no delays in shipping their DRs will be in the show too.
Follow their story here AvVida.co.uk

Jocke Selin

At The Overland Event this year Jocke will be sharing his knowledge about maintenance, emergency repairs, tools and other tidbits, because he believes that everyone is capable of servicing and maintaining their vehicles.

He’ll cover situations you need to expect (puncture, fall, water ingestion), how to prop your bike up on the trail as well as servicing on the road and how to build the right toolkit. But he might include some other packing tips-n-tricks at the end.

Jocke has been tinkering with mechanical things all his life, be it bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles or cars. He loves sharing his knowledge and has been writing several online pieces about motorbikes, kit, tips and travel. He’s also a regular contributor to Overland Magazine!

The best thing he knows is just getting on his motorbike to head wherever the curves take him. He’s been skulking around Europe for 20 years, be it Nürburgring, Portugal, The Alps, Eastern Europe or the Nordic countries. The feeling is even better when Caz, his fiancé, is riding nearby.

Dave Lee

Between 1955 and 1975 the Ho Chi Minh Trail was used by the North Vietnamese Army to transport supplies, troops and munitions from north to south Vietnam and Dave has been discovering abandoned sections of the trail for years. Listen to Dave’s account of how he took his 250cc motorcycle and unearthed more than he bargained for as the forgotten trail got the better of him.
He’s become so attached to Vietnam and has now visited so many times it’s like a second home. There are few people that sing its praises so highly, or know so much about riding there!

Norman and Maggie Magowan

Norman and Maggie have been travelling by bike since the early 1980s when they set off from their native Northern Ireland two-up on a Z200 to explore southern France. Apart from periodically replenishing funds with gainful employment, they’ve effectively been at it ever since.
Their first two books from the ‘Adventures in Yellow’ series recount their journey through the Americas a decade ago, but they are still using the same yellow F650GSs and have just returned from a 3-year round the world ride where they seem to have fallen in love with Indonesia.
Now living in Germany they’ll be riding over to The Event so come and meet them, hear their stories and see the yellow pair in the bike show!

EmmaLucy Cole

EmmaLucy Cole had no interest in motorcycles until she saw Steph Jeavons speak at the Adventure Travel Film Festival. Inspired by the opportunities for a woman to travel and connect with local culture in a different way, she took her CBT and six months later obtained her full license. Picking up a Triumph Scrambler the same day, she rode up to the Overland Event Winter Warmer the next morning.

Spurred on by the people and the journeys shared at the Winter Warmer, EmmaLucy decided that while in Egypt conducting research for her PhD she would ride across part of the South Sinai Peninsula – with only two months’ experience of riding, in 35 degrees, and on an ancient dirt bike with a kick start. The journey was short, but extremely challenging.

EmmaLucy will talk about why taking on challenges as a new rider is important, what she would do differently next time, and how she’s preparing for a longer journey across the Middle East in the winter.

Heather Sinclair

Heather Sinclair is originally from California and in 2017 she left her job, bought a 2011 DRZ400S and two months later had the bike in a crate on its way to Indonesia. She brought what I hoped would be enough kit to take her back home to London. 10 months, 26 countries, and more breakdowns than she can remember she’s back home, rebuilding her bike (which will be in the show) and saving money for her next adventure in 2020.
She adores, and learned a lot about, Indonesia so feel free to ask her all about it, but she’s going to be presenting about India, somewhere she has a real love/hate relationship with. She had a tough time there but can’t stop returning and will infact be stepping off the plane from there on the first day of The Event!

July Behl

From Madagascar to Mexico, Madras to Montenegro, July Behl has explored five continents of the world on his motorbike. July has recently returned from his Alaska to Argentina overland journey on his uber-cool BMW RnineT Scrambler and his travels are inextricably interlinked with food, wine, writing and photography. July is a contributor to Overland and Rust Sports magazines and was the winner of Touratech’s ‘United People of Adventure’ project. When not riding, he is busy with one of his many projects from Moto Adventure Nights to Moto Adventure Photography. #THEBIGMOTOADVENURE
Hear his anecdotes about getting pulled over by the Cartel in Mexico, being gifted cannabis by the Peruvian police, being offered Strawberry coke in Colombia, getting pick-pocketed by hookers in Costa Rica and almost passing out from deadly diarrhoea in Villacamba ‘the land of longevity’. If he can do it so can you and all it takes is a little bit of planning and a lot of patience. Grab a pint and come on down!

