Now what if two of these self-identified bike fanatics joined forces, coming together in a shared love of each other and the thrill of the road? Putting these values above all else, would they make the radical decision to leave home and opt for a life traveling the world together by bike? It might sound like a cycling fairytale, but for Shirine and Kevin, this is exactly what happened.
Meeting over an online forum used for finding roommates, the two quickly became friends, then lovers. After spending a year together in Bend, Oregon, they were forced to go their separate ways when Kevin returned to Alaska to resume firefighting. With nothing left keeping her grounded, Shirine set off to cycle around the globe. It didn’t take Kevin long to realize where his passion truly lay, though, and after nine months of separation, he bought a plane ticket and joined Shirine in Nepal. The solo wanderer became a team of two and has remained as such ever since.
Nomads, minimalists, and travelers, this ambitious couple has been fearlessly migratory, documenting their adventures and providing reflections on their experience as they go. Proudly proclaiming that they are trying to inspire others to follow suit, they share photos, stories, tips and travel advice. They wake with the sunrise to begin the day and pack up their camp to become nomads once again.
Shirine is the self-declared wild-child, claiming that it is not unheard of for her to drastically change their itinerary at a moment’s notice, inspired by what they encounter along the way. Also serving as the team’s social butterfly, she can make friends with just about anyone they happen upon along the road. Kevin, on the other hand, is the quieter one. The behind-the-scenes man who remains calm and collected in every situation. A small town guy with a love for the simple life, he keeps the trip running smoothly.
Acting as a perfect supplementary pair, these two are also united by a fierce belief in what really matters. Driven by the notion that the key to happiness, and therefore success, is to do everything you have ever dreamed of doing, they show no sign of slowing down. Lucky to have both realized early how they want to approach their journeys, they aim to visit places other travelers don’t get to see, all the while maintaining the freedom to go where they want. Traveling by bike provides them with all of this and more. When going by bikes, they are taken in by locals, get to spend their nights camped in beautiful places, and have the feeling of personal accomplishment from achieving this all by their own power.
The tranquility found in the places they venture to, as well as the stress relief provided from cycling, allow these two to maintain a calm and harmonious relationship. Despite the fact that they spend practically all of their time together, and have to confront vast array of uncertain and sometimes stressful circumstances, their zest for one another has not diminished at all. Their shared motto is “two bikes, one life, the whole world to see”. A testament to the fact that this couple form the ultimate dream team, when traveling they are masters of compromise and always attuned to each other’s needs. Never taking for granted how lucky they have been to find each other and spend their lives doing what they love, when the wedding day comes, bike bells will most certainly ring out in celebration as the couple rides off into the sunset.
