Welcome to DitchtheComfortZone.com

This is a website dedicated to the motorbike adventures of three Canadians and one Brit. Team CanUK, as we are known, are self-funded, have no support crew, and most of us have only been riding for a few years. Despite that, we have completed a number of adventures in our short history. Our latest trip was our biggest yet - a 15,000 mile journey from London to Cape Town during the summer of 2008. To read all about our adventures visit our blogs. To browse thousands of our adventure pictures, see the gallery. And to donate to the causes we ride for, please click on the charities section. Thanks for visiting.

Motivation

Why would anyone undertake such long motorbike trips when there are faster, cheaper, and much more luxurious ways to travel?

As any seasoned biker will tell you, there is nothing quite like riding a motorbike. That is doubly true when you're riding on unfamiliar terrain and are a long way from home. You're exposed to the elements, to people's goodwill (or lack of it), and are tested physically and mentally. Such conditions allow you to experience the world in a new and invigorating way - fuelling your sense of adventure and fulfilling those oft forgotten childhood dreams. Our trips are about doing something different. Our trips are about adventure.

Purpose

The challenge of riding across a continent may seem like reward enough for undertaking these sorts of trips, but we have an ulterior motive - to raise awareness.  Through the course of our adventures we have encountered people from many different backgrounds.  Cultural diversity is eye opening, but so too are the stark differences in living standards.  In some cases, people we have met do not even have access to basic health care.  So, as part of our adventures, we are raising money for two charities – Riders for Health and Dignitas.  Both of these charities are already making a real difference to the lives of thousands of Africans but with your support they can do even more.

Inspiration

Originally inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's Long Way Round adventure, our adventures have been a few years in the making.  In that time we've been further encouraged by the writings of countless other adventure riders, all of whom have blazed the trail before us.  Like them, we hope that our journey will inspire more people to ditch the comfort zone and start exploring the world.