Hayley Bell

A mild-mannered office manager by day, Hayley Bell has a desire to change things: from being forced to choose pale blue or pink motorcycle gear to igniting a global sisterhood of inspirational women. She wanted to bridge communications between the industry and female riders and use that global sisterhood to promote courage, adventure, unity and passion for biking.

As part of this she founded the WRWR – Women Riders World Relay – to WOW the industry into realizing the global market for women in Motorsports and to inspire women worldwide, generating awareness of women’s rights, generating friendships, global unity, understanding and promoting education.

When the global ride began on 27th Feb in John O’Groats it had recruited over 18,000 riders across 100 countries. Hayley will be talking about where the relay baton has got to and what has been happening so far. A huge fan of enduro riding, she’ll probably come to The Event on her 690 KTM unless that custom bike she’s building in the living room gets finished…

Elspeth Beard

Elspeth Beard was the first British woman to ride solo around the world on a journey that began in 1982 when she was just 23.

Her 35,000-mile adventure on a 1974 BMW R60/6 covered North America, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Europe. The BMW will be on display in the Bike Show at this year’s Event.

In an age before email, the Internet, mobile phones, satnavs and, in some parts of the world, readily available and reliable maps, Elspeth achieved something that would still seem remarkable today. Told with honesty and wit, Lone Rider is the extraordinary and moving story of a unique and life-changing adventure. Elspeth will be signing copies in the Authors’ Tent at the Event and will be engaged in a Q&A on the main stage.

Christian Brix

Frequent traveller and new writer, Christian Brix is recently back from a 1-year trip across Africa and Asia, completing 30k miles, through 33 countries on his trusty XT660Z Tenere. He will be talking specifically about his time in Africa and the mental difficulties he faced riding solo, as chronicled in his book ‘The Unseen Walls’. Employing a style of writing which is more about the mental journey, less the physical one, he chronicles the road of the mind – the highs, lows, confusion, doubt and the fear – which most overlanders choose not to elaborate on. Currently he is writing up the second part of his trip, centred on Asia, and training for the Gibraltar Rally this summer.

Chris Scott

Author of the Adventure Motorcycle Handbook and many others, film-maker, guide and Sahara specialist Chris Scott changes travel bikes most years to see what’s new. For 2019 he chose Enfield’s Himalayan 410, a bike with the power of a 250, the weight of a 500 twin but the price of a 125.
Find out how it performed above the High Atlas snowline and deep in the sandy wastes of the Western Sahara.
Please pop your prejudices and scepticism in the wheelie bin by the door.

Paddy Tyson

Paddy is the editor of Overland Magazine and founder of the Overland Events. Born amid the incessant rain of County Fermanagh in north west Ireland, he has been travelling in search of sunshine ever since, which is odd given his pale complexion.

His first road trip took place during the hot dry summer of 1976, across North America as a 6 year old, with his mum and big sister. He first combined motorcycles with travel while at university in England and set off on a woefully unprepared CG125cc Honda in 1993 to try and see as much of Europe as he could in 4 weeks. Being arrested just seemed to add to the adventure, and the whole thing sowed the seeds of a plan for a two-wheeled global assault, which has been undertaken in sections ever since.

He has been a columnist and feature writer for publications on both sides of the Atlantic, an English teacher and University lecturer and remains an advisor to the Ted Simon Foundation nurturing new writing talent. Paddy is an author, editor and proof-reader and will be running various publishing and writing workshops at this year’s Overland Event.

Matt and Reece (AsSeenFromTheSidecar)

Matt and Reece are back from their circumnavigation of the globe on a scooter with a sidecar. For those of you who haven’t checked in with their progress since they left from the 2017 Overland Event, you’ll be surprised to hear that the lads made it to Paris and much, much further.

We welcomed them home at January’s Winter Warmer where attendees were treated to Russian caviar as the guys talked about the coldest stretch of their trip back from Vladivostok.

This summer’s talk will be from the opposite end of the thermometer and recounts their journey through Northern Africa. Come along and find out what it’s like to scoot the Sahara!

