After working for Google for 2 years, Mateusz was persuaded by his childhood friend 'Gluchy' to try something completely different and embark on an epic cycle ride from their home town of Wrocław, Poland all the way to Cape Town in South Africa. It might not stop there.
We caught up with Mateusz to reflect on his time at uni, his experiences on the road and how randomness is shaping his next moves. The story with no defined conclusion is already capturing the attention of international press who have featured Mateusz and Gluchy in news online and on TV.
Our home is safely secured on the trunk of one of the bikes — that is our tent. Our kitchen and the gasoline that keeps it burning is at the bottom of a waterproof bag attached on one side of the bicycle. The partial self-sufficiency helps lower the costs of this trip significantly.
The trip began in September 2021 and in that time the pair have cycled through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
We left in September 2021 and we are currently in Egypt. In those 14 months, we have travelled 14,500km. It began in Europe and because we started in autumn, we had to move quickly as winter was on our backs. We then cycled through the Middle ast, an enormous chapter of our journey. First it was Turkey, then Iraq, Iran, Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
We are soon to begin Chapter Three: Africa. We are 600 kilometres away from the Suez Canal, where the African continent starts. Africa will be very different from Europe and the Middle East. It will have different people, topography, weather and all the challenges that come as a result of those.
Reflecting on Birmingham
At the University of Birmingham, I was doing my bachelor's degree in Business Management and working very hard on the side. During my second year at university, I had 4 part-time jobs simultaneously. At that time I also got involved with Startup Society started by Federico and Jack.
Then during my third year I only had one part-time job. I became the president of the University of Birmingham Start-Up society and committed a lot of my time to this start-up community.
What I remember most was the annual B-Enterprising Boot Camp, which got me into the university's entrepreneurial community in the first place. That's also where some of my fondest university friendships began; Boot Camp was where I've met all the people that I am in touch with now, after graduation.I fondly remember my time at the University of Birmingham and in particular the startup community because it showed us that there are other career options other than the classic corporate way.
After university, I moved to Dublin, Ireland
and worked as a salesman for Google for 2 years.
Now I am cycling the world, but still I am selling all the time. I am selling
to potential new sponsors, to existing sponsors, to media, to our followers, to
places where we could potentially speak and so much more. I love sales.
How it started
Photo credit: (Arab News: Meshaal Suliman Al Qadeer)
They invite us into their houses, introduce us to
their family and friends, show us around their town. This is the basic package,
but usually there is much more: old photo albums, local football club, lovers,
secret locations - many unbelievable stories.
The best thing about this
bicycle trip is that it showed me that the possibilities are really endless.
There is not enough life to realize them all! I have a few ideas but there is
nothing sure yet, so for now I will keep them to myself.
This bike trip has opened me up to a multitude of unexpected possibilities and ideas on what to do next. Before the trip, I had a stable and good full-time
job. I was following a path that I was prepared for the entire duration of my
life. I then questioned that path and wanted to see if it really is the right
one.
I walked away from it and decided to make my own path. I still do not know
if this one is the right one for me. Nonetheless, the decision to break away
from the previous one made me much more confident when making 'important' life decisions.
Sales is a very robust profession: you can sell anything and if
you like people, asking questions and trying to figure out how to convince the
other side to reach a mutual agreement, you will enjoy selling most products or
services.
How it started
I am travelling with my
childhood friend. Gluchy and I have known each other for over 20 years
now. I wrote about the reasons behind my trip here on another blog: Lot's of Pedalling ahead by Mateusz Andrulewicz
We didn't have any cycling experience whatsoever. The bicycle was just a means
of cheap transportation. Because we could be almost self-sufficient on the
bicycle, we knew that we will be able to live a life like this for a long time
from the financial perspective.
Photo credit: (Arab News: Meshaal Suliman Al Qadeer)
We are
regularly receiving generous help from people who we randomly meet on the road.
This applies to all the countries, no matter if it's Ukraine or if it's Saudi
Arabia (which is very reassuring because these two countries are so
dramatically different and yet still in both you will find kind humans). In the
Middle East, hospitality is a cultural obligation of sorts so often times the
help is much more ceremonial but also generous to the extreme.
People take hospitality very seriously here. Some of the areas or countries we visit are not very
popular with tourists, so that is also a contributing factor: the locals get
very excited, and we end up with a hundred school kids around us, all
asking if they can take a quick ride.
The interactions with
people that we have are very special for bicycle travel. Both sides know that
the interaction will be temporary and short-lived and thus both sides try to
get as much as possible from it. This means that the people we meet invite us,
complete strangers met 10 minutes before on the road, to their very intimate,
small and protected worlds.
This randomness and intensity is
something that I love, but it's also something that costs a lot of energy.
Nothing is free, you always have to pay a price. It's very helpful that it is
two of us: sometimes we can split the price in half.
Looking ahead
Next is Africa. We don't
know the exact route. Actually we don't know much details in general. The route
is simple until Ethiopia - we have to go through Egypt, then Sudan and then
south to Addis Ababa. From here, many route options arise. We will decide on
the go based on how we feel and what the people we meet are going to tell us.
What I can say, is that I do not cross out the possibility of continuing
further on. We are now trying to make a small entertainment business out of our
expedition. If we manage to raise more funds, who knows what we will do next.
For now, I am travelling and that's all that matters. On the daily basis we
need to focus on the basics: a safe place to sleep, food, water. This keeps me
grounded and stops me from drifting too far away with all the ideas.
When
you have nowhere to sleep, you are humbled and focus fully on the present
reality, distant future being a very much distant concern.
Written by Mateusz Andrulewicz
Introduced and edited by Bob Lee
With thanks to Mateusz Andrulewicz and Mateusz Gluch
Introduced and edited by Bob Lee
With thanks to Mateusz Andrulewicz and Mateusz Gluch
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You can follow Mateusz Andrulewicz and Mateusz Gluch (Gluchy) on their journey: mattsandbikes.com
Follow on Instagram to see the people they have met along the way: instagram.com/mateuszeirowery
Related links:
Red Bull.com:
Mateusz Andrulewicz i Głuch na rowerach do Kapsztadu
Mateusz Andrulewicz i Głuch na rowerach do Kapsztadu
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