Gareth Jones

Gareth Jones is the milkman from Barry in South Wales who rode a modified 1951 Harley-Davidson Panhead around Southern Africa on what became known as his Pan Without A Plan adventure.

Without the benefits of rear suspension, an electric start, any kind of back up, and definitely no real plan, Gareth’s six-month solo journey covered 20,000 km through 10 countries. In the process he fulfilled a lifelong ambition and collected a wealth of memories. He’ll be sharing his story at the Overland Event.

Ian Coates

“Ian Coates is remarkable for many reasons, not least his incredible story-telling. Life on the road has been good to this mild-mannered mechanic from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, who seems to let serendipity create remarkable situations.”
During his 14-year journey around the world on a 1991 Honda Africa Twin, Ian clocked up nearly a quarter of a million miles and visited just about everywhere there is to visit.

Ian will be returning to the Overland Event again this year to share more of his stories, and his Honda will be on display in the Bike Show.

Sam Manicom

Sam Manicom set off to travel the length of Africa on ‘Libby’, is BMW R80 GS, only three months after first learning to ride a motorcycle. What he’d planned as a one-year trip turned into an eight-year, 200,000 mile, 55-country adventure around the world. His four books Into Africa, Under Asian Skies, Distant Suns and Tortillas to Totems vividly describe that epic journey.

At this year’s Event however, he’ll be discussing the magic of somewhere nearer to home; Portugal.

Sam says “I’m happy to admit that other than where it is, I was ignorant about this country, but something was turning Portugal into an annoying itch in the back of my mind. A month of riding there allowed us to do more than scratch that itch, and this country, its landscapes; people and culture really surprised us. I aim to show you why just one visit could well turn you into a repeat offender.

Portugal was once a world leader whose historical tentacles reach right the way through into modern life. Its reputation for making and breeding adventurers and explorers is fascinating. This still proud nation is now virtually bankrupt, but only financially. The scenery lives up to the word ‘stunning’, and it contains challenges like perhaps no other country in Europe. As for the range of roads, be prepared to be delighted.

Neil Foulks

“If you’ve got money, your health and time, then do it. New Zealand is the best place in the world.” That was the advice given to Neil by that famous overlanding Yorkshireman Ian Coates. Full of enthusiasm Neil promptly quit his job and set off just 3 weeks after The Overland Event 2017. He then spent 6,000 kilometres travelling around both of New Zealand’s islands. His diary entries laid down the bare bones of a trip for anyone sticking mostly to the tarmac and staying in hostels. A guide, a travelog and a story all in one e-book and paperback, he’ll be presenting about the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’

Richard and Mopsa English

A remarkable couple, Richard and Mopsa English rode their Triumph sidecar outfit around the world in the 1980s and did their utmost to remain patriotic throughout, but times were changing. The factory they bought their bike from went bust while they were on the road and parts became increasingly difficult to get. Wars ensued and empires shrank still further, but their story is a brilliant one and the book it produced – Full Circle – is superb.

As well as having some great tales to tell, they will be accompanied by Tommy, their poor abused Triumph. Come and meet all three!

Sam Berlyn

Overlander and self-confessed gadget and IT freak Sam Berlyn, has been one of the team behind the AV at all the Overland Events so far. This year, he’s again stepping out of the shadows to take the stage and grab the mic himself. He’s an IT manager by profession but an overlander with passion. Who better to discuss all things tech on the road?
He’ll be covering:
– Comms and staying in touch (phones, satellite trackers etc.)
– Tech on the road (cameras, computers, GoPros etc..)
– A little bit on security (data / privacy rather than physical!)

Jacqui Furneaux

In the summer of 2000, Jacqui Furneaux began what became a seven-year journey around the world through 20 countries on a 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet. That was seven years without a plan.

Hit the Road Jac! tells the story of that life-changing adventure. Ted Simon called it, “much more than an absorbing book, this is a manual for self-discovery.”

She hasn’t stopped travelling though and has just returned from a 6-month ride in Australia, still using her Enfield.
Jacqui will be signing copies of her book in the Authors’ Tent at this year’s Event, and her Enfield will be on display in the Bike Show.

PRESENTERS

Presenters for the Overland Event 2020 to be announced soon.

Buy tickets for the overland event 2020

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